My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM R. MINER. Like many other citizens of Chautauqua county, William R. Miner is a lineal descendant of an old New England family. His parents were Justin S. and Elvira (Newell) Miner. He was born October 8, 1834. Grandfather John Miner was born in New England and came to Otsego county. New York, shortly prior to the war of 1812. He lived but a short time in the county famous in literature and story, for he was soon called upon to place himself upon his country’s altar. This he did with rare freedom and self-sacrifice; his enlistment was a sad farewell to friends and home; he never returned. Grandfather Samuel Newell was a native of Massachusetts, and came to Sheridan, Chautauqua county, New York, about 1810. Here he pursued his occupation as conjoint farmer, stock-raiser and distiller. In business affairs he was a man of resources, energy and care, and, consequently, eminently successful. He married Miss Sarah Ranney, by whom he had seven children. His political caste was that of the old-line whigs, whose principles he supported with becoming ardor. He died in September 1854. The father of the subject, Justin S. Miner, was born in the year 1809, in Otsego county, New York, came to Chautauqua county, when twenty years old, and died there at the age of forty-six years. He was a farmer by occupation, owning a farm of some one hundred and twenty-eight acres in fine repair, and gave his leisure time to the public in the discharge of charitable and philanthropic duties. He was a member of the Presbyterian church for many years. His wife still survives, hale and hearty, at the advanced age of eighty years.

William R. Miner was the eldest of a family of three boys and now resides on a portion of the old homestead.

He married Lydia A. Gilford and has three children: Justin P. (married to Miss Martha K. Mosley), a graduate of Harvard, class of ‘85, and at present business manager of “To-Day,” published in Boston, Massachusetts; Harley G., and Mertie E., at home.

William R. Miner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is also trustee, and belongs to the order A. O. U. W. He is a good business man, keen, fore-sighted and of good judgment, always ready to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate, always eager to ameliorate those weighted down by a seemingly forced adversity. He is republican in politics, and has served six years successively, as supervisor of the town of Sheridan. Henry N. (a brother of subject) was married to Alzina Kilam, and is at present engaged in farming in the State of Indiana. His children are Nellie, Bertha, Archie and Fanny. Herbert S. (another brother) was married to Susan H. Ensign. He is also a farmer and resides in the town of Sheridan. His children are Edward H., Burton O., and J. Leslie.

The wife of subject was born February 24, 1839 and married December 30, 1857. Her parents were natives of Rensselaer county, N. Y., and removed to the town of Pomfret, Chautauqua county. Oliver P. Gifford, her father, was born November 24, 1816, and learned the trade of tanner, which occupation he followed until his death. He was at one time an officer in the State militia, a whig in politics and a member of the Baptist church. He died in the town of Sheridan, February 14, 1852. The maternal grandfather of subject’s wife, Abram Keech, was also a native of Rensselaer county, and was born about 1772. His father was a soldier of the Revolution and was killed at the battle of Bennington, Vermont. At the time of his death he held the rank of captain. Abram came to Chautauqua county in 1834, and located in the town of Pomfret, shortly afterward removing to the town of Hanover. He was a man of fine military bearing, and was commander of a company of State militia. His wife was Naomi Taylor, by whom he had six daughters.