Biographical Sketch of Edwin P. Minor, Johnson County, Missouri, Simpson Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Edwin P. Minor, a successful and enterprising farmer and stockman of Simpson township, is a member of one of the first families of Missouri and a son of one of the first settlers of Marion county. Mr. Minor was born April 9, 1858, in Adams county, Illinois, a son of Thomas and Nancy C. (Collier) Minor, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. When Thomas Minor was a youth, 15 years of age, he came with his parents from Kentucky to Missouri and they settled on a farm in Marion county near Hannibal, about 1837. On this farm he grew to manhood and in Marion county, Missouri, was united in marriage with Nancy C. Collier. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Minor left Missouri shortly after their marriage and went to Illinois and in that state resided until after the Civil War, when they returned to Missouri. To Thomas and Nancy C. Minor were born eleven children, five of whom died in infancy or in childhood, six were reared to maturity, and four are now living, at the time of this writing, in 1917: Mrs. Martha J. Fry, who died in August, 1868; Thomas Henry, who died in August, 1874; William R.; Mrs. William Foster, who owns the Minor homestead in Simpson township; Mrs. C. O. Bales; and Edwin P., the subject of this review. During the Civil War, Thomas Minor enlisted in the Federal army and served throughou the war with Company F, 36th Illinois Infantry under General Thomas, who was known as the "Rock of Chickamauga." Mr. Minor took an active and effective part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville and in numberous other engagements. In 1869, the Minors returned from Illinois to Missouri and this time they settled in Johnson county in 1870 on a tract of land comprising 20 acres, in Simpson township and on this little farm Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Minor spent the remainder of their lives. The father died September 11, 1904. The mother had receeded her husband in death about six years. It is a pleasure to commemorate, inadequate though the memoir may be, the life of one who, though engaged in the manifold duties of an active agriculturist and upon whom rested the grave responsibility of providing and caring for a large family, proved him- self an upright, courageous, patriotic citizen and when the call of his country became imperative did not shirk but went bravely forth in its defense, to suffer and to die, if need be, for "Old Glory." Measured by the true standard of value, which is not that of dollars and cents, the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Minor were decidedly successful. The early life of Edwin P. Minor was spent on his father's farm in Simpson town- ship. He was a lad, 12 years of age, when his parents moved back to Missouri from Illinois. He attended the district school near his home when opportunity was so given, but he did not complete the prescribed course of study on account of his services being required at home. Mr. Minor has worked hard ever since he has been large enough to manage a plow and other farm implements of labor. He left school at the early age of 16 years and when he had reached the age at which young men are supposed to sever home ties and begin life for themselves, Mr. Minor was self-supporting. He labored as a "hired hand" for several years and then with his swavings purchased a team of horses and the needed farm implements, rented a tract of land in Illinois, and for 11 years was engaged in farming in that state. He returned to Johnson county, Missouri, in 1894 and rented a farm, comprising 92 acres, in Simpson township, which place he purchased the ensuing year, paying $1700 for the land. Since acquiring the ownership of this farm, Mr. Minor has improved it, adding the residence, barn, chicken house, and other farm buildings. He has cleared 25 acres and now has the entire farm under a high state of cultivation. As a producer of grain, Edwin P. Minor has few equals and he has also achieved splendid success as a breeder of cattle, hogs and horses. March 25, 1885, Edwin P. Minor and Nettie Jones were united in marriage in Stillwell, Hancock county, Illinois. To this union were born six children: Carl Thomas, born October 19, 1886, married Kate Gibson, and they reside in Warrensburg, Missouri; Ralph, born March 27, 1888, married Stella Pollock, and they reside in Centerview township, Johnson county, Mo.; Floy Viola, born March 14, 1890, married Charles Horn, and they reside in Warrensburg, Missouri; Zola C., born October 9, 1892; George, born February 28, 1894; and Nettie May, born June 18, 1902, and died August 10, 1902. The mother died a few days after the birth of Nettie May, on June 29, 1902. On September 6, 1905 the marriage of Mr. Minor and Nellie M. (Medis) South, daughter of Isaac Medis, of Warrensburg, Missouri, and widow of Arthur B. South, was soleminized. To Mr. and Mrs. Minor have been born two children: Ruth Leone, born July 31, 1906 and Edwin Paul, Jr., born January 30, 1908. By her firswt husband, Mrs. Nellie M. South Minor is the mother of three children: Frank D., born December 27, 1895; Nellie Marie, born March 29, 1900; and Ora Gertrude, born August 10, 1902. Some idea of the magnitude of the labor performed by Edwin P. Minor since he came to Simpson township more than a score of years ago may be had when one thinks how long a time and how much work is invol- ved in clearing one acre of ground and then know that he has cleared twenty-five, an undertaking from which the young men of today would shrink, quite probably. From early morn until late at night the strok- es of his ax might be heard echoing and re-echoing through the silent wood. Endowed by nature with superb physical powers and blessed with splendid health, Mr. Minor has made rapid progress improving his tract of land and now the timber and brush are supplanted by cultivated fields and a substantial residence stands where once stood a rude, log cabin home. Mr. Minor takes an active interest in politics and he votes the Democratic ticket, but has never aspired to official position. He has always been deeply interested in the material prosperity of his community and has feely contributed his influence and support to all movements having for the object the moral uplift of his fellow man. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. 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