My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1898.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

OSCAR PERES MINER. The office of superintendent of the poor is burdened with the deepest responsibilities, both from a financial and moral standpoint, and it has been common experience that this important county office, which plays so important a part in the daily life of a large number of people whom fate has made to suffer and toil in poverty and distress, is often given over to the keeping of some practical politician, ignorant of business methods excepting such as relate to enriching himself, who thereupon proceeds to line his own nest with what was intended for the worthy poor. But in Mr. Miner, Cortland County has a gentleman, who has in every way met all expectations, whose record in office is clean, and whose business abilities cannot be questioned. Before becoming superintendent of the poor, he was not wholly unacquainted with public office, for he had served ten years as justice of the peace, as supervisor five years, and as justice of sessions one term while a resident of Taylor township. He was elected to his present office in November, 1894, and very soon afterwards removed from his farm to the village, so as to be better able to discharge his duties.

Mr. Miner was born March 28, 1841, in Spafford, Onondaga County, N. Y., and was a son of Peres and Lucia (Norton) Miner. Our subject’s father came from the east, from the New England States in all probability, and settled in Onondaga County, where he owned and conducted a choice medium farm. He died at the age of fifty-one of lung-fever, and was rejoined on the other shore by his wife a few years later. Their children were: Laura, who married John P. Taft; Adaline E., who married Chandler B. Heath of Truxton, now deceased; Seymour, who wedded Aurelia Atwater; George W., who married Phebe P. Potter; O. P., our subject; and Amelia L., who became the wife of I. P. Brown, deceased. Our subject attended the Cortland Academy, and taught school winters, and with his own efforts was preparing himself for college and a professional career, when the war broke out. Quick to volunteer in the service of the threatened Union, he enlisted in 1861, in Co. D, 76th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., and served until April, 1864, being present and taking part in the battles of Sulphur Springs, Gainesville, Second Bull Run, and South Mountain; he was honorably discharged for disability April 18, 1864. On his return from the front, he bought a farm in the town of Taylor, Cortland County, of 120 acres, formerly known as the J. P. Brown farm. Mr. Miner in his management of this fine farm has given abundant evidence of his sterling: abilities and enterprise, with a readiness to adopt whatever commends itself to his best judgment as an article of worth and value, likely to be of service to him. He has built new barns, remodeled and enlarged the house, and improved the land until it is unquestionably one of the very best in Taylor township. In all respects, Mr. Miner must be classed as a model and successful farmer. His present residence, as has been noted before, is in Cortland village, the better to attend to his duties as superintendent of the county’s poor.

Mr. Miner married Miss Julia M. Bentley, daughter of Joshua and Loranda (Bennett) Bentley. Joshua Bentley moved to this part of the state when a young man, and settled in the town of Taylor, Cortland County, where he very successfully followed his vocation of an agriculturist, and was much esteemed as a self-made man of splendid ability and fruitful resources. He died at the age of seventy-six, but his wife is still living. Of their two children, Myron, the elder, died in youth, and Julia M. is the wife of our subject. Floyd B., the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Miner, married Miss Mary Corning. He is a graduate in the classical course of the Cortland State Normal School, class ‘93, and is a reporter for the Cortland Standard. Carroll P. is a graduate also of the Normal in the classical course, class ‘95, and is following the profession of a teacher. Besides being an active member in the M. E. Church, Mr. Miner is adjutant of Grover Post, No. 98, G. A. R., and is a member of the O. U. A. M.

* * * *

This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published in 1898. 

View additional Cortland County, New York family biographies here: Cortland County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Cortland County, New York here: Cortland County, New York Map

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.