Minerva A. French1

b. circa 1842, d. 16 April 1883
BirthCircacirca 1842 Minerva A. French was born in West Virginia (then Virginia) circa 1842.2 
Marriage15 Feb 1876 She married Joseph William Ryan, son of White G. Ryan and Mary Jane Barnett, on 15 Feb 1876 in Summers County, West Virginia.1,3 
Cens-188016 Jun 1880  By 1880 Joseph's father and stepmother lived with the young couple in Jumping Branch. The area, originally part of Mercer County, had become part of the new county of Summers in 1871. Joseph was farming, as was his father. A child, Jame P., age 3, was enumerated directly below Joseph and Minerva and recorded as White's grandson. It is not clear if this is Joseph and Minerva's child, but it is known that they had a child named Zekie/Tekie who was born in August 1878 and died in 1882. This child should have been listed with them in 1880 so perhaps Jame P. and Zekie were the same person. Joseph's son Bertie (from his first marriage) was also part of the household.2 
ChildDeath7 Aug 1880  A few months after the census taker's visit, Minerva gave birth to a still born son. The couple had also lost an infant daughter in 1877. 
Death16 Apr 1883 Minerva died on 16 Apr 1883. Family tradition states that she went to visit the grave of her young son Zekie, caught cold and died.3 
Residence By July 1911 the couple had settled in Columbus, Ohio.4,5 

Family

Joseph William Ryan b. 1 Oct 1842, d. 1919
Children
Last Edited26 Aug 2012

Citations

  1. [S55] Carolyn C. Ryburn, "White G. Ryan-Mary Jane Barnett family group sheet". Author cites Haga, Summers Co. WV Marriages 1871-1883 which states: Joseph W. Ryan, 33, widowed, s/o W.G. and M.J. Ryan and Minerva A. French, d/o Wiliam French; 15 Feb. 1876.
  2. [S649] White G. Ryan household, 1880 U.S. cens., Summers Co., W. Virginia, pop sched., Jumping Branch District, ED 136, page 17 (192A stamped), dwelling 131, family 133, viewed online at Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 19 of 37. White G. Ryan, 64, farmer; Ellen E., 51, wife, b. VA; Bertie E., grandson, 5. b. W VA, parents b. VA; Boman G., 34, b. VA, son, railroad clerk, suffering from consumption; Louisa M., 32, dau-in-law, b. VA; Joseph, 36, son, farmer, b. VA; Minerva, 38, dau-in-law, b. WVA; Jame P. , 3, grandson, b. W VA; Wm B. Fink, 28, hired, blacksmith, b. W VA.
  3. [S861] Sandra Law, "Ryans," e-mail to D. Powell, 15 Apr. 2004. Mrs. Law's husband is the grandson of Joseph William Ryan.
  4. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 15 Oct. 2001.
  5. [S1526] Jane Jackson Kimble (transcriber), "Jackson Ledger - 1887 by P.A. Jackson", Jackson Family Genealogy (http://www.jacksonfamilygenealogy.com/pages/… : viewed Jul. 2006). Data from p. 56.
  6. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 13 Jul. 2001. Carolyn cites Summers Co. Deaths 1872-1890: Ryon [sic] female died 25 Feb., 1877 at one day of age, child of J. W. & M. Ryan.
  7. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 13 Jul. 2001. Carolyn cites Summers Co. Deaths 1872-1890: Ryan, Tekie, died Apr 13, 1882; cause: cold; age 3y 7m 17d; son of Joseph W. & M. A. Ryan.