IAGenWeb Project - Allamakee co.

Frank L. Minor

As manager and superintendent of the large manufacturing plant operated by the Postville Clay Product Company, Frank L. Minor occupies a prominent place in industrial circles of Postville and the vicinity, a position which he has achieved by reason of special skill and long training in the line of work to which he is now devoting his attention. He was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, September 28, 1867, and is a son of Samuel D. and Hannah (Garlick) Minor, The former born in what is now West Virginia, in the Panhandle district, October 28, 1828, and the latter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1840. In early life the father worked as a pilot on boats on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers but later became a brick manufacturer, operating a large fire brick factory at Empire, Ohio, for twenty-two years and finally retiring from active life and moving to Wellsville, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the 25th of December, 1912. His wife has also passed away, her death having occurred in the same place, May 7 1900. The father never sought to figure in any way in public life, never seeking political office and even refusing to accept a first lieutenant’s commission offered to him during the Civil war. He preferred to concentrate his attention upon his business affairs and these became extensive and profitable, bringing him a comfortable competency and a high place in industrial circles of the city. He and his wife became the parents of seven children, the subject of this review being the fourth in the order of birth.

Frank L. Minor acquired his early education in the public schools of Empire and he afterward attended the Ohio State University at Columbus, graduating as a ceramic engineer with the class of 1891. When he became of age he entered his father’s factory as manager and superintendent and continued in that position until his father’s retirement, proving an expert in everything relating to his special line of work and also a far-sighted, discriminating and able business man. When Samuel D. Minor sold his factory the son continued in the employ of the purchasing company as manager and superintendent but after four years resigned his position and went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he became manager for the Pitttsburgh Paving Brick Company, being afterward transferred to Fairmont, West Virginia, where he worked in the same capacity for two years. At the end of that time he established himself in business as a ceramic engineer and soon built up a profitable and extensive patronage, erecting brick works at Spokane and Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Oakland, California; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as well as in Port Credit, Canada. After accomplishing a great deal of important work along this line and winning for himself a reputation as an expert in every branch of industrial ceramics he abandoned his independent interests and identified himself with the Postville Clay Product Company as salesman and erecting engineer. He came to Postville in August, 1911, and erected in the city the plant for the company he represented after its completion remained in charge as manager and superintendent, positions which he has occupied since that time. The Postville Clay Product Company manufactures all kinds of hollow building blocks and fireproof building material and controls an important and growing trade throughout the middle west. To the local branch of the business Mr. Minor devotes his entire time and much of the credit for the continued growth and expansion of the Postville factory is due to his initiative spirit, his modern and practical methods and the skill with which he applies his knowledge of everything pertaining to the business to the further advancement of his employers’ interests. He is today considered one of the most able business men in Postville and the place which he occupies in business circles has been well earned and is richly deserved.

Mr. Minor married, on the 27th of June, 1894, Miss Ida McLean, who was born in Toronto, Ohio, on the 5th of February, 1868. She is a daughter of James and Eliza (Jackman) McLean, the former a native of Scio, Ohio, and the latter of Knoxville, in the same state. In early life James McLean learned the hatter’s trade but he never followed this occupation, turning his attention to general farming and continuing to engage in it during his active life. He served in the Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry for three years during the Civil war and during all of that period was never wounded or confined in a hospital. He and his wife became the parents of twelve children, of whom the wife of the subject of this review is the fifth in the order of birth. Mr. Minor gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic lodge. Although one of the later arrivals in Postville, he is interested in the welfare of the community and has already won for himself a creditable position as a valued citizen and business man.

-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich

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