Minor, Oliver Porter

MINOR, WEBB, DENT

Posted By: Linda Linn (email)
Date: 8/22/2010 at 21:27:40

1889 , Cherokee County, Iowa
Oliver Porter MINOR (deceased) came to Cherokee County in 1871. He was enroute to Dakota from Green Lake County, Wisconsin, and being struck with the beauty and natural advantages of the surrounding country, he decided to make his home in Cherokee County; the same year he bought a tract of 200 acres, and at once began to improve it. He soon after added to it until he owned a beautiful body of 320 acres, lying in the fertile Maple Valley.

Through the first few years he had many struggles and privations, but he succeeded in making a comfortable home, and in surrounding his family with many of the comforts of life. His health began to fail, and after an illness extending over a period of two years he passed away October 8, 1887, at the age of fifty-seven years.

He was born April 9, 1830, at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and was a son of William and Maria (WEBB) MINOR. From three years of age until sixteen he lived in Monroe County, New York; in 1846 he settled in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, where he was married March 3, 1850, to Miss Helen DENT, who was born at Hornellsville, New York,October 18, 1833.

She is the daughter of Richard and Jane (McGIBBON) DENT. Her father was born in England and her mother in Scotland; they were united in marriage in Delaware County, New York, in 1819, and later settled in Wisconsin, where they both died, the former at the age of fifty years, and the latter at the age of eighty-three, having survived him nearly thirty years.

Mr. MINOR's parents also died in Wisconsin, the father in 1855, and the mother in 1889. After his marriage Mr. MINOR was engaged in farming in Waukesha County,Wisconsin, for four years; he improved a new timbered farm, and then settled in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, where he resided until coming to Iowa in 1871.

His family consisted of eight children, of whom three, Wealthy J., Olive M. and George C., died in childhood. Those living are: Irvin D., Albert J., William R., Mary L. and Frank A. Albert and William are farming near Canton, South Dakota. Irvin has charge of the home farm and has proved quite successful in his management. Prior to his assuming the control of the farm he had spent three years in Cherokee, where he built the skating rink that was recently destroyed by fire. He was also engaged in the meat business for some time.

The death of O. P. MINOR was a great loss to his family and to the community, as he was always among the first to recognize every effort to build up the institutions of the town and county. He enjoyed the esteem and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He had been treasurer of the township repeatedly, and other positions of trust and honor were frequently confided to his attention. He left a widow and five children who will ever hold his memory dear, and who will willingly take up his labors where he left them, and will worthily carry out his desires.

Biographical History of Cherokee

County, Iowa.

published: Chicago 1889

pp. 417 - 18.