Robert E. Kinnear and Minnie Hawkins

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Husband Robert E. Kinnear

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           Born:  - Butler or Venango Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 1 Jan 1924
         Buried: 

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         Father: [Father] Kinnear (      -      )
         Mother: 

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       Marriage: 

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Wife Minnie Hawkins

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           Born:  - Switzerland
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 F Pearl Agnes Kinnear

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           Born: Abt 1895 - Sugarcreek Twp, Venango Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Elgie Dewayne Keith (Abt 1897-1928)
           Marr: 10 Nov 1916 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 1

         Spouse: Jacob Neeley (Abt 1901-      ) 2
           Marr: 18 Apr 1931 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 3

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2 M Floyd Kinnear

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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3 M John Kinnear

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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4 M George Kinnear ⁴

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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5 M Edward Kinnear

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - Robert E. Kinnear

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Franklin News-Herald, Franklin, PA
Jan 2, 1924
SIX LIVES SNUFFED OUT IN TERRIFIC EXPLOSION
[Continued from Page One]
Mr. Kinnear had thawed out the 15 quarts of nitroglycerine that was being used to shoot the well and that in all probability part of it had not been thoroughly thawed or else on the way from the magazine to the scene of operations some of it had become cold. At any rate, it was in a honeycombed formation and some of the live particles rubbed against others, causing sufficient friction to set oft the high explosive.
Another report was to the effect that the shell which Mr. Kinnear held in his hand and in which the nitroglycerine was being placed fell to the ground. Just how the accident happened no one will ever know, for the earth for 75 feet around was swept clear of everything and there was hardly enough left of the derrick and its platform to tell the tale. That it was a surface explosion was indicated by the fact that no hole was dug in the ground.
It was just such a blast as that of high explosive shells which killed soldiers on the war front in France, leav-
one out of a score, miraculously saved, to tell what had taken place.
Portions of the clothes and flesh of the half dozen victims were found on bushes and trees. Nightfall set in upon the sad scene and up until a late hour only a few small bits of the body of Robert Kinnear, the shooter, had been found, the largest of which was a hip bone.
Precaution Forgotten.
It is seldom in shooting a well that spectators gather so close to watch operations, usually keeping at a respectful distance while the experienced shooter and his aids fix the shell and the go-devil or squib for the spectaeular operation. But the eagerness of young Mr. and Mrs. Stone and their friends to see just how it was done probably prompted them to throw caution to the winds and stand by.
News of the catastrophe spread like lightning to Franklin and vicinity. Sugarcreek homes having telephone connections were deluged with inquiries from frantic relatives and neighbors in this city and round about. The gayety of New Year's was overshadowed by this sudden pall of sorrow and the light-hearted, care-free spirit that had ruled a beautiful New Year's day radiant in snow and sunshine was darkened by an atmosphere of sadness and keen appreciation of personal loss. Boundless sympathy was extended to the families of the victims of the explosion.
The bodies remained on the scene until Deputy Coroner Osenider had completed his inspection of the explosion and they were then taken to the A. J. Barron and Boyd N. Park undertaking establishments to be prepared for burial and later removed to their homes.
Deaths Prove Sad.
The death of Mrs. Stone, who was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew C. Baker, of Bleakley Hill, is the first in a family of nine.
That of Eugene Neil cast sorrow over his fellow printers in The News-Herald, some of whom were early on the scene of the accident. He was a jovial, companionable, young man and highly thought of by all who knew him. He had frequently visited at the home of Mr. and Mrs, Paul Stone and it was at their invitation that he went out to watch the shooting of the well.
Shooter Well Known.
No well shooter in Venango County, probably, is better known than Robert Kinnear. He had done considerable shooting for the Bowers Torpedo Co., of Rouseville, and a brother, Louis Kinnear, is also engaged in the same work. Death of the Whitman boy came as a sudden blow to their relatives in Muttontown, 10 miles from Franklin. They had come down to look on and to assist Mr. Kinnear if needed.
Afterward the bodies were removed, searchers carrying the remains down 300 feet to waiting ambulances. The path was rough and crossed two small streams. The footing was precarious and one party carrying two bodies fell to the ground. It was a long, terrible, gruesome march in the semi-darkness. Crowds of people who had hastened to the scene of the accident, lined the pathway to the waiting machines.
Parts of the rigging were found as far as 400 feet from the explosion.

Unk newspaper,
date unk
ONLY FEW PIECES OF VETERAN SHOOTER FOUND
Robert E. Kinner, the veteran shooter who was in the act of pouring the nitroglycerine when the blast occurred at Semple's Corners New Year's afternoon, lived on Route 5, Sugarcreek township, in the Patchel Run district. Surviving are his wife, Minnie, and the following sons: Floyd and John, at home; George, of Sugarcreek township, and Edward, of Oil City; a sister, Mrs. E. E. Keith, of Galloway, and the following brothers: Louis, of Rocky Grove; John, of Tulsa; Charles, of Illinois, and Fleet, of Oklahoma.
Funeral services are to take place at Lupher Chapel on Friday.
Only small portions of his body were recovered, his being the most terribly mangled of all.

1 Venango Co, PA, Marriage License, #12204.

2 H. W. Sigworth, M.D., Genealogy of Sigworth-Neely Families (Anamosa, IA: Metropolitan Supply Co., 1921), Pg 47.

3 Venango Co, PA, Marriage License, #18479.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 825.