Samuel Harrison Minnis and Melinda Keen

---

---

Husband Samuel Harrison Minnis ^{1 2}

---

           Born: 24 May 1840 - Sandy Creek Twp, Mercer Co, PA 1 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

         Father: Asher Minnis (1815-1887) 1 3
         Mother: Elizabeth "Betsey" Newbold (Abt 1820-Aft 1909) 1 4

---

       Marriage: 1867 1

---

   Other Spouse: Augusta Davison (      -      ) 1 - 1887 1

---

---

Wife Melinda Keen ¹

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1884 1
         Buried: 

---

         Father: James Keen (      -      ) 1
         Mother: 

---

---

Children

---

---

General Notes: Husband - Samuel Harrison Minnis

---

He was reared and educated in Sandy Creek Township, Mercer County, PA, and his early life was spent in farming and stock dealing. He attended school until he was fourteen years of age, and gave his entire attention to his agricultural and stock operations until 1864, when he enlisted in Company I, Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Captain Stone, at Connellsville, Pennsylvania. Sent first to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the men finally were stationed at Camp Stoneman, near Washington, District of Columbia, where they were drilled, equipped and transported by boat to White House Landing, Virginia. The steamer “McClellan” and the old flagship “Daniel Webster” conveyed them thither, landing a squad of about 150 horse, which were placed under command of General Phil Sheridan, but were unable to join his main corps. Mr. Minnis was detailed as an orderly to serve on General Burney's body-guard, and for some time was occupied with those duties. That his post was no sinecure is evident, as is illustrated by one of his services which covered an almost continuous service of seventeen days and nights, his short naps being taken under or near his horse with the bridle rein fastened to his feet. Later he joined Sheridan's main corps and was specially engaged in scouting and railroad work, being thus employed when he was taken with typhoid fever at a point just south of Petersburg. For three days he lay in the woods under the pine trees, and was then discovered by his brother, who had him sent to City Point Hospital, New York. With two comrades, he was conveyed thither on the hospital ship “Baltic,” which was so crowded that he insisted upon being placed on deck near the smokestack. There he slept soundly until he reached his destination, and upon his recovery returned to his home in Sandy Creek Township. His comrades died during their furlough, but he rejoined his regiment at Petersburg, where he remained until the surrender of Lee. It is related that his company came near capturing President Jefferson Davis after the fall of the Confederacy, for while in pursuit came in sight of the train, and it had the positive honor of being the first body of troops in the grand military pageant at Washington, being the provost guard of the Army of the Potomac. Upon being mustered out of the service July 20, 1865, he resumed farming and stock raising, and so continued until 1880, when he located at Sheakleyville, and four years later became a member of the firm of Thompson and Minnis, general merchants. After the death of the senior member the style became Cochran, Minnis and Company, and two years later, Minnis Brothers. Upon the destruction of their establishment by fire Mr. Minnis engaged in agriculture, and for twelve subsequent years was a dealer in agricultural implements and buggies. As stated, his activities also included the saw mill business and large operations in live stock. [HMC 1909, 1039]

1 Editor, History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Its Past and Present (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers, 1888), Pg 1099.

2 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 1037.

3 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 1031, 1038.

4 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 1031.