The funeral of John W. Minnick took place Sunday afternoon, August 21, from the M. E. Church, sermon by Rev. L. A. Cook. Services at the grave by the Knight of Pythias and the Odd Fellows.
John Wesley Minnick was born near Leesburg, Ohio, Sept. 15th, 1849. At the age of six years he moved with his parents to Monroe, Iowa, where he spent his early boyhood.
Following many of his friends, the call of the west was strong, and he started West, going as far as Evanston and Hilliard, Wyoming, where during the winter of 1865 and the spring of 1866 he worked at the charcoal pits at Hilliard and there met Mary Davis, who later became his wife, they being married at Evanston, Wyoming, June 15th, 1866.
He returned to Oskaloosa, Iowa, two years later. The lure of the West again became strong and in May 1878 he started overland for the Williamette Valley, Ore., by prairie schooner, joining an emigrant train for Boise, Idaho, following the now famous Oregon Trail.
Arriving in Grande Ronde Valley, they planned a visit to Mrs. Minnick’s parents in High Valley. One of the mules becoming side and disabled, husband and wife decided to make it their permanent home.
At the High Valley home five children were born. Jessier Woolever, the oldest, of Newberg, Ore., was born at Oskaloosa, Iowa, Sept. 22, 1877; Macie Ellen Evans of Jeffers, Mont., was born Oct. 16th, 1879; Wm. Austin Minnick, Twin Falls, Idaho, was born July 8, 1881; Mary Cromwell Dodson, Summerville, Ore., was born June 29, 1885; Iva Vernon Reuter, Union, Ore., was born Nov. 9, 1886; and J. W. Minnick, Jr., who died in infancy.
Mrs. Minnick passed away March 6th, 1888. Mr. Minnick was married again to Miss Mary Jane Vass, April 17th, 1890. To this union were born two boys-Clifford, age 15, and Kenneth, age 11. All children but one still survive. All but Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Woolever were present when the end came; Mrs. Woolever arrived Friday morning.
Mr. Minnick at the time of his death was seventy-one years, eleven months and four days of age.
He was a member of Union Lodge No. 39, I.O.O.F., continuously for thirty-four years, and at the time of his death was Grand Patriarich of Grande Ronde Encampment No. 11.
He was also a member of Blue Mountain Lodge No. 28, Knights of Pythias.
He leaves to survive him his wife, seven children and twenty-four grandchildren.
The sudden passing of John W. Minnick, one of the older residents of this part of the State, was a great shock to many friends and acquaintances, and the deepest sympathy is extended to his surviving relatives. Mr. Minnick was apparently a man of rugged health and destined to live many years yet, and his sudden taking away was therefore all the more painful to his relatives and acquaintances.
Printed August, 1921.
Obituaries and Other Vital Records of Union County, Oregon. 1890 – 1930.
Compiled by Clara Cline Lee.
Reproduced by Walter M. Pierce Library, Eastern Oregon Library, 1972.
In Union, Oregon, Friday, August 19th, 1921, John W. Minnick, age 72 years. The funeral will take place from the Methodist Church Sunday, August 21, at 2 o’clock p.m. under the auspices of the Odd Fellows. Friends are invited to attend.
Obituaries and Other Vital Records of Union County, Oregon. 1890 – 1930.
Compiled by Clara Cline Lee.
Contributed by: Robin Church