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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of Edward A. MINER 

Transcribed exactly according to the original complete text by Bonnie DAGEN of Illinois, 3rd great-granddaughter of Charles H. Miner and Louisa Steele. 

[Surnames: BESTLER, MAHONEY, MASSEY, MINER, STEELE, WARD] 

[Page 998] 

    
MINER, Edward A., a well known and well-to-do brick manufacturer of Lewistown, Fulton County, Ill., was born in Bennington, Vt., October 15, 1842, a son of Charles H. and Louisa (Steele) Miner, natives of New York and Massachusetts, respectively. The union of Charles H. Miner and Louisa Steele resulted in six children, namely: Horace C., of Lewistown; Edward A.; Phoebe, who died in infancy; Nancy, widow of John Bestler, of Naperville, Ill., and Susan and Eugene, who died in infancy. Charles H. Miner moved with his family from the East to Aurora, Ill., in 1855. There he followed his trade of brickmaker until 1863. In that year he moved to Lewistown, Ill., where he died in 1885. His wife passed away in Lewistown and rests by the side of her husband in Oak Hill Cemetery, near the city. 
    
Edward A. Miner received a fair common school education and since reaching years of maturity has spent his life in the manufacture of brick. The Miner family has always been engaged in brickmaking. The brothers worked together until 1895, when Edward purchased his brother's interest and now conducts the concern. His plant is equipped with all the latest improvements in machinery for turning out first-class brick. The yard is located near the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway depot, in East Lewistown, and has a capacity of 10,000 brick per day. 
    
In 1861 Mr. Miner was married to Mary Mahoney, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Mahoney, natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Mahoney were the parents of three children, as follows: Thomas, deceased; Ellen, widow of Matthew Ward, of Waukegan, Ill., and Mrs. Miner. Of the children born to Mrs. Miner Jesse died in infancy; H. T. died at the age of thirty-six years, and Margaret became the wife of Charles Massey, and resides at Waukegan, Ill. 
    
For many years Mrs. Miner has grieved over the disappearance of a favorite uncle, Val O'Brien, a miller by trade, who came to the United States from Ireland, but has ever since been lost to his relatives. 
    
Religiously Mr. Miner and his wife are devout members of the Catholic Church. He is a liberal contributor to all church or municipal enterprises of a worthy character, and is highly respected by all who know him, as is also his estimable spouse.