From "The Minteers As I Have Known Them" by Josephine Minteer Dickinson (1961 limited-edition private printing of 200 copies), youngest and last surviving of William Minteer and Mary Nicholson's 85 grandchildren:
"Harold James - Married Ethel Lorene Wright. Harold also went to Tulsa and spent time with my brother Wint's family. After his marriage to Ethel, they returned to Pittsburgh where he was in the building trades. Both he and his father were highly skilled, especially in stair building. Now he is in Real Estate. Ethel is a fine organist and expert in anything she undertakes. Her father was in television in its early years in Tulsa. We are all grateful for the gift of music Ethel and her children have brought to our family. Her husband has put his talents to good use in remodeling their home. The kitchen especially is a gem in modern style. I think Ethel's cooking and baking must have given him special inspiration."
------------------------
In 1900 he and his parents and sister lived in a house at 19 Sweeney Avenue in Allegheny, PA that they were renting. What was Sweeney Avenue is now Sunday Street in the 1100 block and Sunday Way in the 1200 block, so it has proven impossible to determine exactly where 19 Sweeney Avenue was. James worked as a carpenter. Harold was not born in a hospital, according to his delayed birth certificate issued after his mother's death, so would have been born in that house.
Within a few years his father bought a house out in Avalon on Home Avenue and physically moved it down the hill to its current location. In 1910 the four of them lived there, at what was numbered 406 McKinley Avenue in Avalon, PA. James owned their home, with a mortgage. James worked as a carpenter for a contracting company, but whether his own or someone else's is not known. In 1918 Harold worked as a Latheman at Standard Sanitary Mfg. Co. on Preble Ave. on the North Side of Pittsburgh.
In 1920 he and his parents lived in the same place, which by then had been re-numbered to 316 McKinley Avenue. James worked as a house carpenter and Harold as a clerk for a construction company. By then James had paid off the mortgage on their home. In the early 1920s he went out to Oklahoma, and it was Josephine's brother Wint's wife who introduced him to his future wife. They were married in Tulsa January 26, 1925 and lived back in Avalon for a few years, where their first two children were born. Then they were back out in Tulsa when their youngest child was born.
In 1930 he and his parents lived in a house they were renting for $45 a month about three houses from 531 Bellevue Road in Ross Township, Allegheny County, PA. They had a radio. James worked as a building contractor and Harold as a carpenter working for a contractor--namely, his father. The McKinley Avenue house was rented, and Harold's wife and their three children were still in Tulsa, OK, at her parent's house.
In 1940 he and his wife and their three children lived at 316 McKinley Avenue in Avalon, PA. They owned their home, which was valued at $4500. He worked as a real estate salesman.
In 1950 the five of them lived in the same house. Harold worked as a real estate salesman for a real estate company, Betty as a medical secretary for a steel compaany, and Robert as a tire salesman for a wholesale tire company.
--------------
From Harold's grandson Rob Minteer:
My Uncle Marvin wrote several times that he had often wished he had asked his parents many questions about their younger years. But he also wrote that he realized they were very private people, and so he didn't want to pry. He did learn that while in Tulsa in the late 1920s Harold had had an operation for what was assumed to be appendicitis and may or may not have been. But something didn't turn out right, and until near the end of his life he suffered with some level of pain and discomfort and couldn't eat much at a time and lost weight throughout his life--starting at 165 pounds and ending up at 110. As Marvin put it, over the course of nearly 53 years of marriage his parents "exchanged weights."
Then around 1974 he had an operation and the problem was found and corrected--apparently part of his (small?) intestine was wrapped around part of his bowel or something. It is thought that he was taken a little too deep with the anesthesia, and so after that, although his pain was gone and his appetite back, it was back a bit too strongly, and he was hungry all the time. Eventually he had to be placed in a nursing home, when it became too much for Ethel to take care of him. Marvin wrote that his Dad didn't know any of them for about the last year of his life, and recalls several times when visiting that his Dad would grab food off a cart as it was being wheeled past, despite having just eaten a full meal. As Marvin wrote: "a sad way to finish his life."
"Harold James - Married Ethel Lorene Wright. Harold also went to Tulsa and spent time with my brother Wint's family. After his marriage to Ethel, they returned to Pittsburgh where he was in the building trades. Both he and his father were highly skilled, especially in stair building. Now he is in Real Estate. Ethel is a fine organist and expert in anything she undertakes. Her father was in television in its early years in Tulsa. We are all grateful for the gift of music Ethel and her children have brought to our family. Her husband has put his talents to good use in remodeling their home. The kitchen especially is a gem in modern style. I think Ethel's cooking and baking must have given him special inspiration."
------------------------
In 1900 he and his parents and sister lived in a house at 19 Sweeney Avenue in Allegheny, PA that they were renting. What was Sweeney Avenue is now Sunday Street in the 1100 block and Sunday Way in the 1200 block, so it has proven impossible to determine exactly where 19 Sweeney Avenue was. James worked as a carpenter. Harold was not born in a hospital, according to his delayed birth certificate issued after his mother's death, so would have been born in that house.
Within a few years his father bought a house out in Avalon on Home Avenue and physically moved it down the hill to its current location. In 1910 the four of them lived there, at what was numbered 406 McKinley Avenue in Avalon, PA. James owned their home, with a mortgage. James worked as a carpenter for a contracting company, but whether his own or someone else's is not known. In 1918 Harold worked as a Latheman at Standard Sanitary Mfg. Co. on Preble Ave. on the North Side of Pittsburgh.
In 1920 he and his parents lived in the same place, which by then had been re-numbered to 316 McKinley Avenue. James worked as a house carpenter and Harold as a clerk for a construction company. By then James had paid off the mortgage on their home. In the early 1920s he went out to Oklahoma, and it was Josephine's brother Wint's wife who introduced him to his future wife. They were married in Tulsa January 26, 1925 and lived back in Avalon for a few years, where their first two children were born. Then they were back out in Tulsa when their youngest child was born.
In 1930 he and his parents lived in a house they were renting for $45 a month about three houses from 531 Bellevue Road in Ross Township, Allegheny County, PA. They had a radio. James worked as a building contractor and Harold as a carpenter working for a contractor--namely, his father. The McKinley Avenue house was rented, and Harold's wife and their three children were still in Tulsa, OK, at her parent's house.
In 1940 he and his wife and their three children lived at 316 McKinley Avenue in Avalon, PA. They owned their home, which was valued at $4500. He worked as a real estate salesman.
In 1950 the five of them lived in the same house. Harold worked as a real estate salesman for a real estate company, Betty as a medical secretary for a steel compaany, and Robert as a tire salesman for a wholesale tire company.
--------------
From Harold's grandson Rob Minteer:
My Uncle Marvin wrote several times that he had often wished he had asked his parents many questions about their younger years. But he also wrote that he realized they were very private people, and so he didn't want to pry. He did learn that while in Tulsa in the late 1920s Harold had had an operation for what was assumed to be appendicitis and may or may not have been. But something didn't turn out right, and until near the end of his life he suffered with some level of pain and discomfort and couldn't eat much at a time and lost weight throughout his life--starting at 165 pounds and ending up at 110. As Marvin put it, over the course of nearly 53 years of marriage his parents "exchanged weights."
Then around 1974 he had an operation and the problem was found and corrected--apparently part of his (small?) intestine was wrapped around part of his bowel or something. It is thought that he was taken a little too deep with the anesthesia, and so after that, although his pain was gone and his appetite back, it was back a bit too strongly, and he was hungry all the time. Eventually he had to be placed in a nursing home, when it became too much for Ethel to take care of him. Marvin wrote that his Dad didn't know any of them for about the last year of his life, and recalls several times when visiting that his Dad would grab food off a cart as it was being wheeled past, despite having just eaten a full meal. As Marvin wrote: "a sad way to finish his life."
From "The Minteers As I Have Known Them" by Josephine Minteer Dickinson (1961 limited-edition private printing of 200 copies), youngest and last surviving of William Minteer and Mary Nicholson's 85 grandchildren:
"Harold James - Married Ethel Lorene Wright. Harold also went to Tulsa and spent time with my brother Wint's family. After his marriage to Ethel, they returned to Pittsburgh where he was in the building trades. Both he and his father were highly skilled, especially in stair building. Now he is in Real Estate. Ethel is a fine organist and expert in anything she undertakes. Her father was in television in its early years in Tulsa. We are all grateful for the gift of music Ethel and her children have brought to our family. Her husband has put his talents to good use in remodeling their home. The kitchen especially is a gem in modern style. I think Ethel's cooking and baking must have given him special inspiration."
------------------------
In 1900 he and his parents and sister lived in a house at 19 Sweeney Avenue in Allegheny, PA that they were renting. What was Sweeney Avenue is now Sunday Street in the 1100 block and Sunday Way in the 1200 block, so it has proven impossible to determine exactly where 19 Sweeney Avenue was. James worked as a carpenter. Harold was not born in a hospital, according to his delayed birth certificate issued after his mother's death, so would have been born in that house.
Within a few years his father bought a house out in Avalon on Home Avenue and physically moved it down the hill to its current location. In 1910 the four of them lived there, at what was numbered 406 McKinley Avenue in Avalon, PA. James owned their home, with a mortgage. James worked as a carpenter for a contracting company, but whether his own or someone else's is not known. In 1918 Harold worked as a Latheman at Standard Sanitary Mfg. Co. on Preble Ave. on the North Side of Pittsburgh.
In 1920 he and his parents lived in the same place, which by then had been re-numbered to 316 McKinley Avenue. James worked as a house carpenter and Harold as a clerk for a construction company. By then James had paid off the mortgage on their home. In the early 1920s he went out to Oklahoma, and it was Josephine's brother Wint's wife who introduced him to his future wife. They were married in Tulsa January 26, 1925 and lived back in Avalon for a few years, where their first two children were born. Then they were back out in Tulsa when their youngest child was born.
In 1930 he and his parents lived in a house they were renting for $45 a month about three houses from 531 Bellevue Road in Ross Township, Allegheny County, PA. They had a radio. James worked as a building contractor and Harold as a carpenter working for a contractor--namely, his father. The McKinley Avenue house was rented, and Harold's wife and their three children were still in Tulsa, OK, at her parent's house.
In 1940 he and his wife and their three children lived at 316 McKinley Avenue in Avalon, PA. They owned their home, which was valued at $4500. He worked as a real estate salesman.
In 1950 the five of them lived in the same house. Harold worked as a real estate salesman for a real estate company, Betty as a medical secretary for a steel compaany, and Robert as a tire salesman for a wholesale tire company.
--------------
From Harold's grandson Rob Minteer:
My Uncle Marvin wrote several times that he had often wished he had asked his parents many questions about their younger years. But he also wrote that he realized they were very private people, and so he didn't want to pry. He did learn that while in Tulsa in the late 1920s Harold had had an operation for what was assumed to be appendicitis and may or may not have been. But something didn't turn out right, and until near the end of his life he suffered with some level of pain and discomfort and couldn't eat much at a time and lost weight throughout his life--starting at 165 pounds and ending up at 110. As Marvin put it, over the course of nearly 53 years of marriage his parents "exchanged weights."
Then around 1974 he had an operation and the problem was found and corrected--apparently part of his (small?) intestine was wrapped around part of his bowel or something. It is thought that he was taken a little too deep with the anesthesia, and so after that, although his pain was gone and his appetite back, it was back a bit too strongly, and he was hungry all the time. Eventually he had to be placed in a nursing home, when it became too much for Ethel to take care of him. Marvin wrote that his Dad didn't know any of them for about the last year of his life, and recalls several times when visiting that his Dad would grab food off a cart as it was being wheeled past, despite having just eaten a full meal. As Marvin wrote: "a sad way to finish his life."
"Harold James - Married Ethel Lorene Wright. Harold also went to Tulsa and spent time with my brother Wint's family. After his marriage to Ethel, they returned to Pittsburgh where he was in the building trades. Both he and his father were highly skilled, especially in stair building. Now he is in Real Estate. Ethel is a fine organist and expert in anything she undertakes. Her father was in television in its early years in Tulsa. We are all grateful for the gift of music Ethel and her children have brought to our family. Her husband has put his talents to good use in remodeling their home. The kitchen especially is a gem in modern style. I think Ethel's cooking and baking must have given him special inspiration."
------------------------
In 1900 he and his parents and sister lived in a house at 19 Sweeney Avenue in Allegheny, PA that they were renting. What was Sweeney Avenue is now Sunday Street in the 1100 block and Sunday Way in the 1200 block, so it has proven impossible to determine exactly where 19 Sweeney Avenue was. James worked as a carpenter. Harold was not born in a hospital, according to his delayed birth certificate issued after his mother's death, so would have been born in that house.
Within a few years his father bought a house out in Avalon on Home Avenue and physically moved it down the hill to its current location. In 1910 the four of them lived there, at what was numbered 406 McKinley Avenue in Avalon, PA. James owned their home, with a mortgage. James worked as a carpenter for a contracting company, but whether his own or someone else's is not known. In 1918 Harold worked as a Latheman at Standard Sanitary Mfg. Co. on Preble Ave. on the North Side of Pittsburgh.
In 1920 he and his parents lived in the same place, which by then had been re-numbered to 316 McKinley Avenue. James worked as a house carpenter and Harold as a clerk for a construction company. By then James had paid off the mortgage on their home. In the early 1920s he went out to Oklahoma, and it was Josephine's brother Wint's wife who introduced him to his future wife. They were married in Tulsa January 26, 1925 and lived back in Avalon for a few years, where their first two children were born. Then they were back out in Tulsa when their youngest child was born.
In 1930 he and his parents lived in a house they were renting for $45 a month about three houses from 531 Bellevue Road in Ross Township, Allegheny County, PA. They had a radio. James worked as a building contractor and Harold as a carpenter working for a contractor--namely, his father. The McKinley Avenue house was rented, and Harold's wife and their three children were still in Tulsa, OK, at her parent's house.
In 1940 he and his wife and their three children lived at 316 McKinley Avenue in Avalon, PA. They owned their home, which was valued at $4500. He worked as a real estate salesman.
In 1950 the five of them lived in the same house. Harold worked as a real estate salesman for a real estate company, Betty as a medical secretary for a steel compaany, and Robert as a tire salesman for a wholesale tire company.
--------------
From Harold's grandson Rob Minteer:
My Uncle Marvin wrote several times that he had often wished he had asked his parents many questions about their younger years. But he also wrote that he realized they were very private people, and so he didn't want to pry. He did learn that while in Tulsa in the late 1920s Harold had had an operation for what was assumed to be appendicitis and may or may not have been. But something didn't turn out right, and until near the end of his life he suffered with some level of pain and discomfort and couldn't eat much at a time and lost weight throughout his life--starting at 165 pounds and ending up at 110. As Marvin put it, over the course of nearly 53 years of marriage his parents "exchanged weights."
Then around 1974 he had an operation and the problem was found and corrected--apparently part of his (small?) intestine was wrapped around part of his bowel or something. It is thought that he was taken a little too deep with the anesthesia, and so after that, although his pain was gone and his appetite back, it was back a bit too strongly, and he was hungry all the time. Eventually he had to be placed in a nursing home, when it became too much for Ethel to take care of him. Marvin wrote that his Dad didn't know any of them for about the last year of his life, and recalls several times when visiting that his Dad would grab food off a cart as it was being wheeled past, despite having just eaten a full meal. As Marvin wrote: "a sad way to finish his life."
