Hi Cheryl,

Please copy and paste to bio:



From the 1905 History of Jefferson County New York:

Captain John Minar, son of John and Catherine (Colon) Minar,
was born in Schenectady, New York. He became a sailor, as did his
brothers, William, Abraham and Lyman, while two, William and Henry,
were farmers. Of those of the family who followed the sea the Jeffer-
son County Journal said : "The Minars are types of the old Norse Vik-
ings. Captain John Minar has been up and down this chain of lakes for
forty years, rising from cabin boy to commander and owner of fleets."
It was said of him in his youth that on the steamer "St. Lawrence" he
did the work and received the pay of three men. Physically he was
almost a Hercules, weighing two hundred and forty- or fifty pounds, yet being so admirably proportioned that although he seemed muscular he did not appear unduly large. In his young manhood he became master
of the schooner "Lucinda" , under F. G. Merrick, who was then also
associated with James Smith. Later as part owner he commanded the
"Adriatic", " Pathfinder" and a number of others. The" Montana", "M. I. Wilcox" and "Ganges" were stanch schooners of the noted "Reindeer Fleet" which he was instrumental in having built. He was a fearless sailor and underwent experiences which were calculated to test the metal of the best of his calling, but was never known to be worsted. He outsailed many
severe storms and on more than one occasion brought his vessel safely
into port when many about went down with all on board. He was of sturdy,
manly character and of a deeply religious nature, and exercised a most
salutary influence upon the rough characters who formed the major part
of the crews he was called to deal with.

Captain Minar married Betsey R. Blount. She was a frail woman physically,
but as fearless a seaman as himself, and she frequently shared his perils.
She was aboard the "Adriatic" with him in 1856 during a terrible storm in
which many vessels foundered and scores of lives were lost. When their
situation seemed hopeless Captain Minar said to her, " I would give all I am worth in this world if you and Fannie (their child) were only on shore.
"Well I wouldn't have you give it," was the brave answer, " for if you
go to the bottom of the lake I want to go with you." The devoted wife died May 16, 1860, aged thirty five years and four months. She bore to her husband five children: 1. Alice S, born May 12, 1849, died September 12, 1850. 2. Ella Cornelia, born November 23, 1850, died July 1, 1851.
3. Fannie R., born June 22, 1852. 4. Walter J., born September 4,
married Jennie Hundley February 11, 1875. 5. Elbridge Gerry, born July 23, 1859.
On February 9 1865 Captain Minar married Mary Myres Fiske. On
April 2, 1898, in the eighty eighth year of his age Captain Minar passed away. His daughter, Mrs. Ford, characterized the last rites as a sweet impressive Christian burial. There was no undue sorrow for loving faith could see beyond the grave and picture the joyous reunion with many loved ones.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks,

Kent

PS Please remove my remarks you posted before since this is my uncle.





-------------------------