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Descendants of
Sylvanus Oliver Minter
(1854-1906)
Sylvanus "Uncle Syl" was the eighth child of Joseph "Pappy" Thomas Minter and Sarah Ann Minter. Syl was one year old when the Minters moved to Texas in 1855. He was a farmer and brick mason. Land he owned in Pine Forest is still in the hands of Minter descendants today (2005). In his 1902 book Early History of Hopkins County Texas, E.B. Fleming said of Sylvanus, "He is one of the best men in Hopkins County. To know him is to love him. He is a big-hearted [sic] nobleman, meriting all the respect and esteem he enjoys."
Sylvanus Oliver "Uncle Syl" Minter (b.1854 - d.1906), son of Joseph Thomas (b.1818 - d.1888) and Sarah Ann (Carter) Minter (b.1820 - d.1900).
Emmett Bascom Minter (b.1882 - d.1945), son of Sylvanus Oliver and Frances (Stephens) Minter. This picture was taken on or about his wedding, circa 1907. Emmett was murdered in Sulphur Springs, Texas in 1945.
Ruby Odell Bryarly's (b.1888 - d.1929) bridal picture prior to her marriage to Emmett B. Minter, circa 1907.
Emmett B. Minter and his wife Ruby (Bryarly) Minter with their children, from L-R: Florrie Ruth; Emmett holding Doris in his lap; Ruby holding Howard; and Elkin.
Circa 1917.
Raymond Grey Minter was 5 years old when he was orphaned. He was unofficially adopted at that time by his Aunt Martha "Mattie" (Minter) Denney (b.1858 - d.1907). This picture was made at that time -- 1906. Unfortunately, Aunt Mattie passed away on the next year, 1907, and Raymond was put in an orphan's home. After several years living at the orphanage, he had become disenchanted with life and conditions there, and began to be a discipline-problem. At the time, his older half-brother, Emmett B. Minter, got him released to his care and took him to live at his home. Raymond thrived living there. Emmett's children, younger than Raymond, looked up to him as a big brother, and all was well.
Raymond Grey Minter (b.1901 - d.1953), son of Sylvanus Oliver (b.1854 - d.1906) and Carrie (Crowser) Minter (b.1859 - d.1904).
Ruby Odell (Bryarly) Minter and Bryarly Relatives.
1. Bonnie Jewel (Bryarly) Clark (b.1889 - d.1977), Ruby's sister, with daughter Mary Gertrude Clark.
2. Ruby (Bryarly) Minter with son, Howard Minter.
3. Silas Wright Bryarly (b.1856 - d1939), Ruby's father.
4. Adalade "Addie" Gertrude (Hargrove) Bryarly (b.1857 - d.1925), Ruby's mother.
5. Samuel Moore, husband to Lucy Kate (Bryarly) Moore, not shown. Lucy was another one of Ruby's sisters.
6. Elkin Margaret Minter (b.1911 - d.1996), Ruby's daughter.
7. Doris Evelyn Minter (b.1915 - d. 2006), Ruby's daughter.
8. Florrie Ruth Minter (b.1911 - d.1974), Ruby's daughter.
9. Susie Eleanor (Bryarly) Gilbreth (b.1895 - d.1975), Ruby's sister, with son Joe Clyde Gilbreth.
10. James Carlton Gilbreth (b.1893 - d.1957), Susie's husband.
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Ruby Odell Bryarly eating bread in front of the picket fence of their home.
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Ruby Odell (Bryarly) Minter with children. Two children standing, from left to right, is Doris Evelyn Minter and Joe C. Gilbreth. Children on porch are unknown.
Doris Evelyn (Minter) Moore with daughter, Margaret. (1939).
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Doris (Minter) Myers. (1941).
Read the article about Doris written by her grandson, Mark Morrow, here.
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Doris (Minter) Myers. Photo on left is from 1974. Photo on right is from 1983.
Photo taken at a Pine Forest Reunion on June 13, 1983.
Standing, L-R: Elkin Minter (b.1909 - d.1996), Howard Minter (b.1917 - d.1987), Ruth (Minter) Castillon (b.1919 - d.2008), Carolyn Castillon, Doris (Minter) Myers (b.1915 - d.2006), Jean Elizabeth (Minter) Highfield (b.1926 - d.1995), Oscar Ernest Castillon (b.1921 - d.1996), husband of Ruth (Minter) Castillon, and Robert Lee Minter, Jr. (b.1916 - d.2002).
Seated, L-R: Jim Ables (b.1900 - d.1969), Julia Leita (Minter) Ables (b.1904 - d.1992), Ruth (Cruse) Minter (b.???? - d.????), wife of Lee Minter, Jr.
Doris Evelyn (Minter) Stewart (b.1915 - d.2006) and her third husband, Claude Terrell "C.T" Stewart (b.1916 - d.2010). Doris was the daughter of Emmett B. and Ruby (Bryarly) Minter.
Scott Brown (b.????) is a son, in another marriage, of Kenneth "Kenny" Brown (b.1941). Kenny is the son of Helen (Thomas) and Robert Brown.
Need more information.
Florrie Ruth (Minter) Hargrave (b.1911 - d.1974) and her husband Jack Earnest Hargrave (b.1914 - d.1951) shortly after their wedding in 1935. Florrie Ruth was the daughter of Emmett B. and Ruby (Bryarly) Minter.
This picture was taken in 1993 at the advent of Charles "Chuck" Pye (b.1964) and Julie (Gleason) Pye's (b.1960) wedding.
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Sydney Elaine (Lewis) (b.1969) and Chad Ross Williams (b.1969). Chad is the son of Kathy (Thomas) and David R. Williams. Kathy is the daughter to Dr. & Mrs. Paul Jasper Thomas.
Victoria Elaine Williams (b.2000), daughter of Sydney and Chad R. Williams. Great-granddaughter of Dr. Paul Thomas.
Ruth (Brown) Minter (b.1913 - d.1987), wife of Howard B. Minter
(b.1917 - d.1987).
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A family reunion on October 8, 1989 of the descendants of Emmett B. Minter (b.1882 - d.1945) and Ruby (Bryarly) Minter (b.1888 - d.1929) on the occasion of their daughter Elkin's 80th birthday.
1. Sue Hawthorne; 2. Michael Marrow (b.1970); 3. Elkin Minter; 4. Mary Ann Coburn; 5. Margaret Ruth Gleason; 6. Karen Minter; 7. Zack Coburn; 8. Michelle Morrow (b1974); 9. Vincent Minter; 10. C.T. Stewart; 11. Julie (Gleason) Pye (b.1960); 12. Doris (Minter) Stewart; 13. Rob Coburn; 14. Rebecca Jane McIlvain (b.1951 - d.2012); 15. Ruby Sue (Moore) Morrow (b.1940); 16. William Stroud McIlvain (b.1925); 17. Valter Thomas "Tommy" Gleason; 18. Myra Jean (Hargrave) McIlvain (b.1938); 19. Jaynelle Minter; 20. Ami Minter; 21, Katie Coburn; 22. Josh Highfield; 23. Jake Sawyer.
School pictures (ca. early 1920s) of the two sons of Dr. Harold Raymond (b.1877 - d.1938) and Emme Lelan (Minter) Thomas (b.1878 - d.1959). Both boys later became physicians. At left, Harold Rudolph Thomas (b.1907 - d.1974). Right, Paul Jasper Thomas (b.1910 - d.1995).
Helen (Thomas) Brown (b.1904 - d.1989), older sister of Harold Rudolph and Paul Thomas.
Paul Jasper Thomas (b.1910 - d.1995) in town, circa 1921.
Elkin Margaret Minter (b.1909 - d.1996), daughter of Emmett B. and Ruby (Bryarly) Minter.
Mary Annie Ruth (Minter) Johnston (b.1893 - d.1971), third daughter of Sylvanus Oliver and Frances Elizabeth (Stephens) Minter.
L-R: Doris (Minter) Moore, Emme Lelan (Minter) Thomas, Ralph Minter, and Helen (Thomas) Brown. The baby is Ruby Sue (Moore) Morrow (b.1940) and the little girl Margaret Ruth (Moore) Gleason.
Information in this description needs to be verified.
Howard B. Minter (b.1917 - d.1987).
Howard Bryarly Minter (b.1917 - d.1987).
World War II composite. Howard served four years in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. He retired from Marathon Oil, where he was a production superintendent. After retirement, he moved to Bryan, Texas to be near his family.
Back: Lucas Hanna (b. 1979).
Front Left: Matthew Hanna (b.1982).
Front Right: "Meg" Hanna (b.1985).
These are the children of Steve (b.1948) and Sally (Thomas) Hanna (b.1950). Sally is the granddaughter of Harry Raymond Thomas and Emme Lelan (Minter) Thomas.
Ralph L. Minter (b.1921 - d.2012), son of Emmett B. and Ruby (Bryarly) Minter.
R.E. Williams, Jr. (b.1913 - d.1992) and Edith Williams (b.1913 - d.2001), parents of David Ross Williams, husband of Kathy (Thomas) Williams
Top: Mark Edward Williams (b. 1967) and his wife Heather Page (Hatchett) Williams (b.1969).
Bottom: Mark and Heather's children, Nicklaus Edward Williams (b.1994) and Joyce Madison Williams (b.1998). Mark is the son of David Ross and Kathy (Thomas) Williams.
Dr. Harold Raymond Thomas and his brother, Dr. Jasper Bertum "Bert" Thomas (b.1879 - d.1937). Dr. Harold Raymond Thomas practiced medicine and pharmacy in Pine Forest from 1911 to 1924. Dr. Bert Thomas practiced dentistry in Sulphur Springs.
Kathryn "Kathy" (Thomas) Williams (b. 1944) and her husband David Ross Williams (b.1942). Kathy is the daughter of Dr. Paul Jasper Thomas and David is the son of R.E. and Edith Williams.
Helen (Thomas) Brown (b.1904 - d.1989) and her husband, Robert Toombs Brown (b.1900 - d.1974). They married in 1940. This picture was taken in Childress, TX in 1925.
John J. Kazo (b.1872 - d.1928) and his two sons, John Thomas (b.1898 - d.1979) on the left and Michael John (b.1900 - d.1959) on the right. The two boys were brother of Dr. Paul Thomas' wife, Margaret.
Dr. Paul Jasper Thomas and Margaret Rita (Kazo) Thomas (b.1913 - d.1994). They were married in New Orleans on Oct. 17, 1938. Dr. Thomas had a great sense of humor, as can be seen in this picture of him clowning around.
Thomas family members.
Back row: (mother) Emme Lelan (Minter) Thomas; Helen (Thomas) Brown.
Front row, L-R: Dr. Harold Rudolph Thomas; Diane Thomas; "Kathy" Thomas; Robert Brown, Helen's husband.
Glen Lafayette Minter (b.1875 - d.1939), the first son of Sylvanus Oliver and Frances (Stephens) Minter. Glen married Mamye A. (Jones) Minter (b.1881 - d.1937) and had one child, Glennell, who died at a very young age.
Kenneth "Kenny" Brown (b.1941) is the adopted son of Helen and Robert Brown. He is shown here in 1988 with his daughter, Mandy.
Ruby Odell Bryarly (b.1888 - d.1929), wife of Emmett B. Minter. (Circa 1927).
Right: Sally (Thomas) Hanna (b.1950). Left: Sally's husband, Steve Elliott Hanna (b.1948). Sally is the daughter of Dr. Paul Jasper Thomas, and sister of Kathy (Thomas) Williams.
Jean Elizabeth (Minter) Highfield (b.1926 - d.1995) and her husband, Archie Highfield (b.1927 - d.?). Jean is the daughter of Emmett B. and Ruby (Bryarly) Minter.
Jean Elizabeth (Minter) Highfield (b.1926 - d.1995), daughter of Emmett B. and Ruby (Bryarly) Minter. She married Archie Highfield (b.1927 - d.2010) on Feb. 26, 1948.
Doris (Minter) Myers in a suit she made and modeled for a fashion show at Texas Woman's University (TWU) in 1957.
Emme Lelan (Minter) Thomas, in her later years, and her husband, Dr. Harold Raymond Thomas.
Myra Jean (Hargrave) McIlvain (b.1938), daughter of Florrie Ruth (Minter) (b.1911 - d.1974) and Jack Earnest Hargrave (b.1914 - d.1951). Myra is an award-winning author of Texas tales.
Myra Jean (Hargrave) McIlvain (b.1938) and her husband, William Stroud McIlvain (b.1925).
(Photo taken in 2017).
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