Minor, Gideon

Born: 1818-08-16 Brown County, Ohio

Alternate name: Miner

Minor moved to Kentucky with his parents when he was four, and his father farmed there until 1832, when he moved the family to East Oakland, Illinois. Minor's father bought a large farm there but died the following year, leaving Minor to manage it. In 1847, he married Nancy Powers, with whom he had one child. In 1850, Minor was farming in Coles County, and owned $850 in real estate. He remained a farmer his entire life, although he also held several public offices.

The History of Coles County, Illinois (Chicago: Wm. Le Baron, Jr., 1879), 572; Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, Coles County, 22 November 1847, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Coles County, IL, 91.