Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Purchased with the assistance of the Nelle Richardson Tonkin Fund.
Ezra Monroe Minnick (1865-1939) and his father William H. Arehart, (1835-1910) were famers in Timberville, Rockinham County, Virginia. Ezra was born out of wedlock and raised solely by his mother Sarah C. Minnick (1833-1913), who was Arehart's first cousin. Arehart was a sergeant in the Confederate Army. After the Civil War (1861-1865), Ezra started a business with Arehart called "Minnick & Arehart, Feed & Grain." Arehart was married twice, first to Margaret Jane Roller (1845-1876) in 1872 and then to Jane Wise (1845-after 1910) in 1884. He had one daughter with Roller who died in infancy. Ezra married his first wife Joanna Catharine Bowman (1861-1934) in 1888, with whom he had four children, and after she died he married Laura A. Bushnog in 1935. Ezra's obituary stated that he was the son of Mathias and Sarah C. Minnick, apparently maintaining the story that he wasn't the son of Sarah's cousin Arehart.
Minnick and Arehart Family papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
Collection of diaries, ledgers, letters, and photographs from Ezra Monroe Minnick and his father William Arehart.
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.