Pittsburgh Hosts 2008 National Minerd-Miner Family Reunion

Family Members Reunite to Celebrate Pittsburgh’s 250th  

PITTSBURGH – Calling all members of the Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor family! In celebration of the Pittsburgh region’s 250^th anniversary, the city will host the 2008 national Minerd-Miner Family Reunion, June 27-29. More than 50,000 family descendants from across the United States are invited to this annual event.

The clan has been holding reunions every year since 1986, each with a different theme. Since 1994 they have averaged crowds of 100. The clan’s success in reaching out to its vast diaspora scattered across the nation is the popularity of its website – www.minerd.com. Named one of the “Top 10 Family Web Sites” by Family Tree magazine, the site contains more than 1,200 biographies and scores of feature pages and online museums and archives, and has drawn more than 1 million visitors since its May 2000 launch! 

The family traces its roots back to Revolutionary War veteran Jacob Minerd Sr. and his wife, Maria Nein, who settled near Mill Run, Fayette County, in 1791. They are known to have had 12 children, and a documented minimum of 87 grandchildren, 469 great-grandchildren and 1,344 great-great grandchildren, with more discovered all the time. Over the years, spelling of the German family name has evolved from Meinert to Minerd, Minard, Miner and Minor.

One biography features cousin Corwin D. Tilbury (1853-1947) of East Liberty and Oakmont, who served on Pittsburgh City Council in 1908 and was a member of the Sesquicentennial Committee, which organized the city’s 150th birthday. Other biographies feature cousins who built and cared for Fallingwater, taught in Western Pennsylvania schools, and labored in local coal mines, coke ovens, steel mills and railroads.

 “A vast majority of our family left Pittsburgh as early as 1812, and were pioneers in Ohio, West Virginia and all across the country. And, most cousins alive today have no idea that their ancient roots are here. We’re trying to change that,” said Mark Miner, reunion committee president.

“At VisitPittsburgh, we are responsible for encouraging families, corporations and associations to bring their reunions to the region to join in the 250^th celebration. We’re delighted to welcome the entire Minerd-Miner family for this weekend festival. So many family roots are planted right here in Pittsburgh, and we’re very happy to have the opportunity reintroduce our region, especially to those who have scattered around the world,” said Joe McGrath, president and CEO of VisitPittsburgh.         

            "Reunions are a perfect way for families to salute our city's landmark birthday and show off its transformation into America's Most Livable City to their family members who may not have been here for some time," said Andrew E. Masich, president of the Heinz History Center, and a leader of the Pittsburgh 250 Commission. "We are honored to host the Minerd-Miner family, and want to congratulate them on having one of the best-integrated reunion and genealogy Web sites in Western Pennsylvania."

The reunions will bring home a significant economic impact to the region – helping to grow the economy through overnight visitation and provide a direct impact on restaurants, hotels, transportation, entertainment and numerous support services.
            VisitPittsburgh has created “Reunion 2008 Kits” – a 16-page information kit that provides everything one needs to know about planning a reunion. The planning kits are available by calling 800-359-0758 or online at www.visitpittsburgh.com. 

VisitPittsburgh is dedicated to generating convention, trade show and leisure travel business for the Pittsburgh region.