Person:Charles Minnemeyer (1)

MISE: Musician, 11th Pennsylvania Reserves, Infantry Regiment from Butler County, Pennsylvania - Civil War Place: Butler County,,Pennsylvania,United States Note: Changed: Date: 13 May 2011 Time: 17:46:53 CREA: Date: 26 Apr 2011 Time: 17:50:13

Charles Minnemeyer organized the Ben Davis Cornet Band in 1882 when he moved to Ben Davis in 1865.

CREA: Date: 19 May 2011 Time: 19:08:06

(Research):The 1850 US Federal Census: Butler County, West Connoquenessing Township, Pennsylvania; Roll 432_760; Page 99 lists Charles Minamier as an 11 year old male living with his parents and siblings: Nicholas Minamier, 35, M, Weaver, Born in France Christiana, 25, F, Born in Germany Charles, 11, M, Born in Pennsylvania George, 9, M; Born in Pennsylvania Mary, 8, F, Born in Pennsylvania Caroline, 6, F, Born in Pennsylvania Christiana, 3, F, Born in Pennsylvania John, 1, M, Born in Pennsylvania It is believed that Nicholas immigrated to the US with his widowed mother, Magadalene (Maga) Minemyer sometime prior to 1840. She is listed as having been born in Germany. The family originated in Alsace Lorraine which was claimed by France and Germany of and on for decades. It seems to depend upon what country was in control of the city at any given time. The surname is listed on census records from 1840 on with various spellings: Menameyer, Minamier, Minamoyer, Minamyer, Minemier, Minemire, Minemyer, Minemyer, Minimayer, Minimoyer, Minnemeyer, Minnemyer, and Minnimoyer.

Ben Davis was a small unincorporated community with a sawmill, general store and blacksmith shop located six miles west of Indianapolis. Business men and farmers were tired of making the trip to Indianapolis with their goods and decided to petition the railroad to make a stop in their community. A committee, headed by Charlie Minnemeyer, the sawmill operator, went to Indianapolis to talk to Benjamin Davis, a superintendent of the railroad. He suggested they build a loading platform in the middle of town, which they did. Then they had to name the stop to be listed in the Vandalia Railroad schedule. The story goes that someone stood up and shouted, "Oh, let's call it Ben Davis," the name stuck. At the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Ben Davis (July 1979) the grandchildren of Charles Minnemeyer were invited as guests of honor. Charles Hollis "Hollis" Minnemeyer, his wife, Lela Fern "Fern" Chitwood Minnemeyer; Ravena May "Susie" Minnemeyer Tranter; Costa Joseph "Joseph" Minnemeyer, his wife Marie Elizabeth Trees Minnemeyer all attended.

Ravena Minnemeyer Tranter told me that Grandpa Minnemeyer bought the three grandchildren penny whistles and they would march around his farm making a "terrible noise". He had hoped he could make musicians out of them.

1. ↑ Mount Jackson Cemetery; Wayne Township, Marion County, Indi.
2.   The Indianapolis Star.
3.   Charles Henry Minnemeyer. Civil War Diary of Charles Henry Minnemeyer, Principal Musc.
4.   Samuel P. Bates, Member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861 - 5; Prepared IN C. (Harrisburg: B. Singerly, State Printer; 1869).
5.   Wayne Township, Marion County, Indiana 1920 Census.