Copyright © 2021 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
G. E. Minor was a scenic artist and salesman at Sosman & Landis in 1892. On February 5, 1892, the “Clinton Register” reported, “G. E. Minor, representing Sosman & Landis, was in Clinton the first week arranging for new scenery in the opera house which will be put in in about ten days “(page 3).
George Edward “Eddie” Minor (1866-1940) was one of the Minor Bros., a scenic studio that started in Kansas during the 1880s. William, George and Charlie all starting painting as young adults in Seneca, Kansas, and were soon well-known throughout the region.
They were three of eight children fathered by John O. Minor. John and his first wife Mary A. Brown celebrated the birth of six children: Nora (1862) William M. Minor (1864), George Edward Minor (1866), J. Harry Minor (1869), Charles P. Minor (1870), and Bert Minor (1880). After Mary passed away in 1880, John remarried celebrated the birth of two more children with his second wife Rosa Hasson: Dollie (1887) and Jas. (1888).
The first public listing for Eddie as a painter is in 1885, working with his older brother William. The two even temporarily moved from their home in Seneca, Kansas, to Kansas City, Missouri, for greater visibility. On Feb. 7, 1885, their work was featured in the “Carbondalian” of Carbondale, Kansas, (page 4). A short article reported, “Minor Bros. (William and Edward) of Kansas City, have painted a very fine business directory for our business men. It is on canvas background with a large moulded frame, about 5×7 feet in size and will hang in the post office. We can recommend then to the business men of other places as good and reliable workmen.” They soon became known as the Minor Bros., with their younger brother Charlie entering the business too.
They initially focused on sign painting and outdoor advertisements. On Jan. 29, 1886, the “Smith Bulletin” of Smith Centre, Kansas, reported, “The Chicago Lumber Co. has had a neat, new sign painted on the north side of its large lumber shed. The work was done by the Minor Bros. the boys who painted the scenery for the tabernacle” (page 3). In 1887 they placed a whole series of advertisements in local newspapers that consisted of very brief statements, including: “Gilt-edged and artistic lettering by Minor Bros,” “Minor Bros. for skillful and tasty sign painting,” and “Minor Bros are literally bespangling the town with gorgeous signs.” By the fall, George became the first brother to marry.
On September 5, 1887, Eddie Minor married Lillie Beery in Geary County, Kansas. Lilian Priscilla B. Beery (1870-1941) was the daughter of Martin Beery (1839-1879) and Miriam C. Griffith (1842-1909). The Beery family had moved from Tiffin, Ohio to Junction City, Kansas, about the time Lillie was born. It was in Junction City that Lillie met her future husband, and soon the couple celebrated the birth of their first son, Charles Kendall Minor in 1888. Their second son was born twenty-five years later. George Edward Minor Jr. was born in 1913.
It remains uncertain as to when George began working for Sosman & Landis, however, Will and Charlie were working for the firm in Denver, Colorado, by 1890. My guess is that in 1892. Eddie, now going by G. E., was likely working as a salesman for the firm.
That same year, a humorous story appeared in the newspaper about a Sosman & Landis scenery order from Saddle Rock, Iowa. On Nov. 26, 1892, the “Los Angeles Evening Express” reported, “At Saddle Rock, Iowa, a new manager sent an order to Sosman & Landis, Chicago, scenic artists, for ten yards of woods, sixteen feet of prison cells, on-half mile of bridges and one quarter acre of sky. Someone told him they. Had those already painted by the bolt and tore off what was ordered” (page 6). Humor aside, Sosman & Landis had produced mail order scenery since 1879; it was part of their initial marketing ploy, shipping scenery without ever visiting the venue. They had to have encountered a wide range of characters by this point.
By 1895, all three brothers were working in the scenic art business, but now for the Chicago Scenic Co. Their projects were periodically mentioned in the Seneca newspaper, making me wonder if the Minor Bros. unofficially established the firm. On May 3, 1895, “The Courier-Tribune” of Seneca, Kansas, reported, “Charles, W. M. and G. E. Minor, of Chicago, are in this city visiting their many old friend and acquaintances. They are the sons of Jno. O. Minor and formerly lived in Seneca, but the parents of the boys, Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Minor, now live in Baileyville. The three young men above mentioned are now with the Chicago Scenic Co., and are doing a nice business. They are working on the Crawford circuit and doing jobs at St. Joseph, Atchison and Topeka. Will painted the first drop curtain for the Grand Opera House. He picked up his trade while living here, and now all three are recognized as experts in this line. Will also painted the drop curtain for Sabetha and Hiawatha G. A. R. Halls. They are a nice lot of boys who have come right to the front” (page 3).
Projects at this time included the opera houses in both Junction City and Salina. On May 9, 1895, the “Junction City Tribune” reported, “Will, Charlie and G. E. Minor of Chicago are visiting friends and will renew the old and paint some new scenery for the opera house while here” (page 5). On June 10, 1895, Junction City’s “Daily Sentinel” reported, “G. E. Minor left today for Salina to commence his contract of painting and renewing curtains and scenery at the opera house. The Minor Bros. are fine gentlemen and fully understand their business” (page 3). This notice was followed up on June 15, 1895, when the “Junction City Weekly” reported, “G. E. Minor went to Salina Monday” (page 2).
The Minor Bros. were still working for the Chicago Scenic Co. in 1896. On May 4 of that year, “Stevens Point Daily Journal” in Wisconsin reported, “Minor Bros. of the Chicago Scenic Co. have finished painting a handsome advertising drop curtain for the Opera House. The curtain will be used between acts. The gentlemen are also painting curtains in Waupaca and Grand Rapids” (page 4). Around this time, George Minor’s wife and children settled in Leavenworth, Kansas. Meanwhile, G. E. Minor drifted from one theatre project to the next. On Oct 22, 1896, the “Leavenworth Times” reported, “Mrs. G. E. Minor and her son Kendall, left yesterday for Junction City to visit a month with friends and relatives” (page 5).
It remains unclear as to how long the Minor Bros. were associated with Chicago Scenic Co, yet the firm continued to operate for two more years. In 1898 they were credited with delivering scenery to the opera house in Abilene, Kansas.
In 1899 the Minor Bros. were still working together, but I don’t know if this meant all three brothers, or just two. On Feb 24, 1899, “The Courier-Tribune” of Seneca, Kansas, reported, “The Minor Bros. have taken the contract to paint the stage scenery for the Catholic school hall. They are at work on it now and doing a fine job. The Minor boys have the reputation of being as fine scenic painters as there are in the country and have done work in all the large cities from Chicago to the Pacific coast. They started to paint in Seneca years ago under the tutelage of J. Y. Benfer.”
I want to briefly include a little background on John Y. Benefer (1844-1913). Benefer was living in Seneca when the Minor family arrived in 1882. That year, both Benefer and J. O. Minor were listed as members of the GAR when the George Graham Post was established in Seneca. Benefer ran a paint shop and worked as a sign and carriage painter in Benefer at the same time the Minor Bros. began their painting business. Born in Pennsylvania, Benefer learned the painting trade in Norfolk, Ohio, just prior to the Civil War. After the war, Benefer moved west, eventually settling in Seneca. Benefer ran a paint shop for ten years, but later in life he worked as an architect. He is credited with the many homes and business not only in Seneca, but also throughout Nemaha County.
On July 27, 1900, the “Junction City Weekly” reported, Mr. G. E. Minor went east today to take in Kansas City, Chicago, and Calumet, Mich.” (page 8).That same year William Minor working for Sosman & Landis. On July 20, 1900, the “Marengo Republican” of Marengo, Illinois, reported, “William Minor, representing the firm of Sosman & Landis, the great scenic artists of Chicago, has been for the past two weeks painting new scenery and redecorating the old at the local playhouse.” It remains unclear if G. E. Minor was still working in the painting industry at this time.
By 1904, G. E. Minor was working for the Red Wing Advertising Co, of Kansas City. This was a regional branch of the Red Wing Advertising Co. in Red Wing, Minnesota. The firm employed both men and women in their traveling sales department, sending them across the country with advance cards and samples. George’s work for the company in 1904 was noted in “The Seneca Tribune” on Sept. 15, 1904. An article about his father’s sixty-seventh birthday celebration included the current occupations of William, Eddie, Harry and Charles, listing, “W. Mansel Minor, scenic artist of New York, G. E. Mino, representing the Red Wing Advertising Co, of Kansas City, Harry Minor, with Brown & Bigelow making specialties for advertisers and Charles Minor, scenic artist of Chicago.”
George’s travels continued to be noted in the Seneca newspaper, especially whenever he visited home. On Nov. 29, 1906, the “Courier-Tribune” of Seneca, Kansas” reported, “G. E. Minor of Kansas City, visited his parents, J. O. Minor and wife last week” (page 8). George continued to work in sales over the years, but his focus was constantly shifting from one industry to the next. By 1910 he was working as a salesman for an insurance company in Kansas City, Missouri, living with his wife Lille (39) and his oldest son Charles K. (21).
By 1913, he began helping his brother Harry, attempting to include the Old Santa Fe trail as part of the new transcontinental highway system. On Nov. 14, 1913, the “Democrat-Opinion” of McPherson, Kansas, reported, “The Minor Bros., J. Harry and G. E., and George Loundsbury of Kansas City, representing the National Old Trail Association, held a meeting in the Opera House Monday evening. They are working for the Old Trail Association and are boosting the old Santa Fe Trail as part of the link of the paved highway from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco. They delivered log books showing the route of the Old Santa Fe Trail, and went west along the historic route” (page 5). Years later, his brother Harry would be remembered as a “Pioneer Road Surveyor.” When Harry Minor died in 1941, his contributions were heralded in the “Los Angeles Times.” I am including the article in its entirety as I find it fascinating.
On March 16, 1941, “Los Angeles Times” reported:
“Pioneer Road Surveyor Dies.
John Harrison Minor, 72, Prepared Coast-to-Coast Highway Guide in 1914.
John Harrison Minor, 72, known as “J. Harry,” pioneer automobile highway map surveyor died yesterday morning of cerebral hemorrhage at the General Hospital.
He lived in Southern California seven years, making his home at 2014 N. Argyle Ave., with his wife, Mrs. Nellie Minor, and son, Charles Harrison Minor. He was born in Keithsburg, Illinois.
Prepared Guide.
In 1914, when preparations were under way for the Pan-American Exposition in San Diego, and when automobiles were classed as luxuries, Mr. Minor and his son toured from New York to California, preparing the first transcontinental road guide over the National Old Trails Road. U.S. Highway 66 and 40, in various parts of the country were mapped at that time. The trip was so successful that Mr. Minor mapped the entire United States, preparing maps for the Official Tourist Information Bureau.
FIFTEEN VOLUMES.
Fifteen volumes of his road guide ran into 65 editions, on file in the Library of Congress.
Besides his widow and son, he leaves a daughter, Mrs. C. A. Warner of Bloomfield, N.J.; two brothers, Charles P. and Burt A. Minor of Topeka, Kan.; a sister Mrs. G. A. Lansberry of Kansas City, Mo., and four grandchildren” (page 38).”
While Harry crossed the country, G. E. Minor remained in Kansas City, soon setting his sights on the stock and bond trade. The remainder of Minor brothers joined in the game. William Minor even left his successful scenic art career to become a Kansas City broker by 1918. This says a little bit about the family. The Minor brothers continued to support one another over the years. Initially, it was the painting trade. Later in life it was stocks, bonds, insurance and oil.
In 1919, George partnered with Walter S. Nevins to establish the brokerage firm of Minor & Nevins, located at 502 Waldheim building in Kansas City. Both William and George became brokers at h this time. George Minor briefly returned to work as a salesman in 1921, as did his son Charles K. Minor, who was again living at home, now working for T. H. Mastin & Co. The entire Minor family remained quite active in the business community, with G. E. being elected as president at a J. C. Reunion that year; the event was even held at the Minor home, 5316 Oak Street (“Junction City Weekly Union,” 8 June 1922, page 1).
Their former Sosman & Landis boss, Thomas G. Moses, continued to visit the Minor Bros. over the years. In 1929 Moses recorded that met up with G. E. and Charles Minor in Kansas City. Of the reunion, he wrote, “I called on the Lilley Company – (regalia company). Met Mr. Butcher, the assistant manager. He called up my friends the Minors – Ed and Charlie, and they came down to see me. Had a very pleasant visit.” Almost four decades had passed since Moses hired the Minor brothers.
By 1930, George began a new business endeavor, one that seemed quite promising at the time. The census that year listed his occupation as a proprietor of the Farm Crop. His son Charles K. was listed as a salesman with the Farm Corps. too. It was a new company. On Jan. 4, 1930, the “Kansas City Star” announced that the Farm Corps. was a “New Kansas Wheat Concern” (page 3). The article continued, “G. E. Minor, of 5316 Oak Street was given contract for the fiscal agency of the Kansas Farms Corporation. The article noted, “The Kansas Farms Corporation, the latest addition to the group of incorporated farming enterprises in Kansas, was granted a charter Dec. 31 at Topeka. Its purpose is to industrialize wheat farming and produce wheat on a large scale with the aid of modern machinery. The officer and directors that year included: J. M. Rinker, WaKeeney Kas., a wheat grower, forty-five years in the section, and owner of 3,600 acres of wheat, president.; G. E. Minor, formerly in the bond business here, first vice-president. Others included bankers, lawyers and a retired wheat grower. The article added, “The Kansas Farms Corporation will maintain offices in Topeka and Junction City and later probably in Kansas City.”
G. E.’s association with the company didn’t last and he set his sights higher – on oil. He was continuing to hustle, constantly traveling the country; his body finally gave out. On May 15, 1940, the “Kansas City Star” headlined, “George Edward Minor. Oil Salesman Stricken Fatally on Trip to New York” (page 8). The obituary continued, “George Edward Minor, 73 years old, 5313 Holmes street, died in a hotel in New York, where he had gone on business. Mr. Minor had lived in Kansas City thirty-five years, coming here from Junction City, Kansas. He was an active member of the Shrine and of the Second Presbyterian Church.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Lillie B. Minor, and two sons, C. K. Minor and George E. Minor, jr., all of the home; a sister, Mrs. George A Lansberry, 5811 Woodland av and three brothers, B. A. Minor and Charles P. Minor, both of Topeka, and J. H. Minor of Los Angeles. Burial will be in Junction City.”
His wife Lillie passed away the next year, on April 17, 1941.
To be continued…
