John Minor
(July 25, 1849 - November 12, 1924) Son of William W. Minor and Mary Waters Terrell Minor, married Lucy Lee Trice
(May 26, 1891),
father of Margaret Lee Minor (born March 9, 1892).
Dear brother,
I send Botney over this morning for those Norton vines you told Pa you had left over - about 150 I believe.
Please fix them so that the young buds won't be rubbed off & Pa says that some covering ought to be over
the roots. In other words, fix them right and send them over...
Aff'ately, your brother,
John Minor May 16, 1877 (to William W. Minor, Jr. at Windieknowe)
William Wardlow Minor (1812-1887)
(John Minor's father)
Mary Waters Terrell Minor (1814-1894) (John Minor's mother)
... John was the next brother. His education was never as good as his brothers for he, instead of going
to the University, stayed at home and worked the farm after the Civil War. After his mother's death, he
inherited the home, "Gale Hill," and continued to make it a home for any of the family who cared to come.
He was very bright and a great tease and a hard worker, but not a successful manager. He married his
cousin Lucy Trice and they had but one child, Margaret. Aunt Lucy died shortly after her child's birth
so Margaret was largely raised by my mother's next sister, Jane Bell (Mrs. Dabney) and Uncle John lived
at Gale Hill alone many winters but always had a full house in the summers. From Story of a Large American Family, by Dr. William Minor ("Buck") Bryan
Kate Coles (1856-1943)
Master John, he farmed and lived home. He married a Miss Trice, a lovely lady, very delicate. The old
home was made by them very happy for his mother in her old days. From "The Generations of Gale Hill," by Kate Coles
Uncle John (Minor) could always tell the safe stage for crossing (the Rivanna). I have known persons on
the
town side to hallo or get a man neighbor to hallo till someone at Gale Hill heard the call. Then Uncle John
would go down to the river and, if it were fordable, decide upon the crossing and give instruction to the
driver...
Margaret Lee Minor with "Mammy Patty" at "Gale Hill"
The last years of her (Mammy Patty's) life were lived at Gale Hill. In summer she occupied a front room in the
servants' house in the yard, but after she became infirm and careless about fire, Uncle John moved her into the
house in winter. She was given the bedroom next to his, and he watched her fire himself at night and made it up
for her in the morning...
(Uncle John's horse was named Sadie. The Office contained two bedrooms.) This was torn down about the time of
Uncle John's marriage as being no longer needed and being a blot on the landscape as seen from the verandah.
The Gale Hill people were famed for their fine gardens. The ground was terraced, was well cared for, & produced
a great variety & abundance of vegetables and berries. There were some few fruit trees and grape vines there,
too; but the real orchard and vineyard had plenty of fruit.
The Gale Hill people were fond of games: tennis, croquet, cards, & in late
days the gentlemen played golf. They were also lovers of music, both vocal and
instrumental, and several of the family had good voices.
John Minor, ca. 1880
After Aunt Lucy's death which was when Margaret was only five years old, Uncle John lived at Gale Hill alone
in winter except for a white tenant family in the back end of the house. He kept his own cook, Eliza Jane,
daughter of "Aunt Harriet", Grandma's cook in my childhood, who came every morning in time to get his breakfast
& cooked & cleaned for him. If Eliza Jane was sick, Mrs. Johnson the tenant's wife prepared food for him as well
as for her own family. In summer the Gale Hill house was full of members of the family. Margaret, who lived
with my mother in the winters after her mother's death, went home to Gale Hill for the summers & sometimes my
mother went with her family, especially while Margaret was a little child, & then my mother kept house.
Sometimes Aunt Margaret (Bryan) went with her family, and generally Aunt Sallie (called Nig by Uncle John &
Nimmie by Margaret) went, but she was very much occupied with her delicate baby for several years. Later on
she sometimes kept house. Eliza Jane was always the cook as long as Uncle John lived & until after Margaret was
married. And in addition in summer another house servant was employed, generally a boy.
Uncle John loved his garden & was an excellent gardener, doing a little hoeing and gathering the vegetables
for the table himself early every morning. The tenants attended to the dairy & I think to the fowls, too.
The Gale Hill people raised corn and wheat and in my mother's youth tobacco for sale. The garden and dairy
and poultry were for family use. All laundry work was done by colored women in the neighborhood at their
homes. Jane Bell Dabney Jones, John Minor's niece, born 1877
John Minor
Lucy Lee Trice
...Were you surprised to hear about Lucy Trice and Cousin John? It was what I have prophesied all the time
- (but that didn't prevent my being immensely surprised) since she went there to live. But what else was to
be expected - when two attractive people are thrown together constantly in the same house - they are mighty
apt to either hate one another or fall in love with each other... Susan Colston Minor, to her fiancee, John Wilson, January 11, 1891
The day spent at Gale Hill was very delightful to me. Cousin Mary was sitting by the fire - in her room -
and seemed mighty glad to see me. Sally met me at the door and was looking so well. Lucy and Cousin John
were having the dining room papered and seemed to be having a very cozy time so I only ran down to
speak to them - and a "fellow feeling" making me "wondrous kind", I departed very quickly... Susan Colston Minor, to John Wilson, January 24, 1891
...I am bound to say that the manliness and simple manner of your cousin won me for an admirer
of him. Miss Trice ought to be a very happy girl in the possession if him... John Wilson, to Susan Colston Minor, January 27, 1891
...Have you received a letter from Cousin John?... He is the happiest-looking man it has been my good
fortune
to see for many a long day... Susan Colston Minor, to John Wilson, February 1, 1891
"Willoughby," near Charlottesville, Virginia,
home of the Davises Site of the wedding of John and Lucy Lee Trice Minor
...Lucy Trice and Cousin John are to be married on Tuesday at 1:30 out at Willoughby. Sally is to
be her attendant and J. B. (Minor, Jr.) Cousin John's. We are all going to the wedding and looking
forward to it with much pleasure. They are going to have a very pleasant trip - to Washington,
New York, Niagara - and either to Lake George or the Thousand Islands... Susan Colston Minor, to John Wilson, May 24, 1891
...I went to Cousin John's wedding yesterday and it was the sweetest one I almost ever saw... The
house was beautifully decorated (they were married at Willoughby) - Catesby Jones was very proud of
his share in the preparations - it certainly did all the girls and him great credit. The ceremony was
performed by Mr. Gwinn, and her clergyman - Mr. Goodwin. After the ceremony - there was a
delicious luncheon served... Susan Colston Minor, to John Wilson, May 27, 1891
...The wedding was so pretty, the house being beautifully decorated. Lucy looked very sweet in a white kyber
cloth - trimmed considerably in white silk with silver braid about the body (it had a demi-train). She had her
veil caught with white roses. I never saw Cousin John look so handsome - or so much at his ease - though
during the ceremony he was frightened nearly to death.
J. B. and Sally - Alice and Lily did the attendant act - in great shape - and luncheon was delicious as
everything always is at Willoughby. There were about fifty people present and it was very sweet and
"homey"... Susan Colston Minor to John Wilson, May 31, 1891
...If only you were here - Jack - to enjoy with me - the delights of this dear old place - and this
beautiful, beautiful country...
...I enjoyed the walk through the woods and across the field so much. The sun was low enough
to send its rays slanting through the trees - and piercing under the leaves - and under my hat - but
I did not mind that a bit. You know I am devoted to the country - and the sights and sounds of the
country are delightful to me. I always thought this a lovely country - and Gale Hill a sweet old
place - but certainly that afternoon it was looking its best. The mountains so blue and the freshly
plowed fields so red - with their slender bands of green, young corn in regular rows. Then the wind
blowing over the wheat fields - looked like the ripples on the water. The house has been freshly painted,
outside - and in, and every room and hall freshly papered. The house is painted in two shades of
gray - the old fence around the yard has been taken away - the old "office" in the yard taken down - and
carted away - so the whole place is thrown into one - which is a great improvement I think...
... The bride and groom are expected home the last of this week... Susan Colston Minor to John Wilson, June 3, 1891
...I don't know that I should combat my drowsiness and carry out my intention of writing to you tonight
if I had not the stimulus of a piece of news - good news. Nothing less than that Lucy Trice has a daughter
born this morning and that she is doing well... Lucy Minor Davis, Gale Hill, to Lizzie Davis, March 9, 1892
...I went to Gale Hill Monday afternoon - driving out with Sally. We got there about dusk and found them all
sitting out on the verandah. I only stayed until twelve o'clock the next day - but we talked ever so much
in that time. Cousin Mary of course wanted to know something about you... She has always had a very high
opinion of you - but since the sciatica business - you have gone up to the very top - and she says she
considers that you almost saved Cousin John's life - and that neither she, he, Lucy, nor Sally can ever forget
your kindness - and Cousin
John said in a very meditative tone - between the puffs of his pipe - "I-never-thought-it-was-possible-for-a-Yankee-to-be-so-nice-and-such-a-fine-man."
I told him you would doubtless be complimented at his opinion of
you - but that you were not a Yankee. New Jersey people are not Yankees, are they Jack?... Susan Colston Minor, to Dr. John Wilson, June 19, 1892
Margaret Lee Minor (right) with Price Gwinn,
ca. 1895
...Friday Pat and I packed our gripsack and took the 11:30 train for Gale Hill. Mary and Sally met us
- and we drove over, while they walked. We found Cousin Mary waiting for us on the verandah - as bright and well
as possible. Lucy was at home too - and soon came in bringing her little Margaret. Then Mary, who was not to
be outdone in that matter - went upstairs after her young tyrant - Price Gwinn, Jr. The most splendid
baby you ever saw. After that - the morning was spent admiring, entertaining, and abasing ourselves
before these two royal personages. It was really ridiculous...
...In the afternoon late, Sally and I went out to walk on the hill. The sun was down - and there
was only the glow in the sky. The air was as soft and balmy as early Spring - and though the darkness
crept up the hill, the light still lingered on the top and then the moon rose and we watched it ride
up over the mountains - and the shadows ran up to our very feet. The glory died out of the west
slowly, like the light out of a dying face - and as the day died, we turned and went home.
As we came up to the house, the bright dancing light from the wood fire streamed out across the verandah -
through the French windows - and we were more cheerful immediately - and ran up the steps, expecting
to find all of the others sitting in the parlor, but they were still Hero-worshipping - so Sally and
I had a little delicious chat in the fire light - sitting in those chairs of Marie Antoinette - and when
she went out after a little while, leaving me alone, I fell into a dream - with my eyes open - looking into
the fire - and wondering what scenes those same little chairs had graced - and could almost see the
gracious ladies and courteous gentlemen who had probably occupied them...
...We got the guitar and they all assembled and we had some rousing songs - until supper, after which we
adjourned to the sitting room - where we talked and worked on some things for Christmas until quite late. We
had to come back to Charlottesville the next day - much to our sorrow - but it was altogether a delightful visit
and we enjoyed ourselves ever so much... Susan Colston Minor, to John Wilson, December 4, 1892
Mother always said Uncle John was the wittiest and one of the smartest of the Gale Hill family and he
certainly was perennially young, always ready to hunt with the boys and play croquet, golf, or any game,
outdoor or in, and he excelled at them all. He had a keen sense of humor and a rare gift at mimicry, which
he used kindly, but no peculiarity escaped his eye and each person received his quota of kindly ridicule. From "Gale Hill", by Elizabeth Coalter Bryan Williston
John Minor in front of the "North Porch" at "Gale Hill" with his
grandson John Minor Caskie, ca. 1915
"I remember I remember
the house that now is gone,
The North porch, the veranda,
most of all my Uncle John." Cabell Dabney
I can give you the date of death of Grandpa Minor - November 12, 1924. There was an interlude in his life
when, as a widower, he was "working on the railroad". He was foreman of a gang of laborers who laid the
track of the Southern Railway north of Charlottesville and south of Orange. He had a paternalistic feeling
for "his" railroad or at least his segment of it: I remember when sometimes the wind would waft a high cloud
of soot eastward to "Gale Hill" he sententiously explained to me, "The train is passing through Proffit." John Minor Caskie, to Jasper Burns, June 24, 1982
May 31, 1919
Uncle John Minor, Gale Hill, [aged nearly 70] had so much done for me. He planted about 4 acres of corn,
some potatoes, beans, onions, and sweet corn on the river low grounds and had hauled and put in the house
our carload of furniture. A great assistance. From the diary of John Sawyer Hitchcock of "Fall Field", the farm adjacent to "Gale Hill"
William W. Minor, Jr. of Windieknowe", with Kate Coles
"Windieknowe," about 5 miles from "Gale Hill"
Home of John Minor's brother, William Wardlow Minor, Jr.
November 13, 1924
A bright pleasant day. I heard last night of the death of my only remaining brother, John, who lived at and
owned Gale Hill, the old home place, and was for years my closest friend and relation. There is no telling
how much I will miss him in every way... He was a public-spirited, very useful man and shall be much missed in
his neighborhood. From the diary of William W. Minor, Jr. of "Windieknowe"
Mr. John Minor Dies at "Gale Hill"
Mr. John Minor, a prominent farmer and widely known resident of the county, died at 5:30 o'clock yesterday
afternoon at his home, "Gale Hill". The end was not unexpected, as he had been in failing health for several
years.
Mr. Minor was born at "Gale Hill", where he spent his entire life. He married Miss Lucy Lee Trice, sister of
the late Dr. D. M. Trice, for years at the head of Moore's Brook Sanitarium. She died in 1897. One daughter,
Mrs. J. A. Caskie, of "Gale Hill" survives, and four grandchildren. The Daily Progress, November 13, 1924
I remember we went to visit some friends in Rapidan, or maybe it was in Orange. When we got home to
Gale Hill, Grandpa Caskie met
us at the gate and told us Grandpa Minor had died. It really hit me. I loved him. I loved both of my
grandfathers, but Grandpa Minor had more to do with me. I felt that if I had stayed home, he wouldn't
have died. Jaquelin Caskie Burns, January 22, 2000
My Trust is in God. John Minor's epitaph, "Gale Hill" graveyard
