The Minters of Pine Forest Family Association
This website is about John Morgan Minter and his descendants. John Morgan Minter, whose ancestry has been traced to early Virginia, was born in 1792 in Chatham County, North Carolina. He migrated to Georgia as a young man, married, and began his family. In 1855, he and most of his family came to and settled in northeast Texas.
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When Thomas J. Minter first began this project in January of 1999, he thought it would simply be a matter of gathering family information and putting it on the website, then fine tuning it here and there. As it turns out, there is a lot more to it than that! It is more a process than a product - continuous in nature. Walter Minter, a researcher of the Minters, appended a simple quote to his e-Mail messages that read: "a small piece of the world's largest puzzle." And how true that is! There are many gaps and loose ends in this Minter story, but the story will go on so long as there are descendants.
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Thomas has used the information he originally gathered and made prominent on this website to publish one of his many works, The Minters of Pine Forest - A Family Story.
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This project is ever-evolving. In time, the history of Pine Forest and that of the Minters will be woven together, since both are so closely entwined. The Minters and their lives in Pine Forest from 1855 to 1945 need to be fleshed out; still a lot more needs to be learned and told about the first known Minters in Virginia, and the historical/genealogical descendancy to the birth of John Morgan Minter in 1792.
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The complete story of the Minters involves more than just one person. In addition to what those doing genealogical research turn up, descendants and friends of the Minters can help in immeasurable ways. They can send in clippings and photographs; writings of their remembrances of Minters and family events. The list is non-exhaustive! Any information, no matter how small or grandeur, is necessary in the preservation of this work.
Sally Hanna
Treasurer Emertius
Sally is a descendent of Sylvanus Oliver Minter. She has assisted in many ways and served as treasurer during the earlier years of the Association.
Jacob J. Dilworth
Association Administrator
Jacob is the grandson of Founder & President Emeritus, Thomas J. Minter. Jacob has graciously accepted the task of re-organizing the Association's duties and functions, continuing the important work his grandfather, and so many others, started decades ago.
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Jorene (Jones) Orr
Association Archivist
Jorene is the great-granddaughter to Augustus Harmon Minter. She has helped the Association in various ways since its founding.
In Memoriam
Thomas J. Minter, P.h.D.†
Founder & President Emeritus
Tom was born in 1931 and is the great-great-great grandson to John Morgan Minter. He was an esteemed engineering professor at the University of Toledo in Ohio for a majority of his life. He enjoyed flying single engine aircrafts, photography and woodworking. He was a humorous and caring soul. Tom lived the remainder of his years in Oklahoma City with his beloved wife, Faye. Tom passed on June 5, 2021 at the age of 90.
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Thomas, along with many other family members, was one of the founding fathers of the information that has been preserved through this website. Through his dedication and interest in his ancestry, we are able to continue the work of preserving our heritage.
In Memoriam
Maryann (Minter) Pleasant †
Vice President Emeritus
In Memoriam
Dennis "Jack" Robinson †
Researcher & Archivist
Jack was born in 1917 and is a direct Minter descendant. He was the grandson to Robert Anthony and Susan Elizabeth Minter. He served alongside Thomas as a family researcher and archivist. In his career, Jack was stationed at the Majors Field Army Air Base at Greenville, Texas, where he was an officer ground school instructor for Basic Flying School during WWII. He lived the remainder of his life in Houston, TX and passed away on March 13, 2013 at the age of 96.
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Jack helped this cause tremendously through his research. He was and will remain a valuable asset to this account of our ancestry, and will be missed dearly.