Minerva Sayer (Bush)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Series

Prompt: Strong Woman

Minerva Sayer (Bush)

I am choosing Minerva Sayer as my strong woman. I did not know my great grandmother she died a year before I was born. I have recently learned more about her and do know some of the circumstances of her life.

She was born September 5, 1867, in Watertown, Jefferson County New York, USA to Thomas Sayer and Lucelia Wilcox. The family moved to Michigan where she met my great-grandfather, Wesley Hiram Bush. Wesley and Minerva were married in Onaway April 19, 1882. They had their first child Ivanilla, December 12, 1884. Ivanilla died and infant on August 27, 1886. I have never lost a child but I can imagine that would be hard on a young mother. In 1887 Myrtle was born, in 1888 Charles then 1890 Frank. Shortly after this Wesley up and moved his family to Nebraska. While in Nebraska another child was taken from Minerva when Frank Wesley Bush died as an infant August 8, 1892. Minerva carried on, and Lucelia was born in Nebraska in 1893. In 1894 Wesley and Minerva packed up their family and moved back to Michigan. Emily was born in 1896, Minerva in 1899, Vernon in 1901, Daniel in 1903, and Alzira in 1906. Then in 1910 the family moved to Saskatchewan, Canada and settled near Robsart. My great grandfather built a sod house where he and Minerva would make their home and finish raising their children. Farming must not have been so good after several years there they moved again to McLaughlin, Alberta. Wesley Bush died May 18, 1935. Vern and his wife Mary lived with Minerva on the farm and she continued to live with them until she died January 21, 1955.

Family and Friends in front of the Bush family sod house

As I look at Minerva’s life I see a strong woman. She carried on when life was not easy and raised her children while enduring the loss of two infants. She managed the move of her family several times, over great distances and in the end a god-fearing woman that still knit socks and mittens for her grandchildren.

Thank you for joining my search!

Dennis

Credit for this series to Amy Johnson Crow, Certified Genealogist