Mingia
Family History Home Page
Please feel free to discuss, add or make comments at the Mingay History Web Pages Forum
Birth place from LV Mingee himself.
From a letter from Aunt Ferne to Cathea (her niece) in 1978:
"When the folks were a young couple - they had a hard time making it asit was depression years. They both at one time sold Watkins products,door to door. They lived in Danville, Illinois. Daddy (E.E. Mingee)worked at a doll factory and another place making bricks or as a brickmason...I was born after daddy started to work on railroad and they movedto Metcalf. They transferred railroad job to Humrick. We lived in arailroad car set off the tracks until we could get a house. You see itwas a very, very small town! I do know for sure Genie was born there -and I'm not sure about Stella. I do know she was a baby when we lived inrailroad car because I remember daddy tossing her up in play and hittingceiling. Guess he forgot the low ceiling of the car we lived in.Humrick, Illinois isn't even a town anymore (wasn't much then). I thinkit was Vermilion Co, but we had fun as kids. Had a big hill we all slidon when it was snowy. That's where your dad and Velsa met. They grew uptogether. We moved back to Metcalf when I was in 7th grade (Edgar Co, Ithink). Daddy was railroad foreman and got bumped to Metcalf. Mom wassure unhappy about that I remember - I can say the best of my childhoodtimes was when we were growing up in that hole in the road, Humrick.Hardly ever got to do or go anywhere - it was a real treat to go withfolks to grocery store 6 miles away (Ridgefarm, IL). (Mom sat in car andwatched people.)
We used to go to Danville shopping. Daddy always got some of that goodold solid choc. candy at dime store in Danville and he always tried totake us kids somewhere on the 4th of July....After moving to Metcalf the2nd time (I think 1929) no more moves for the folks. They bought a homethere for $25 or $2600 and daddy worked his butt off to fix it up andimprove it. My daddy was a sweet, lovable teddy bear and I loved himdearly. He and I were always close and lovey. He was not only moved byme but respected and cared for by everyone. I never heard of a bad thingsaid about him - and he was very honest and taught all us kids to behonest, too. I adored him and tried to live up to what he expected -even today. I don't really like liars - he and mom tried real hard togive us kids whatever they could afford - my mom did without so much sowe could have things. And she sewed her fingers to the bone making usclothes....Daddy's parents died when he was a young boy around 10. Therewere several kids left and they all had to chip in and split up - quitschool and work. I don't think daddy went over 4th grade or so. Backthen they didn't have help from government or anything...."