To Virginia Burke vyburke@earthlink.net and others researching MINIUM in Crawford County. Here are the references to that surname I found in the "History of Crawford County, PA, 1885." On pages 1115 and 1116, in the Biographical Sketch section for Venango Township: "Benjamin G. Hazen, farmer, PO Venango, was born in Herkimer County, NY, January 4, 1815, son of Benjamin and Nancy (Willard) Hazen, late of Iowa. Our subject locate din Troy Township, this county, in 1843 and resided there until 1865 when he came to this township and settled on his present farm. He was married December 8, 1842, to Rachel, daughter of Hamilton and Mary (Culbertson) McClintock, of Venango County. By this union there are six children, viz.: Elizabeth, wife of Francis Brown, of Troy Township, this county; Mary, wife of Dr. Daniel Foster, of Livingston County, NY; Francis M., married to Elizabeth MINIUM (they reside in Hayfield Township, this county); Benjamin Jr., married to Anna Carman, of Venango Township, this county; Rachel, at home; John H. a physician of Venango County, married to Sarah Taylor. Mr. Hazen, while a resident of Troy Township, was Justice of the Peace for ten years, and since coming here has filled several minor township offices. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal and his wife of the Presbyterian Church." On page 1121 of the same section: "John M. Peiffer, PO Venango, was born July 25, 1824, in Venango Borough, this county, son of John and Susanah (Hetrick) Peiffer. The former's father, George Peiffer, located in Bloomfield Township, this county, in 1802, and in 1810 removed to Woodcock Township, this county. John Peiffer afterward settled in Venango Township, and lived and died here. He was parent of fifteen children: Henry, Simon (deceased) Mary M. (deceased), Hannah (wife of Henry MINIUM), George W., Margaret A. (wife of John Kleckner), Elizabeth (deceased), Nicholas, Susanna (deceased), John M., Sophia (wife of Isaac Peiffer), Delilah (wife of A.W. Mumford), Edward, William and Asa. John M. Peiffer, the subject of this sketch, was married February 22, 1849, to Judith C., daughter of Eli and Elizabeth (Minium) Knerr, of Cambridge Township, by whom he has had two children: Cynthia E., wife of James S. Sherred (have one child - Henry G.), and Susanna (deceased). Mr. Peiffer was in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting August 29, 1864, in Company A, Two Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He lost his right arm at the battle of Petersburg, and was honorably discharged July 4, 1865. He is a member of the K. of P., and of the A.O.U.W. In politics a Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church." On pages 1154 and 1155, in the Bio Sketch section for Woodcock Township: "C.W. Knerr, tanner and Justice of the Peace, Woodcock, was born in Woodcock Township, this county, October 19, 1830, and is a son of Eli and Elizabeth (MINIUM) Knerr. Eli, a native of Lehigh County, Penn., and a son of Andrew Knerr, who was a native of Germany and a soldier in the Revolution, was a carpenter by trade and worked at that business all his life; he settled in Woodcock in 1828; in 1837 he returned to his native county, and lived there until 1849, when he came back to Woodcock, where he resided until his death. He died June 9, 1858, at the age of fifty-two. The subject of this sketch learned the trade of a tanner while in Lehigh County, Penn., and after his return to this county worked at his trade, in different places, until 1854, when he purchased the tannery in Woodcock, which he still owns, and in which he has done a profitable business up to the present time. It is one of the oldest tanneries in Crawford County, being the second one built, and the oldest now in existence in the county. Mr. Knerr was married, January 12, 1854, to Hannah, daughter of Joseph Wotring, of Woodcock Township, this county, by whom he has one child - Alice (now Mrs. Frank Cummings). Mr. and Mrs. Knerr are members of the Presbyterian Church. He has held all the public offices in Woodcock Borough, with the exception of School Director, and is now serving his second term as Justice of the Peace. In politics he is a Republican." On page 1182, in the same section: "Samuel Wise, farmer, PO Meadville, was born in Aaronsburg, Centre Co., Penn., September 18, 1806; son of Martin and Katherine (Lutz) Wise. He came to Woodcock Township, this county, with his father, in 1830, settling a half mile from his present residence. They bought the farm, which was cleared and improved and is now owned by our subject, in 1837, settling on it in 1839, and keeping public house until 1858. Martin was twice married, Samuel being the only issue by his first union. By his marriage with Susan Motz, who became his second wife, were five children, three now living, viz.: Mary, wife of Michael MINIUM; Lucinda, wife of Samuel Richards; and Eliza, wife of G.W. Hecker. The subject of this sketch was married October, 1859, to Mary, daughter of John and Catherine Mosier, of Cussewago Township, this county, who bore him one son - William S. She died in 1878, aged fifty-five. Mr. Wise has filled various township offices. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church." That's all for this surname! Kathy Brubaker Volunteer Genealogist Linesville Historical Society kbrbkr@toolcity.net