A. P. Minear was a member of the Minear family of Tucker County, West Virginia, and is featured in the sources as an ambitious and adventurous individual with a varied career path.
Early Life and Family:
- A. P. Minear, also known as "Pool", was the oldest son of Enoch Minear.
- He was known as a generous and respected young man of intellect, energy and ambition.
- He was one of ten children.
- The Minear family was known for its industry, and no idleness was tolerated.
- Enoch Minear emphasized hard work as part of his children's education.
Travel and Business Ventures:
- A.P. Minear was among the first from Tucker County to travel to California, leaving on December 27, 1849.
- He went to California seeking his fortune after hearing rumors of gold.
- He traveled by horseback, stagecoach, and boat to get to California, and was briefly delayed in Panama due to contrary winds.
- In California, A.P. Minear initially did not know anyone except Capt. E. Harper, and received help from Mr. Buckelew, who provided him with a place to stay.
- Minear worked various jobs including moving bricks, leveling lots, and hauling logs for a lumber mill.
- He became involved in the lumber business, buying ox-teams and hauling logs.
- He bought a mill but it burned down.
- He also ran a hotel and store, and made money fast.
- A. P. Minear met Miss Lucretia Moody, who later became his wife.
- He went into a partnership in a store and hotel in Oregon with his wife and made money at every turn.
- He engaged in the cord-wood business and made ten thousand dollars.
Mining in Idaho and Other Ventures:
- A. P. Minear was drawn to Idaho by rumors of gold findings and his brothers were already on their way.
- He took a quartz mill to Idaho at a cost of sixty thousand dollars.
- Minear's quartz mill was located at Silver City, Idaho.
- He engaged in mining speculations in 1868.
- A.P. Minear was also involved in the "Poor Man's" silver mine in Owyhee, Idaho which produced nearly pure silver .
- Pieces of ore weighing one thousand pounds were found to contain nine hundred pounds of silver .
- During the Indian War of 1868, A. C. Minear was shot through the arm with a poisoned arrow. Pool Minear drew his silk handkerchief through the wound and wiped out the poison.
- He spent the year of 1882 in the mines of Wood River, Idaho, and still held property there.
- He built two quartz mills in Arizona.
- He was involved in a railroad enterprise in Georgia and Florida but ultimately failed.
- He returned to New York City.
- He traveled extensively through Arizona, Mexico, California, Nevada and Oregon in search of mines.
Challenges and Setbacks:
- A.P. Minear experienced multiple financial setbacks, including the burning of several mills he owned.
- He spent $40,000 of his own money settling with contractors and laborers after a business failure, although not legally required to do so.
- After his fortune was swept away in a flood, he looked for other business opportunities.
- He encountered hardships on his journey to California, including being sea-sick and facing difficulties in getting passage.
- He faced famine and snowstorms in Idaho.
- He was the target of an attempted murder where he was struck by sixteen bullets but escaped.
Later Life:
- His wife and children moved to San Jose, California, in 1870 to educate the children.
- He joined them in 1870 in San Jose.
- He visited New York City after being gone for over 28 years, and met with a man he had met when first going to California.
A. P. Minear's life was characterized by his entrepreneurial spirit, resilience in the face of adversity, and willingness to seek opportunities in different parts of the country.
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