Maurice
Martin Minter
"Maurice Martin Minter,
the subject of this sketch, was a man who achieved success entirely through
his own efforts and through his persistent work in his chosen field of
applied science.
He was born on
May 13, 1871 near Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia, the son of Charles
Floyd and Martha Jane (Chambers)
Minter both of whom were born in Baldwin County, where his father conducted
a plantation. He was one of four boys, his brothers being: John Easter
Minter of Columbus, Ga., Charles R. Minter, living in Baldwin County, Georgia
and William T. Minter, living in Texas.
Mr. Minter was educated
in Georgia and left school at the age of eighteen to enter the employ
of Stevens Pottery Company of Baldwin County where he first became
acquainted with Ceramic products production. He remained with this concern
for seventeen years and when he severed his connection with them he was
employed by the Baldwin County Brick and Tile Company of Milledgeville
as manager of the plant. This position he held until 1910 when he came
to Columbus to take charge of Muscogee Brick and Terracotta Company here.
In 1912 he removed to Albany, Georgia and to take charge of the Flint River
Brick Company which position he occupied when he started the concern which
is now known as the Minter System.
During all of his work at the
different kinds of Ceramic Products plants Mr. Minter was constantly studying
the science of applied heat for the purpose of burning clay products and
also studying text books on this subject and applying theory to practice
until he became probably the best informed man in the United States on
the subject of heat conservation and the application in the industry. Through
his efforts and the efforts of his associates enormous sums of money have
been saved by this industry, and the science of burning clay products has
advanced materially.
Mr. Minter was the vice-president
of the Minter System. A concern engaged in the engineering and construction
of kilns for burning clay products, and plants of their design are scattered
all over the United States and Canada and some are in foreign countries.
On January 18, 1893 Mr. Minter was
married to Miss Martha Gibson of Jones County, Georgia near Milledgeville,
and to them were born ten children: Millard, Gibson, Thomas, James, Mrs.
R. B. Preston (Vivian), Annie and Dorothy (Mrs. D. M. Watson), Mildred
and Martha (deceased), one boy who died in infancy, and there are six grandchildren.
Mr. Minter died July 17, 1929."
From: Telfair, Nancy. A history of Columbus,
Georgia : 1828-1928
Columbus, Ga.: Historical Pub. Co., c1929, 574
pgs.
John Easter Minter
" John Easter Minter was
born in Baldwin County, Georgia, August 2, 1868, and died in Columbus,
Georgia, May 20, 1947. He was the son of Floyd and Martha Chambers Minter,
both deceased, who were also born in Baldwin County. He was the brother
of M. M.. Minter and Charles Floyd Minter, both deceased, and Thomas Minter
of Cason, Texas. Mr. Minter attended
the Baldwin County Schools and, later, the Southern Business University
in Atlanta, Georgia.
He was married
to Miss Winnifred Moore in Tampa, Florida, March 27, 1895. She was the
daughter of Samuel Lewis and Julia Bradley Moore of Monticello, Florida.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Minter: Winnifred Bradley, now the
wife of Lt. Col. Jacob R. Moon, U.S. Army, and John Easter Minter, Jr.
He is survived by four grandchildren: Mrs William Nielsen, Jacob Robert
Moon, Jr., Marti Minter and John Easter Minter III and three great-grandchildren:
Cynthia Winnifred Smith, Kenneth Cooper Smith and Jennifer Nielsen. Mrs.
Minter departed this life May 28, 1929, in Columbus, Georgia.
John Easter Minter
began his career in business at the age of 20 years at Stevens Pottery,
Georgia in 1888. In 1892 he was made assistant manager of the H. Stevens
Sons Sewer Pipe Company in Macon, Georgia. He held this position until
1909 and during the time invented and patented several machines used in
sewer pipe manufacture. He came to Columbus as one of the organizers of
the Columbus Sewer Pipe Company. This plant was planned and constructed
under his under his supervision and he held the position of General Manager
until 1919. He designed the plant of the Dixie Brick Company, at Dixieland,
Alabama, in which the Minter system of kilns, originated by his brother,
M. M.. Minter, was installed. He became president in 1939, serving in that
capacity until his retirement in 1942. Mr. Minter was an organizer and
officer of the Clay Products Exchange which was formed as a sales organization
in 1933. He designed and invented processes making for improvement in clay
goods production and some of the most beautiful face brick produced in
the South were manufactured under his supervision.
At one time he
was Senior Councilor of the United Commercial Travelers of America, Charter
Member and Treasurer of the Southern Clay Products Association, Director
of the Columbus Chamber of Commece and a member of the Elks, Muscogee Club,
Kiwanis Club, and Columbus County Club. He belonged to the Methodist Church
of Baldwin County and was a Democrat.
Mr. Minter's popularity
was as wide as his acquaintanceship, and his kindness, thoughtfulness and
generosity made his presence a joy. He was most considerate, and delighted
when he could help others. He was always active in humanitarian work and
a leader in the community in civic enterprises."
From: Worsley, Etta Blanchard. Columbus
on the Chattahoochee. Columbus, Ga.: Columbus Office Supply Co., 1951,
670 pgs.
Eileen Babb McAdams copyright 2004