BY REV. GEORGE H. EMERSON, D. D.
The subject of this sketch owes his name to the grace of one of England's greatest kings. In the wars between England and France, to which belongs the renown of Cressy and Poictiers, the English sovereigns accepted such assistance in munitions and men as their subjects could proffer. Henry Bullman of Mendippe Hills, Somersetshire, was a miner. He fitted out a company of one hundred, armed with battle-axes, many of them laborers in his mines, and presented the same to Edward III. for his use in Continental conquest. In his gratitude Edward conferred upon him a coat of arms and gave him the name of "Miner." This honored subject, and the first of the name of Miner, died in 1359. From him descended Thomas Miner, who came to Boston with the elder Winthrop in 1630. Charles Miner, of the fifth generation from Thomas, was a Revolutionary soldier. At the close of the war he removed from Connecticut to New Hampshire.
A descendant of King Edward's friend, seventh in descent from Thomas, the grandson of Charles, Alonzo Ames Miner was the son of Benajah Ames and Amanda (Cary) Miner,—an only son and the second of five children. He was born at Lempster, Sullivan county, N. H., Aug. 17, 1814.
Grace Miner, granddaughter of Thomas, above named, married Samuel Grant, Jr., of Windsor, Conn., April 11, 1688. From that union descended Ulysses S. Grant, ex-President of the United States.
The subject of this sketch inherited neither fortune nor even health. Mental powers, a constitutional integrity, and a lack of the lower ambitions came as his only birthright. All else is his by conquest. Till the years of late boyhood he was an invalid. His opportunities for education in the village school were very intermittent. His feeble health and a grave uncertainty as to his ever reaching mature manhood constantly broke in upon the systematic training of the school. He filled out the school studies in the invalid's chair at home. None predicted for him length of days. Even the cautious physician made thirty years the utmost limit of life allotted him. He, however, supplemented his broken studies with academic training at Hopkinton, Lebanon, and Franklin, N. H., and at Cavendish, Vt. Beginning public life as a school-teacher at the age of sixteen, he took charge of the village school, alternating this labor with his studies at the academies. His pupilage at Cavendish was soon followed by promotion. Mr. John Garvin was the principal. He was a very zealous Calvinist. Young Miner was a no less zealous Universalist. It was at a time when sectarian lines were sharply drawn. It was then a custom with zealous Calvinists to regard Universalists, not simply as unsound in doctrine, but also as wicked in life and conduct! But Mr. Garvin saw something in the young pupil that dispelled the prejudice. He took him into partnership in the management of the school in 1834. In this position young Miner served a year.
A. A. Miner
In 1835, certain gentlemen of Unity, proposing to establish an academy at that village, saw in Mr. Miner, now near his majority, their man. He accepted their proposition. The school, named the "Scientific and Military Academy," was for both sexes, with military training for boys. Four years of his principalship were successful beyond expectation. In some of the terms the number of scholars reached one hundred and fifty. August 24, 1836, he was married to Maria S. Perley of Lempster, who entered the school as preceptress. She has ever been his faithful and devoted helpmeet.
Not a few of those who have strong sympathy with Dr. Miner's theological belief are persuaded that there was something providential in his call to the ministry of the Universalist church,—the service he has rendered that body being so great, in several regards so exceptional. He does not appear to have been converted to Universalism. He literally was a "born Universalist." While anxious friends assigned but a narrow limit to so frail a constitution, the invalid felt that his place was to be in the ministry of the Universalist church. Of this he made no secret. It became a matter of course that on reaching maturity he would become a preacher of the faith he so deeply cherished.