HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes,
Lewis Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, Vol. III,
pp. 1198-99-1200.  [Full page photograph of Mr. Minary included with bio.]
[Jefferson County]

THOMAS J. MINARY--If there is any one feature that gives emphasis to the
enterprising character of the city of Louisville in this progressive era it
is the superiority of the facilities provided for rapid transit within her
borders, and, judged by the high standard maintained, the Kentucky
metropolis holds rank with the leading cities of the Union.  In the
providing of such admirable facilities the Louisville Railway Company has
accomplished a large and important contribution to the public utilities of
the city, and of this stanch corporation Thomas J. Minary is president. The
fine modern system of this company is one that will compare more than
favorably with those of other cities throughout the Union, the service can
be gained only by those who have been able to make a comparison between the
same and those employed in other cities of the same class and of even far
greater population.  As the head of Louisville Railway Company Mr. Minary
has shown an administrative and directing power equal to every emergency
and contingency, and his generalship and constructive ability have done
much to further the growth and material prosperity of Louisville, as well
as to offer its citizens the present admirable facilities within and
without the gates of the city.  As one of the essentially representative
business men and alert and progressive citizens of the state and its
leading city, Mr. Minary is consistently given recognition in this
publication.
     Thomas J. Minary was born in Versailles, Woodford county, Kentucky, on
the 19th of August, 1850, and is a son of John S. and George Ann (Stone)
Minary, the father a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Woodford county
when a young man and remained there the residue of his life, and the latter
of whom was a member of the old and well known Stone family, whose name has
long been prominently identified with the history of this commonwealth.
John S. Minary was one of the pioneer merchants and influential and honored
citizens of Versailles, and there he continued to reside until his death,
which occurred in 1900.  The mother is still living at the venerable age of
eighty-three, and of their children five sons and one daughter are now
living.
     Thomas J. Minary, whose name initiates this review, gained his early
educational discipline in the public schools of his native city and at the
age of seventeen years he became a salesman in his father's store, one of
the leading mercantile establishments of Versailles, where he continued to
be thus engaged until 1869 when, at the age of nineteen years he came to
Louisville--a city in which he was destined to gain distinctive success and
marked prominence in connection with business and civic affairs of wide
scope and importance.  Here he was engaged in the mercantile business until
1872, when he became secretary of the Central Passenger Railroad Company,
operating one of the two pioneer street railways of Louisville.  In 1876
recognition of his fine executive powers was given, for in that year he
was chosen general manager of the business of the company.  Under his
energetic and well directed management large and valuable improvements were
made in the properties controlled by the company.  More adequate service
was provided over existing lines and new lines were extended, besides
which improvements were made in the rolling stock and the various other
operative facilities of the system.  In 1888 Mr. Minary was elected
president of the company, and of this position he continued incumbent until
the following year, when all of the street railway interests of the city
were consolidated under the title of the Louisville City Railway Company.
Mr. Minary became one of the heavy stockholders of the company at the time
of its incorporation and its organization, and the effective amalgamation
of all street railway interests in the city was largely promoted through
his earnest efforts and able presentation of the case to the interested
principals.  He continued to be an active executive of the new corporation
after the same was formed, and in 1901 he was elected president of the
same, of which responsible and exacting office he has since continued the
able and valued incumbent.  He has accomplished a great work in extending
and perfecting of the complex system controlled by the company, has been
animated by distinctive public spirit, and has done all in his power to
conserve the interests of the stockholders of his company, while advocating
liberality an all extension and equipment work.  The citizens of Louisville
have a full appreciation of the facilities afforded, and adverse criticism
can come only from those moved by political motives or lack of knowledge.
     Mr. Minary has made noteworthy progress during his years of active
identification with industrial and civic interests, and his career has
been marked by insuperable integrity of purpose as well as by broad and
liberal policies.  His capitalistic interests ramify outside of the
corporation just mentioned, and in the field of street railway enterprise
he has been a prominent figure in other cities than Louisville.  At one
time he owned a controlling interest in and was president of the Southern
Street Railway Company, of St. Louis, Missouri, and later he became
largely interested in the street railways of Springfield, that state, where
he was for a time president of the Consolidated Railway Company.  He is a
member of the directorate of the German National Bank of Louisville, is
the owner of valuable realty in the city and other parts of the state, and
has other large capitalistic interests of varied and important order.
     Mr. Minary is essentially a business man and realizes that his maximum
powers are best exercised along avenues of constructive and administrative
work.  Thus he has never manifested aught of ambition for political office,
though he is a staunch advocate of the principles and policies for which
his party stands sponsor.  He is identified with the Louisville Commercial
Club and also holds membership in other civic and fraternal organizations
of prominence in his home city, where his popularity in both business and
social circles is of the most unequivocal type.
     On the 12th of June, 1876, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Minary
to Miss Amelia Stephens, who was born and reared in Breckinridge county,
this state, where her father, the late James G. Stephens, was a citizen of
prominence and influence.  Four sons were born of this union, of whom
three survive, as follows: James S., of Louisville, Thomas Helm, assistant
to his father in the railroad business, and A. D. of Louisville, Kentucky.
John S. died at the age of twenty-two.

Minary Stone Stephens
=
Versailles-Woodford-KY Breckinridge-KY MO PA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/minary.tj.txt