F. M. Minert was born in Montgomery County, Iowa, on January 29, 1862, being the son of James and Nancy J. (McClure) Minert. The father was born in Vermillion, Indiana, in 1830 and died in 1898. He was a pioneer to Wisconsin in 1837 and to Iowa in 1855. The mother was born in Johnson County, Indiana, in 1840. Her father, Thomas McClure, was born in Kentucky and her mother. Mary A. Waggoner was born in Virginia in 1820 and died in Spokane, October 3, 1902.
Our subject grew to manhood in Iowa, also gaining there his educational training. When he was twenty-five, he determined to see the west and accordingly he came to Nebraska, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, working in all these places and finally, in 1890, he came to Latah County and settled. He went into the timber industry and soon acquired skill and mastered the sawmilling industry. In the spring of 1896 he came to the Nez Perces country and took his present place, three miles southwest from Kippen. He bought an interest in the mill now owned by him and Mr. Taber, mention of whom is made in this volume. Since that time he has given his attention to the improving of his estate and operating the mill. He assisted in erecting the first mill put up by white men on the reservation.
On September 3, 1899, Mr. Minert married Miss Brunettie, daughter of Selby H. and Margaret (Thompson) Kreisher, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively, and pioneers of Indiana. Mrs. Minert was born in Clinton County, Indiana, on July 3, 1875, and has the following brothers and sisters: Lydia M., Zeningles, William A., Minnie M., deceased. George, Rosa M., Annie E., Selby D., Zelma L., and Louie, Mr. Minert has brothers and sisters named as follows: Henry T., deceased. Anna E., Martha and Mary, twins, Louie, deceased, Hattie, deceased, Horace, twin to Hattie, Edward.
Mr. and Mrs. Minert are members of the Methodist Church. He is a Republican. Mr. Minert’s uncles, Virgil and Miner McClure and John and William Minert fought for their country in the Civil War. Mrs. Minert’s father was also in the Civil War.
Mr. Minert is an advocate of thorough and extended educational facilities and has been on the school board since the organization of the district, being a moving spirit in the organization.
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Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903