NINA KELTON DARLINGTONE, the author and originator of a system of musical training and instruction copyrighted under the title of " Kindergarten Music-Building; the Science of Music, Art, and Education."
To picture for the public the essentially selfless toil and privations of an originator and philanthropist in any work is hardly possible: only those who have passed through the struggle know the cost. A glance at the system of education, "Kindergarten Music-Building; the Science of Music, Art, and Education," gives but a faint idea of its vastness and the painstaking labor that gave it birth.
Nina K. Darlingtone, though originally from Philadelphia, is descended through her maternal grandfather from New England colonists. Tracing her ancestry, we find a long line courageously braving hardships, leaving their native land, becoming pioneers in a new country for conscience' sake, fighting in the early wars, holding responsible offices, conducting public affairs, and fearlessly devoting themselves to humanity's needs.
On the maternal side we find Thomas Miner, who came to this country about 1630. He joined the church in Charlestown, Mass., in 1632, married Grace Palmer in 1634, and later removed to Stonington, Conn., where he ended his days. His diary shows him to have held almost every office within the gift of his fellow townsmen. His notes began with the day of the week, day of the year, year of our Lord, and year of creation, not forgetting the mention of leap-year. This diary seems to have been a public document, hence the more valuable. A descendant of one of his twelve children was Governor W. T. Miner, of Connecticut (1855- 57). Captain John Miner, sou of Thomas and a personal friend of Governor Winthrop, was skilled in the Indian dialects, and served as interpreter. He was for many years Town Clerk of Wootlbury, Conn. His daughter Grace married Samuel Grant, Jr., of Windsor, Conn., in 1688, and thus became an ancestress of Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States.
Charles Miner, the historian of Wyoming and a great-grandfather of Nina K. Darlingtone, was son of Soth and Ann (Charlton) Miner and a lineal descendant of Thomas, the immigrant. Born in Norwich, Conn., in 1780, he migrated to Pennsylvania in 1799, and two or three years later settled in Wilkesbarre. He served in the State Legislature in 1807 and 1808, and he introduced many bills that are now on the statute books of that State. During the younger President Adams's administration he was in Congress with Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, and other noted statesmen, personal letters from each of whom to Mr. Miner are still in the family. The Hon. Charles Miner was a strong anti-slavery man. In January, 1829, he made an eloquent speech in the House of Representatives, and presented the first bill advocating measures to bring about the gradual abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. At the conclusion of his speech, as narrated in later days by one of the family, Mr. Webster followed him into the lobby, and, throwing his arms around him, said, "Mr. Miner, you have kindled a fire that will burn from Maine to Georgia."
Mr. Miner's thought was ever for the good of the community. He was a zealous promoter of public improvements, as railways and canals. He introduced anthracite into many homes, and, in company with two other gentlemen, was the first to ship this hard coal of Wyoming, which had been thought of little value, down the Lehigh River to Philadelphia.
Many amusing and curious stories are told of the introduction of "these black stones," as the people calkxl them. Once they were incredulous about their merit as fuel. On one occasion several men had worked for hours to make the coal burn, and, finally deciding that the task was impossible, had closed the stove door and gone out to dinner, incensed at the waste of time and labor. What was their amazement on returning to find a brilliant fire burning and the room as warm as a day in summer!
Charles Miner's father, Seth Miner, was on General Jed Huntington's staff in the Revolutionary War.
The old Miner homestead, on the plains near Wilkesbarre, Pa., has been standing for about a century, and is still in possession of the family.
