Ralph Jay, son of Robert (2) Miner, was born in Cornwall, Litchfield county, Connecticut. .January 16. 1844. He attended the district schools of his native town. He began his business career as clerk in the general store at Cornwall Bridge. Connecticut, in 1861. And in the spring of 1862 entered the employ of the Cornwall Bridge Iron Company. In 1862 he enlisted in Company G, Nineteenth Regiment, Connecticut Infantry, and served in that regiment until it was changed to the Second Heavy Artillery. In 1863 he was mustered out of service, being discharged on account of physical disability. Later in the year he entered the employ of John Ives at Meriden, Connecticut. He came to New Haven to work for the firm of Yale & Bryan, wholesale grocers on State street in New Haven, and continued there until 1869. Then for four years he was in the dry goods trade with James H. Bunce, of Middletown. Connecticut, returning to Yale & Bryan, where again he was a salesman for a period of about nine years. He was then in business for himself for two years in New York city as partner in the firm of Hollway, Wright & Miner, manufacturers' agents, at 167 Chambers street. He returned to the firm of Yale, Bryan & Company and subsequently Bryan, Miner & Read, wholesale grocers. After Mr. Bryan died the firm name became Miner, Read & Garrette, which continued until the present firm was instituted January 1, 1910, under the style of Miner, Read & Tullock. Gifted with a natural wealth of common sense and rare good judgment, Mr. Miner could be depended upon for wise, sound counsel or advice at any time either in business or personal matters. Mr. Miner was a member of the Country Club of New Haven; the Center Lodge, No. 97, Free and Accepted Masons, of Meriden; and of the United church of New Haven. In polities he was independent. He was a director of the Yale National Bank. On the 28th of November. 1866, Mr. Miner married Sarah Ellen Yale, of Meriden, who was born September 14, 1846, a daughter of Julius Yale. They had no children but brought up a son of Mr. Miner's brother, Frank Spicer Miner, born January 14, 18T3, son of Frank S. Miner, of Cornwall. Frank Spicer Miner married Betsy Hosmer, of New Haven, and their children are: Edward Hosmer, born March 14. 1903; and Frank Erastus, born September 28, 1904. Ralph J. Miner died on the 20th of February, 1917, at his residence in New Haven. Hill, History of New Haven and Eastern New Haven County, 1918, p. 275-276