Minerva Brunts was one of 12 children born in the marriage of John Brunts, Sr. and his first wife Bathsheba from Kentucky. The family left Kentucky and moved into Howard Co. MO by 1822. Of the 12 children, 11 were daughters and 1 was a son. After the death of first wife Bathsheba, John Brunts married 2nd, 11 Dec 1849 in Platte Co. MO Mary Jane Heath with whom he had an additional 4 children. His will mentions Minerva Brunts having married Robert Brent and been 'provided for' at the time of her marriage.

Minerva Brunts married 16 March 1841 in Howard County, Missouri, Robert Brents.
The couple are in the July 19, 1860 census living in Lebanon, Marion Co.KY where they are farming:
Robert Brents 43 b.ca 1817 KY farmer real estate $2400 Personal estate $600
Minerva Brents 40 b. MO
John Brents 17 b.ca. 1843 (all children born in KY)
William Brents 14 b.ca. 1846 (married 13 July 1865 Marion Co KY Mary Whitecotton)
Elsie Brents 10 b.ca. 1850 (married 14 Dec 1869 KY Elias Webb b. 1837, son of George Webb and Mary Polly Glasscocke).
Samuel Brents 7 b.ca. 1853 (Samuel H. Brents m. 7 Jan 1873 Ella J Whitecotton)
Laura Brents 5 b.ca. 1855 KY
Mary Brents 3 b.ca. 1857 KY (married 19 May 1877 Mercer Co KY William McGee)

Robert Brents is also on an agricultural schedule for Marion Co. KY in 1850. Lists him with:
20 bushels irish potatoes
100 pounds of butter
200 lbs flax
2 bushels flaxseed
$50 in animals
20 acres improved, 37 unimproved
cash value $1150
value machinery $100
2 horses, 2 milk cows, 2 other cattle, 30 swine, livestock value $250
500 bushels indian corn, 50 bushels oats

The Civil War intervened. A Civil War battle that occurred in Lebanon on July 5, 1863. During the Civil War, Lebanon's location in central Kentucky proved to be a strategic point for both Union armies and Confederate raiders. The town was located on a spur-line of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, which ran from north to south. This spur line proved to be an advantage to Union forces moving toward Cumberland Gap for communications and supplies, and was a ready target for Confederate cavalry intent on capturing military equipment.

In early 1862, Union General George H. Thomas led soldiers who had trained at Lebanon toward Pulaski County. There, they defeated Confederate General Felix Zollicoffer in the Battle of Mill Springs. Lebanon remained an important location after this early Union victory and Federal troops were frequently stationed in the community.

In the summer of 1863, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan sought to replicate the success of his earlier raids into Kentucky. That July, Morgan entered Kentucky near Burkesville and pushed into Adair and Taylor counties. On July 4, his command ran into a stubborn garrison at Tebbs Bend commanded by Colonel Orlando Moore. Morgan unsuccessfully assaulted Moore's fortified position, which cost the Confederate cavalryman a good number of men and precious time. Unable to force the surrender of the Tebbs Bend garrison, on the morning of July 5, Morgan's men moved north into Marion County.

The Union force at Lebanon was commanded by a Kentuckian, Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Hanson. The war had divided Hanson's family. His brother, Roger W. Hanson had been a Confederate general and had been killed at the Battle of Stones River six months earlier. Charles's command at Lebanon, numbering about 400 men, primarily consisted of members of the 20th Kentucky Union Infantry. Therefore, at Lebanon, Kentuckian would fight Kentuckian.

After Morgan's Raiders pushed Hanson's men through town, the Union troops took up a strong defensive position in Lebanon's Louisville and Nashville Railroad depot. After refusing to surrender, the Federals held off Morgan's attacks for about five hours. Finally, Morgan's forces set fire to the depot and the Union troops surrendered. In the fight, Morgan's brother, Thomas, was killed.

As at Tebbs Bend, Morgan's forces suffered more casualties than they inflicted. These delays cost Morgan time, made his ventures north of the Ohio River more difficult, and ultimately ensured his capture in Ohio.