Minnie Bell Sharp, the daughter of Francis Peabody Sharp, was born in 1865, probably at Woodstock, Carleton County, New Brunswick. Her father was a well-known horticulturist who owned a large apple orchard near Woodstock. An accomplished singer and pianist, Minnie Sharp operated the Victoria Conservatory of Music in Victoria, British Columbia in the 1890s. She also conducted the Woodstock School of Music for many years. On 12 September 1899, Minnie Bell Sharp married artist and author Edwin Tappan Adney (1868-1950) of New York, who was well-known for his interest in local Maliseet culture. They had one child, Francis Glenn Adney, who was born 9 July 1902 at Woodstock.

Outside her musical career and family life, Minnie Adney had a keen interest in politics. In 1919, one year after all Canadian women were granted the right to vote in federal elections, she attempted to run as a Conservative candidate in the Victoria-Carleton riding, but her nomination papers mysteriously disappeared. She claimed that her lawyers had accepted bribes. In 1925 she ran as an independent candidate. She received 84 votes while the Conservative candidate, James Flemming got 6859 and the Liberal, 4958. No woman was returned to a federal seat in New Brunswick until 1964. Minnie Bell Sharp Adney died on 11 April 1937 in Carleton County.