More on Gladstone Mine

Daily Iowegian - 22 August 2006

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Letter to the Editor

To the editor:

  We always enjoy Bill Heusinkveld's grasp of regional history, and especially his series on the coal mines of Appanoose County. Perhaps we can add some interesting details to his column last week on the Gladstone Mine.

  As noted, this mine was on the John C. Felkner farm, later owned by James and Barney Felkner, now known as the Paul E. Felkner Farms. Many of these added details come from the stories Uncle Barney told. I also have an interview tape in which Barney tells of other interesting experiences in our county.

  The New Gladstone Coal Mine, as noted in Bill's article, had a 90-foot shaft. The ponies that pulled the coal to the top stayed in the mine all winter, during the mining season.  Paul and I were down in the mine twice, and I noted the old bathtub that held the water to water the ponies. When the mine closed for the summer, the ponies were brought up to spend the summer in the old Kingburhy barn. (This barn, now falling down, was put up by Paul's great-grandfather Kingsbury, using wooden pegs instead of nails. The Kingsbury farm has been a part of the Fedlkner farm since Barney and Jim's time.)

  One summer some visiting nieces wanted a pony to ride and Chesco Massa offered Ol' Bill for a week. Ol' Bill must have been the meanest mining pony in the world; after he bit the girls a few times, they were glad to return him to the barn.

  We do not feel quite sure where the original Marsdenville was, but Barney told how they got the mail. As a train went by, it was easy for the trainmen to throw off the sacks of incoming mail, outgoing mail was something else. Someone would stand by the tracks holding up the outgoing mail bag. The train slowed down going up the hill from Mystic to Jerome, so one of the trainmen used a long pole with a hook to capture the outgoing mail bag. We can't help but wonder what happened if he missed. I guess the mail would just have to go the next day.

  It was sometime during the depression, which were also some of the years of drought in the 30's. when food was scarce for the miners and their families. We have a newspaper article that tells how John C. Felkner made a deal with the storekeeper; he would give a beef for the miners to share if the storekeeper would donate flour for biscuits. So the miners' families ate well for a brief time, anyway.

  Another interesting fact about the New Gladstone Mine. For many years there was no automatic switch to turn on the air circulation system. The owners of the mine gave Jim Felkner free coal for his home, and in return Jim got up every morning at 3 a.m. to turn on the switch so the air would be safe in the mine when the miners came to work.  Jim and Barney got royalties from the coal mine until it closed in 1971 when the highway was reconstructed.

  More research needs to be done, but I believe that the village associated with the New Gladstone Mine might have been across the road from where our house is presently located. For years Jim Felkner complained about the sunflowers that had been planted around the village houses. All the houses were gone by then, but Pop spent many a Sunday chopping sunflowers out of the field where it had been.  It was a great year when the sunflowers were finally gone and they didn't have to watch for those large, destructive sunflowers that we so hard on the combine.

  Our daughters when children also spent a lot of time at that location looking for treasurers which they really found occasionally. Sometimes it was just broken pottery or dishes, but once they found a small glass dolland a couple of spoons.

  I'm sure someone, somewhere has many memories and stories about each of the mines and mining days. What a shame if these are all lost for our grandchildren!    We must record these while we can.

      Myrtle Felkner, Rural Centerville

Massa knows "facts and figures" of coal mining

Ad-Express/Iowegian- 26 February 1999

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By Ethel Lira, Contributing Writer

  Frank Massa is one of the last living coal mine owner/operators to be found in Appanoose County. Born in Turin, Italy, on June 19, 1913, his father, Domnick Massa, migrated to this area later that same year with Frank and his mother following in April 1915. The family settled in the small mining town of Jerome and until Frank and his late wife, Jessie, moved to Centerville in 1957 to a site on which he still resides, the Massas resided in the Jerome community.

  Domnick Massa was a miner by profession and in 1939 he joined with John (Red) Padavon, Gale Wilson and John Presbyherio, all of Numa, to open what was known locally as the New Gladstone Mine. (The Old Gladstone mine was closed in1913.)  Working in the underground bituminous coal mines in Appanoose County from 1913 through the closure of the last pony mine in the area is the Massa legacy.

  Frank Massa attended and graduated from the 8th grade in the Jerome School system. Summers and other vacation periods found him performing a variety of casual jobs that were available in that rural area.

  Massa recalls each of his teachers with fondness. During his eight years of formal training they included, Willis Warnick, Janet Cathcart, Gladys Wailes, Mary Morrison, Ruth Wordell, Mrs. Moody and his final year in 8th grade was Harold Main.  He credits these individuals for giving him a very strong base in his educational years. While reading was not his best subject, but did excel in arithmetic. His teachers would often tell him, "I know you can read or you couldn't get your arithmetic problems." In Massa's words, "But I slaughtered the English language."

  Until about two weeks prior to his entering his first year of schooling, Massa did not speak the American language. He learned it from a playmate, living in his neighborhood who started school at the same time. Italian was spoken in his home. Since schools did not employ teachers for the instructing of bilingual languages during those early days, it was up to the students themselves to "learn" the meaning and pronunciation of the words they were hearing and using in the classroom.  Quite often they learned the "unacceptable" words first, having no idea as to the meaning, and it would frequently bring them a sharp rap across the knuckles from their elders.

  During this "high" time, Jerome boasted a drug store, railroad depot, bank, KP hall and three to four grocery stores.  Some of the owners were Frank Thomas, W. Warnick, James Haught and Bill Hawkins.  Many were the same names and individuals who ranked high in the mining hierarchy.

  Massa summed up his education, as still "learning. "We were taught the basics and no nonsense was allowed in or out of the classroom itself. We had to pay attention and we sure learned to have more sense than to take dope," he said.  His career and livelihood mandated that he read and figure. The use of politically correct English was not something that one really worried much about. "if you said the wrong words, or called some the wrong name, you soon learned that it was not worth it," Massa replied. Many disagreements were settled in the middle of the street and he chuckled, "that lesson was not one that you easily forgot in those days."

  Lots of kids, boys especially, did not go on to high school in this period because they were needed to work and help support the family. Work was scarce in the early 1900's through the 30's and ever;y penny was needed. "But we had good times too, neighborhood sports, ball games, gatherings, celebrations wee our social outings and everyone got involved in some way or another as a family .... we had lots of good times," Frank recalled.

  As a young man, Massa played a lot of both softball and baseball and was a member of the teams a well as being "drafted" to fill in for other teams throughout the surrounding areas. His principal positions were as catcher, short stop and third baseman, but he did have a game or so as pitcher and, much  to his amazement, he had a very good strike-out record. "But I wasn't real good at that," Frank remembered.

  "One of my fellow players from the Mystic area was Mike Kruzich who once struck out 17 players straight while in the Mystic Junior League., I sure wasn't that good." Other pitchers he remembers were Mike Kopatich, a fast ball thrower, and Philip Micetich, a curve ball pitcher who "could wrap a ball around the batter's neck."  Ledio Susin was one of the younger players he recalls and "Boy, was he good."

   Another strong memory for Massa is one summer when he was 19 years of age. An early edition of today's state lottery was being held in one of the grocery stores. People were asked to take a chance on a name and punch from a board. After the punches had all been sold, the main stamp was removed to ascertain the winner. Massa paid 29 cents for a chance and picked the name of Isabelle, after Isabelle Presbyterio. No one pa more than 29 cents but some did pay less. Twenty-nine cents was a goodly amount in those times (circa 1932). He hit the jackpot because when the winning tab was removed the name of Isabelle was the winner. The prize was a shotgun that he still has in his possession .. a big prize for the times.

  At the age of 16, Massa took a full time job in the Walnut Creek Coal Mine, then owned by gentlemen Dooley, Gillaspie, (2) Hawkins and Purdy, followed by a series of work in small mines in which he "earned his daily bread." Some of these mines carried the names of Laneville (a McConville operation), Garfield and a return stint at Walnut Creek.

  In 1956 he bought out his father's interest in the New Gladstone Coal Mine and remained there until it permanently closed in 1971. Throughout his working career, he had a variety of positions in and around the mines. He dug coal by hand, drove ponies pulling loaded and empty coal cars to entry ways, laid track, set props, checked and weighed tonnage the miners dug, loaded, etc.  Until his marriage (as was common during this period of our country's development, his earnings all went into the family cache for its communal use.

  Massa relates that when he was married in 1937, he had a total of $40 in his pocket and he was considered to have a "good start."

  While the mines furnished the major portion of their living expenses, during the slack summer months when coal was not required for heat and energy in a great demand, Massa often found himself working for local farmers; as a carpenter's helper; and later worked with a plumber and learned the overall basis of that much needed trade as the homesteads, both town and country, were becoming more modernized. One summer season found him employed as a groundskeeper/maintenance person at the local country club.

  Since coal mining was the mainstay of the community "tabs" were run from the close of the mines in the spring/summer months until they could get back to work in the fall, when the demand for coal increased. The mines and railroad wee the life blood of the community and, until the 1937 era when unemployment compensation became available to unemployed workers, money was very scarce.

  Since his retirement after 32 years of actual coal mining work, he has "dabbled" in many things. Today, he can often be found at the 18-80 Club on the Centerville square visiting with old friends and new ones. He still enjoys dancing (but not as much as he used to), travel and just visiting. He was one of the miners that gathered in 1991 to remember and record days when coal mining was in its hey-day in Appanoose County and a video of that meeting, together with a video of "The Last Pony Mine" filmed on actual location at the New Gladstone Mine, can be found at the Appanoose County Historical building. Massa, together with Dohyle, Wayne Arbogast and John Cathcart were owners of this mining operation when the video was shot.

  He enjoys reminiscing and has so much factual knowledge of the mining industry from the early to mid 1900's.  Coal mining as it was then known has passed into history, although there are members of mining families that still reside locally. So many do not have the "facts and figures" on this industry that he does.  Others are primarily widows of the miners/operators and owners and their experiences are along a different line.  Many of their memories would overlap, bt it is the story told by those who actually worked in the underground "places" assigned to them and who witnessed many of the tragedies, that can still relate to those of us who have followed "the real feel."
  Since retiring, Massa has made five trips back to Italy to visit with cousins still living there and he talks to them via the telephone weekly or monthly just to "keep in touch."
  Massa is one of the county's most ardent supporters of a good basic understanding through through education and the everyday use of common sense. Even the the 20's and 30's, this was offered to those who would pay attention. Although not learned in the formal classrooms that we find today in every school district, the underground miners of yesterday in our region had to know a lot of engineering skills, as well as environmental know-how, to prevent and escape the disasters that were found too often underground. 
  The lay of the coal, the air in the mines, the knowledge of how coal would/could break when being dug by hand or cut with the mining machines, these were all necessary facts and knowledge that was ingrained into each and every miner's being ... if they were to survive.
  With the passing of time, all things change. Today, books, charts and computers provide much of the above knowledge for all types of industry. But the basic need for reading, writing and arithmetic still prevail. Appanoose County once excelled in this segment of "common sense" as is attested by the fact that we had/have so many locals who have truly succeeded in making "a difference."

Massa Recalls Coal Mine Days

Ad-Express/Daily Iowegian - 24 September 1993

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Industry employed more than 10,000 men 

in county in 1917

By Debbie Hickman, Associate Editor

  Recognizing Centerville's mining heritage, the theme of tomorrow's Pancake Day is "Coalminer's Hometown."

  Newcomers to the area may not realize that at one time there were many small coal mines in operation around the Centerville area, which employed many men.

  Frank "Chesco" Massa of Centerville is one of those former coalminers.

  He was born in Italy in 1913, and a couple years later his family moved to Jerome. He said they had a relative and other people from their Italian town who were here.

  His father worked in the mines, and when Massa was about 16 years old he joined his father in the mines. Massa said his three brothers also did some mining.

  Then in 1940, the New Gladstone Mine west of Centerville began operating, and Massa was one of the miners in the new mine.

  He worked at the New Gladstone Mine for about 30 years before it closed in 1971. At the time of the closing, Wayne and Doyle Arbogast and Massa owned the mine. 

  The mine was the last pony mine to close in the nation. Because the seam of coal was only two or three feet thick, the tunnels were also very short, and small ponies and mules were used to pull the cars in the mine.

  The New Gladstone Mine may have also been the last mine in the nation in which the advancing longwall method was used, according to the May 1970 issue of "Coal Mining and Processing."  This method involved cutting under the main part of the seam and having the pressure from the roof make the coal break off and fall to the floor.
  Massa said when he started mining, the experienced miners would take the young ones under their wing and teach them how to mine and how to stay safe.
  "Our fathers taught us or we wouldn't make it, Massa said.  
 Although mining was dangerous job, the New Gladstone Mine was relatively safe.  Massa said they never had to use the stretcher that was kept above ground.
  He did have a couple near misses, though.  Once a rock fell and would have landed across both legs but he was in a low spot, and the rock didn't even touch him, Massa said.
  When he started mining, Massa said, there weren't many jobs around here then, and there weren't any factories.
  "You had to work in coal mines or go to the city," Massa said.
  He added his three daughters all went to Chicago and worked for the Burlington Railroad for a while.
  In 1917, more than 10,000 men were mining in the county. There were also 93 mines open.
  Massa said that at one time a person could just about go from Mystic to Centerville underground.
  Although mining was not an easy job, Massa said the miners liked it.
  "After you started working there, you were always ready to go back in the fall," Massa said. They usually mined during the fall and winter.
  He said the temperature in the mines was the same year round. Massa said a person would need a coat if they were just sitting down there, but if they were working the temperature as comfortable.
  But, coal mining in Iowa is nearly non-existent now. The thing that really hurt the coal mining industry was the use of the diesel motor, which took away a lot of the need for coal, Massa said.
  The New Gladstone Mine closed because part of Highway2 was being moved and it was going to be very close to the mine opening, he said.

Big Doings in Coal Circles in the Jerome Territory

Semi=Weekly Iowegian - 28 February 1913

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Big Joe People Get Big Four and New Mine

Will Have 200 Men Employed

Expect to Have Hundred Men in Big Four by April and 

New Mine Going by September with 200 Men in Both

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  Big things are doing in the coal territory about Jerome. This was indicated in the Iowegian recently when the lease of 300 acres of coal land northeast of Jerome was announced. The  Big Joe people who have operated the mine at Gladstone, have now acquired possession of the Big Four mine at Jerome, and in addition will open up a new mine about a mine and a quarter from Jerome on the Milwaukee.  These will be principally for production of railroad coal andit is expectede that by fall 200 men will be employed. In anticipation of the coming increase in the coal industryand the addition of several hundred to to the population of Jerome, there is great business activity in that section and Jerome is looking forward to a big boom.

  The intention of the company is to have the water pumped out and the workings cleaned up in the Big Four which has been idle for the past two years. It has been kept in pretty fair condition during this time, but quite a bit of work will be done on it to pt it in good working order.  By April 1st or shortly after it is expected that 100 men will be at work in it getting out coal. The Big Four has about 500 acres of coal under lease, not much of which has been taken out. The top works will be put in good order, screens and new track scales made up to date, and everything made first class. New hopper scales will be put in also. The new mine is to be opened on the Burns farm and will be equipped with a steel tripple, self dumper, shaker screens and box car loader.  The shaft will be something out of the ordinary, being round and with a cement wall. The switch will be started about April 1 and as soon as in work will begin on the shaft.

  Robert Hunter, who has been the efficient sujperintendent of the Big Joe mine, will be superintendent of the Big Four and the new mine for the Big Joe coal comany, as well as continue the oversight of the mine at Gladstone. He will have offices in Jerome, in the John Woods building at the northeast corner of the square which was bought by Mr. Hunter and will be occupied by April 1. The company owns nine houses bought of the Big Four peoplo, and may move some houses from Glatstone later, but will not build any more houses it self.

  The companydoes not care to engage in the supply store business either and will transfer its Gladstone store to the Big Four supply store at Jerome March 1.  This Big Four store will continue under its former management.  Frank Gable is in charge. This store has been independent of mine management and will continue to be so.

In the Good Old Days When Coal was King

Centerville Daily Iowegian - 8 February 2003

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By Ethel Lira, Correspondent

  The Purdy Mine that was located near Jerome sported a double drum hoist and while much of the equipment was mechanized, there was still a lot of "pony power" used to hoist the coal from the bottom to the top and deliver it to customers.

  The miners had a definite pride in their ability to load "a little more" coal, lift "a little more: bottom, etc., than their fellow miners working alongside. Each miner was, in his own way, an environmental expert. They all wore carbide lamps down in the mine for safety reasons. If the flame fluttered or went out, it was a sign to get out NOW, as the air was bad.

  They were engineers because they had learned how to undercut the coal so it would fall for loading and to listen to the cracking of the coal walls because it would often mean that it was preparing to "fall" and, in the local mining history, many miners were seriously injured in not recognizing these sights and sounds. Some even lost their lives and limbs in these accidents.

  Miners became accountants be could they could, over time, know almost to the pound exactly how much coal had been loaded on the mine cars taken to the top. These were hoisted, weighed and dumped into waiting wagons and trucks for shipment.

  The Purdy Mine was another family operation Henry Purdy came to the area as a baby when his father, Frank, migrated from England. Henry's sons, Francis, Bob, David and the youngest, Don, all worked down in the mine from an early age. 

  The original mine was sunk circa 1930 on Walnut Creek, west of Jerome. An old hoist cleaned up the mine, let down to reverse and to ... upon the bottom. Ponies were used underground to pull the coal cars from the miner's places to the hoist to be pulled to the top. The mine closed in 1946 as the three oldest boys had been called into military service by the draft, leaving Don at home at that time.

  He suffered a serious accident when the gas and oil he was carrying down the slope was accidentally spilled and caught fire from the flame of his carbide lamp.

  When his draft number was called soon after, he reported and was sent to the induction center, only to be refused due to the fact his burns had not healed properly. He recalled the doctor examining him, stating, "My, what are they sending me now? This man is carrying serious injuries." Don was told to go back home and report again in 36 months.  By that time, the war was over.

  During his mining career, he found himself being a jack of all trades. He operated mining machines, shoveled behind the machines, loaded coal, operated hoists and, on down days when the mine wasn't working, he would clean up the mining ... grease mine cars and do other maintenance.

  No one thought much about youngsters working in the mining industry at an early age.  "It was a way of life. Just the way it was." He worked around the mines from the age of six. The family of eight consisted of his parents, four boys and two girls. Everyone had a part to do and they did it.

  With the start of World War II and the drafting of able-bodied men, there were not enough experienced miners to keep the mine profitable and it closed in 1946 with the young men seeing more rewarding employment elsewhere. Don moved to Kansas City where he obtained work at the GM motor plant on the assembly line. Later working as the head of sanitation for the City of Lawrence, Kan., then operated a boat marina with his wife, Vera. He underwent open heart surgery in later years and returned from Texas to Centerville May 2002.

  (During this interview, Don and Vera Purdy, graciously opened their photo albums and boxes of coal mining artifacts to share. The photos tell a tale of the coal mining industry in Appanoose County. While it was back-breaking work, those miners who worked underground had a great deal of understandable pride of their efforts. Because of this, many meals were prepared on coal fired cookstoves and home were heated in the cold winter months, keeping the family comfortable.

Big Jim Mine, Named for Shoe Size

The Seymour Herald - 23 May 1957

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By Richard Gilbert and Tom Morrow

  The “Big Jim” coal mine had its beginning about 1900 when A. G. Widmer sank a 200 foot shaft on land presently owned by John Argenta Sr. located on the northeast edge of Seymour.

  The mine was called the “Big Jim” because Jim Morrison, who owned the property at that time, wore a size 13 shoe. The mine was originally called “Big Jim No. 13,” but this was soon shortened to “Big Jim.” The “Big Jim” was one of the largest coal mines in southern Iowa.

  Widmer owned the “Big Jim” and the “Sunshine (Seymour Coal Company) mine.” He later owned the “Streepy mine” located near Numa.  Widmer incidentally, was the first person in Seymour to own an automobile, a model F Buick. The car was such a novelty that on several July Fourth celebrations Widmer would give rides around the square for 10 cents a ride.  He then donated the proceeds to a worthy cause. Widmer was the son-in-law of the late Dr. Ernest.

  The business office for both the “Big Jim” and the “Sunshine” mines was located in the building now occupied by Grismore's jewelry store.

  The “Big Jim” consisted of a 200-foot vertical shaft from which four main horizontal shafts branched out over a large area. One main shaft stretched a half-mile east below the Milwaukee railroad track; another led off toward the H. N. Mahaffrey farm; a third went in the direction of the Harve Lord farm; while the fourth shaft tunneled under the town of Seymour. From the four main shafts there were many smaller shafts that branched out to cover a wide area.

  The mine was operated, even by today's standards, in a very efficient manner. The four main shafts were lighted by electricity, and an electric-powered car which ran on steel rails transported coal along the four main shafts. Mine ponies hauled the coal from smaller shafts to one of the main shafts and from there it was transported on the electric railroad to the vertical shaft. There were seven mechanical coal cutting machines used in the mining operation.

  The ponies that were used in the mine were kept in stalls built at the base of the vertical main shaft. The ponies never saw the light of daylight from early September until mid-spring, but in the summer they were taken to the surface every evening. The ponies could not be exposed to cold weather since the temperature change from the mine would cause pneumonia.

  The “dump,” consisting of slag and dirt brought up from beneath the ground, made the “Big Jim” mine a landmark for many years. This “dump” covered an area of six acres and was easily visible for many miles.

  The “Big Jim” mine provided employment for from 200 to 250 men and had an output of about 600 tons of coal a day. Nearly all the coal mined was shipped on the railroad, one of the coal mine's best customers, but some was sold to the townspeople. About six or seven freight cars were loaded every day. The wages the workers earned depended upon the amount of coal they could mine. The average wage was about three to four dollars a day. Coal sold for about a dollar a ton.

  With so many men working at the mine, a village soon grew up around the mine. The “town” consisted of 18 to 20 small houses, two boarding houses, and a saloon. There also was a grocery store located on Youngs Avenue, “The Italian Store,” operated by Jack and Pete Cambruzzi.

  Many persons are familiar with some of the men who worked at the “Big Jim” early in the 1900's. George Elmore was the head engineer, blacksmith and general foreman for the mine; John Reay was check weighman for many years.  Another person who worked at the “Big Jim” was a person who was known by nearly everyone as “Big Dominick” Maddalozzo. Several of the men who were employed at the “Big Jim” are still living today in or near Seymour. Among these are John Argenta Sr., Fred Sebben, Beno Sebben, John Sebben, Simon Mores, Frank Saccaro, Tony Sebben, Johnny DeGard, Tony DeRocco and John Reay.

  The main vertical shaft, the opening where all men, coal, slag, ponies, and machinery were brought up out of the mine, contained two separate steel elevators called “cages.” These two “cages” made up a “catch” which was powered by a steam engine. The “catch” stopped at two levels above ground—one at surface level and the other at the top of a tipple where the coal was unloaded into railroad cars.

  Below, on the floor, there was a long pull-rope which was fastened to a steel triangle at the surface. If the men in the mine wished to send a load of coal or other materials to the mine tipple they pulled the cord twice, which was ta signal to the “catch” operator to take the elevator to the top. When the men were going to ride the “catch” they signaled with three rings to tell the operator to bring the “catch” up slowly and stop it at the ground level.

  One day, George Jones Jr., who worked in the mine with his father, boarded the cage for a ride to the ground level. However, for some reason or other, he failed to signal to the “catch” operator that the elevator was to be stopped at the first level.

  The operator presumed that he was to take the “catch” all the way to the tipple and so started the elevator up the shaft at the speed used to haul the coal. Young Jones, unaware that the “catch” would not stop for him, started to step out at the ground level but was quickly dashed against a heavy wooden beam supporting the tipple as the “catch” whizzed upward. The blow knocked Jones off balance and he fell 200 feet to the floor of the mine and was killed.

  Although this was only one of several accidents that occurred at the “Big Jim” it is remembered because of the irony connected with it. Several weeks before his death George has visited a fortune teller who had come to Seymour with a carnival. She predicted that George Jones Jr. would not live to be 21. Naturally, George told his fellow workers at the the mine, much to everyone's amusement, of the Gypsy's prediction but after his death there was a great deal of speculation about the fortune teller's statement.

  In the spring of 1918, operations at the “Big Jim” mine came to an abrupt halt. During the night there was a cave-in at the bottom of the main vertical shaft, caused by the pressures that had been placed on the braces over the years.

  Widmer estimated that it would cost several thousand dollars to clear the mine before operation could be resumed and felt that because the merchants of the town received the business of the miners on his payroll, they should contribute towards the cost of clearing the shaft. They refused, however, and Widmer got a few men to enter the mine through the air shaft and salvage the equipment. He then sold the mine and took the equipment to Missouri where he opened a new mine.

  Several years later parts of the huge “dump” were hauled away for use as ballast and in road construction.

  (Note: Bill Augustine, John Argenta Sr., and Lawrence Ruby assisted us in gaining information for this article.)

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  This article from The Seymour Herald is included in the coal mining exhibit at the Prairie Trails Museum of Wayne County in Corydon, Iowa. The editor sincerely appreciates that Brenda DeVore of the Prairie Trails Museum sent a copy of it to post in The Jerome Journal at my request.

Working in a Coal Mine

Newsletter of the Wayne County Historical Society

December 2010

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By Brenda DeVore

  One of the interesting exhibits in the 20th Century Wing in Prairie Trails Museum tells the story of coal mining in eastern Wayne County. Covering the time from 1870 to 1960, when the last mine in Wayne County closed, it is a story of hard work and many men toiling away in dark dangerous underground mines.

  When the pioneers began to arrive in eastern Wayne County they found coal near the surface of the ground. Some of the early pioneers dug out coal for heating their cabins.

  Wayne County was officially organized on Feb 13, 1851 and by 1855 practically the entire county was settled. The 1850 census reported county population at 340. By 1860, just ten years later, the population had jumped to 6,409, and it continued to grow until it reached a peak of 17,491 in 1900.

  In 1855 the only mine in operation was in Wright Township a few miles north of Promise City. By 1875 Wayne County had nine coal mines open, which employed 49 workers and put out more than 4,000 tons of coal, valued at $9,068.00. As the population grew so did the number of coal mines.  All operation coal mines were located in the eastern townships of Wayne County continuing east into Appanoose. As rail service grew in importance some of the larger mines were owned by railroad companies.

  A vein of coal twenty-five to thirty inches thick was found within the city limits of Seymour and extended about eight miles west of town and an unknown distance eastward. The first coal mine in Seymour was in 1883; it was owned and operated by L. F. Thatcher. Called the "Sunshine" mine, it was located directly east of the railroad which was convenient for shipping coal. In 1884 another mine, the "Occidental Coal Mines" opened at the west edge of Seymour, thus there were two mines within the city limits.

  The Big Jim Mine, one and one-fourth miles east of Seymour was the largest mine in Wayne County. At its height it employed 500 men and put out five hundred tons of coal daily. With so many mines around Seymour it was known as a Coal Camp. With a need for more miners the Coal Companies hastily erected rows of small cheap houses to rent to the new immigrant miners. Even today a few of the small square houses remain in Seymour, Centerville, Cincinnati, Exline, Brazil, and Mystic.

  In The Past and Present of Lucas and Wayne Counties published in 1913 it was stated, "The coal in Seymour is of superior quality producing white ashes and comparatively free from clinkers. A little mountain of cinders and debris within the town limits, removed from the mine, is about one hundred feet high and has been burning for several years. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company has built a track to this debris and is using it for ballast."

  In 1900 Seymour boasted a population of over 2,000, the largest town in the county, mostly due to the many miners living and working there. Immigrants came from Croatia, Italy, France, England, Sweden, Lithuania, Ireland, and Wales to work in southern Iowa coal mines in search of a better life in America. Descendants of those early immigrants are still part of the community today.

  In some of the communities, not only did the mines rent housing from the coal company, there was a company store where they shopped. In the classic Tennessee Ernie Ford song the chorus line was - You load sixteen tons, what do you get, another day older and deeper in debt, Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go; I owe my soul to the company store. Interviews of retired miners show many felt this way as the prices at the company store were inflated and they had no choice but to shop there. One retired miner reported that if your wife shopped elsewhere the mine might suddenly no longer need you.

  Where the coal deposit lay near the surface and was visible from a hillside, a drift mine was dug horizontally. If the coal deposit lay not more than a hundred feet from the surface, a sloping tunnel could be cut to the coal. If the vein was deep but the materials above could be easily removed workers stripped off the overburden and formed a strip mine.

  If the deposit was too difficult for a slope or strip mine then a vertical shaft was sunk down to the coal vein. From this shaft horizontal tunnels were cut into the deposit forming a room and pillar mine. If the mine was large there would be tunnels leading out in different directions. The mine entry averaged about eight feet in width, keeping the entry as narrow as possible to allow stronger roof support. Tunnel height was usually about five feet. 

  Transporting the coal from the mine involved building a rail system for small coal cars to be pulled by ponies or mules. Shetland ponies were the choice in many mines due to their short stature. Sometimes the ponies remained in the mine for extended periods and were blind when finally brought out to the surface.

  Coal mining was a dark, dusty, dirty job and the men came from the mine covered in coal dust. The miners felt they were cleaner than others in the community because they had a daily bath while others at the time bathed weekly. Of course many former miners suffered from black lung in later years.

  

  Mining was, and still is, a dangerous occupation. The miner worked in cramped dimly lit conditions with only a carbide lamp attached to his helmet and, at times, on his side swinging a pickax into a dark dusty wall of coal. Looking through clippings from early Seymour newspapers there are numerous stories of men injured or killed while working in the mines.

  The miner who "shot" the coal had one of the most dangerous jobs. He entered the mine at night after other miners had gone home. Using a large hand crank drill he would burrow a hole in the wall and then set a charge of dynamite. The resulting explosion loosened coal to be picked and loaded the following morning.

  Each miner had a unique set of brass or metal tags with a number stamped on each. Once the rail car was filled with coal the miner attached his tag to the front so when the car was pulled to the surface he would get credit for that load. There are three of these tags on displayin the coal mine exhibit at the museum.

  Pictured above is a plat of the Confidence High Test Coal Company mine. This plat was determined by a survey done on Jan 18, 1937 by engineer M. S. Hall and updated in 1940. Constructed as a slope mine, it was on the east side of the roadand the entrance opened toward what is now highway S56. This mine was just south of where Sunny Slope Church now stands. This map is on display in the coal mine exhibit and was donated by Larry Martley.

  In 1926 an article in the Times Republican reported, "Prospecting for coal near Promise City was rewarded by finding a vein 32 inches thick at a depth of 122 feet. The vein was struck by the drilling outfit Saturday evening on the Noble Brothers farm 1-1/4 miles eat of Promise City on the south bank of Walnut Creek. This became known as Noble Coal Company and was an underground mine. Evidence of this mine can still be seen today on the south bank of Walnut Creek, south of Highway 2 on the route to Seymour.

  Enterprise Coal Mine north of Promise City was owned and operated by Maurice and Mary Maddaleno from 1933 until it collapsed in June 1960. The mine had the distinction of having a woman as engineer, Mary Maddaleno; her husband drafted her for the job after son Joe joined the Navy in 1943 during World War II. "I didn't have a bit of trouble learning," said Mary. "Easier than working around the house."

  As the demand for coal decreased and the coal veins played out, mines began to close down. The collapse of the Enterprise Coal Mine in 1960 brought an end to coal mining in Wayne County.

  To learn more about Wayne County's coal industry check out the coal mine exhibit in the 20th Century Wing of Prairie Trails Museum.

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  The editor sincerely appreciates the permission of the Wayne County Historical Society to publish in The Jerome Journal the article "Working in a Coal Mine" written by Brenda DeVore and the accompanying pictures from the Newsletter of the Wayne County Historical Society of December 2010.  The Wayne County Historical Society operates the Prairie Trails Museum of Wayne County and the Historical and Genealogical Library, 515 East Jefferson Street (State Route #2) Corydon, Iowa.

Coal Consolidation - The Mystic Coal Field - 1895

Iowegian - April 1895

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  Word was given out on Saturday that all the coal mines on the Milwaukee road from Darbyville to Jerome had consolidated under the name of the "Mystic Coal Field," and includes a total of twenty-three mines. The entire output will be controlled by the company, the officers of which are: W. H. Holcomb, president; John B. Hughes, vice president and general manager and D. C. Bradley, secretary and treasurer. The board of directors are W. H. Holcomb, G. D. French, Alex Orr, J. E. Lee, Joseph Goss, J. L. Ludwick and John  B. Hughes.

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The Earlington Bee [KY] - 16 May 1895

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  "The Mystic Coal Field," at Mystic, Iowa, has been organized. This is the largest organization for the mining and marketing of coal in Iowa, and perhaps in the West.  In it are consolidated fifteen Companies, operating twenty-three mines at eight different towns, with an output of over 1,000,000 tons of coal a year. It was organized for the purpose of keeping up the price of coal and economizing in operating.

Mine Was Burned -- Big Loss for Seymour and the Sunshine Mine by Fire

Semi-Weekly Iowegian - 20 August 1909

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  Seymour, Aug. 20 -- Scores of miners employed at the Sunshine mine owned by A. G. Widmer of Centerville had a narrow escape about 6:30 Tues-evening in a fire that put the mine out of commission.  When discovered, the tipple of the mine was on fire, but the blaze spread so rapidly that in less than an hour the framework had all fallen in.  The night shift had gone into the mine to work, but they escaped uninjured through the air shaft, although they had a narrow escape. Seymour will feel the loss heavily, as the mine payroll has been heavy.

  Besides the tipple, engine and boiler rooms, with all the machinery, a good part of which was comparatively new and in good order, there were some 500 or 600 tons of coal burned and three freight cars.  Part of the chute with several tons of coal fell right across the main track and all tracks of the Rock Island road and it took considerable time to clear them.

  The property destroyed was valued at something over $10,000.  Insurance was about half the amount.  There has been considerable speculation since the fire as to whether the work will be rebuilt or not.  The burning of the mine will be a sad loss to Seymour, as between 200 and 300 men depended on the Sunshine for their sole support.  

Bad Clash Is Feared - Mine Owners Want Militia

The Minneapolis Journal - 9 April 1895

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For the Miners Intend to Prevent 

Outside Workmen from Going In

  Albia, Iowa, April 9 -- A clash between mine operators and striking miners at the Cincinnati mines, in the southern part of Appanoose county, seems inevitable unless the militia is ordered out to quell the strikers.  It is reported here that another delegation, 100 strong, is on the way from Mendota, Mo., just over the state line, to join forces with the strikers from Cincinnait, Rathbun, Mystic, Jerome and Seymour, to prevent the men whom the operators have imported from entering the mines.

  Notice has been served on the leaders of the strikers that if they do not permit the operators to open their mines an appeal would be made to Gov. Jackson to order out the militia. 

Miners Strike -- One Thousand Employees of Thirty Mines Resist a Reduction

Morning World-Herald of Omaha NE - 3 October 1896

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  Ottawa, IA, Oct. 2 -- A thousand miners in the Appanoose district are out on a strike against a reduction of 5 cents for mining coal, and a general restlessness among the miners at most Iowa mines causes a fear among operators that the strike may become general.  Strikes have reduced the miners at Mystic, Cincinnati and other points near Centerville to a pitiable condition and troops were stationed for several weeks last year at Cincinnati to guard against an outbreak against imported men.

  The present outlook is for just such a siege this time.  There is no appearance of trouble yet.  The miners are very quiet.  They congregated at Centerville yesterday about the shafts and offices of the coal company, but were orderly and made no demonstration.  About thirty miners are affected by the strike. 

The Gladstone Coal Mine

The Daily Iowegian - 10 August 2006

By Bill Heusinkveld - Correspondent

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  The settlement of Marsdenville developed in Section 35 on the south side of Hwy. No. 2 on land owned by John C. Felkner. There were about 15 miners‚ homes just south of the highway and west of the railroad. The town was established by Pete Marsden, the operator of the Big Joe Mine there, and later the operator of Gladstone No. 2 in Jerome. A Post office was established briefly May 29, 1893 with John J. Stone postmaster.
  The Gladstone Coal Co. started out to be Big Joe Block Mine No. 1. Coal was mined commercially at least by 1897. It was a shaft mine of 80 feet. The tipple was on the west side of the tracks, on the south edge of the new village of Marsdenville, the home of all the workers for the mine.
  During its operation, there was a tragic accident in the Big Joe. In 1905 Peter Gallows, an Austrian, was on the second landing, ready to step on the cage to go down. Someone called his attention to something else for a few minutes. While they were talking, the operator raised the cage to the first level. Visibility was very poor with the shaft a dense fog of steam. Gallows stepped off calmly to where he thought the cage was and fell to instant death a hundred feet below.
  The Big Joe Mine became Harkes Mine No. 1 in 1910 and Gladstone Coal Co. Mine No. 1 in 1913 after which it was closed. There was a total area of 203 acres mined out between 1897 and 1913.
  In 1939 a new 100-foot shaft was drilled on the north side of the highway just west of the tracks, and it was called the New Gladstone Coal Co. Mine. It had a separate slope entrance for the ponies to pull the coal cars out. Shetland ponies, shorter than other breeds, were used to pull the coal cars up the steep slope to the surface. It must have been a long, hard pull for the small ponies. The ponies were housed in a barn on the north side of the road, on the Paul Felkner farm for many years. This mine was in operation for a long time until 1971 and a total of 50 acres were mined. The town of about 25 families disappeared, and the homes were moved out.
  Mining operations would usually be shut down during the summers when coal was not needed for heating of the homes. The miners had a hard time making a living with such part time work.  The railroads gradually switched to diesel engines for locomotion and home heating was converted from coal to natural gas. The coal was of poor quality and mines could not compete commercially. It was also quite costly to get it out of the ground because the seam of coal was only about three and a half foot thick. Most of the later mines were truck mines for local markets. Mine after mine was closed throughout the first part of the 20th century.
  The Gladstone Mine was the last to close in March, 1971 in conjunction with the reconstruction of Highway No. 2, including the modern railroad viaduct. The closing of the mine ended an era, not only in Appanoose County, but all over Iowa. The Gladstone Mine was the last pony mine operating in the country.
  Before the mine was completely closed and sealed, Iowa State College in Ames came out and made a 23 minute videotape of the mine operation, including the ponies pulling a load of coal to the top and the trip mechanism to unload the coal. It is very dark in the mine in spite of the carbide lamps on the miners‚ caps and it is very difficult to take pictures. The ponies in the film happen to have a white blaze on the front of their faces which show up as soon as the ponies approach the surface daylight. This tape is now available for viewing at the Centerville museum.
  Former workers in that last pony mine re-opened the mine and started the machinery long enough to make the film. They were people like Louie Noble, Charles Fox, Joe Bunyan and Frank (Chesco) Massa. The mine was owned by Wayne Arbogast of Numa.
  The railroad was later called the Soo Line and is the only through railroad still operating in Appanoose County today. There is now a railroad underpass under Hwy. No. 2, so the railroad is hardly noticeable when traveling down the highway. The New Gladstone Mine is pictured here. I have a little correction to make concerning my article of last week. It was about John Buban, having been hit on the head by a piece of falling slate in the Sterling Mine (Sunshine No. 2) east of Brazil and was unconscious in the hospital for three days. Upon awakening, he spit out a piece of chew he’d had in his mouth the entire time.  I referred to Mr. Buban with the moniker, “Cat” Buban. His daughter Kathy called me and said I had it wrong, that he was really called “Cap” Buban. So I am glad to make the correction.

2500 Men Employed at Coal Mines

Twenty-five Hundred Men Employed at Mines

Almost 900,000 Tons Taken Out Last Year

Most Mines in Any County

Seventy Here and Mine Inspector Says County Could Easily Surpass All Others in Production

  With the single exception of Monroe more men are employed in coal mining in Appanoose county than in any other county in Iowa and the only counties exceeding the output of Appanoose are Monroe and Polk.  In the past year Appanoose rose to third place in production, Mahaska being passed and made fourth.  There was an increase in production in this county last year of 169,000 tons, making a total of 892,000, though the number of men increased but 32, being a total of 2499. Monroe had 2839 men and 1,600,000 tons of coal.  In the next class below the big four mentioned above are Wapello, Jasper, Marion, Boone and Lucas running from 865,000 to 290,000.

Number of Mines Increased

  The state is divided into three districts for inspection purposes, the first being composed of Monroe, Appanoose, Lucas, Wayne, Taylor, Page and Adams.  In these counties are 124 mines and Appanoose has 70 of them according to the report made by John Verner, Inspector, submitted for the year ending June 30 and just published. This is an increase of two mines in the county in one year and makes Appanoose far in the lead as to number of mines, the next county in the state being Mahaska with 26.  The mines opened during the past year are reported to be Oriental Coal Co., Exline Coal Co., No. 7 Peerless Coal Co., No. 30 Manufacturers Coal and Coke Co. Those abandoned were Economy No. 2 and No. 7, Centerville Block.

Only Few Accidents

  In the past year there were but two fatal accidents in the 70 mines with 2500 men employed. They were as follows:  Geo. E. Howe, killed by a fall of coal in the Peacock mine Sept. 11, 1902. C. Conger killed by a fall of coal in the Exline mine March 20, 1903. Of the 11 fatal accidents in the district Monroe had seven of them.  

  The serious accidents credited to Appanoose are:

  S. Gugerich, leg broken by fall of coal in Illinois & Iowa Coal Co. mine Oct. 16, 1902.

  P. Morganda, hip dislocated by fall of coal in the Star Coal Co. mine Nov. 3, 1902.

  Wm. Smith, ankle broken by all of coal in Consumers Coal Co. mine, Nov. 15, 1902.

  J. Gollis, foot broken by fall of coal in Star Coal Co. mine, Dec. 2, 1902.

  J. Peckham, a driver, leg broken by a fall between cars, in Tipton Coal Co. mine, Dec. 24, 1902.

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 [From the Semi-Weekly Iowegian, 1903, digital image in Newspaper Clippings (1899-1953) and Obituaries (1822-1978) from the Semi-Weekly Iowegian.  FHL US/CAN Film 1703961, Items 2-7 (Salt Lake City, Utah:  Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990)] 

Refuses to Put Troops in Iowa Coal Fields

  From the New York Times of 27 August 1927:

Governor Hammill Tells Owners and Miners 

to End Trouble and Keep the Law.

  Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 26 (AP). -- Governor John Hammill today urged the Iowa coal operators and miners to strive for a settlement of their differences, declaring that "the public is interested in a settlement and the miners need the employment and Iowa the industry."  The Governor for the third time refused a request of the operators to send State troops into the mine fields of Appanoose County to aid local officers in preserving order.

  Governor Hamill told the operators and miners that, "instead of talking about each other," they should "talk to each other," and arrive at a settlement of their differences.

  The Governor denied the request for troops on the ground that the situation in Appanoose County did not warrant such a course.  He reached the conclusion at the end of a conference with operators, miner's union officers and the civil officials of Appanoose County.

  The Governor warned the operators and the miners that "law must prevail," and directed the Sheriff of Appanoose County to "take all necessary steps to preserve order and protect the lives and property of the citizens."

  He specifically directed the Sheriff to protect the men who are employed on the $5 a day wage schedule and to see that no property is destroyed. 

Wage Trouble in Iowa Mines

  From the New York Times of 2 October 1896:
  Ottumwa, Iowa, Oct. 1 -- The mines of the Appanoose District are closed and work is stopped.  The strike is the result of the new scale of prices posted yesterday at all of the mines in the district.  The men decided to quit work for the rest of the week for the purpose of considering the new scale.  At all the mines meetings were held to-day and committees appointed to attend a meeting at Centerville tonight.  The new scale gives the men 85 cents for Winter and 75 cents for Summer mining.  This is an increase over the prices paid during the latter part of last Winter and was supposed to go into effect to-day. 

Memories of Jerome, Iowa - Part IX - Life of the Miners

  During the time when the mines were in full swing, the miner's and his families lives were practically ruled by the mine whistle.  At six o'clock in the morning, the whistle blew to warn dwaddlers they should be up and getting ready for a day's work to begin.  The seven o'clock whistle meant time for the day's work to begin.  At noon the whistle not only signaled lunchtime for the miners, but school children tossed their books into their desks and hurried home for lunch.  A three o'clock whistle in the afternoon was a warning to the housewife that her husband would soon be home.  In a few minutes every house had smoke swirling out from its chimney as the wife started the evening meal.  One long blast at four o'clock meant work tomorrow; three blasts meant no work.  When the whistle wailed day or night, it was a frightening sound because it was a danger signal.  It might be a warning of a fire so that everyone would grab a bucket and rush to the scene.  At night the wailing sound might warn of an approaching storm so people could seek the safety of their caves.  However, the sound that was seldom heard but could send shivers up ones spine was the six long sad wails that told a miner was dead.  All the men came out when the body was removed and no household breathed easily until they learned it was not their bread winner that had been the victim of one of the many underground dangers.

  A miner's work was hazardous and unpleasant.  Often he went for days without even seeing the sunlight.  In the Mystic seam, the miner worked in rooms about 2 1/2 feet in height so that he must lie on his side to mine the coal.  Because the falls of coal or slate, many workers had broken arms, or legs, slate colored scars on their faces, and ofter stooped shoulders or hunched backs.

  In the earlier days, the miners usually had to lift bottom, load dirt, or do other extra jobs without extra pay.  It was a necessity for the men to form some kind of organization to obtain better working conditions.  In 1882, when John L. Lewis was only two years old, his father led a group of miners in a strike at Lucas, Iowa.  He was evicted from his home and put on a black list so he could not be hired elsewhere in a mine.  It was nine years later in 1891, that unionism came to Appanoose County.  There was not one, but two unions existing here.  In 1894 these two combined to form the United Mine Workers of America.

  Most of the men worked during the winter, but were laid off during the summer months.  They must depend on the company store for their needs and for credit.  It was true that they practically "owed their souls to the company store."

  In addition to the Big-4 Mine, other mines in Jerome included The Purdy Mine, Walnut Creek Mine and The New Gladstone #2 Mine. 
[From Memories of Jerome, Iowa, 1989 published for the 1989 Jerome Reunion.]

Memories of Jerome, Iowa - Part VI - Railroads and Coal Mines

  In 1886 the Chicago and Milwaukee railroad purchased right-of-way through Lincoln township for construction of a road.  In the early part of 1887 the first train passed over this road through Jerome.  Many farmers gave land for this right-of-way and Peter Sidles, Sr. gave land for the depot providing they would locate a depot here.  The railway company called the town Rowley and painted that name on the station, but the towns people would not accept the name and it was soon dropped in favor of Jerome.  

  Soon after the railroad passed through the community, William Oughten and William Meyers purchased a mining site and coal lease from James Buck and Peter Sidles, Sr., and sank the Big-4 Mine.  This was completed in the fall of 1892.  They operated the mine for some time and then sold it to the Consumers Coal Company of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  This company operated the mine until the Harkes Coal Company of Kansas City, Mo., purchased it in 1912.  Shortly after this the mine reached peak production, nearly 250 tons daily.  It was worked until 1923 when it was abandoned due to the high cost of production.
  In 1892 a coal lease was purchased west of Jerome by the Big Block Company and this company sunk a mine known as No. 2.  In 1894-95 this mine reached its height of production which was 130 tons daily.  The life of this mine was very short for soon after its opening a fault was struck and other suitable coal property could not be leased.  The operator was a man by the name of Peter Marsden.
  The United Mine Workers of America was organized in Jerome in the fall of 1898.  It was continued here for many years and as the mines were discontinued the miners took their memberships to other places.
 [From Memories of Jerome, Iowa, 1989 published for the 1989 Jerome Reunion.]

The Last Pony Mine

Iowa State University produced the documentary The Last Pony Mine which received a CINE Golden Eagle Award.  The description provided  on the Chip Taylor Communications website reads:

Coal was the main source of primary energy for industry and transportation from the 18th century to the 1950s in the United States; coal resources and coal mining played important roles in many state's social and economic history.  Prior to engines being used by coal miners, little Belgian or Shetland ponies, known as Pit Ponies, were used to pull carts loaded with coal through the low-roofed mines. The last pony mine in American was the New Gladstone Coal Mine in Appanoose County, Iowa, which shut down its operations in 1971, ending an era of pony mining.  This classic, award-winning documentary recounts the story of the mine, the miners and their four-legged partners, who worked the same shifts as the men and were an important part of the haulage crew, hauling empty coal cars to the miners for filling or hauling loaded cars out of the mine.  Produced by Iowa State University.

The documentary may be viewed on YouTube in three segments:  Part 1; Part 2; and Part 3.

The Gladstone Mine was located just north of Jerome on the Milwaukee Railroad.