Coal Miners Memorial
Please send us your posting of your deceased
coal miner
Henry B. Creech
Totz, Harlan Co, KY
Born Feb 1908, Died August 1983
Black Lung
Grandfather of Earl Steven Creech |
| In Harlan County, 1932, my great aunt and
uncle lost SIX sons in what has come to known as the "Massingale Tragedy".
Harlan Fuel Company, Yancey, Harlan County, Kentucky.
The parents of 12 children, (11 boys, 1 girl)
James Nelson and Martha Earls Massingale, married in Claiborne County,
Tennessee. The entire family migrated to Harlan County in 1912 where
James Nelson found work as a coal miner. As his sons grew into adulthood,
each became a coal miner. All six of the following worked on the
same shift, same section of the mine...
On December 9, 1932, James Nelson had just
left the mines for home when these six started their shift....there was
an explosion that evening -killing all six of James' son's employed there.
Their bodies were "paraded by" at the old Harlan Jewelry and Embalmers
for a couple of days....three caskets on each side of the parlor....
(To matters even worse, their only daughter, Eliza, was killed in an automobile
accident 9 months later - leaving only 5 of 12 children living.)
This entire story was covered by the Harlan
Daily Enterprise and one of the surviving brothers, Lee Massingale, wrote
a book in the early 1960's. My mother has the only copy I know of
in existance. If you can't locate this article in the Enterprise,
I'll TRY to get her to let go of it long enough to scan some of the photos.
(Lee was barely literate - very hard to read.)
The names of those killed during that shift
were:
Calvin Massingale b. 09-23-1901
d. 12-09-1932
Garrett Massingale b. 12-06-1896
d. 12-09-1932
Thomas Massingale b. 02-19-1900 d.
12-09-1932
Henry Massingale b. 06-01-1898
d. 12-09-1932
Campbell Massingale b. 07-23-1906
d. 12-09-1932
William Massingale b. 03-28-1908
d. 12-09-1932
submitted
by Toni Farmer |
Charles "Red" Kirby
Aug. 1899 to May 1973
Died of "Black Lung" & Cancer
Husband and Father of, Sallie King Kirby,
(wife)
Robert (Bobby) Kirby (son)
Wanda Sue Kirby Mangum (daughter)
He worked 45 years in the Coal Mines, mostly
for the Harlan-Wallins Coal Co, at Verda, Ky. and several years for The
Blue Diamond Coal Co. at Chevrolet, Ky.
Submitted by Bob Kirby |
Mont Combs
Born 4-21-1901 and died April 1974 Dema,
Ky.
cause of death Black Lung
grandfather of Sandra Brooks |
Frank Rodgers
died abt 1926 in a mining accident
grandfather of Darrell Jackson |
William McKinley Smiddie
b. 12-29-1897 TN, d. 7-22-1954 Indianapolis,
IN. Worked at I-H in Benham between 1936 and 1948. Married Mayme I. Brown,
in Eastland, TN. They had 11 kids. Daughter Billie (Smiddie) Steel and
husband Charles live in Lynch, KY. Charles worked and retired from US Steel.
William died from Cancer and Black Lung.
Sam Smiddie, William's brother, worked at
and retired from US Steel in Lynch, KY.
Joe Smiddie |
Charley Hudson
b. Aug 15, 1893 in Breathitt Co., KY
d. Jan 07, 1920 in Tribbey, Perry Co.,
KY
Age: 27
Cause of death: Slate fall
WWI Veteran
Son of: Margaret Hudson &
Sylvester Roberts
Husband of: Norcie Patrick
Father of: Lucinda, Hazel &
Willard Hudson
Grandfather of Louise Chapman Gaskill |
John Plymale
During the Civil War he served in Co A and
Co C, 14th Kentucky Infantry Volunteers. He was mustered out at Louisville
on Sep 15, 1864. He returned home to Catletts Creek, KY and went
to work in a coal mine. He is said to have been killed by a slate
fall on his second day on the job, after having gone thru the war without
a scratch.
Paul Barclift |
Edgel Branham
born: June 30,1926 in Pike Co, KY died
June 29,1991 of Black Lung. Worked the majority of his life in the
mines and was also WW ll vet. |
Charles Ira Sutphin
Killed at Robin Hood mine in Boone County
WV. Born Feb 8 1951 died March 31, 1972 at the age of 21. He was killed
by falling slate. |
Charlie Griffie
born on April 7, 1920 and Died May 24, 1995,
all in Leslie County, Kentucky. He was married for over 50 years
and had 11 children living when he passed. He died of cancer from
black lung. A great Man!
grandfather of Michael J Griffie |
Ira Cassell
The father of Lilla Katherine CASSELL McLott
b. Feb 28,1924 in Buchanan Co,Va. d. Feb 17,2000 in Gastonia NC from
complications of Black Lung and Cancer. He worked over 50 yrs in the coal
mines of Va and Ky.
Also survived by wife Shirley White Cassell
and sons
Paul,and Jimmy Cassell of Gastonia NC and
daughters
Freida Davis and Connie White,and Linda Jackson.
We love and miss our father very much. |
James Music
born 5/24/1915
died from Black Lung in Dec. 1992.
We miss him very much. I still see
him in my home. I guess I will always remember the wonderful father
I had.
father of Betty Music Daniel |
George Vaughn
Nov.9,1903 to Sept.20, 1972
died of black lung and cancer
husband of : Mary Williams Vaughn (Sept.1,1908
to Jan.31, 1994)
father of: Charles, Gay, Sonny, Jean,
Jimmy, Barbara, Brenda |
Claude Ray Gambell Sr
died 7/25/1988 Oakridge TN, father of 10
children
Claude began work in the coal mines at age
8 in the Pineville area.
Died from complications of Black Lung |
Bart Lay
died 7/30/1979 in Weeksburg, KY
Bart worked the mines in Pike and Floyd Co,
started at the age of 10 and didn't receive wages until age 12. Developed
Black Lung symptons in 1965 and suffered many years before his death.
submitted by his daughter Karen |
Doc Fraley
born Jan. 18, 1907 died in a mining accident
in Elliott
Co., KY 1930.
interred at Memory Gardens Cemetery Sandy
Hook, KY.
son of Robert E. Lee Fraley and
Verlina Sturgill Fraley.
submitted by Ramona Gayle Woods, great great
niece |
Carman Fraley
born July 4, 1910 died in a mining accident
in Elliott
Co., KY 1930
interred at Memory Gardens Cemetery Sandy
Hook, KY
son of Robert E. Lee Fraley and
Verlina Sturgill Fraley.
submitted by Ramona Gayle Woods, great great
niece |
Rush Floyd Chapman
Nobody really knew whether my dad was born
in 1899 or 1900. His name was Rush Floyd Chapman. He began
working in the coal mines at the age of 13. He was injured
many times by falling slate. The last time he was pinned between
the falling slate and his cutting machine. He never fully recovered
from that episode. His left leg was permanently fixed in an half
bent position.
In the mid 1960's daddy was told by the doctors
at the Miner's Hospital that he had only about one third of his left lung
left. He had little time left to him. He died September 5,
1970.
He lives on in the memory of his loving wife
and children. His blue eyes shine on in my memories.
My hero, my friend, my teacher, my Daddy.
Rest in God's hands.
father of Minerva Chapman O'Malley |
Oscar Wallace (my grandpa) died 04/08/1976
in Trenton, Michigan
Dave Wallace died 04/1981 in Florida
Lee Wallace died 03/27/1976 in Harlan,
Kentucky
William Stanley Wallace died 06/17/1975
in Harlan, Kentucky
John Wallace died 07/09/1978 in Middlesboro,
Kentucky
Henry Wallace died 09/14/1976 in Harlan,
Kentucky
All were coal miners in mines in Harlan County
and are sadly missed by their families.
All the above are brothers and was submiited
by granddaughter of Oscar Wallace, Marcy
Mazza |
Raymond Ferrell born 1927 died 1971
of heart attack
Miner for Peabody Coal Co. 1947 - 1956
Beloved husband and father of: Imogene Hudson
Ferrell (wife, died 1997), Walter Raymond Ferrell (son living in Louisville),
Teresa Ann Ferrell Frost (dau living in Shepherdsville), Katherine Marie
Ferrell (dau living in Clarkson,Ky) Linda Lee Ferrell Vassey (dau living
in Louisville),Donna Lynn Sandlin (granddau living in Louisville) Robert
Sandlin ( ggrandson), Krista Sandlin (ggranddau), Autumn Rae Ferrell (granddau),
Eward Javier Ferrell (grnadson) |
Wyatt Ferrell born born 1901 died
1942,
neck and back broken in mine.
Father of Raymond, Geniva, George, Billy
Joe, and Betty. Husband of Naomi Miller. |
Harrison A. Miller born 1873 died
1929.
Father of Naomi, Kate, Earl, Joan and Erse.
Husband of Balta Madden.
Harrison killed in a slate fall in mine. |
Charles Cawood Hudson born 1902 died
1984.
Father of Imogene Hudson Ferrell.
Worked in mines in Harlan until was arrested
for working for the Union. Was never allowed to work any mine company after
that. Lived at times with his parents, John Hudson and Armelda Parker,
in Blackmountain |
William Carl James Holloman JR. known
as "BIG BOY HOLLOMAN"
b. 1914 Providence KY.
d. 1937 Providence KY.
Killed in the mine explosion of Duvin Mine
in Providence Ky. Left a widow and 3 children. No compensation
was ever paid to his family. |
Gooch Gardner
b. 1891 Webster Co. Kentucky
d. 1923 Diamond Ky.
Killed in the mine explosion of Diamond Mine
in Diamond KY. Left a widow and 5 children. |
Roy Milwee
He was working for the Harlan Fuel Co., mines
at Yancey, when he was crushed between the motor on which he was riding
and the ceiling of the mines.
He was killed instantly. He was killed on
October 14, 1966. He was 58 years old when he died in the coal mines.
submitted by Grandson
Frank
Adkins |
John Ed Fannon
Born 09-11-06 Died 10-04-60 ,Dad Was A Coal
Miner All His Life, He Worked At Kitts ,Lenarue And When He Got Sick He
Was Working For Charles Cole At Stanfill On Catrons Creek. He Died From
Black Lung And CancerAt The Young Age Of Fifty-Four Years Old. He Left
A Loving And Devoted Wife And Four Young Children At Home The Oldest
Was Thirteen Years And The Youngest Was Five Years Old . He Was And Still
Is Missed. submitted by son Kenneth R. Fannon |
William Edward (Edd) Hicks
born in Marion, Co. Tn on
Oct. 6, 1895.
Moved to Harlan, Ky. to work in the
Mines He was killed on Feb. 21,1941.He was in good standing at the
time of his death as a Master Mason, (Yocum Lodge No. 897 F. & A.M.
) in Evarts, Ky. He joined in 1929.
News Paper Clipping:
LAST RITES HELD FOR MINE MISHAP VICTIM...
Funeral services were conduct
Saturday at 2;00 p.m. for W.E.Hicks, 45 miner, who was killed in a accident
in Mine 30 of Black Mountain corporation, Kenvir, Friday morning.
The Rev. Roscoe Douglass
officiated at services in the Kenvir,
Baptist church, of which Mr.
Hicks was a member. The body was sent to Chattanooga, TN.
for burial.
Mr. Hicks , was killed
when a trip of mine cars he was riding
collided with a string of cars on the
main entry.
He had been a resident
of Harlan Co. for 21 years. He was a world war veteran, member
of American Legion Post, 54. Harlan., and a Member of the Masonic Lodge
of Evarts
Survivors include his
wife, Mrs. Minnie Hicks; parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Hicks, Chattanooga.
two sons, Ray and Ronnie Hicks, Kenvir. Four brothers George and Ira Hicks,
Kenvir. Don and Joe Hicks, Tenn. two sisters, Dolly and Birdie Hicks,
TN.
submitted by Theresa
Hicks Hines |
Samuel Lee Dodd
born 12/14/22 in Jasper, Ala
He worked at several mines in Harlan
Co. worked Dr. Buttermore in Mary Alice and finished for International
Harvester at Benham. He began in the mine at age 14. raised 8 children
consisting of 4 boys and 4 girls Reba, Buddy, tate(John), Charles, Cleda,
Wanda, Bobbie, and Donnie. He died at the age of 51 on Sept. 16, 1974 at
Benham. He was disabled at age 38 in a rock fall at Benham. he suffered
from black lung and injuries from the accident. he was a wonderful father
and a great friend to many
We will always miss him as will all
that knew him. My Daddy was a fine man and I am proud to say he was a miner.
Cleda
Sue Dodd Neff |
Johnny Pass
My dad was a coal miner at South East Coal
Company. We lived right across from the store He passed away in l985. My
mother Martha Yonts Pass died in 1960 after I graduated from high school.
We lived at Haymond until moving to Western Ky in 1959
Carolyn
Sue Pass Turpin |
John Berry Blakley
My Dad started to work in the Ky. coal mines
when he was just a boy. He had seven children ,two babies died in the area.
Dad talked frequently about the years he spent working the mines. My Dad's
Brothers all worked the mines also,It was hard times. Dad Passed away
"June 23,1991" with blacklung and lung cancer. We all miss him dearly ,
and our hearts go out to others that have lost their loved ones to the
coalmines.
Your
Children, Lawrence,Luther,Linda,Lola,Larry and
Your loving Wife, Lorene(Price)Blakley |
Carl W Dykes
born 09/19/1919, Grundy Co Tn., Died
12/19/1976 of lung
cancer due to black lung, following his
lifelong years as a coal miner in Harlan Co Ky.
Carl was married to Margie Dykes & had
children Ronnie, Jimmie, Linda, & Orell Gene and a resident of
the Verda area of Evarts Ky.
Linda (Dykes) Hubbard |
Eugene Goble,
Feburary 28,1922-June 6, 1991
He worked in the mines in Floyd county for
20 years,
He died of black lung and lung cancer.
submitted by Jennifer
Haley |
Ronnie Lee Moore
Death November 13, 1987
He died in a mining accident in Martin county.
submitted by Jennifer
Haley |
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