Biography of Thomas H. Devlin of Christian County, Illinois

	Wayne's World of History and Genealogy

Christian County, Illinois History and Genealogy Featuring Coal Mining
Retrun to Christian Co., IL. - Coal Mining
Biographies

Biography of Thomas H. Devlin
Thomas H. Devlin is occupying the responsible position of superintendent of the Assumption Coal & Mining Company. In his boyhood days he became identified with this line of work in a most humble capacity and his advancement has come to him as the direct reward of his labor, capability and honesty. He was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, on the 20th of July, 1866, a son of Thomas H. and Margaret (Spence) Devlin. The father died in 1892 in Scotland and the mother's death occurred in Spring Valley, Illinois, in 1893. Mr. Devlin, Sr., was for many years examiner in the iron and stone mines of the Baird Company of Scotland and was filling that position at the time of his demise. In his family were six children, of whom three died in infancy. The others are Elizabeth, the wife of Joseph Warnock, of Spring Valley, Illinois; Thomas H., of this review; and Margaret, the wife of Andrew Sweninger, of Assumption. Thomas H. Devlin attended the public schools of his native country to a limited extent, but his educational privileges were somewhat meager. After coming to America he became a student in the night schools in Spring Valley, Illinois. While still in Scotland he became connected with mining interests at the age of thirteen years. He worked in the shaft in his native country until 1881, when on the 25th of March of that year he sail for America with his mother. After reaching the new world he engaged in farming for two years and later was connected with mining operations in the Braidwood district in Will county, working in every department within the mines. He afterward became an employe of the Spring Valley Coal Company and while in that service was promoted to the position of driving boss. On the 25th of January, 1897, he accepted a position as mine manager, and in the fall of the same year he assumed the responsibility of the position which he now occupies, as superintendent of the Assumption Coal & Mining Company. In this capacity he has supervision over about two hundred workmen, of which number one hundred and forty are miners under ground. Since assuming the management he has made considerable improvement in the mines and their method of operation. He found a number of leaks and repair work was also called for in other directions. The mine, of which he has charge, is one thousand and four feet deep from the surface of the ground to the surface of the coal veins and extends three-fourths of a mile to the south and west, covering about twenty acres of territory. It is necessary to follow the valley in order to obtain the product. There is an average of from four hundred and fiftv to four hundred and seventy tons of coal taken out daily gind the output finds a ready sale on the market, bringing to the mine owners an excellent financial return. Plans are now being perfected whereby mules that have been used in hauling will be superseded by electric power. The main road is operated by electricity for over twelve hundred feet from the shaft bottom. One of the largest J, M. Christy box car loaders is being placed in the plant, and a new fourteen-foot fan is also being placed in position. Throughout his entire life MIr. Devlin has been connected with mining interests, with which he is thoroughlv familiar in all of the peculiar workings and his excellent qualifications well entitle him to the position which he is now acceptably filling. In Monroe, Iowa, on the 29th of September. 1885. Mr. Devlin was united in marriage to Miss Orma E. Wood, a native of Jasper county, lowa, and a daughter of Eli F. and Elizabeth (Fudge) Wood. The former was a native of Indiana and the latter of Pennsylvania, but both are now deceased. Mrs. Devlin belonged to a family of eight children, four of whom are yet living. She has three sisters who are married and reside in Iowa, and all their families. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Devlin have been born five children, but Archibald, the eldest, died at the age of two years and eight months. The others are Alexander, Mabel, Charles and Statia. all at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Devlin are members of St. Mary's Catholic church and he is a Democrat in his political affiliations. He is now a member of the library board of Assumption and is interested in all that pertains to the substantial improvement of his adopted city. He owns a pleasant home in the southwest part of the town which is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and industry. He has indeed been a busy man and from early boyhood days has labored untiringly making his way upward in the face of competition, winning achancement throuuh abilitv and as the result of his close application and industry. His fellow townsmen accord him their respect by reason of what he has accomplished and his life record is a splendid illustration of the opportunities which America offers to her citizens.

Biography of
Thomas H. Devlin

Thomas H. Devlin is occupying the responsible position of superintendent of the Assumption Coal & Mining Company. In his boyhood days he became identified with this line of work in a most humble capacity and his advancement has come to him as the direct reward of his labor, capability and honesty. He was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, on the 20th of July, 1866, a son of Thomas H. and Margaret (Spence) Devlin. The father died in 1892 in Scotland and the mother's death occurred in Spring Valley, Illinois, in 1893. Mr. Devlin, Sr., was for many years examiner in the iron and stone mines of the Baird Company of Scotland and was filling that position at the time of his demise. In his family were six children, of whom three died in infancy. The others are Elizabeth, the wife of Joseph Warnock, of Spring Valley, Illinois; Thomas H., of this review; and Margaret, the wife of Andrew Sweninger, of Assumption.

Thomas H. Devlin attended the public schools of his native country to a limited extent, but his educational privileges were somewhat meager. After coming to America he became a student in the night schools in Spring Valley, Illinois. While still in Scotland he became connected with mining interests at the age of thirteen years. He worked in the shaft in his native country until 1881, when on the 25th of March of that year he sail for America with his mother. After reaching the new world he engaged in farming for two years and later was connected with mining operations in the Braidwood district in Will county, working in every department within the mines. He afterward became an employe of the Spring Valley Coal Company and while in that service was promoted to the position of driving boss. On the 25th of January, 1897, he accepted a position as mine manager, and in the fall of the same year he assumed the responsibility of the position which he now occupies, as superintendent of the Assumption Coal & Mining Company. In this capacity he has supervision over about two hundred workmen, of which number one hundred and forty are miners under ground. Since assuming the management he has made considerable improvement in the mines and their method of operation. He found a number of leaks and repair work was also called for in other directions. The mine, of which he has charge, is one thousand and four feet deep from the surface of the ground to the surface of the coal veins and extends three-fourths of a mile to the south and west, covering about twenty acres of territory. It is necessary to follow the valley in order to obtain the product. There is an average of from four hundred and fiftv to four hundred and seventy tons of coal taken out daily gind the output finds a ready sale on the market, bringing to the mine owners an excellent financial return. Plans are now being perfected whereby mules that have been used in hauling will be superseded by electric power. The main road is operated by electricity for over twelve hundred feet from the shaft bottom. One of the largest J, M. Christy box car loaders is being placed in the plant, and a new fourteen-foot fan is also being placed in position. Throughout his entire life MIr. Devlin has been connected with mining interests, with which he is thoroughlv familiar in all of the peculiar workings and his excellent qualifications well entitle him to the position which he is now acceptably filling.

In Monroe, Iowa, on the 29th of September. 1885. Mr. Devlin was united in marriage to Miss Orma E. Wood, a native of Jasper county, lowa, and a daughter of Eli F. and Elizabeth (Fudge) Wood. The former was a native of Indiana and the latter of Pennsylvania, but both are now deceased. Mrs. Devlin belonged to a family of eight children, four of whom are yet living. She has three sisters who are married and reside in Iowa, and all their families. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Devlin have been born five children, but Archibald, the eldest, died at the age of two years and eight months. The others are Alexander, Mabel, Charles and Statia. all at home.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Devlin are members of St. Mary's Catholic church and he is a Democrat in his political affiliations. He is now a member of the library board of Assumption and is interested in all that pertains to the substantial improvement of his adopted city. He owns a pleasant home in the southwest part of the town which is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and industry. He has indeed been a busy man and from early boyhood days has labored untiringly making his way upward in the face of competition, winning achancement throuuh abilitv and as the result of his close application and industry. His fellow townsmen accord him their respect by reason of what he has accomplished and his life record is a splendid illustration of the opportunities which America offers to her citizens.

Source : Past and Present of Christian County, Illinois.
By Hon. J. C. McBride, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904, p503-504