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| Madison County, Illinois History and Genealogy Featuring Coal Mining |
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Madison County is a county located in the central part of the state of Illinois. 38.83° N, 89.91° W As of 2006, the population was 265,303. The county seat is Edwardsville, Illinois, Madison County was established on September 14, 1812. It was formed out of Randolph and St. Clair Counties and named for James Madison Madison County has twenty-four townships: Alhambra, Alton, Chouteau, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Fort Russell, Foster, Godfrey, Granite City, Hamel, Helvetia, Jarvis, Leef, Marine, Moro, Nameoki, New Douglas, Olive, Omphghent, Pin Oak, Saline, St. Jacob, Venice, Wood River | |
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| Madison County, Illinois Coal Mines A - F
Madison County, Illinois Coal Mines G - L Madison County, Illinois Coal Mines M - Z | |
| Fatalities in Madison County Coal Mines - See : Fatalities | |
| Coal and Madison County, Illinois | ||
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Excerpt from Centennial History1912 ". . . Land was bought and shafts sunk on the hills, later on, by Thomas Dunford and James Mitchell; also shafts were sunk in what was called Greenwood, or Buck Inn, by John Applewhite, Thomas Hall, John Rutledge and others. These mines were the first of any extent in the county and were known as Coal Branch. . ." Sandi's Research2010 "Coal Branch was named for the mines and the creek that went through that area. It was from these mines that Thomas Dunford sent the first train load of coal to Chicago. It was only ten tons, but that order was most important in 1856-57. Other operators were Peter Syddal [sp. Sydell] and Benjamin Eccles. The greatest depth in Alton mines was 40 feet, and seams were 2-5 feet thick... In addition to the coal mines here supplying coal to Chicago, they also supplied Alton and the surrounding counties with coal." History of Madison County, 18821882 page 108 The Bickelhaupt family, and the Ritters came to Edwardsville from St. Clair county, where they had at first located. Henry Ritter was one of the most energetic men of his time in our midst. He was a public-spirited man. Ritter opened the first coal mine in the vicinity, and of course managed it so as to pay him well. An amusing incident of his mining period may be related here. His miners, knowing what price coal commanded in those days, went on a strike for higher wages. Ritter granted them immediately. Two hours later a second strike was announced and a higher price ; this time, it is said, eight cents per bushel was demanded and allowed. In the afternoon of the same day the miners made a third strike again, demanding ten or twelve cents per bushel. Mr. Ritter went to the shaft to deliver the following message : "The hoisting apparatus of these mines will be removed within fifteen minutes; and all miners remaining in the pit longer than fifteen minutes, must provide their own means of getting up and out." This settled matters, and no further strikes occurred. Ritter was successful in all his pursuits; he was a most diligent business man, sober and sagacious. He died quite young, in 1870.page 344 Edwardsville Wolf Brothers' Coal Mine This shaft is situated in the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 11, about one-half mile southeast of Court-House Square. It was sunk by the above firm in the summer of 1879, with a capital investment of $20,000. Its depth is 217 feet to the surface of the coal, and the vein averages six and one- half feet. The coal is of the finest quality found in this part of the state. When the mine is worked to its full capacity, 7,000 bushels of coal are raised daily, and it requires 150 men to operate it. The amount for wages paid out per mouth, when in full blast, is $7,800. An engine of forty horse-power is employed in raising the coal. This firm is engaged in sinking another shafc on the Narrow Gauge railway. St. Louis and Edwardsville Coal Compiany, J. S. Trares, President. This mine is located on section 10, on the City branch of the W. St. L & P. railroad. The shaft was sunk by Tunstell & Holmes, in 1868 or 1869. About ten years later it was purchased by John A. Prickett, and was leased by the above company in the fall of 1881 for the term of twenty years. The depth of the shaft is 125 feet, and the coal vein averages seven feet, When fully worked, it will mine 2,800 bushels of coal daily. The coal is raised by steam-power. Schramek Coal Mine Opened by Frank Schrramek in the spring of 1879, and is located on the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway, on Union street. Its depth is 65 feet, and the coal vein averages six and one-half feet. The capital invested is $0,000. In the busy season, twenty-five men are employed, and will mine 200,000 bushels of coal within the year. The main shipments are made to St Louis. A 6O-horse power engine is employed to lift the coal. Another shaft, owned by Mrs. Smidt, is situated near the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Depot. This mine was opened by Henry Ritter about 1857, and came into the possession of Mrs. Smidt in 1877. Coal is reached at the depth of 96 feet, and the vein is five feet. Ten workmen are usually employed in this shaft, and mine from five to six hundred bushels of coal per day. Horse power is utilized in hoisting the coal. page 418 Wood River Richard Cartledge opened a coal mine in section 1, as early as 1839. No shaft was sunk, as coal could be procured by drifting into the bluff. page 420 Village of Bethalto Coal Mines There are two small coal mines near the suburbs of the town. One is owned by David Brunton, the other by Michael Mayer. Bethalto is situated over a fine vein of coal which is from five to eight feet in thickness, and it is obtained by going only about 70 feet below the surface. The only wonder is, that this industry receives so little attention. The shafts in operation do but very little work, and are not prepared to do anything like an extensive business. page 458 City of Collinsville Mining and Manufacturing Interests There is a fine body of bituminous coal underlying the whole surface of this region of country, and in the vicinity of Collinsville the vein will average from seven and a half to eight feet in thickness. The coal found at a depth of 160 to 190 feet is of an excellent quality, and is extensively mined. The mines have a slate and limestone roof, and are comparatively dry. Some of them are mentioned above, as they are not within the corporate limits of the city. Collinsville Coal and Mining Company This company is the owner of the first shaft that was sunk in Collinsville. It is the first mine east of the depot, and was sunk by Peter Wonderly, about 20 years ago. The mine was then worked by horse power. The company consists of George Savitz, president ; and J. H. Wickliffe, who are owners and proprietors of the mines. They operate two shafts, tlie second of which was sunk in 1873. The depth is 150 feet to the surface of the coal, and the vein will average seven and a half feet in thickness. They employ 100 men; capacity ot the mines 11,000 bushels per day. Offce, 414 Olive street, St. Louis. Lumaghi Mine Was opened in 1869, by Octavius Lumaghi, and is still owned and operated by him. The shaft is 165 feet deep ; the vein will average from 7 to 8 feet. The average amount of men employed, sixty. Cantine Coal and Mining Comapny The Cantine mine was sunk in 1873, by Morrison and Ambrosius, and is now owned by the above named company. The depth of the shaft is 182 feet to the coal, which averages 7½ to 8 feet in thickness. The company employ about 65 men. The average amount of coal mined in 1881 was 100,000 bushels per month. The officers of this company are: President, C. A. Ambrosius; Treasurer and Secretary, J. G. Gerding. Abbey Coal and Mining Company This is the most extensive mining company on the line of the Vandalia Railroad. However, there is only one mine operated by them in Madison county, the others being in St. Clair. The shaft near the depot at Collinsviile, designated as "Abbey No. 3," was sunk by Reid and Strain, in 1875, and the following year leased it to the above company. It is 138 feet to the top of the coal. The vein will run from seven to 8 feet in thickness, and it is worked entirely by machinery, employing 60 men on top. The Lawrence Mine No. 4, is similar to that of No. 3, being a machine mine. The others are worked by the old system, employing in all from 400 to 500 men. In 1881 the Abbey company raised in all their mines 13,400 car loads, or about 5,000,000 bushels. page 481 Libertyville A coal mine owned by Green & Brothers, is situated about a mile from Moro, in section 6. It was sunk in 1880. The shaft is 90 feet, and the coal vein 4½ feet in thickness, and is of excellent quality. The coal is raised by horse-power, and it furnishes coal in quantities only to supply local demands. Partial List Of Patrons pages 562-585 C. A. Ambrosius, of Collinsville, coal operator, born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, came to Madison County in 1849. Herman Bär, of Fosterburg, coal miner, born in Switzerland, came to Madison County in 1855. Henry Camp, farmer and coal operator, of Section 34, North Alton, born in Harrisburg, PA, came to Madison County in 1850. Mary Wearmouth Camp, wife of Henry Camp, born in Dubuque County, Iowa, came to Madison County in 1867. Charles A. Gaiser, of Edwardsville, coal operator, born in Madison County, 1859. Ann Robison Green, wife of Ephraim Green, born in Ludgate, Durham county, England, came to Madison County in 1859. Ephraim Green, of Moro, coal operator, born in Straffordshire, England, came to Madison County in 1883. J. L. Heintz, of Collinsville, coal operator, born in St. Louis, Missouri, came to Madison County in 1852. J. A. Martin, of Edwardsville, coal operator, born in St. Louis, Missouri, came to Madison County in 1881. Frank Schramek, of Edwarsville, coal operator, born in Austria, came to Madison County in 1854. A. P. Wolf, of Edwardsville, coal operator, born in Madison County, 1841. F. W. Wolf, of Edwardsville, coal operator, born in Madison County, 1840. O. E. Wolf, of Edwardsville, coal operator, born in Madison County, 1847. page 518 James Mitchell
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Coal & Coal Mining in Central Illinois
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