Coal and Coal Mining - Macoupin County, Illinois

	Wayne's World of History and Genealogy

Macoupin County, Illinois
Coal Mines and Mining

C O A L Coal Mining
Southeast Quarter of Macoupin County Coal & Coal Mining Benld, Eagarville, Gillespie, Henderson, Hornsby, Mount Clare, Mt. Olive, Sawyerville, Staunton, White City, Wilsonville Photo Tribute to the Coal Miners of Macoupin County, Illinois Additional material including articles and photographs of miners, mining items, machinery, personal effects, and tools of the trade would be welcome.

C O A L
Coal Mining

Southeast Quarter of Macoupin County Coal & Coal Mining
Benld, Eagarville, Gillespie, Henderson, Hornsby, Mount Clare, Mt. Olive, Sawyerville, Staunton, White City, Wilsonville

Photo Tribute to the Coal Miners of Macoupin County, Illinois

Additional material including articles and photographs of miners, mining items, machinery, personal effects, and tools of the trade would be welcome.

Barr Township - T11N R9W
Bird Township - T10N R8W
Brighton Township - T7N R9W
Brushy Mound Township - T9N R7W SE¼ page
Bunker Hill Township - T7N R8W
Cahokia Township - T8N R6W SE¼ page
Carlinville Township - T10N R7W
Chesterfield Township - T9N R9W
Dorchester Township - T7N R7W SE¼ page
Gillespie Township - T8N R7W SE¼ page
Girard Township - T12N R6W (S½)
Hillyard Township - T8N R8W
Honey Point Township - T9N R6W SE¼ page
Mt. Olive Township - T6N R6W (N½) SE¼ page
Nilwood Township - T11N R6W
North Otter Township - T12N R7W
North Palmyra Township - T12N R8W
Polk Township - T9N R8W
Scottville Township - T12N R9W
Shaws Point Township - T10N R6W
Shipman Township - T8N R9W
South Otter Township - T11N R7W
South Palmyra Township - T11N R8W
Staunton Township - T7N R6W (S½) SE¼ page
Virden Township - T12N R6W (N½)
Virden "Riot"of 1898
Western Mound Township - T10N R9W

Brighton Township
Township 7 North, Range 9 West Brighton township map

F & M Mine - section 36

Lovejoy Mine - section 36

Weaver Mine - section 23

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F & M Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 7 North, Range 9 West, Section 36

F & M Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Hausman Mine Hausman ( Fred ) 1934 - 1936

Moore Mine Moore ( Roscoe ) 1934 - 1936

F & M Mine F & M Coal Company 1943 - 1943

[Source² - Index 2904 ]

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Lovejoy Mine
The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 7 North, Range 9 West, Section 36

Lovejoy Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Lovejoy Mine Lovejoy Coal Company 1939 - 1939

[Source² - Index 2905 ]

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Weaver Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 7 North, Range 9 West, Section 23

Weaver Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Weaver Mine Weaver Unknown

[Source² - Index 4537 ]

Bunker Hill Township
Township 7 North, Range 8 West Bunker Hill township map

Bauser Mine - section 13

Bunker Hill Mine / Neil Mine - section 14

Crow Hollow Mine No. 1 - section 21

Crow Hollow Mine No. 2 - section 19

Jordan Mine - section 35

Naylor Mine - section 24

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Bauser Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 7 North, Range 8 West, Section 13

Bauser Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Bauser & Truesdale Bauser 1904 - 1911

Bauser Bauser ( Ed. A. ) 1911 - 1936

Gatschenburger & Voges Gatschenburger & Voges 1937 - 1938

Bauser Bauser ( Ed. A. ) 1938 - 1940

[Source² - Index 2898 ]

1918³ (1911)
Ed. A. Bauser, Bunker Hill, Illinois, has been in the retail coal business for sixteen years and is the lessee of the
Bauser-Truesdale coal mine. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, February 4, 1873.

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Bunker Hill Mine / Neil Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 7 North, Range 8 West, Section 14

Neil Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Neil Mine Neil ( William ) 1879 - 1882

Bunker Hill Mine Bunker Hill Coal Company 1882 - 1893

Neil Mine Neil ( William ) & Company 1893 - 1912

[Source² - Index 281 ]

1884 Biennial Report⁴
The Bunker Hill Coal Co.
This mine is located within the corporate limits of the village of Bunker Hill, on the line of the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad. The shaft is 250 feet deep, the coal averaging 5½ feet in thickness. It is hoisted by a single engine 10 x 20, hoisting drum 5 feet in diameter, ropes 1 inch, one boiler 40" x 26'. This company has sunk an escapement shaft during the year, and put in ladders from bottom to top. They have erected a Brazil, Ind., fan, 10 feet in diameter, to be worked by rope gearing. The fan is located at the escapement shaft.
Manager, J. Baur ;
Underground Manager, Peter Neil.

1885 Annual Coal Report⁵
Bunker Hill Coal Co.
This mine has been worked very successfully during the year, and some improvements have been made. All new entries are to be opened up double. The ventilation is good, executed by a ten-foot fan, which is run by wire rope gearing. The power is transmitted from an engine at the hoisting shaft, 600 feet from the fan, which is located at the escapement shaft, and ladders have been put in the escapement shaft.
A. E. Bauer, Manager.
Peter Neil, Mine Manager.

1893 Annual Coal Report⁷
Bunker Hill Coal Co.

1913 Annual Coal Report¹⁰
Abandoned Mines - William Neill, Bunker Hill, Macoupin County, Illinois,

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Crow Hollow Mine No. 1

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 7 North, Range 8 West, Section 21

Crow Hollow Mine No. 1 History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Crow Hollow Mine No. 1 Crow & Hollow Coal Company Unknown

[Source² - Index 2900 ]

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Crow Hollow Mine No. 2

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 7 North, Range 8 West, Section 19

Crow Hollow Mine No. 2 History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Huggins Huggins ( P. C. ) 1881 - 1882

Carroll Carroll ( Matt ) 1882 - 1883

Crow Hollow Mine No. 2 Raynor & Lock 1883 - 1889

[Source² - Index 2899 ]

1890 Biennial Coal Report⁶
Abandoned Mines
Bunker Hill - Raynor & Lock's mine

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Jordan Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 7 North, Range 8 West, Section 35

Jordan Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Jordan & Lansford Jordan & Lansford 1903 - 1903

Lansford Lansford ( E. ) & Company 1903 - 1904

Jordan Mine No. 3 Jordan ( Fritz T. ) 1904 - 1911

Jordan Jordan ( Abbott T. ) 1911 - 1913

[Source² - Index 2903 ]

1914 Annual Coal Report¹¹
Abandoned Mines - A. T. Jarden, Bunker Hill, Macoupin County, Illinois

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Naylor Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 7 North, Range 8 West, Section 24

Naylor Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Naylor Mine Naylor 1867 - 1879

[Source² - Index 2901]

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1907 Coal Report Local mines
Wm. Neil
Ed A. Bauser
Abbot T. Jarden

1911 Coal Report Local Mines
Wm. Neil
Bauser & Truesdale
Fritz Jarden

Carlinville
Township 10 North, Range 7 West Carlinville township map

Old Calamity Mine - section 21

South Mine (1) - section 33

South Mine (2) - section 33

Standard Mine - section 28

Standard B Mine - section 21

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Old Calamity Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 7 West, Section 21

Old Calamity Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Old Calamity Mine Old Calamity Before 1883

[Source² - Index 2912 ]

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South Mine (1)

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 7 West, Section 33

South Mine (1) History

Mine Name Operated By Years

South Mine Bartels ( Henry ) & Son 1870 - 1886

South Mine Bartels ( William ) 1886 - 1891

[Source² - Index 2916 ]

1885 Annual Coal Report⁵
Bartels' Coal Mine.
This shaft is located within the corporate limits of the city of Carlinville, on the south side. An escapement shaft has been sunk. The owners are sinking another hoisting shaft, and have put up a pair of twin engines, 2d motion, for hoisting; engines, 10 x 16; drum, 4 ; boiler, 44 x 18. This is a local shaft, not shipping any coal. The works are all laid out in double entry plan, and are in very good condition.
Wm. Bartels, Manager.

1918² W. G. Bartels, Carlinville, Illinois, is President and General Manager of the Carlinville Coal Co. He began in the employ of his father in 1869 and continued until 1883, since which time he has operated in his own behalf. He was born at Carlinville March 2, 1858.
See also : Biography of William G. Bartels

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South Mine (2)

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 7 West, Section 33

South Mine (2) History

Mine Name Operated By Years

South Mine Carlinville Mining Company 1918 - 1920

Bartels Mine Bartels Coal Company 1920 - 1924

South Mine South Mine Coal Company 1924 - 1949

South Mine Carlinville Coal Mining Company 1949 - 1953

[Source² - Index 2915 ]

1919 Annual Coal Report¹⁵
New Mine.
The Carlinville Mining Company is located just south of Carlinville on the Illinois Traction System. A strictly modern reinforced concrete shaft 7 feet 6 inches by 15 feet 8 inches with hoisting compartments 6 feet by 7 feet 6 inches each and a quarter shaft 3 feet by 7 feet 6 inches was sunk in 1918 to a depth of 250 feet and is working the number six vein seam. Thickness of seam ranges from 6 feet 6 inches to 7 feet with good working conditions and a dry shaft. Two ton cars equipped with best of roller bearings will be used and the hoisting is done with steam. A modern steel tipple is to be erected in the autumn of 1919 and the mine equipped to produce 2.500 tons daily. Buildings on surface are of hollow clay building tile and the boiler room, in addition to housing the boiler and engine, contains the air compressor for operating the puncher machines, which are installed for development work.

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Standard Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 7 West, Section 28

Standard Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Loomis Mine No. 1 Loomis ( S. T. ) 1878 - 1882

South Shaft No. 2 Farrell & Flint 1882- 1884

Carlinville Mine Carlinville Coal Company 1884 - 1885

Farrell & Loomis Mine No. 1 Farrell & Loomis 1885 - 1887

Carlinville Mine Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis 1887 - 1889

Loomis Mine Loomis ( T. J. ), Lessee 1889 - 1891

Carlinville Mine No. 1 Carlinville Coal Company 1891 - 1917

Standard No. 1A Air Shaft Standard Oil Company 1917 - 1925

[Source² - Index 69 ]

1885 Annual Coal Report⁵
Carlinville Coal Co.
Collieries Nos. 1 and 2 of this company have been stopped since November, 1883, owing to the fact that they have no escapement shafts. An escapement will be sunk this fall to connect with No. 1, when mining will again be commenced.
Wm. Farrell, Manager.

1929 Annual Coal Report¹⁸
Mines Not Operated - Standard Oil Company Nos. 1 and 2

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Standard B Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 7 West, Section 21

Standard B Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Standard B Mine No. 1 Standard Oil Company 1917 - 1924

[Source² - Index 187 ]

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1893 Annual Coal Report⁷
Carbon Coal Co., No. 1
Carlinville Coal Co.

Mines opened from 1883 to 1911¹⁹⁵⁴
Year Opened - 1885
Name in 1911 - Carlinville C. Co.
Present name (1954) - Standard Oil Co. , No. 1

Mines opened from 1912 to December 31, 1930¹⁹⁵⁴
Year Opened - 1919
Former name - Carlinville M. Co.
Present Name - South Mine C. Co.

Year Opened - 1918
Former name - - - - - - -
Present Name - Standard Oil Co. , No. 2

Chesterfield
Township 9 North, Range 9 West Chesterfield township map

Bremen Mine - section 21

Chesterfield Mine - section 1

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Bremen Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 9 North, Range 9 West, Section 21
This is a long-wall mine with a coal seam of 2 feet 10 inches.

Bremen Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Davis Mine Davis Coal Company 1878 - 1882

Chesterfield Mine Chesterfield Coal & Mining Company 1882 - 1888

Bremen Mine Bremen Coal Company 1893 - 1894

[Source² - Index 2911 ]

1885 Annual Coal Report⁵
Chesterfield Coal and Mining Co.
During the year this company has sunk an escapement shaft which is just finished. Ladders will be put in and a ventilating fan erected at the escapement shaft. This is a long-wall mine. The coal seam is 2 feet 10 inches in thickness, of a very good quality. If water could be got at the mine this coal could be manufactured into a fair article of coke. Owing to the receivers of the Wabash system having taken some of the trains off the road, very little business has been done at the mine during the year.
Morris R. Locke, Superintendent.
J. Williams, Mine Manager.

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Chesterfield Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 9 North, Range 9 West, Section 1

Chesterfield Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Chesterfield Mine Chesterfield Coal Company Unknown

[Source² - Index 4541 ]

1894 Annual Coal Report⁸
Abandoned Mines
The mine of the Chesterfield Coal Company was drained, a small amount of coal taken out and again allowed to fill with water.

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1893 Annual Coal Report⁷
John Randolph
Charles Trill

1907 Coal Report Local mines
John Sipora

1911 Coal Report
Abandoned Mines - G. B. Loper's mine at Chesterfield.
Local Mines - J. J. Harbaugh

1914 Annual Coal Report¹¹
Abandoned Mines - John Sipora, Chesterfield, Macoupin County, Illinois
Mines Opened - James Harbaugh, Chesterfield, Macoupin County, Illinois,

Girard Township
Township 12 North, Range 6 West ( South ½ ) Girard township map

Crown Mine No. 2 - section 23

Empire Mine No. 4 - section 32

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Crown Mine No. 2

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 12 North, Range 6 West, Section 23

Crown Mine No. 2 History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Crown Mine No. 2 Freeman United Coal Mining Company 1976 - 2007

[Source² - Index 933 ]

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Empire Mine No. 4

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 12 North, Range 6 West, Section 32

Empire Mine No. 4 History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Carpenter & Girard Mine Carpenter & Girard 1867 - 1881

Young, Armstrong & Lowe Mine Young, Armstrong & Lowe 1881 - 1882

Girard Mine Girard Coal & Tile Company 1882 - 1883

Girard Mine Girard Coal Company 1883 - 1904

Illinois Collieries Mine No. 5 Illinois Collieries Company 1904 - 1909

Girard Mine No. 5 Girard Collieries Company 1909 - 1913

Montour 403 Mine Montour Coal Company 1913 - 1918

Pittsburg 403 Mine Pittsburg Coal Company 1918 - 1920

Illinois Coal & Coke Mine No. 4 Illinois Coal & Coke Corporation 1920 - 1923

Empire Mine No. 4 Illinois Coal Corporation 1923 - 1923

[Source² - Index 186 ]

1885 Annual Coal Report⁵
Girard Coal and Mining Co.
This shaft has been worked very successfully during the year. It has been supplying the C. & A. road with all the coal they use south of Lincoln. Ladders have been put in the escapement shaft during the year; all new entries opened up double. The ventilation has been increased by splitting the air currents, and a twelve- foot fan is used for ventilation, giving 30,000 cubic feet of air in three splits.
H. Wood, General Manager.
A. K. Young, Superintendent.
Jas. McGrainor, Mine Manager.

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1893 Annual Coal Report⁷
Girard Coal Co.
Madison Coal Co., No. 9

1954¹⁹⁵⁴
Mines opened prior to 1883
Year Opened - 1867
Name in 1911 - Girard Coal Company
Present name (1954) - Ill. Coal Corp., No. 4

Nilwood Township
Township 11 North, Range 6 West Nilwood township map

Ridge Mine No. 6 - section 5

Standard Mine - section 29

Union Fuel Mine No. 1 - section 18

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Ridge Mine No. 6

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 11 North, Range 6 West, Section 5

Ridge Mine No. 6 History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Green Ridge Mine Green Ridge Coal Company 1895 - 1897

Green Ridge Mine O'Gara King Coal Company 1897 - 1898

Green Ridge Mine Green Ridge Coal Company 1907 - 1913

Green Ridge Mine Vivian Colliery Company 1907 - 1913

Middle States Mine No. 27 Middle States Coal Company 1907 - 1913

Green Ridge Mine Ridge Coal Company 1917 - 1919

Ridge Mine No. 6 Union Fuel Company 1919 - 1923

[Source² - Index 2931 ]

1895 Annual Coal Report⁹
New Mines
In Macoupin County, the Green Ridge Coal Company has opened a mine on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, one and one-half miles south of Girard. The equipment consists of a Litchfield first motion double hoisting engine, four boilers and a Canty tipple. The latter is a device for automatically running the car off the cage, dumping the coal and returning the car to the cage; practically the same results are obtained as with a self-dumping cage, without the danger of having an unstable platform for conveying the men in the shift.

1915 Annual Coal Report¹²
Abandoned Mines - Middle States Coal Company's mine No. 27, Greenridge, Macoupin County, Illinois.

1922 Annual Coal Report¹⁶
Mines Not in Operation During the Past Year
Union Fuel Company's No. 6 mine, Girard, Macoupin County, Illinois. [ Location listed as stated in report ]

1923 Annual Coal Report¹⁷
New Mines - Union Fuel Company has put in operation No. 6 mine at Greenridge.

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Standard Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 11 North, Range 6 West, Section 29

Standard Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Standard Mine Standard Oil Company 1918- 1918

[Source² - Index 2933 ]

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Union Fuel Mine No. 1

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 11 North, Range 6 West, Section 18

Union Fuel Mine No. 1 History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Cooper Mine Cooper ( Henry ) & Sons 1878 - 1881

Noonan Mine Noonan (Dennis ) 1881 - 1888

Cooper Mine Cooper ( H. ) & Sons 1888 - 1889

Nilwood Mine Carbon Coal Company 1893 - 1902

Carbon Mine Nilwood Carbon Coal Company 1893 - 1902

Weaver Mine Weaver Coal & Coke 1902 - 1903

Manufactures Fuel Mine Manufactures Fuel Company 1903 - 1906

Prairie State Mine No. 1 Prairie State Coal & Coke 1906 - 1909

Nilwood Mine Nilwood Coal Company 1909 - 1910

Illinois Central Fuel Mine Illinois Central Fuel Company 1910 - 1917

Nilwood Mine Nilwood Coal Company 1917 - 1919

Union Fuel Mine No. 1 Union Fuel Company 1919 - 1921

[Source² - Index 2932 ]

1885 Annual Coal Report⁵
Nilwood Mine
This shaft is operated by Dennis Noonan, on a lease from the owners. The works have been opened up on the double entry system during the year. There are on an average 50 miners working at the shaft. Most of the coal mined here is shipped to Alton. This mine has been troubled some during the year with gob fires, but they are now successfully put out.
Louis Kortkamp, Manager.

1913 Annual Coal Report¹⁰
Abandoned Mines - Illinois Fuel Company, Nilwood, Macoupin County, Illinois,

1922 Annual Coal Report¹⁶
Mines Not in Operation During the Past Year - Union Fuel Company's No. 1 mine, Nilwood, Macoupin County, Illinois.

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1893 Annual Coal Report⁷
Carbon Coal Co.
Springfield Coal Co., No. 5

Mines opened from 1883 to 1911¹⁹⁵⁴
Year Opened - 1896
Name in 1911 - Vivian Col. Co.
Present name (1954) - Union Fuel Co., No. 6

Scottville Township
Township 12 North, Range 9 West Scottville township map

Dugger & Tulley Mine - section 4

Lake & Henry Mine - section 4

Mustard Mine - section 4

Woods Mine - section 4

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Dugger & Tulley Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 12 North, Range 9 West, Section 4

Dugger & Tulley Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Dugger & Tulley Mine Dugger & Tulley 1902 - 1903

[Source² - Index 2935 ]

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Lake & Henry Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 12 North, Range 9 West, Section 4

Lake & Henry Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Lake & Henry Lake & Henry 1937 - 1937

[Source² - Index 4554 ]

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Mustard Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 12 North, Range 9 West, Section 4

Mustard Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Mustard Mine Mustard ( L. ) 1918 - 1918

[Source² - Index 2937 ]

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Woods Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 12 North, Range 9 West, Section 4

Woods Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Woods Mine Woods ( Pete ) 1934 - 1935

[Source² - Index 2936 ]

Shaws Point Township
Township 10 North, Range 6 West Shaws Point township map

Standard B Mine - section 4

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Standard B Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 6 West, Section 4

Standard B Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Standard 2B Mine Standard Oil Company 1919 - 1919

Standard Mine No. 2 Standard Oil Company of Indiana 1919 - 1925

Standard B Mine Idle / Abandoned 1926 - 1944

Standard B Mine Standard Mining & Converters 1945 - 1947

[Source² - Index 228 ]

Shipman Township
Township 8 North, Range 9 West Shipman township map

Medora Mine - section 6

Shipman Mine - section 25

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Medora Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 8 North, Range 9 West, Section 6

Medora Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Medora Mine Medora Coal & Mining Company 1882 - 1885

[Source² - Index 2909 ]

1885 Annual Coal Report⁵
Medora Coal Company
This mine was abandoned at the beginning of the fiscal year. No coal having been mined, the plant is for sale.

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Shipman Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 8 North, Range 9 West, Section 25

Shipman Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Shipman Mine Shipman Coal Company 1889 - 1891

[Source² - Index 2910 ]

1890 Biennial Coal Report⁶
Mines Opened during year
The Shipman Coal Co.'s shaft has been opened during the year. The shaft is 330 feet deep, coal seam 2'9" thick, being seam No. 1 of the general section, and the coal is of a very good quality. A pair of Litchfield engines has been put in for hoisting.

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Virden Township Township 12 North, Range 6 West ( North ½ ) North Mine - section 9 Royal No. 2 Mine - section 8 South Mine - section 9 Virden Mine - section 9

North Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 12 North, Range 6 West, Section 9

North Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Virden Mine Chicago-Virden Coal Company 1892 - 1904

Illinois Colliery Mine No. 1 Illinois Collieries Company 1904 - 1909

Glenridge Mine No. 1 Glenridge Coal Company 1909 - 1913

Montour 402 Mine Montour Coal Company 1913 - 1918

Pittsburg 402 Mine Pittsburg Coal Company 1918 - 1920

Illinois Coal & Coke Mine No. 3 Illinois Coal & Coke Corporation 1920 - 1923

Empire Mine No. 3 Illinois Coal Corporation 1923 - 1932

North Mine Virden Coal Company 1932 - 1937

Virden Mine Lincoln Liquidating Company 1937 - 1939

North Mine Virden Mining Corporation 1939 - 1960

[Source² - Index 67 ]

1915 Annual Coal Report¹²
Mine Fires
The boiler and engine house of the Montour Coal Company's mine, Virden, Macoupin County, Illinois, was totally destroyed by fire on January 21, 1915. The loss amounted to about $20,000, and up to this time the plant has not rebuilt.

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Royal Mine No. 2

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 12 North, Range 6 West, Section 8, SE, SW, SW,

This was an underground mine with a depth of 300 - 350 feet
and an average coal seam thickness of 4½ - 7½ feet.

Royal Mine No. 2 History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Royal Mine No. 1 Royal Colliery Company 1903 - 1914

Royal Mine Chicago, Wilmington & Franklin Coal Co. 1914 - 1919

Royal Mine No. 2 Royal Colliery Company 1919 - 1924

The last reported production was in July 1924 [Source^{1- 2} - Index 185 ]

1913 Annual Coal Report¹⁰
Mine Fires
      On May 21, 1913, fire destroyed the mine tipple and the washer at the Royal Colliery Company's mine, Virden, Macoupin County, Illinois, entailing a loss of over $100,000.00, and throwing 600 men out of employment. The company is now busy re-erecting with steel, and expect to be able to resume work some time in September.

1914 Annual Coal Report¹¹
Improvements
      The Royal Colliery Company, Virden, Macoupin County, Illinois, has installed a washery of 125 tons per hour capacity, to replace the one destroyed by fire, May 31, 1913. The building is of steel and was erected by the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company. The machinery was designed and installed by the American Concentrator Company and includes two No. 500 double jigs and one No. 50 single jig, three Jeffery elevators, shaking screens and one 250-ton coal bin, four 50-ton washed coal bins, and four steel settling cones.

1915 Annual Coal Report¹²
Name and Ownership Changes
Royal Colliery Company to Chicago, Wilmington & Franklin Coal Company

1918 Annual Coal Report¹⁴
Report of Investigation of Powder Explosion at the Royal Mine C. W. & F. Coal Co.
      Assisted by James Taylor, special investigator, an investigation was made of the explosion of powder, on February 22, 1918, at the Royal mine of the C. W. & F. Coal Co., and we found that four men -- Leo Moffat, John Fassero, George Osborne and Tim Roberts -- were killed by an explosion of twenty-six kegs of powder that had been lowered in the mine while the electric current was on the mine wires, and mining machines and electric motors in operation. A car containing forty kegs of powder was sent down at 9:00 o'clock p. m.; fourteen of these kegs of powder were unloaded from the car and placed upon the bench seats, which are located at the bottom of the hoisting shaft in the north manway refuge place. The kegs were for a different section of the mine than those remaining in the car.
      The car, with its contents, was placed on a nearby switch at the south side to the shaft and allowed to remain there until 2:30 o'clock a m At 2:30 o clock a. m. the electric locomotive was switching cars and while handling a car of ties and props was coupled to the car containing the twenty-six kegs of powder and in starting the load the motor was evidently grounded the car containing the powder was charged and the powder exploded killing four men and endangering a number of others.
      Mr. A. W. Archibald, the night boss, informed us that the powder was always sent down the shaft between the hours of 7:30 and 9:30 p m that it had been the prevailing custom during the period of his employment as night boss. On the night of the explosion the powder was lowered into the mine at 9:00 p. m., and remained near the shaft bottom until 2:45 p. m.
      Mr. F. Mayer, the night machine boss, stated that the electric current was always turned on at 6:00 p. m., and continued on until 3:15 to 3:30 a. m. During these hours the mining machines and motors were in operation intermittently.
      The manner in which this powder was handled was in violation of section 19 (a), which provides that electrically equipped mines must not transport explosives until the current is turned off.
      The placing of the fourteen kegs in the north manway refuge place was also a violation of the mining law, which provides that no material shall be stored in refuge places.
Respectfully submitted,
T. A. Lewis, State Inspector.

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South Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 12 North, Range 6 West, Section 9, NW, SW, SE,

This was an underground mine with a depth of 320 - 350 feet
and an average coal seam thickness of 6½ - 7½ feet.

South Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Utt Mine John W. Utt pre 1878 - 1889

Utt Mine J. W. Utt's heirs 1889 - 1890

Virden Mine Virden Coal Company 1890 - 1904

Illinois Collieries Mine No. 4 Illinois Collieries Company 1904 - 1909

South Mine Lukens & Andrews 1909 - 1910

The last reported production was in July 1910 [Source^1-2 - Index 2934 ]

1885 Annual Coal Report⁵
Virden Coal Co.
This shaft has only been worked about half the time during the year, owing to losing the trade of the C. & A. Railroad, the Girard Coal Co. having underbid them and received the contract. Only the west side of the shaft is worked ; it is opened up by double entries and in very good shape. The ventilation is fair, tor which a 10 foot fan is used. There is a shale seam connected with this shaft. The shale is used for the manufacture of paving brick and drain tile. The shale is hoisted out of the escapement shaft by friction gearing. Ladders are used from the coal seam to the shale seam.
J. W. Utt, Manager.
Owen Garrett, Mine Manager.

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Virden Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 12 North, Range 6 West, Section 9, NE, NW, NE,

This was an underground mine with a depth of 320 - 330 feet
and an average coal seam thickness of 4 - 8 feet.

Virden Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Chicago-Virden Mine No. 1 Chicago-Virden Coal Company 1892 - 1904

Illinois Collieries Mine No. 1 Illinois Collieries Company 1904 - 1909

Glenridge Mine No. 1 Glenridge Coal Company 1909 - 1913

Montour No. 402 Mine Montour Coal Company 1913 - 1918

Pittsburg No. 402 Mine Pittsburg Coal Company 1918 - 1920

Illinois Coal & Coke Mine No. 3 Illinois Coal & Coke Corporation 1920 - 1923

Empire Mine No. 3 Illinois Coal Corporation 1923 - 1932

Virden Mine Virden Coal Company 1932 - 1937

Lincoln Liquidating Mine Lincoln Liquidating Company 1937 - 1939

Virden Mine Virden Mining Company 1939 - 1959

This mine was idle in 1909, in 1916, and from 1926 - 1931
The last reported production was in July 1960 [Source^1-2 - Index 67 ]

1916 Annual Coal Report¹³
Abandoned Mines - Montour Coal Company No. 402, Virden, Macoupin County, Illinois

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1893 Annual Coal Report⁷
Chicago-Virden Coal Co.
Woodside Coal Co., No. 1

Mines opened from 1883 to 1911¹⁹⁵⁴
Year Opened - 1893
Name in 1911 - Glen Ridge C. Co.
Present name (1954) - Ill. Coal Corp., No. 3

Western Mound Township
Township 10 North, Range 9 West Western Mound township map

Bode Mine - section 29

Bowman & Johnson Mine - section 30

Davis Mine - section 29

Davis Mine (2) - section 29

Davis Mine (3) - section 30

Davis Mine (4) - section 30

Dawson Mine - section 29

Falcutt Mine - section 30

Harbaugh Mine - section 30

McCormick Mine - section 29

Palulis Mine No. 1 - section 30

Pitchford Mine - section 30

Walden Mine - section 31

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Bode Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 29

Bode Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Belby Mine Belby ( Thomas ) 1878 - 1879

Rudolph & Belby Mine Rudolph & Belby 1881 - 1883

Belby Mine Belby & Company 1883 - 1885

Belby Mine Belby & Rudolph 1885 - 1886

Belby Mine Belby & Company 1886 - 1890

Bode Mine Bode ( August ) 1894 - 1909

[Source² - Index 2922 ]

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Bowman & Johnson Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 30

Bowman & Johnson Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Bowman & Johnson Mine Bowman & Johnson 1936 - 1936

[Source² - Index 2926 ]

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Davis Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 29

Davis Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Chism & Curtis Mine Chism & Curtis 1893 - 1895

Curtis Mine Curtis ( Samuel F. ) 1895 - 1900

Loper Mine Loper ( G. B. ) 1900 - 1910

Truitt Mine Truitt ( J. W. ) & Sons 1925 - 1926

Frost Mine Frost & Company 1928 - 1928

Lyons Mine Lyons Coal Company 1928 - 1933

Truitt Mine Truitt & Sons 1934 - 1936

Davis Mine Davis Coal Company 1937 - 1938

Chesterfield Mine Chesterfield Coal Company 1938 - 1939

Poli Mine Poli ( A. N. ) 1939 - 1939

Davis Mine Anderson ( C. G. ) 1940 - 1940

[Source² - Index 2918 ]

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Davis Mine (2)

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 29

Davis Mine (2) History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Davis Mine Davis Coal Company 1924 - 1925

[Source² - Index 2921 ]

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Davis Mine (3)

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 30

Davis Mine (3) History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Davis Mine Davis ( Dorris ) 1882 - 1885

Davis Mine Davis Brothers 1885 - 1890

[Source² - Index 2928 ]

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Davis Mine (4)

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 30

Davis Mine (4) History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Davis Mine Davis ( R. R. ) 1898 - 1899

Davis Mine Davis Brothers 1899 - 1907

[Source² - Index 2929 ]

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Dawson Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 29

Dawson Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Randolph Mine Randolph ( John ) 1892 - 1893

Harbaugh Mine Harbaugh ( J. F. ) 1893 - 1896

Harbaugh Mine Harbaugh ( J. T. ) 1896 - 1900

Harbour Mine Harbour ( John Jr. ) 1900 - 1902

Harbaugh Mine Harbaugh ( George ) 1902 - 1903

Harbaugh Mine Harbaugh ( John ) 1903 - 1904

Harbaugh Mine Harbaugh ( James ) 1904 - 1914

Dawson Mine Dawson ( A. W. ) 1914 - 1915

[Source² - Index 2919 ]

1915 Annual Coal Report¹²
Name and Ownership Changes - James Harbaugh to A. W. Dawson

1916 Annual Coal Report¹³
Abandoned Mines - A. W. Dawson, Macoupin County, Illinois

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Falcutt Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 30

Falcutt Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Falcutt Mine Falcutt ( John B. ) 1923 - 1926

[Source² - Index 2923 ]

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Harbaugh Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 30

Harbaugh Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Harbaugh Mine Harbaugh ( John J. ) 1907 - 1917

[Source² - Index 2924 ]

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McCormick Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 29

McCormick Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

McCormick Mine McCormick ( R. ) 1893 - 1899

McCormick Mine McCormick Brothers 1899 - 1800

[Source² - Index 2920 ]

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Palulis Mine No. 1

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 30

Palulis Mine No. 1 History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Rands Mine Rands ( Thomas ) 1897- 1903

Challons Mine Challons Coal Company 1934 - 1935

Greenstreet Mine Greenstreet ( Orvil ) 1935 - 1935

Palulis Mine No. 1 Palulis ( Stanley ) 1935 - 1936

[Source² - Index 2925 ]

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Pitchford Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 30

Pitchford Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Pitchford Mine Pitchford ( Claude ) 1939 - 1941

[Source² - Index 2927 ]

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Walden Mine

The legal description lists this as Macoupin County - Township 10 North, Range 9 West, Section 31

Walden Mine History

Mine Name Operated By Years

Cogger Mine Cogger & Company 1886 - 1890

Trill Mine Trill ( Charles ) 1890 - 1893

Trill Mine Trill Brothers 1896 - 1896

Walden Mine Walden ( W. H. ) & Sons 1935 - 1935

Walden Mine Walden, Wyatt & Spicer 1936 - 1936

[Source² - Index 2930 ]

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Virden "Riot" of 1898
Virden, IL.
furnished by Littleton P. Bradley

It seems that in 1898, a WANTED call went out to Alabama for "175 good colored miners for Virden, Illinois." The response resulted in a riot in Virden. Eight miners and five guards were killed.

A book entitled "Remember Virden, 1898" was published.
Here is part of a paragraph from that book:
quote:

Late last night the word was passed to every mining town in the (Chicago and Alton Railroad) district that a trainload of negroes had been sidetracked in Centralia and transferred from passenger coaches to boxcars. Three Gillespie miners walked all the way to Carlinville to warn the local men. Every man as he started to work this morning was approached by a member of the antification committee: "No work today---Negroes---Virden." was the warning. "All right be ready in a moment," came the instant response and in a short time, 40 Carlinville miners were on their way to Virden. Thus is all over the district. Mt. Olive sent 200 headed by General Bradley (no relation of mine LPB). Staunton sent 200. Over 150 from Gillespie...Chatham, Auburn, Girard, Green Ridge, Nilwood, and Litchfield sent large delegations, and every bit of track running into Virden is being patrolled north and south for miles.
--Macoupin County Enquirer 6 October 1898.

Battle of Virden
1898
Coal Miners Riot
Virden Coal Monument

Photograph by : Marie Hinton

Monument located in Virden, Illinois
See all monument photos : Virden Monuments

Sources :

¹ Coal Mines in Illinois, Virden North Quadrangle
                Illinois State Geological Survey, 2008
                615 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL. 61820
² Directory of Coal Mines in Macoupin county, Illinois,
                Illinois State Geological Survey, 2009
                615 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL. 61820
³ Coal Men of America
                A Biographical and Historical Review of the World's Greatest Industry.
                by : Arthur M. Hall, Editor-In-chief & Sydney A. Hale, Assistant Editor
                Chicago, The Retail Coalman, Inc., 1918
⁴ Third Biennial Report
                Bureau of Labor Statistics of Illinois, 1884
                Springfield, ILL.; H. W. Rokker, State Printer and Binder, 1884
⁵ Statistics of Coal In Illinois 1885
                A Supplemental Report
                State Bureau of Labor Statistics
                Reports of Mine Inspectors
                For the Year Ended July1, 1885
                Springfield, ILL; H. W. Roker, State Printer and Binder, 1885
⁶ Sixth Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of Illinois, 1890
                Springfield, ILL.; H. W. Rokker, State Printer and Binder, 1891
⁷ Statistics of Coal In Illinois 1893
                Twelveth Annual Report
                Springfield, ILL.; H. W. Rokker, State Printer and Binder, 1894
⁸ Statistics of Coal In Illinois 1894
                Thirteenth Annual Report
                Springfield, ILL.; ED.F. Hartman, State Printer, 1895
⁹ Statistics of Coal In Illinois 1895
                Fourteenth Annual Report
                Springfield, ILL.; ED.F. Hartman, State Printer, 1896
¹⁰ Thirty-Second Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1913
                State Mining Board
                Printed by authority of the State of Illinois
                Springfield, ILL.: Illinois State Journal Co., State Printers, 1914
¹¹ Thirtieth-Third Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1914
                State Mining Board
                Springfield, Illinois; Illinois State Journal Co.. State Printers, 1914
¹² Thirty-Fourth Annual Coal Report of Illinois
                1915 State Mining Board
                Printed by authority of the State of Illinois
                Springfield, ILL, Illinois State Journal Co., State Printers, 1915
¹³ Thirty-Fifth Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1916
                State Mining Board
                Springfield, ILL.; Illinois State Journal Co., State Printers 1916
¹⁴ Thirty-Seventh Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1918
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Printed by authority of the State of Illinois
                Springfield, ILL.; Illinois State Journal Co., State Printers 1916
¹⁵ Thirty-Eighth Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1919
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Printed by authority of the State of Illinois
                Springfield, ILL.; Illinois State Journal Co., State Printers 1919
¹⁶ Forty-First Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1922
                State Mining Board
                Illinois Printing Co., Danville, ILL., 1922
¹⁷ Forty-Second Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1923
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Illinois Printing Co., Danville, ILL., 1923
¹⁸ Forty-Eighth Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1929
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Journal Printing Co., Springfield, ILL., 1930
¹⁹⁵⁴ A Compilation of the Reports of the Mining Industry of Illinois
                from the Earliest Records to 1954
                Printed by authority of the State of Illinois