Coal Mines of Bond County, Illinois

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Bond County, Illinois History and Genealogy Featuring Coal Mining
Coal Mines & Fatalities

      Bond County is a county located in the central pat of the state of Illinois.
As of the 2000 census, the population is 17,633. In 2006, the population is 18,055.

      Bond County was formed in 1817 out of Madison County.
It was named for Shadrach Bond, who was then the delegate from the Illinois Territory to the United States Congress, and who thereupon became the first governor of Illinois, serving from 1818 to 1822.

      The county seat is Greenville.

      Bond County has nine townships :
            Burgess, Central, Lagrange, Mills, Mulberry Grove, Old Ripley, Pleasant Mound, Shoal Creek, Tamalco

Miss Valley Coal Mine

The legal description lists this as : Bond County - Township 5 North, Range 2 West, Section 8

Mine Name Operarted By Years

Somers Mine Joseph Somers 1884 - 1886

Smithboro Mine Smithboro Coal Company 1886 - 1892

Enterprize Mine Enterprize Coal Company 1892 - 1896

Enterprize Mine idle or abandoned 1896 - 1907

Miss Valley Mine Mississippi Colliery Company
Mississippi Valley Coal Company 1908 - 1910

[Source - No. 1, Index 2004]

1893 Annual Coal Report³
New Mines
      The Enterprise Coal Co., of Smithboro, Bond county, abandoned its shaft one year ago; a new company has been formed and are now taking out the water with a view of opening out the mine, and sinking to a lower seam of coal, which is known to be at a certain depth by the prospecting drill when the coal-field was first prospected.
Abandioned Mines
      Only one steam colliery has been abandoned during the year, The Enterprise Coal Co., of Smithboro, Bond county.

1894 Annual Coal Report⁴ Abandioned Enterprises
      At Smithboro, Bond county, a company organized to reopen the mine at that place. It was abandoned before taking out all of the water.

1896 Annual Coal Report⁵
New Mines
      At Smithboro, Bond county, the shaft there was sunk to the lower vein, but it was found to be too thin to be profitable, do the working of it was abandoned, and the work in the upper vein was resumed, which had been abandoned some time previous.

1908 Annual Coal Report¹⁰
Improvements
      The Mississippi Colliery Company, Smithboro, Bond county, has opened up the old mine at that place, taking the water out and retimbering both shafts; putting in large first motion engines; large boilers, new engine and boiler house, with a new and substantial tower and out buildings.

1909 Annual Coal Report¹¹
Abandoned Mines.
      The mine at Smithsboro, Bond county which has been abandoned for several years has again been put in operation, under the name of the Mississippi Colliery Company. A new tower, engine and boiler house has been erected, shafts retimbered, and new pumps installed.

Pocahontas Coal Mine

The legal description lists this as : Bond County - Township 4 North, Range 4 West, Section 3

Mine Name Operarted By Years

Pocahontas Mine No. 1 Pocahontas Mining Company 1906 - 1930

Pocahontas Mine No. 1 Bond County Coal Company 1930 - 1931

Pocahontas Mine No. 1 Pocahontas Mining Company 1931 - 1932

Pocahontas Mine Illinois Pocahontas Coal Company 1932 - 1942

[Source - No. 1, Index 218]
S-1

1907 Annual Coal Report⁹
Improvements
      The Pocahontas Mining Company, Pocahontas, Bond county, has finished the escapement and air shaft to its mine during the year. The work has been well done and includes a suitable stairway. A cage will be kept at the air shaft to be used at any time for repairs. A very substantial tower has been erected at the hoisting shaft with shaking screens and dump cages. Two new boilers have been installed, each 150 horse power. A Norwalk compressor and five mining machines have been installed, The hoisting engines are double, first motion, 22 x 36 inches. Teh engine, boiler and compressor houses are built very substantial and are intended to be fireproof.

1910 Annual Coal Report¹²
Improvements
      The Pocahontas Mining Company at Pocahontas, at its No. 1 mine. Bond county, has erected a new Sullivan eight-foot fan, which will supply the mine with plenty of air for some time to come.

1918 Annual Coal Report¹⁷
Improvements
      The Pocahontas Mining co. has made extensive improvements at shaft bottom -- replaced the timbers with 12-inch by 15-inch by 16-feet I-beams for 175 feet on both sides, installed on e 10-ton General Electric trolley motor and an electric box car loader.

1932 Annual Coal Report²³
Change of Name
      Pocahontas Mining Company to Illinois Pocahontas Mining Company

1933 Annual Coal Report²⁴
Idle Mines
      Illinois Pocahontas Mining Company

Sorento Coal Mine

The legal description lists this as : Bond County - Township 7 North, Range 4 West, Section 31

Mine Name Operarted By Years

Sorento Mine Sorento Coal Company 1884 - 1992

Sorento Mine Sorento Prospecting and Mining Comapny 1892 - 1899

Sorento Mine No. 6 Illinois Collieries Company 1905 - 1908

Sorento Mine No. 6 idle 1909

Sorento Mine No. 6 Illinois Collieries Company 1910 - 1911

Sorento Mine No. 6 Sorento Collieries Company 1911

No further information concerning operation under this name or operator :

North Illinois Mine Northern Illinois Coal & Supply 1911 - ?

Northern Mine Northern Coal & Supply ? - 1915

[Source - No. 1, Index 2005]

1893 Annual Coal Report³
Improvements
      In Bond County, the Sorento Coal Co., has put in a plant to mine the coal by machinery, an Ingesoll compressor and Ingersoll coal-cutting machines. Two new boilers have been addded to the plant.

1894 Annual Coal Report⁴
Improvements
      The Sorento Prospecting and Mining Comapny, Bond county, has put in a 15-foot fan.
Mining Machines
      Owing to a scaricity of water for steam purposes the machines owned by the Sorento Prospect and Mining Company were not operated after December 7, 1893.

1898 Annual Coal Report⁶
Labor Troubles
      The mine of the Sorento Prospecting and Mining Company, Sorento, Bond county, has not been worked for the last two months.

1899 Annual Coal Report⁷
Improvements
      The Sorento Prospecting and Mining Company, Sorento, Bond county, has added to its plant two electric mining machines, put in by the Link-Blet Electric Company.

1909 Annual Coal Report¹¹
      The Illinois Collieries Company's No. 6 mine of Sorento, Bond county has not been operated during the year.

1910 Annual Coal Report¹²
Abandoned Mines.
      The Illinois Collieries Company's mine at Sorento, Bond county

1911 Annual Coal Report¹³
Change of Name
      The Illinois Collieries Conpany's mine at Sorento, Bond county, is now operated under the name Sorento Collieries Company.

1915 Annual Coal Report¹⁶
Abandoned Mines. - Bond County
      This mine was not operated this year and is permanently closed or temporaily closed : Northern Coal & Supply Company, Sorento.

Bond County, Illinois Coal Mine Fatalities
BOOTH April 16, 1918¹⁷, Charles F. Booth, of Pocahontas, miner, age 23 years, married, was killed in Pocahontas Mining company's mine by falling clod. He leaves a widow and one child. CAMPBELL July 20, 1911¹⁴, Frank Campbell, of Sorento, laborer, aged 56 years, married, was caught between the cage and timber and killed. Deceased was employed in the Northern Coal and Supply Co.'s mine, Sorento, Bond County. He leaves a widow and three children. October 25, 1913¹⁵, Fred Campbell, of Troy, mine examiner, aged 60 years, married, employed in Northern Coal & Supply Company's mine, Sorento, Bond County, was making examination of the mine when he ignited a body of gas and was killed. He leaves a widow and three children. CASE August 23, 1941²⁷, Marion Case, of Pocahontas, loader, aged 62 years, married, was killed by a fall of rock in Illinois-Pocahontas Coal Company's mine. He leaves a widow. CROSSMAN July 28, 1886², Smithboro Coal and Mining Co., Smithboro, Henry Crossman, a married man aged 26 years, was killed July 28, 1886, by a mule. He was driving down a slight grade, and it was supposed the mule ran away with him. He was found dead at the entrance of a room his head having been crushed against a rock building. DOLZADELLI May 1, 1940²⁶, Charles Dolzadelli, of Pocahontas, bottom blocker, aged 19 years, married, crushed between motor and prop at the Illinois-Pocahontas Coal Co., mine, leaving widow. DOYLE December 14, 1900^7b, George Doyle, of Sorento, driver, aged 24 years, married, employed at the mine of the Sorento Prospecting and Mining company, Sorento, Bond county, was caught between the top of a loaded car and the roof, causing his immediate death. He leaves a widow and one child. FRITZ August 29, 1923¹⁹, John Fritz, of Pocahontas, machine man, age 44 years, single, was killed in Pocahontas Mining Company's mine by a fall of coal. also listed as Joe Fritz GILLESPIE January 22, 1922¹⁸, George Gillespie, of Pocahontas, miner, age 52 years, married, was killled in Pocahontas Mining Comapny's mine by a fall of coal. He leaves a widow and one child. JARMAN May 29, 1901^7b, James Jarman, of Sorento, miner, aged 52 years, married, employed by the Sorento Prospecting and Mining company, Sorento, Bond county. He had fired a shot, and went back to put up some timbers when a large boulder gave way, falling and killing him instantly. He leaves a widow and five children. LOGSDON January 16, 1929²¹, Edward Logsdon, of Litchfield, driver, age 25 years, single, died from injuries received the day before in Pocahontas Mining Company's mine. Deceased was riding on front end of car when the tail chain became unhooked, caught on a tiem and threw him against a prop. NOVAC July 19, 1939²⁵, John Novac, of Pocahontas, motorman, aged 41 years, married, killed by falling from motor in mine No. 1 of the Illinois-Pocahontas Coal Co., leaving wife and one dependent child. PRICE December 29, 1931²², Thomas Price, of Pocahontas, miner, age 41 years, single, was killed in Pocahontas Mining Company's mine when he came in contact with an electric cable. SANDERSON February 4, 1898⁶, J. C. Sanderson, of Smithboro, a loader in the Smithboro Coal Company's mine, met his death while in the act of loading a car with coal at the face of the main entry, in the top seam. A large piece of rock gave way, falling on him, from the effects of which he died shortly afterward. He was 30 years old and leaves a widow and two children. SHIPLE January 17, 1931²², Sylvester Shiple, of Pocahontas, machine runner, age 36 years, single, was caught in bits of cutting chain and killed, in Bond County Coal Company's mine. [Pocahontas Mining Company] STEELE April 10, 1905⁸, Roy Steele, miner, aged 25 years, married, employed in the Illinois Collieries Co.'s mine, Sorento, Bond county, was killed by the explosion of a shot. He leaves a widow and one child. VACCA April 9, 1926²⁰, Frank Vacca, of Pocahontas, track man, age 46 years, married, was killed by a fall of slate Pocahontas Mining Company's mine. He leaves a widow and two children.

Bond County, Illinois
Coal Mine
Fatalities

BOOTH
April 16, 1918¹⁷, Charles F. Booth, of Pocahontas, miner, age 23 years, married, was killed in Pocahontas Mining company's mine by falling clod. He leaves a widow and one child.

CAMPBELL
July 20, 1911¹⁴, Frank Campbell, of Sorento, laborer, aged 56 years, married, was caught between the cage and timber and killed. Deceased was employed in the Northern Coal and Supply Co.'s mine, Sorento, Bond County. He leaves a widow and three children.

October 25, 1913¹⁵, Fred Campbell, of Troy, mine examiner, aged 60 years, married, employed in Northern Coal & Supply Company's mine, Sorento, Bond County, was making examination of the mine when he ignited a body of gas and was killed. He leaves a widow and three children.

CASE
August 23, 1941²⁷, Marion Case, of Pocahontas, loader, aged 62 years, married, was killed by a fall of rock in Illinois-Pocahontas Coal Company's mine. He leaves a widow.

CROSSMAN
July 28, 1886², Smithboro Coal and Mining Co., Smithboro, Henry Crossman, a married man aged 26 years, was killed July 28, 1886, by a mule. He was driving down a slight grade, and it was supposed the mule ran away with him. He was found dead at the entrance of a room his head having been crushed against a rock building.

DOLZADELLI
May 1, 1940²⁶, Charles Dolzadelli, of Pocahontas, bottom blocker, aged 19 years, married, crushed between motor and prop at the Illinois-Pocahontas Coal Co., mine, leaving widow.

DOYLE
December 14, 1900^7b, George Doyle, of Sorento, driver, aged 24 years, married, employed at the mine of the Sorento Prospecting and Mining company, Sorento, Bond county, was caught between the top of a loaded car and the roof, causing his immediate death. He leaves a widow and one child.

FRITZ
August 29, 1923¹⁹, John Fritz*, of Pocahontas, machine man, age 44 years, single, was killed in Pocahontas Mining Company's mine by a fall of coal.
* also listed as Joe Fritz

GILLESPIE
January 22, 1922¹⁸, George Gillespie, of Pocahontas, miner, age 52 years, married, was killled in Pocahontas Mining Comapny's mine by a fall of coal. He leaves a widow and one child.

JARMAN
May 29, 1901^7b, James Jarman, of Sorento, miner, aged 52 years, married, employed by the Sorento Prospecting and Mining company, Sorento, Bond county. He had fired a shot, and went back to put up some timbers when a large boulder gave way, falling and killing him instantly. He leaves a widow and five children.

LOGSDON
January 16, 1929²¹, Edward Logsdon, of Litchfield, driver, age 25 years, single, died from injuries received the day before in Pocahontas Mining Company's mine. Deceased was riding on front end of car when the tail chain became unhooked, caught on a tiem and threw him against a prop.

NOVAC
July 19, 1939²⁵, John Novac, of Pocahontas, motorman, aged 41 years, married, killed by falling from motor in mine No. 1 of the Illinois-Pocahontas Coal Co., leaving wife and one dependent child.

PRICE
December 29, 1931²², Thomas Price, of Pocahontas, miner, age 41 years, single, was killed in Pocahontas Mining Company's mine when he came in contact with an electric cable.

SANDERSON
February 4, 1898⁶, J. C. Sanderson, of Smithboro, a loader in the Smithboro Coal Company's mine, met his death while in the act of loading a car with coal at the face of the main entry, in the top seam. A large piece of rock gave way, falling on him, from the effects of which he died shortly afterward. He was 30 years old and leaves a widow and two children.

SHIPLE
January 17, 1931²², Sylvester Shiple, of Pocahontas, machine runner, age 36 years, single, was caught in bits of cutting chain and killed, in Bond County Coal Company's mine. [Pocahontas Mining Company]

STEELE
April 10, 1905⁸, Roy Steele, miner, aged 25 years, married, employed in the Illinois Collieries Co.'s mine, Sorento, Bond county, was killed by the explosion of a shot. He leaves a widow and one child.

VACCA
April 9, 1926²⁰, Frank Vacca, of Pocahontas, track man, age 46 years, married, was killed by a fall of slate Pocahontas Mining Company's mine. He leaves a widow and two children.

Sources :

¹ Coal Mines in Illinois, Bond County
                Illinois State Geological Survey, 615 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL. 61820
² Statistics of Coal in Illinois, 1887
                A Supplemental Report of the State Bureau of Labor Statistics
                Springfiled, ILL.; H. W. Rokker, State Printer and Binder, 1887
³ Statistics of Coal In Illinois 1893
                Twelveth Annual Report
                Springfiled, ILL.; H. W. Rokker, State Printer and Binder, 1894
⁴ Statistics of Coal In Illinois 1894
                Thirteenth Annual Report
                Springfiled, ILL.; Ed. F. Hartman, State Printer, 1895
⁵ Fifteenth Annual Report of the State Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1896
                Springfield, ILL; Phillips Bros. State Printers, 1897
⁶ Seventeenth Annual Report of the State Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1898
                Coal in Illinois
                Springfield, ILL; Phillips Bros. State Printers, 1899
⁷ Eighteenth Annual Report Prepared by the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1899
                Springfield, ILL; Phillips Bros. State Printers, 1899
^7b Twentieth Annual Coal Report of the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1901,
                also the Second Annual Report of the Illinois Free Employment Offices, for the Year Ended
                October 1, 1901, David Ross, Secretary; Springfield,
                Springfield, ILL.; Phillips Bros., State Printers, 1902
⁸ Twenty-Fourth Annual Coal Report of the Illinois Bureau of Labor Startistics, 1905,
                also the Seventhth Annual Report of the Illinois Free Employment Offices, for the Year Ended
                September 30, 1905, David Ross, Secretary; Springfield,
                Springfield, Illinois State Journal, State Printers, 1906
⁹ Twenty-Sixth Annual Coal Report of the Illinois Bureau of Labor Startistics, 1907,
                also the Ninth Annual Report of the Illinois Free Employment Offices, for the Year Ended
                September 30, 1907, David Ross, Secretary; Springfield,
                Springfield, ILL.; Phillips Bros., State Printers, 1908
¹⁰ Twenty-Seventh Annual Coal Report of the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1908
                Springfiled, Illinois; Illinois State Journal Co.. State Printers, 1909
¹¹ Twenty-Eighth Annual Coal Report of the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1909
                Springfiled, Illinois; Illinois State Journal Co.. State Printers, 1910
¹² Twenty-Ninth Annual Coal Report of the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1910
                Springfiled, Illinois; Illinois State Journal Co.. State Printers, 1911
¹³ Thitieth Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1911
                State Mining Board
                Springfiled, Illinois; Illinois State Journal Co.. State Printers, 1912
¹⁴ Thitieth-First Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1912
                State Mining Board
                Springfiled, Illinois; Illinois State Journal Co.. State Printers, 1913
¹⁵ Thitieth-Third Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1914
                State Mining Board
                Springfiled, Illinois; Illinois State Journal Co.. State Printers, 1914
¹⁶ 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
¹⁷ 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 1918
¹⁸ Forty-First Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1922
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Illinois Printing Co., Danville, ILL., 1922
¹⁹ Forty-Third Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1924
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Illinois Printing Co., Danville, ILL., 1924
²⁰ Forty-Fifth Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1926
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Illinois Printing Co., Danville, ILL., 1927
²¹ Forty-Eightth Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1929
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Journal Printing Co., Springfield, ILL., 1930
²² Fifieth Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1931
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Illinois Printing Co., Danville, ILL., 1932
²³ Fifty-First Annual Coal Report of Illinois, 1932
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Journal Printing Co., Springfield, ILL., 1933
²⁴ Fifty-Second Coal Report of Illinois, 1933
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Printed by authority of the State of Illinois
²⁵ Fifty -Eighth Coal Report of Illinois, 1939
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Printed by authority of the State of Illinois
²⁶ Fifty -Ninth Coal Report of Illinois, 1940
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Printed by authority of the State of Illinois
²⁷ Sixtieth Coal Report of Illinois, 1941
                Department of Mines and Minerals
                Printed by authority of the State of Illinois

Coal & Coal Mining in Central Illinois © 2010 Wayne Hinton