This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DNB.2ACI/438.1 Message Board Post: Dear Charles, You have asked a HUGE question! There were many coal mines in Macon County, Missouri in 1860 and 1861. ALL of the mines, by 1860 were in the Bevier Coal District. The most prominent were: in 1860: Hazelton and New Castle and in 1861: Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad Mine #1 (later the Loomis and Snively Mine #1), OakDale, later Centreville #2, Centreville Mine (later Centreville #3), Oakwood which later became Centreville Mine #4 and Mine #6. As I state, all were located either in Bevier, Macon Co., MO or east or west of the town along the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad tracks. I have done extensive research regarding the coal mining in Macon Co., MO in order to have a book published about the coal mining heritage. The book is entitled, "Our Black Diamond Heritage" (1993). I know that there was a Brown family that lived and worked in the coal mines south of Bevier, in the Ardmore area, in the 1880's. I have a friend that is a descendant of this family and will gladly give you her postal address and phone number if you will contact me directly at my email address. I wish you the best of luck with your research and I hope this will be of some help. Donna