To Fellow Listers; My family that I am researching are the Townsends of Lansing, Fayette Station, Hico, Ansted and Mountain Cove, etc. I am the GG Grandaughter of Benjamin Townsend of Mountain Cove, Fayette, WV. I am curious how my ancestors made their livings. Now I know that my Benjamin is listed in various Census' as a Farmer, Brakeman on the RR, he ran Townsend's Ferry during the Civil War years on the New River and he also worked in the mines. Most of his sons worked in the Mines. I was just recently in this area back towards the end of Oct. I did not "see" any Mines. I am familiar with "open pit mining" in Montana and the gold mines that we have here in Oregon and California. But where are these "Mines" that my ancestors worked in. Benjamin's children were William b. 1856, Emma b. 1857, Mary b. 1859, Anna b. 1862 (she is my great grandmother), Morgan b. 1863, George b. 1867, John J. b. 1870, Julia b. 1872 and d. 1872 and Thomas b. 1877. Thomas was famous as a Prosecuting Atto! rney and a tax clerk for the state of WV. He also ran for Governor in 1932. Some of his Biography says that as a child he worked in the Mines moving "hot brick". Would these Mines have been within walking distance? Was it dug out by hand? Or was there some type of machinery used? If someone would suggest an history book on the mines in this area . . . that would be very helpful. I want to know more about my ancestors life and their struggles. Thank you for your help . . . Lynn
My Grandmother Paschal said there used to be many more mines in the area. There apparently was even a mine in Pax. Is the one in Mt Hope still open?? Debby Bolen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan & Lynn Hudson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, February 18, 2002 12:36 AM Subject: [WVFAYETT] Coal Mining > To Fellow Listers; > My family that I am researching are the Townsends of Lansing, Fayette Station, Hico, Ansted and Mountain Cove, etc. I am the GG Grandaughter of Benjamin Townsend of Mountain Cove, Fayette, WV. I am curious how my ancestors made their livings. Now I know that my Benjamin is listed in various Census' as a Farmer, Brakeman on the RR, he ran Townsend's Ferry during the Civil War years on the New River and he also worked in the mines. Most of his sons worked in the Mines. I was just recently in this area back towards the end of Oct. I did not "see" any Mines. I am familiar with "open pit mining" in Montana and the gold mines that we have here in Oregon and California. But where are these "Mines" that my ancestors worked in. Benjamin's children were William b. 1856, Emma b. 1857, Mary b. 1859, Anna b. 1862 (she is my great grandmother), Morgan b. 1863, George b. 1867, John J. b. 1870, Julia b. 1872 and d. 1872 and Thomas b. 1877. Thomas was famous as a Prosecuting Atto! > rney and a tax clerk for the state of WV. He also ran for Governor in 1932. Some of his Biography says that as a child he worked in the Mines moving "hot brick". Would these Mines have been within walking distance? Was it dug out by hand? Or was there some type of machinery used? If someone would suggest an history book on the mines in this area . . . that would be very helpful. I want to know more about my ancestors life and their struggles. > Thank you for your help . . . > > Lynn > > > > ==== WVFAYETT Mailing List ==== > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >