Never-ending Search for Miners

Utah State Archives

On Thursday and Friday, September 4th and 5th, I had the opportunity to visit the Utah State archives in Salt Lake City.  My goal in going to the archives was to search the Utah Industrial Commission books for miners who had died in coal mine related accidents in Carbon County.  It was a wonderful visit and great experience.  I hadn't ever been there before but I was able to find lots of information on miners we had been searching for and I also found many miners that we didn't already have on the list.

Joseph Andrew Mower

One of the miners I have searched endlessly for was Joseph Andrew Mower.  I had special interest in this one simple because every Mower I have found in Utah I am related to, so I was convinced he was one of my relatives.  According to the list he had died the 24 September 1968 but every search I did brought up no results.  A newspaper article from that time said: 

Sun Advocate 26 Sept 1968

Mine Accident

Joe Mower, 45, Price, shift foreman at the Plateau Mining Co. mine at Wattis, suffered undetermined injuries Tuesday at 2 p.m. in a roof fall in the mine.  He was taken to St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.

A while back the Miner's Committee received an e-mail which stated: 

One correction I can give you now is that Joe Mower (Plateau Mining) was not killed in the mine. He was involved in a serious accident in the mine where he was covered up. This resulted in Joe being paralyzed from mid chest down. Even though Joe was a paraplegic he was able to own and operate a snowmobile dealership for many years. He died approximately 20 years after the mine accident.

It turns out that Joseph Andrew Mower didn't die until the 11th of July 2001 in Montpelier, Bear Lake, Idaho.  Yes, we are related.  We are 2nd cousins one time removed.

Francis Marian Mower

Another 2nd cousin one time removed, Francis Marian Mower was injured on the 3rd of August 1925 in the Storrs coal mine in Spring Canyon.  It wasn't until July 18, 1928 that he died from his injuries.

Utah Industrial Commission

Claim No. 1930

Decision rendered Jan 3, 1928

Francis Mower vs. Spring Canyon Coal Company

On August 3^rd, 1925, while employed by the Spring Canyon Coal Company, at Storrs, Utah, Francis Mower, was struck on the back by a large rock, causing fracture of the first lumbar vertebrae, injury to spinal cord and paralysis of the lower limbs.  Mr. Mower remained in the hospital until October 5^th, 1926, when he was permitted to enter a private home, the employer allowing him $40.00 per month for services in lieu of hospital charges, this in addition to the weekly compensation of $16.00 per week.  These payments were continued until November 1^st, 1927, when the employer refused to further continue the monthly payment of $40.00 on the ground that Mr. Mower was no longer a hospital case.

On November 2^nd, 1927, Mr. Mower asked for a Hearing before the Commission.  From the evidence submitted, the Commission found that while Mr. Mower was totally disabled and unable to perform any sort of labor and that his condition would remain so permanently, that he was able to get from his bed to the wheel chair unaided and also get about a little on crutches.

The commission ruled, that the payment of $40.00 per month was a mere gratuity on the part of the employer and that the payment might be discontinued at the pleasure of the employer.  It was so ordered.

John Law Wilson

One of the most intriguing miner I have found in my search for miners is John Law Wilson.  He first shows up in 1900 in the Winter Quarters mine explosion.  He was thrown 800 feet across a canyon.  When he was found "the back of his skull was crushed (like an eggshell) and some solid substance had been driven through his abdomen." Twenty-seven years later when he dies his death certificate says he died from "old injury to brain and carcarnoma of the stomach".

I found an update to his story in the Industrial Commissions book.  On January 12, 1925 he had another accident and was currently unable to work.  A motor had run away with him and he received injuries to his head and chest." The article stated: "Applicant has sustained five previous injuries in mines and industries in the State of Utah, but recovered from all of these injuries". 

John Law Wilson is certainly my hero.  I believe it takes a lot of courage for these men to work as coal miners.  It takes courage to walk into the mine and go miles into a black, dark tunnel in the mountain.  I can't imagine being injured five times and having the courage to go back again.  

List of Miners

Anyone interested in seeing a list of miners can visit the Sun Advocate website here: Miners Memorial

Adopt-A-Miner

If you are interested in financially supporting the project you can "Adopt-a-Miner" by filling in the form here: Adopt-A-Miner and mailing it with your donation to the Sun Advocate newspaper.