David Kelly & Johann Mandel
Whether they were recruited in their homeland or at the port of entry in the United States they both ended up in a Pennsylvania coal mine. Life was difficult in their home counties of Ireland and Slovenia when they left for the United States. Perhaps they believed the risk of crossing the Atlantic and going to an unknown place would give them a chance for a better life for themselves and their family.
David Kelly (abt 1833-1865)
The exact time David Kelly arrived in the United States from Ireland is unknown, however, he first shows up in the 1860 census in Wilkins Township, Allegheny County, PA working as a "coke tender" in a coal mine. His first son, who will eventually follow him into the mines, was born in PA abt 1852. This means that David arrived in the United States before 1852.
As a Coke Tender he would have overseen the processing of the coal in the coke ovens. For more information on this click here.
In 1865, David is killed tragically by a train leaving his wife and six children behind.
More than likely he lived in a "coal patch" which would put his family at risk of losing their housing. The coal patch is the coal company's "village" built to support the coal miners. If the miner is no longer a miner, they are unable to stay living in the the housing they are renting from the coal company in the patch. After the death of a miner, the family usually had 30 days to vacate the premises.
Two Sons & a Grandson Lost to the Mines
In the 1870 census David's wife, Jane, now widowed is still living in Wilkins Township but in an area that is covered by the White Ash post office vs. the Wilkins post office from the 1860 census. Also, son, Melvin, is now working in the coal mines. Since her son is working as a coal miner they are probably back living in a coal patch.
Melvin ends up dying (1904) from being "crushed by coal and slate" in the coal mine at the age of 52. He was working in the coal mine at least by the age of 17 (but probably earlier) and was still working there at the age of 52 - that's at least 35 years of hard, dirty and dangerous work.
Melvin's 15 year old son, William, also died (1898) due to "injures received in coal mine". He worked as a "driver" in the coal mine. A driver would move empty carts to chambers in the mine to be filled with coal and then along with a mule move the full carts out of the mine.
Another son of David Kelly and my 2GGF, David, also worked in the coal mine until he died of "Miner's Asthma" and pneumoconiosis (pneumonia caused by inhalation of dust).
It appears David worked in the mines from at least age 26 but probably well before that. He was abt 16 years old when his mother remarried and moved to another coal patch. David was probably already working in the mines by this time and living in the patch of the company he worked for.
Thomas (Wilson) worked in the mines until he died in 1934 but George changed professions and eventually worked for the railroad.
The Kelly's worked beside many other immigrants trying to find their way in this new country providing for themselves and their families. Many of the Irish that immigrated around the time that David did were poor and had struggled to survive the famine and arrived with very few resources. They left a land they loved knowing that they would probably never return to the land and the family they loved.
Johann "John" Mandel (1859-1945)
In 1892, Johann would leave Slovenia, his wife and 2 sons behind and arrive in the United States. He would first show up in the 1900 Census living in Peters Township, Washington County. By this time his wife, 2 sons and daughter have arrived in the United States and a couple new additions to the family.
By 1910 Johann is living in Joliet, IL where there is a large population of Slovenian immigrants. His son John (in census called Joseph) is living with him as an unemployed coal miner.
John Mandel, Son of Johann
Son of Johann and my great grandfather, John, eventually returns to Pennsylvania, marries and has three children. He is found in the 1920 Census working as a clerk in a general store. A closer look at the census and the neighbors would imply that he is working in the Company Store in a coal patch. Perhaps his ability to read and write had helped him to move into a "better" position with the coal company.
In 1917, John makes it to Joliet, IL and works for the Phoenix Horseshoe Company. At some point when he was working in the mines he lost a finger from either being kicked by or stepped on by a mule. Perhaps he worked shoeing the mules and maybe that experience helped him to get this new position in this new town.
The Mandel immigrants were able to use resources earned from coal mining work and possibly the Slovenian connections to move away from the coal industry. They all relocated eventually to the Joliet, IL area where was a large Slovenian population.
Hopefully both of my grandfathers would feel pride to know that their hard and difficult work and the loss of a homeland and the loss of the family they loved and left behind was not in vain. Many of their great grandchildren have gone on to higher education, helped others and have kept alive a part of them including a love of family.
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