Joseph worked in the coal mines in Wales at age 7. Young boys would strip to their undergarments and a rope would be tired around their waist and they would wriggle into the small places to set the wire for dynamite blasts. To earn passage for his family to America, Jos. went to Otira, New Zealand to work on a tunnel project which lasted three years. He "bought" his passage by working in the boiler room on a freighter. It was so hot in the boiler room that the tar they used to caulk the wooden deck planks, to keep sea water out, would melt and drip on his back. He had left his pregnant wife Thirza and son Alfred in England. He came to the US in 1912 then sent for his family. When they arrived in America in 1913, he finally saw his son Charlie, who was born in his absence and had never seen his father - he was afraid of him. The family settled in Westville, Il. where two more sons were born. Jos. worked the coal mines in the area, mostly Bunsenville. He was known for his amazing memory and for reading the bible through. Was asked many times to recite poems and his "memorized" readings. He loved chocolate and cheese. He neither smoked nor drank.
Joseph worked in the coal mines in Wales at age 7. Young boys would strip to their undergarments and a rope would be tired around their waist and they would wriggle into the small places to set the wire for dynamite blasts. To earn passage for his family to America, Jos. went to Otira, New Zealand to work on a tunnel project which lasted three years. He "bought" his passage by working in the boiler room on a freighter. It was so hot in the boiler room that the tar they used to caulk the wooden deck planks, to keep sea water out, would melt and drip on his back. He had left his pregnant wife Thirza and son Alfred in England. He came to the US in 1912 then sent for his family. When they arrived in America in 1913, he finally saw his son Charlie, who was born in his absence and had never seen his father - he was afraid of him. The family settled in Westville, Il. where two more sons were born. Jos. worked the coal mines in the area, mostly Bunsenville. He was known for his amazing memory and for reading the bible through. Was asked many times to recite poems and his "memorized" readings. He loved chocolate and cheese. He neither smoked nor drank.
Gravesite Details
h/o Thirza Mann (4/25/1906), born in England to Aaron and Martha Stanley Crew. Joe was a dynamite blaster in the coal mines, working since age 7. Came to USA in 1912.
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