Died of spinal trouble.
Miner Recollections by Polla Horn
Spirit and Courage
The Footens
Many of the immigrants who settled in the valley surrounded by the Will's, Dan's and Savage Mountains came to America on a shoe string; they came to escape poverty, tyranny, or both, but they always came with a dream. Like the Israelites in the bible, they were looking for a land flowing with milk and honey.
The circumstances leading to the immigration of Thomas Footen and Margaret Cain are uncertain; but since they came around 1850, it might have been precipitated by the potato famine.
Thomas Footen was born in County Westmeath, Ireland around 1820.
Margaret Cain was born about 1830 in County Kildare. The county's motto was "SPIRIT and COURAGE", which was appropriately adopted by Margaret Cain.
After arriving in America, Thomas Footen settled in an area "down the crick"; while Margaret lived with her brother Peter and his wife Bridget in Mt. Savage. Where the two met is unknown, but when Thomas heard that familiar Irish lilt he was smitten. It was love at first sound.
Thomas and Margaret were married in St. Gabriel's Church in Barton on June 12, 1851. It was the beginning of a 42 year adventure. They became the parents of eleven children, providing for all their needs on a coal miners salary.
Like all mining families, they experienced seasons of joy tempered by seasons of sorrow. Margaret Cain Footen needed SPIRIT as she birthed and raised her children; she also needed COURAGE to keep going when one died.
William Footen was the third child born to Thomas and Margaret. By the time he was twenty two, he had already been digging coal for many years. On March 29, 1878, just a few days after his 22nd birthday, William was killed in a mining accident. His was the first Footen grave to be dug in St. Gabriel's Cemetery.
Fortunately, their mother Margaret passed the traits of SPIRIT and COURAGE on to the next generation.
Another son, James Thomas Footen, married Mary Jane Malloy on November 19, 1879. They gave Thomas and Margaret seven grandchildren to spoil, although two daughters would die before 1900. The family would need more SPIRIT and COURAGE six years later. Their son William, named for the uncle who was killed in the mines, endured the same fate on June 7, 1916. Although no details concerning the accident have been found, the story has become part of the family history.
The third child to need some of Thomas and Margaret's SPIRIT and COURAGE was John Henry Footen. John married Elizabeth Cullen on May 20, 1874. The 1900 census reports that John and "Lizzie" had had nine children; only five were still living. In addition to losing four children, John had been in a mining accident around 1896 which crushed his leg so badly that amputation was deemed necessary. John would need a healthy dose of his mother's SPIRIT to move forward. Mining was no longer an option for John; he became involved in politics. He was the registration officer for District No.12 and served as Justice of the Peace. He and "Lizzie" would again draw on the COURAGE of his Irish parents when their son, another William, was killed in a mining accident.
On November 10, 1916, just days before his 34th birthday, William went to work in a mine of the Barton Mining Company. He was helping Mr. William Miller to load coal when he spotted an area of bone coal. Mr. Miller told him the area was dangerous and needed to be timbered before they could mine it. Not heeding the warning, William took an auger and began to bore a hole into the breast. The bone coal fell catching him across the back, puncturing his spine. He was transported to Allegany Hospital in Cumberland where surgery was performed by Drs. McGann and Franklin. Sadly, William died from his injuries six months later on May 10, 1917.
A daughter of Thomas and Margaret Footen would need some of that same SPIRIT and COURAGE. Their daughter Ellen Bernadette had married John Joseph Kelly on October 23, 1895. They added six more leaves to the family tree. One "little bud" was Fearon John Kelly, born December 28, 1898. Fearon, like so many other boys, began swinging a pick at a young age. On February 10, 1917 he was working in Mine No. 5 of the Piedmont and Georges Creek Coal Company. He was alone in his area loading coal into a car. At about 9:30 in the morning he was visited by Mr. K.C. Williams; they chatted a bit and Fearon offered to help Mr. Williams push a full car out of his room as soon as Fearon's car was topped off. He went back to work and shoveled a fall of coal into the car; not having quit enough for a full load, he looked around for more. He went into a crosscut where coal was lying against the rib---easy pickings to complete his load. Meanwhile, Mr. Williams, after waiting for an hour for Fearon's help, went looking for him. He observed a fall of rock in the corner and went to investigate. He found the body of eighteen year old Fearon crushed beneath the fall.
Sadly, Ellen Kelly would need more of her mother's SPIRIT and COURAGE ten years later when her husband was killed in another mining accident.
On October 14, 1927, John Kelly saw some loose timbers hanging dangerously at the tipple operated by the Burtner Coal Company. Concerned that they would fall and strike the truck driver, he began pulling them out of the way. Unfortunately, he got too close to the windless handle and it came around striking him in the face. The force of the spinning handle broke John's neck.
The Footen family had certainly experienced more than their share of mine related deaths; one in 1878, two in 1916, one in 1917, and one in 1927. They all drew comfort from the motto of Thomas and Margaret who had the SPIRIT and COURAGE to brave a new world, struggle through adversity, and continue to count their many blessings.
Thanks to Shawn McGreevy for providing her family's history, and to Cathy Footen Winebrenner who provided the photograph of John Henry Footen. Both are great-great granddaughters of Thomas and Catherine Footen.
Miner Recollections by Polla Horn
Spirit and Courage
The Footens
Many of the immigrants who settled in the valley surrounded by the Will's, Dan's and Savage Mountains came to America on a shoe string; they came to escape poverty, tyranny, or both, but they always came with a dream. Like the Israelites in the bible, they were looking for a land flowing with milk and honey.
The circumstances leading to the immigration of Thomas Footen and Margaret Cain are uncertain; but since they came around 1850, it might have been precipitated by the potato famine.
Thomas Footen was born in County Westmeath, Ireland around 1820.
Margaret Cain was born about 1830 in County Kildare. The county's motto was "SPIRIT and COURAGE", which was appropriately adopted by Margaret Cain.
After arriving in America, Thomas Footen settled in an area "down the crick"; while Margaret lived with her brother Peter and his wife Bridget in Mt. Savage. Where the two met is unknown, but when Thomas heard that familiar Irish lilt he was smitten. It was love at first sound.
Thomas and Margaret were married in St. Gabriel's Church in Barton on June 12, 1851. It was the beginning of a 42 year adventure. They became the parents of eleven children, providing for all their needs on a coal miners salary.
Like all mining families, they experienced seasons of joy tempered by seasons of sorrow. Margaret Cain Footen needed SPIRIT as she birthed and raised her children; she also needed COURAGE to keep going when one died.
William Footen was the third child born to Thomas and Margaret. By the time he was twenty two, he had already been digging coal for many years. On March 29, 1878, just a few days after his 22nd birthday, William was killed in a mining accident. His was the first Footen grave to be dug in St. Gabriel's Cemetery.
Fortunately, their mother Margaret passed the traits of SPIRIT and COURAGE on to the next generation.
Another son, James Thomas Footen, married Mary Jane Malloy on November 19, 1879. They gave Thomas and Margaret seven grandchildren to spoil, although two daughters would die before 1900. The family would need more SPIRIT and COURAGE six years later. Their son William, named for the uncle who was killed in the mines, endured the same fate on June 7, 1916. Although no details concerning the accident have been found, the story has become part of the family history.
The third child to need some of Thomas and Margaret's SPIRIT and COURAGE was John Henry Footen. John married Elizabeth Cullen on May 20, 1874. The 1900 census reports that John and "Lizzie" had had nine children; only five were still living. In addition to losing four children, John had been in a mining accident around 1896 which crushed his leg so badly that amputation was deemed necessary. John would need a healthy dose of his mother's SPIRIT to move forward. Mining was no longer an option for John; he became involved in politics. He was the registration officer for District No.12 and served as Justice of the Peace. He and "Lizzie" would again draw on the COURAGE of his Irish parents when their son, another William, was killed in a mining accident.
On November 10, 1916, just days before his 34th birthday, William went to work in a mine of the Barton Mining Company. He was helping Mr. William Miller to load coal when he spotted an area of bone coal. Mr. Miller told him the area was dangerous and needed to be timbered before they could mine it. Not heeding the warning, William took an auger and began to bore a hole into the breast. The bone coal fell catching him across the back, puncturing his spine. He was transported to Allegany Hospital in Cumberland where surgery was performed by Drs. McGann and Franklin. Sadly, William died from his injuries six months later on May 10, 1917.
A daughter of Thomas and Margaret Footen would need some of that same SPIRIT and COURAGE. Their daughter Ellen Bernadette had married John Joseph Kelly on October 23, 1895. They added six more leaves to the family tree. One "little bud" was Fearon John Kelly, born December 28, 1898. Fearon, like so many other boys, began swinging a pick at a young age. On February 10, 1917 he was working in Mine No. 5 of the Piedmont and Georges Creek Coal Company. He was alone in his area loading coal into a car. At about 9:30 in the morning he was visited by Mr. K.C. Williams; they chatted a bit and Fearon offered to help Mr. Williams push a full car out of his room as soon as Fearon's car was topped off. He went back to work and shoveled a fall of coal into the car; not having quit enough for a full load, he looked around for more. He went into a crosscut where coal was lying against the rib---easy pickings to complete his load. Meanwhile, Mr. Williams, after waiting for an hour for Fearon's help, went looking for him. He observed a fall of rock in the corner and went to investigate. He found the body of eighteen year old Fearon crushed beneath the fall.
Sadly, Ellen Kelly would need more of her mother's SPIRIT and COURAGE ten years later when her husband was killed in another mining accident.
On October 14, 1927, John Kelly saw some loose timbers hanging dangerously at the tipple operated by the Burtner Coal Company. Concerned that they would fall and strike the truck driver, he began pulling them out of the way. Unfortunately, he got too close to the windless handle and it came around striking him in the face. The force of the spinning handle broke John's neck.
The Footen family had certainly experienced more than their share of mine related deaths; one in 1878, two in 1916, one in 1917, and one in 1927. They all drew comfort from the motto of Thomas and Margaret who had the SPIRIT and COURAGE to brave a new world, struggle through adversity, and continue to count their many blessings.
Thanks to Shawn McGreevy for providing her family's history, and to Cathy Footen Winebrenner who provided the photograph of John Henry Footen. Both are great-great granddaughters of Thomas and Catherine Footen.
Died of spinal trouble.
Miner Recollections by Polla Horn
Spirit and Courage
The Footens
Many of the immigrants who settled in the valley surrounded by the Will's, Dan's and Savage Mountains came to America on a shoe string; they came to escape poverty, tyranny, or both, but they always came with a dream. Like the Israelites in the bible, they were looking for a land flowing with milk and honey.
The circumstances leading to the immigration of Thomas Footen and Margaret Cain are uncertain; but since they came around 1850, it might have been precipitated by the potato famine.
Thomas Footen was born in County Westmeath, Ireland around 1820.
Margaret Cain was born about 1830 in County Kildare. The county's motto was "SPIRIT and COURAGE", which was appropriately adopted by Margaret Cain.
After arriving in America, Thomas Footen settled in an area "down the crick"; while Margaret lived with her brother Peter and his wife Bridget in Mt. Savage. Where the two met is unknown, but when Thomas heard that familiar Irish lilt he was smitten. It was love at first sound.
Thomas and Margaret were married in St. Gabriel's Church in Barton on June 12, 1851. It was the beginning of a 42 year adventure. They became the parents of eleven children, providing for all their needs on a coal miners salary.
Like all mining families, they experienced seasons of joy tempered by seasons of sorrow. Margaret Cain Footen needed SPIRIT as she birthed and raised her children; she also needed COURAGE to keep going when one died.
William Footen was the third child born to Thomas and Margaret. By the time he was twenty two, he had already been digging coal for many years. On March 29, 1878, just a few days after his 22nd birthday, William was killed in a mining accident. His was the first Footen grave to be dug in St. Gabriel's Cemetery.
Fortunately, their mother Margaret passed the traits of SPIRIT and COURAGE on to the next generation.
Another son, James Thomas Footen, married Mary Jane Malloy on November 19, 1879. They gave Thomas and Margaret seven grandchildren to spoil, although two daughters would die before 1900. The family would need more SPIRIT and COURAGE six years later. Their son William, named for the uncle who was killed in the mines, endured the same fate on June 7, 1916. Although no details concerning the accident have been found, the story has become part of the family history.
The third child to need some of Thomas and Margaret's SPIRIT and COURAGE was John Henry Footen. John married Elizabeth Cullen on May 20, 1874. The 1900 census reports that John and "Lizzie" had had nine children; only five were still living. In addition to losing four children, John had been in a mining accident around 1896 which crushed his leg so badly that amputation was deemed necessary. John would need a healthy dose of his mother's SPIRIT to move forward. Mining was no longer an option for John; he became involved in politics. He was the registration officer for District No.12 and served as Justice of the Peace. He and "Lizzie" would again draw on the COURAGE of his Irish parents when their son, another William, was killed in a mining accident.
On November 10, 1916, just days before his 34th birthday, William went to work in a mine of the Barton Mining Company. He was helping Mr. William Miller to load coal when he spotted an area of bone coal. Mr. Miller told him the area was dangerous and needed to be timbered before they could mine it. Not heeding the warning, William took an auger and began to bore a hole into the breast. The bone coal fell catching him across the back, puncturing his spine. He was transported to Allegany Hospital in Cumberland where surgery was performed by Drs. McGann and Franklin. Sadly, William died from his injuries six months later on May 10, 1917.
A daughter of Thomas and Margaret Footen would need some of that same SPIRIT and COURAGE. Their daughter Ellen Bernadette had married John Joseph Kelly on October 23, 1895. They added six more leaves to the family tree. One "little bud" was Fearon John Kelly, born December 28, 1898. Fearon, like so many other boys, began swinging a pick at a young age. On February 10, 1917 he was working in Mine No. 5 of the Piedmont and Georges Creek Coal Company. He was alone in his area loading coal into a car. At about 9:30 in the morning he was visited by Mr. K.C. Williams; they chatted a bit and Fearon offered to help Mr. Williams push a full car out of his room as soon as Fearon's car was topped off. He went back to work and shoveled a fall of coal into the car; not having quit enough for a full load, he looked around for more. He went into a crosscut where coal was lying against the rib---easy pickings to complete his load. Meanwhile, Mr. Williams, after waiting for an hour for Fearon's help, went looking for him. He observed a fall of rock in the corner and went to investigate. He found the body of eighteen year old Fearon crushed beneath the fall.
Sadly, Ellen Kelly would need more of her mother's SPIRIT and COURAGE ten years later when her husband was killed in another mining accident.
On October 14, 1927, John Kelly saw some loose timbers hanging dangerously at the tipple operated by the Burtner Coal Company. Concerned that they would fall and strike the truck driver, he began pulling them out of the way. Unfortunately, he got too close to the windless handle and it came around striking him in the face. The force of the spinning handle broke John's neck.
The Footen family had certainly experienced more than their share of mine related deaths; one in 1878, two in 1916, one in 1917, and one in 1927. They all drew comfort from the motto of Thomas and Margaret who had the SPIRIT and COURAGE to brave a new world, struggle through adversity, and continue to count their many blessings.
Thanks to Shawn McGreevy for providing her family's history, and to Cathy Footen Winebrenner who provided the photograph of John Henry Footen. Both are great-great granddaughters of Thomas and Catherine Footen.
Miner Recollections by Polla Horn
Spirit and Courage
The Footens
Many of the immigrants who settled in the valley surrounded by the Will's, Dan's and Savage Mountains came to America on a shoe string; they came to escape poverty, tyranny, or both, but they always came with a dream. Like the Israelites in the bible, they were looking for a land flowing with milk and honey.
The circumstances leading to the immigration of Thomas Footen and Margaret Cain are uncertain; but since they came around 1850, it might have been precipitated by the potato famine.
Thomas Footen was born in County Westmeath, Ireland around 1820.
Margaret Cain was born about 1830 in County Kildare. The county's motto was "SPIRIT and COURAGE", which was appropriately adopted by Margaret Cain.
After arriving in America, Thomas Footen settled in an area "down the crick"; while Margaret lived with her brother Peter and his wife Bridget in Mt. Savage. Where the two met is unknown, but when Thomas heard that familiar Irish lilt he was smitten. It was love at first sound.
Thomas and Margaret were married in St. Gabriel's Church in Barton on June 12, 1851. It was the beginning of a 42 year adventure. They became the parents of eleven children, providing for all their needs on a coal miners salary.
Like all mining families, they experienced seasons of joy tempered by seasons of sorrow. Margaret Cain Footen needed SPIRIT as she birthed and raised her children; she also needed COURAGE to keep going when one died.
William Footen was the third child born to Thomas and Margaret. By the time he was twenty two, he had already been digging coal for many years. On March 29, 1878, just a few days after his 22nd birthday, William was killed in a mining accident. His was the first Footen grave to be dug in St. Gabriel's Cemetery.
Fortunately, their mother Margaret passed the traits of SPIRIT and COURAGE on to the next generation.
Another son, James Thomas Footen, married Mary Jane Malloy on November 19, 1879. They gave Thomas and Margaret seven grandchildren to spoil, although two daughters would die before 1900. The family would need more SPIRIT and COURAGE six years later. Their son William, named for the uncle who was killed in the mines, endured the same fate on June 7, 1916. Although no details concerning the accident have been found, the story has become part of the family history.
The third child to need some of Thomas and Margaret's SPIRIT and COURAGE was John Henry Footen. John married Elizabeth Cullen on May 20, 1874. The 1900 census reports that John and "Lizzie" had had nine children; only five were still living. In addition to losing four children, John had been in a mining accident around 1896 which crushed his leg so badly that amputation was deemed necessary. John would need a healthy dose of his mother's SPIRIT to move forward. Mining was no longer an option for John; he became involved in politics. He was the registration officer for District No.12 and served as Justice of the Peace. He and "Lizzie" would again draw on the COURAGE of his Irish parents when their son, another William, was killed in a mining accident.
On November 10, 1916, just days before his 34th birthday, William went to work in a mine of the Barton Mining Company. He was helping Mr. William Miller to load coal when he spotted an area of bone coal. Mr. Miller told him the area was dangerous and needed to be timbered before they could mine it. Not heeding the warning, William took an auger and began to bore a hole into the breast. The bone coal fell catching him across the back, puncturing his spine. He was transported to Allegany Hospital in Cumberland where surgery was performed by Drs. McGann and Franklin. Sadly, William died from his injuries six months later on May 10, 1917.
A daughter of Thomas and Margaret Footen would need some of that same SPIRIT and COURAGE. Their daughter Ellen Bernadette had married John Joseph Kelly on October 23, 1895. They added six more leaves to the family tree. One "little bud" was Fearon John Kelly, born December 28, 1898. Fearon, like so many other boys, began swinging a pick at a young age. On February 10, 1917 he was working in Mine No. 5 of the Piedmont and Georges Creek Coal Company. He was alone in his area loading coal into a car. At about 9:30 in the morning he was visited by Mr. K.C. Williams; they chatted a bit and Fearon offered to help Mr. Williams push a full car out of his room as soon as Fearon's car was topped off. He went back to work and shoveled a fall of coal into the car; not having quit enough for a full load, he looked around for more. He went into a crosscut where coal was lying against the rib---easy pickings to complete his load. Meanwhile, Mr. Williams, after waiting for an hour for Fearon's help, went looking for him. He observed a fall of rock in the corner and went to investigate. He found the body of eighteen year old Fearon crushed beneath the fall.
Sadly, Ellen Kelly would need more of her mother's SPIRIT and COURAGE ten years later when her husband was killed in another mining accident.
On October 14, 1927, John Kelly saw some loose timbers hanging dangerously at the tipple operated by the Burtner Coal Company. Concerned that they would fall and strike the truck driver, he began pulling them out of the way. Unfortunately, he got too close to the windless handle and it came around striking him in the face. The force of the spinning handle broke John's neck.
The Footen family had certainly experienced more than their share of mine related deaths; one in 1878, two in 1916, one in 1917, and one in 1927. They all drew comfort from the motto of Thomas and Margaret who had the SPIRIT and COURAGE to brave a new world, struggle through adversity, and continue to count their many blessings.
Thanks to Shawn McGreevy for providing her family's history, and to Cathy Footen Winebrenner who provided the photograph of John Henry Footen. Both are great-great granddaughters of Thomas and Catherine Footen.
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