JUSTUS COLLINS ( 1857 -
1934 )
Justus Collins was
born in Clayton, Alabama on December 14, 1857.
After spending some time in Louisville, Kentucky, he
moved to Goodwill, West Virginia in 1887 where Justus,
Isaac T. Mann, and J. J. Tierney established the
Louisville Coal and Coke Company on the west fork of
Flipping Creek. In 1890, Justus Collins and Isaac T. Mann
organized the Greenbrier Coal and Coke Company in
Northfork Hollow in McDowell County. They bought
coal property again in 1896 in the Loop Creek Branch Area
of Fayette County. In 1902, Collins, Mann, and
company formed the Smokeless Fuel Company to sell all of
their coal. In 1903 and 1904 they bought three more
coal mines in McDowell County and formed the Superior
Pocahontas Coal Company. On December 1, 1905 Justus
Collins and Isaac T. Mann bought the Goodwill Coal and
Coke Company from Philip Goodwill and his brothers,
William F. and Anthony G. In 1909 Collins and Mann
dissolved the Pocahontas Company and merged all of their
coal mines into the Winding Gulf Collieries. Justus
Collins' brother, Jairus, was appointed general manager
of the Greenbrier and Louisville Coal and Coke Companies.
Then, Philip Goodwill was appointed general manager of
Winding Gulf Collieries at Goodwill where he served until
his death in 1916. Then, Emory Jones, and E. V. Bowman
were appointed general managers.
Isaac T. Mann died
in Washington, D. C. in 1932. Justus Collins died
in Charleston, West Virginia on October 18, 1934.
His brother, Jairus Collins died on May 18, 1932, and is
buried in Woodlawn Cemetery at Bluewell, WV.
The last day of
operation for Winding Gulf Collieries in Goodwill was on
January 4, 1958. At that time the Sprague Family of
Beckley owned the company. They were also the
owners of the New River Company.
Text
furnished by: Ken Bowen, Bluewell , WV.
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