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MINES
Osceola 1878
Ivill 1881
Catsburg 1889
Rostraver 1890
Gallatin 1897
Johnetta 1899
Hazel 1902
Marianna 1907
Annabelle
Francis 1903
JONES
James Jones 1835
John H. Jones 1866
Thomas P. Jones 1868
William I. Jones 1869
David G. Jones 1871
Harry P. Jones 1873
Mary Agnes Jones 1877
E. Frank Miller 1882
IVILL
William Ivill 1819
Ann Agnes Ivill 1845
John J. Ivill 1862
William C. Ivill 1881
Harry E. Ivill 1885
HOLSING
W. F. Holsing 1840
W. J. Holsing 1869
Fredrick Holsing 1896
Stella Holsing 1900
James J. Holsing 1902
Holsing Family Photos
Patzsch Family 1912
OBITUARIES
James Jones 1912
Ann Agnes Ivill 1895
David G. Jones 1915
William I. Jones 1905
W. J. Holsing 1929
John H. Jones 1959
MEDIA
John H. Jones Mayor '05
James Jones B-day '07
WILLIAM JUDGSON HOLSING: 1869-1929
About 1890

William Judgson Holsing was born in Greenock, PA in 1869 and his wife Mary Agnes Jones, daughter of James Jones was born there in 1877. As a boy he was nicknamed Willie and lived in North Union, Fayette, Pennsylvania. He was the son of William Fredrick and Jeanette Holsing. In 1904 he was the Superintendent at the Hazel mine in Canonsburg, PA. At it's peak over 900 men worked at the Hazel mine.

In 1908 he was the Assistant General Manager at the Agnes and Rachel mines in Marianna, PA. At the time Marianna was the largest soft coal tipple in the world. In 1908 President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt toured the modern workings there just before the disaster. It is highly likely he met the President on his visit! His boss was his brother-in-law David G. Jones who owned the mine. His relationship with David G. Jones was very close. The two families lived and worked together for many years in Canonsburg. It seems that where ever David was working William was by his side. When the families moved to Canonsburg to open the Hazel mine they probably knew very few people in the new town besides each other. The two families probably played cards together. They were all about the same age.

The Washington Observer recognized Mary Agnes as one of the women who provided aid at the Marianna Mine Disaster of 1908. The World Almanac lists this as the tenth worst mine disaster in US history. 154 miners lost their lives. A cousin of the family, John Ivill {1885-1908}, was also killed in the explosion by suffocation.

1905About 1925

William and Mary Agnes later in life. William passed away March 31, 1929, the day before Easter. Mary Agnes died just a year after I was born in 1962. It is said she lived off the coal money her whole life. Their three children appeared on the Pittsburg Buffalo plaque in 1905. James Jones Holsing, my grandfather, Margaret Stella Holsing, and William Fredrick Holsing.

Original: 1895
This is their original wedding certificate from 1895 that hangs in my father's house.


Random notes:
Thursday April 24, 1913: The Charleroi Mail
W. J. Holsing headed the Marianna rescue crew, the first to enter the ill fated Cincinnati Mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Company at Courtney. One of the crew, a man named McColigan, a helmetman, never came out alive. He and his two companions, Kelly and Ferguson were overcome by afterdamp, while at their work. When found they were dragged to open air and resuscitated after a long struggle by the physicians. The main entrance was at Mingo.

Wednesday April 23, 1912: From Finleyville PA: By Vincent Drayne
Brave Rescuer Perishes One of the greatest of all the heroes who were made such in the twinkling of an eye was William McColligan, ages 33 of Jacobs Creek, the helmet man. He was the only rescuer who is known to have lost his life.
Although the silence imposed upon all the employees by the mine officials prevent the publication of the facts of the struggle and the losing fight by the rescue crew when their apparatus failed has been told by rescuers to make the tale of McColligan's death dramatic.
McColligan, who is an electrician, went in with a rescue party from the Mingo entrance Wednesday. The party was in the mine for hours. It had penetrated to a great distance, stringing telephone wires along as they went. Finally the helmets and air supply failed. The four members were partially overcome. One man was finally able to telephone to the surface for help before the blackdamp gripped him and a relief party went in. But McColligan was dead. The others are expected to live. 97 miners perished.

From Elizabeth Township Historical Society:
The westerly side of the Monongahela River, near Finleyville PA, made headlines on April 23, 1913. Ninety-seven lives were lost in the Cincinnati Mine Explosion. The mine shaft is located three quarters of a mile south of Finleyville PA on Route 88. There is a red brick building still standing and used as a residence. The entrance to the underground mule stable is on private property, one half mile further down on the left side of Route 88. A plaque has been installed at the site in memory of the victims. The Elizabeth Township Historical Society can be contacted for more information.