Ernest Antonio Cima

Ernest Cima Services to be Held at LDS Chapel

Helper: Funeral services will be conducted Friday March 2, 1956 for Ernest Antonio Cima, in the Latter-Day Saint ward chapel in Helper at 1:00 p.m.

1947 - Ernest Antonio & Birdie Leonard Cima

He died Sunday February 26, 1956 at his home from injures sustained on the job at the DRG&W Railroad while fighting a fuel track fire August 18, 1954.

He was born December 7, 1907 in Red Lodge, Montana to James and Virginia (Filippini) Cima. He has been a resident of Helper for 41 years. Worked as a machinist for the DRG&W Railroad for 22 years before his injury forced his retirement.

He was a member of the Helper Volunteer Fire Department for 14 years prior to his retirement from the railroad. He was also an active member of the Loyal Order of Moose.

Superseded in death by his wife of 21 years Birdie (Leonard) Cima, October 25, 1948. He is survived by three sons, and three daughters, his second wife and two step-children.

Burial will be in the Mt. View Cemetery under the direction of the Mitchell Funeral Home in Price.

Birdie Leonard Cima

Rites Today for Mrs. Birdie Cima; Program Announced

Funeral services for Mrs. Birdie Leonard Cima, 39, wife of Ernest Cima, who died Monday morning at 3:05 o'clock in the Price hospital following a short illness, will be held at the Helper L.D.S. ward chapel today at 2 p.m. under the direction of Bishop Lynn Broadbent.

An active member of the Helper ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Mrs. Cima was a Relief Society teacher at the time of her death.

She was born in Price April 26, 1909, a daughter of Leopold and Zoe Ellen Powell Leonard. She attended school in Price and has been a resident of Helper nearly 20 years.

The program to be presented at the services as announced by the family is as follows: Song, "The Lord's Prayer, Helper Ward choir, invocation by Clarence Bjorn. Song, "Sometime We'll Understand", choir, talk, James Charlesworth; Vocal duet, VeLoy Powell and Addie Abrams. Talk, Jesse Bryan; Song, "I'll Go Where you Want me to go Dear Lord", choir; talk, John C. Smith; Violin solo, Mrs. C.B. Needles. Benediction, Byron Carter. The grave will be dedicated by Ray Powell.

Survivors in addition to her husband are: her parents, Price; three daughters and three sons and a sister and seven brothers.

Burial will be in the Mt. View cemetery under the direction of the Mitchell funeral home of Price.

Fox Lake Drownings Verified:
Searching Parties Fail In Bear Lake

Fox Lake Tragedy Is Confirmed in Price

PRICE, Aug 6, 1941 - Confirmed reports reached Price late Monday night from Fox Lake in Duchesne County establishing the death by drowning of two prominent Carbon County men who were on a fishing trip at the lake.

John Battista Cima, 40, and Jack Vignetto, 45, both of Helper, are the victims of the accident, but neither body had been recovered late today.

The two men had been fishing from a collapsible boat, according to the report, while Henry Ruggeri, Price attorney, and Paul Mancina, also of Price, were fishing from the shore. Jill Vignetto, 15-year-old daughter of one of the victims was the fifth member of the vacation party.

Did Not Return

When the men in the boat did not return in the afternoon on Sunday, the three set out to look for them. They discovered the overturned boat and two hats floating on the water.

Word of the accident was relayed to Price from the ranger station in the section. The lake is five hours by horseback from the highway, and difficult of access.

Frank Barboglio, president of the Helper State Bank, where Mr. Vignetto was cashier, received word of the accident and organized a party of four men to go to the lake. Joe Barboglio, Carl Leavitt, and John Mancina, the latter of Price, joined him in one party. Pete and Ernest Cima, brothers of John B. Cima and his father formed a second group who went to the lake Monday morning.

The Survivors:

Mr. Vignetto is survived by his daughter, and a son of Helper, and a sister. He was cashier and director of the Helper State Bank, member of the board of directors of the Carbon County Country Club, and a Mason, Shriner and Kiwanian.

Mr. Cimas was justice of the peace at Helper, and an engineer of the Rio Grande Railroad. He was also a member of the Moose Lodge.

Mr. Cima was born July 21, 1901, in Castle Gate, son of James and Virginia Filippini Cima, both of whom survive. His widow, Mrs. Ruth Carter Cima, also survives, with three daughters all of Helper. Two brothers and one sister also survive.

Ruth Olive Carter Cima

Wife Dies from Shock at Husband's Death

Helper, Aug 6 - Tragedy struck twice in the Cima family this week with the sudden death yesterday of Mrs. Ruth Olive Carter Cima, 35, following the death by drowning of her husband, Jack B. Cima, Sunday during a fishing trip.

Mrs. Cima died at her home Tuesday afternoon of a heart ailment. She was 35 years old, a daughter of Byron and Batilda O. Madsen Carter of Helper. She was born at Mt. Pleasant on Jan. 6, 1906. She is survived by three daughters all of Helper.

Shock from the news of the death of the husband is believed to have precipitated the death of the wife.

Many out of town relatives and friends arrived last week end to attend the joint funeral service held for Mr. and Mrs. (John Battista) Jack Cima last Sunday in the LDS church. Mrs. Cima was born January 6, 1906, at Mr. Pleasant, a daughter of Byron and Matilda O. Madsen Carter. She came to Helper in 1918 and was married to Mr. Cima May 26, 1923. She has lived here since that time with her family.

The body of the husband and the other drowned man had not been found today.

Final Tribute Paid to Victims of Drowning at Services Sunday

A real American weekend of fishing and camping last week became a nightmare of tragedy when two of the best known and loved men of Helper were reported victims of a double drowning at Fox Lake, near Vernal . The story of the deaths of Jack Vignetto and J.B. Cima and the untimely passing of the latter's widow has become common knowledge in Helper. How the two men left Mr. Vignetto's daughter, Jill, at a camping spot to cook breakfast one Sunday morning while they went out on the lake for a bit of early fishing, how the collapsible boat from which they were fishing sunk, throwing the men into the icy waters of the lake, and how for several days a vigorous but fruitless search was maintained in order to recover the bodies are common topics of conversation on every street corner in the city. But what will never become common are the empty places, formerly filled by these men, which will be left in the everyday life of Helper and its people.

Final rites were held Tuesday morning at 10:30 for James "Jim" Cima, 77, resident of Helper for over 40 years, who died Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the City County hospital in Price of thrombosis.

Rev. Francis R. Lamothe conducted the services in the St. Anthony Catholic church.

Mr. Cima was born June 21, 1871, at San Calomano, Italy, a son of Antiona and Antonia Rosario Cima, and came to this country when he was 16 years of age. Forty-five years ago he came to Carbon county, first settling in Castle Gate and then in Helper where he raised his family.

During the last few years Mr. Cima was employed by Helper City in various capacities, most of which was at the Mt. View cemetery as caretaker, where he was buried. He had been a member of the United Mine Workers and was a charter member of Stella D'America lodge. He held a medal indicating he was one of the founders of the lodge and dated Jan. 15, 1898.

Another Helper Pioneer Answers the Final Call of his Maker

A week ago friends and relatives of James (Jim) Cima met at the St. Anthony Catholic church here where they paid silent tribute and honor to another of this city's pioneer builders who had answered the call of his maker.

Virginia (Filippini), John (Jack) James Cima Castle Gate about 1902

Jim Cima, as he was familiarly know by all who knew him, like many of the sturdy men and women who built the western frontier, came to America because of economic reasons. He chose Carbon county as his future home and the coal mines as the place to earn a livelihood for himself and his family.

In the nearly half century he lived in this community Jim Cima raised a fine family of boys and girls - he gave them the benefit of a father's council, and encouraged them to become upright citizens. Success was his in this respect. He was not a man to parade his talents out in front, but rather he remained pretty much in the background content to do as he was asked, which was perhaps one of his greatest virtues - doing every job given him the best he could.

I knew Jim Cima's family much better than I knew him, but I have observed his characteristics that went into the development of this community and I hasten to join his countless friends in offering a word of consolation to his sons and daughters who mourn the passing of their father.

HELPER, Carbon County - Virginia M. Wiley, 92, former resident of Helper, died Jan 12, 1979, in a Salt Lake City nursing home.

Born Aug. 17, 1886, Loredo, Texas to Angelo and Maria Colombo Filippini. Married James Cima in 1900. He later died. Married Joseph Melens. He died. Married Charles Wiley in 1947. He died in 1955. Member Catholic Church. Former resident of Carbon County.

Catholic chapel services Friday 1 p.m. at the Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Price, where friends may call Thursday and Friday prior to services. Burial, Mountain View Cemetery, Helper.

Spring Glen - Pete Cima, 72, died January 10, 1977 at home following a long illness.

Born October 31, 1904, Johnson City, Illinois to James and Virgina Filippini Cima. Married Mary Kos July 30, 1927 in Price, Utah. Member Catholic Church, retired from the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad where he was an engineer with 30 years service.

Funeral Mass was Wednesday 1 p.m. St. Anthony's Church in Helper. Holy Rosary was Tuesday Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Price. Burial Mt. View Cemetery, Helper.

Leopold Leonard

6 Mar 1962

PRICE - Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 11 a.m. in the Price Third Ward chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, for Leopold Leonard, 80, 276 S. Carbon Ave.

Mr. Leonard, well known central Utah musician died of natural causes Wednesday afternoon in a Salt Lake hospital.

Born Oct. 28, 1882, in Kamas, Summit County, a son of George Bradford and Julia Hilcock Leonard. He married Zoe Ellen Powell June 17, 1904, in Price. The marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. She died April 19, 1962.

A graduate of Brigham Young University, Provo, he was a musician, salesman and bookkeeper.

Survivors include the following, sons and daughters, 32 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

Musician, 80, of Price, Dies in S.L.

Special to the Tribune

Leopold & Zoe Ellen Powell Leonard

PRICE - Leopold Leonard, 80, 276 S. Carbon Ave., well known central Utah musician, died of natural causes Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in a Salt lake hospital.

Mr. Leonard, was born Oct. 28, 1882 in Kamas, Summit County, a son of George Bradford and Julia Hilcock Leonard. He married Zoe Ellen Powell June 17, 1904, at Price. The marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. She died April 19, 1962.

A graduate of Brigham Young University, Provo, he was a musician, salesman and bookkeeper.

He was for many years leader of the Night Hawks Orchestra which performed in Price and southeastern Utah. He also was active in baseball and in civic and political organizations.

Survivors include the following, sons and daughters, 32 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be conducted Monday at 11 a.m. in the Price Third LDS Ward Chapel.

Zoe Ellen Powell Leonard

PRICE - Mrs. Zoe Ellen Powell Leonard, 74, 276 South Carbon Ave., died of natural causes Thursday, 1:15 p.m., in a Price hospital. Born Dec 6, 1887, Price, to John Ammon and Sarah Jane Plum Powell. Married to Leo Leonard, later solemnized, Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Active, LDS Church Relief Society, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Price musical groups. Funeral Monday, 11:30 a.m., Price Third LDS Ward Chapel. Friends call Wallace Funeral Home Sunday and at Ward Chapel Monday one hour prior to service. Burial, Salem City Cemetery.

HELPER, Carbon County - George William Mollard, 87, Helper, died Dec. 1, 1974, in a Salt Lake hospital.

Born July 9, 1887, Maston, Mich., to George Evans and Elisabeth Jane Bath Mollard. Married Julia McKendrick April 15, 1924, Castle Dale, Emery County; she died Aug 3, 1963. Retired coal miner. Seventh Day Adventist; UMWA No. 1681. Veteran WWI. Member DAV.

Funeral Thursday 1 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Price, where friends call Wednesday 7 - 9 p.m., before services. Burial, Carbonville, Carbon County Cemetery.

SPRING GLEN, Carbon County - Ruth Mollard Haycock, 72, Spring Glen, died of natural causes Nov. 9, 1974, in an Ogden hospital.

Born April 24, 1902, Terry, S.D., to George and Elizabeth Mollard. Married Jess B. Haycock; he died 1946. Member, LDS Church.

Funeral Tuesday 1 p.m., Spring Glen LDS Ward Chapel. Friends call Fausett Mortuary, Price, Monday 7 - 9 p.m. at chapel hour before services. Burial Haycock cemetery.

News Advocate - Sept. 3, 1925

James Christian Larsen, 52 years of age, died Sunday afternoon at Helper. He had been a coal miner at Spring Canyon, and bothered for some time with heart trouble. He is survived by his widow.

The body was shipped to Huntington yesterday for burial.

The Sun - Sept. 11, 1925

Thursday of last week the body of James Christian Larsen was taken from Price to Huntington for interment there. He died the Sunday before up at Helper from Chronic heart trouble. Deceased was a miner at Spring Canyon (town) and is survived by his widow. He was about 52 years of age and came to this country in his youth from Denmark.

The News Advocate - Sept. 17, 1925

Ernest Arvilla Larson, 20 years of age, was killed in a fall of rock while working in the mine of the Spring Canyon Coal company at Spring Canyon last Thursday. Following services at the coal mining town Monday, the body was shipped to Huntington for burial.

Larson was the second victim within two days in the Carbon district from falling rock in coal rooms. W. A. Everett was fatally injured the day before at Wattis.

Larson's father died less than two weeks ago at Helper from heart trouble. He, too, had been a miner at Spring Canyon.

18 Sept 1925 - The Sun

Funeral services were held in the Huntington Ward chapel last Sunday afternoon for Orvil Larson, a son of Mrs. James E. Larson, who was killed recently in an accident in the mine at Storrs. He was 20 years of age. The boy's father, James C. Larson, was buried there a week ago, having died at Storrs ten days previous to the young man's death. Surviving the boy are the mother, several brothers and sisters and a number of other relatives. Interment was in Huntington cemetery.

James Henry VanNatta

Eastern Utah Advocate - 15 Feb 1906 page 3

PASSING OF ANOTHER OF THE PIONEERS OF UTAH
J.H. VanNatta, one of the oldest settlers of Castle Valley, passed away at his home at Helper last Sunday of old age and a general breaking down, being at the time of his death in his eighty-seventh year. He came to this part of the state in 1862.

The funeral services were held at Spring Glen yesterday and were attended by many old friends and acquaintances. The speakers were Bishop Rowley, C. H. Cook and Thomas Rhodes, all long acquaintances and friends of the deceased.

Previous to his passing the deceased had been confined to his home but a short time, being an exceptionally alert person for his age up to a year ago.

Erma Nielson Van Natta

Erma Nielson Van Natta, 79, died May 19, 1977, at her home.

Born Dec 11, 1897, at Ephriam, Utah. A daughter of James Lauritz and Melinda Rasmussen Nielson. Married Jacob Van Natta July 27, 1938, at Ephraim, Utah. He died 1975. Graduated from Snow Academy and attended University of Utah. School teacher for twenty years. Member of Wells Ward. Former officer in the Relief Society; former captain of Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

Funeral services will be held Monday 12 noon, Wells Ward, 1980 South 5th east. Friends may call at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, Sunday 7-9 p.m. and at place of services Monday one hour prior. Burial Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.

Jacob VanNatta

Jacob VanNatta, 84, 1907 - 5th East, died Feb. 6, 1975, in a Salt Lake nursing home after a short illness.

Born Jan 27, 1891, Helper, Carbon County, to James Henry and Margaret Ellen Partington VanNatta. Married Jeanette Checkets Aug 18, 1910, Price; she died in 1922. Married Erma Nielson, July 27, 1938. Ephraim. Locomotive engineer, Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Co. Member Brotherhood of Railroad Engineers No. 713; Rio Grande Railroad Veterans; Engineers Railroad Honor Club.

Survivors: wife: son, daughter, 2 grandchilren; 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral Monday noon, 260 E. South Temple where friends call Sunday 7 - 8 p.m. hour before services. Burial, Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.

Requlem Mass for Robert Joseph VanNatta, 46, 435 E. 1st South, who was electricuted Monday will be celebrated Thursday, 10 a.m. St. Anthony's Catholic Church, helper. Holy Rosary Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Mitchell Funeral Home, Price. Friends call Tuesday 6 -8 p.m. 4330 S. Redwood Rd. Burial Helper Cemetery. Born June 4, 1919, Helper, to Henry and Anna Parrish VanNatta. Married Dora Donahue. Divorced. Served U.S. Marines, World War II. welder, Simpson Steel Fabricators & Erectors, Inc. Member Catholic church. Survivors: daughters, two grandchildren, brothers, sisters.

HELPER, Carbon County - William Clifford VanNatta, 63, Helper, died Dec. 23, 1974 in a Price hospital.

Born Dec 19, 1913, Helper, to Henry and Anna Parish VanNatta. Married Helen Pilling June 2, 1938, Price. Yard master, Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad. Member Catholic Church; Price Elks Lodge.

Surviors: wife; daughters, 2 grandchildren; brother, sister.

Funeral Mass Friday 10 a.m., St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Helper, Rosary Thursday 7 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Price, where friends call Wednesday and Thursday. Burial, Mountain View Cemetery, Helper.

PRICE - Bonnie Ann Van Natta, year old daughter of Roger A. and Margie Skipwith Van Natta, died Monday after an illness. Born here March 9, 1954. Survived by parents, a sister and a brother, grandmother. Funeral Thursday 2 p.m., Fourth Ward chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Friends call at Mitchell Funeral Home Wednesday and Thursday until service. Burial Mt. View Cemetery, Helper.

The News Advocate, Price, Utah
April 10, 1919, pg 3

George Murphy is Shown Honor

A beautiful and expensive gold watch suitabley engraved was the means which the miners at Kenilworth took to express their regard for George A. Murphy, who has just retired after eight years service with the Independent Coal and Coke Company as general manager. As Mr. Murphy was not at Kenilworth when the time came for the presentation, it was presented to him on behalf of the residents of the camp by President C.N. Strevell, Mr. Murphy will become superintendent of the Knight properties at Storrs on April 16. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, having finished his engineering course in 1892. He spent two years with a coal company in Indiana and then came west to enter the employ of the Union Pacific Coal company in Wyoming. After nine years service with this company, he joined the Independent staff and remained until March 31 of this year. The token of esteem from the men under him and his letter to them tell how amicable have been their relations. The letter follows:

Dear Mr. Elwood,
Last evening Mr. Strevell handed me a package which proved to be the most beautiful watch I have ever seen. On the inner case was most artistically engraved, "Presented to George A. Murphy as a token of appreciation by the employees of the Independent Coal & Coke Company, Kenilworth, Utah, March 31, 1919."

My command of language is entirely inadequate to express my appreciation of this splendid gift which the boys have seen fit to give me. I value it most because of the spirit in which it is tendered that of sincere friendship - and also because its quality is such that it may be handed down to my posterity as an heirloom which any man may be proud to have.

It is particularly gratifying to me at this time because it is material evidence that I have at least been partially successful in my endeavor to be fair with every one of the company's employees during the eight years of my close association with them. I shall treasure this gift as no other that I have ever received because it comes from those with whom I have been so closely identified and who have given me such loyal support in the work I have had to do.

I leave the service of the company with a pang of regret because of the many warm friendships formed at Kenilworth. I shall indeed consider myself fortunate and will be contented with my lot if my future business connections throw me in a community in which I may form friendships such as those enjoyed at Kenilworth. I am glad that my new position brings me so close that I may "drop in" occasionally.

Please extend to the good people of Kenilworth my sincerest thanks for their splendid present, and say that I hope soon to be able to thank them in person.
Yours sincerely,
George A. Murphy

Dee Hamblin Palmer

Wellington, Carbon County- Funeral services for Dee Hamblin Palmer, 29, who died Nov. 5, 1969 in Creede, Colo. from injuries sustained in a mining accident, will be Monday 1 p.m. Wellington First LDS Ward Chapel. Friends call Fausett mortuary, Price, Sunday 7-9 p.m. and Monday prior to services. Burial Wellington Cemetery. Born Jan. 30, 1940, Payson, to Clifford A. and Iris Hamblin Palmer. Married Gertrude Burk. Divorced. Married Donna Osburn Dec. 11, 1968, Moab. Member LDS Church. Served 8 years, U.S. Air Force. Survivors: widow; son, daughters.

James George Callaway

The Sun
Dec. 3, 1931

James George Callaway, pioneer resident of Price, died at his home Thursday after an illness brought on by heart trouble. Callaway had made his home here for 35 years.

Funeral services were held on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the J.E. Flynn Funeral chapel. Speakers were Ernest S. Horsley and Mayor W. F. Olson. Interment was in the Price City cemetery.

Callaway was born in Eugene, Ore., on July 30, 1867. He is survived by his widow, Annie Peterson Callaway; one daughter, Mrs. Sims, Los Angeles, Calif.; four sons, Clifford, Edward Callaway, Mutual; Roland and Leland of Price.

Clifford L. Callaway

POCATELLO, Idaho - Clifford Leon Callaway, 66, died in a local hospital Aug. 31 after a long illness. Born Sept. 17, 1901, Price, Utah, to James George and Annie Petersen Callaway. married Gwendolin Larsen Dec. 8, 1922, Castle Dale, Utah. Employed many years with Eastern Utah Telephone Company, Price. Moved to Pocatello 1934. Worked for Post Office Department, later for Challenge Creamery until retirement in 1962. Veteran WW II. Member LDS Church. Survivor: Widow. Funeral Tuesday, 2 p.m., Henderson Funeral Chapel where friends call until time of service. Burial with military honors. Mountain View cemetery.

C. Edward Callaway

SPRINGVILLE - C. Edward Callaway, age 69, at Springville, died October 9, 1982, in the Utah Valley Hospital of a heart ailment.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. Springville 8th / 10th ward chapel, 355 East Center. Friends may call Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East 200 South, Springville, Monday, 7 - 9 p.m. Tuesday, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Interment, Farmington City Cemetery.

L.D.S. Funeral For Victim Mine Mishap

An L.D.S. funeral service for Leland "Bud" Maurice Callaway, 27, who died Fridays, January 14, as a result of injuries received in a Geneva mine accident near Dragerton was conducted by Bishop Frank Bryner at Price tabernacle Wednesday, January 19. Interment was in Price cemetery.

Mr. Wallace was crushed by a piece of coal which broke loose from the face of the shaft while he was helping operate a cutting machine.

Mr. Callaway was born in Price, April 25, 1917, and was a cutting mechanic. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Hana Liddell Callaway, son Gary and daughter Kathleen, all of Dragerton; three brothers, Clifford of Santa Monica, California, Edward and Roland, with America's armed forces; a sister Mr. Edna Fitzgerald, Pocatello, Idaho, and mother, Mrs. Ana Gaillard Callaway, Pocatello, Idaho.

Wallace mortuary had charge of the arrangements.

Stanley G. Colby

GEORGE COLBY (URDIX STILLMAN (ANDY), JOHN) was born 1862 in New York, and died 1897 in Cripple Creek, Colorado. He married AGNES AMELIA PETERSON May 25, 1896 in Sandy, Utah. She was born May 04, 1867 in Oslo, Norway, and died September 02, 1945 in Garfield, Utah. Child of GEORGE COLBY and AGNES PETERSON is: STANLEY G. COLBY, b. February 28, 1897, Orangeville, Utah; d. January 1984, Price, Utah.

STANLEY G. COLBY (GEORGE, URDIX STILLMAN (ANDY), JOHN) was born February 28, 1897 in Orangeville, Utah, and died January 1984 in Price, Utah. He married ANA BIRDELLA TIDWELL April 16, 1918 in Price, Utah. She was born December 28, 1897 in Wellington, Carbon County, Utah, and died May 07, 1992 in Helper, Carbon County, Utah. Child of STANLEY COLBY and ANA TIDWELL is: STANELY GLEN COLBY, b. July 08, 1921, Storrs, Utah; d. August 1983, Wellington, Carbon County, Utah.

James Elsdon Chapman

James Elsdon Chapman was born 10 / 20 Nov 1882 in Streator, Illinois. He was killed on May 30, 1945 by being crushed between a timber and motor.

Eastern Utah Advocate
9 July 1914
Heber Russell, aged 32, employed by Lafe Bowns, a Provo sheepman, met a horrible death near the D. & R.G. passenger depot in this city about four o'clock Monday afternoon, when he attempted to board a moving freight train. Sunday Russell had assisted in loading some sheep at Colton to be taken to Colorado. He came to Price Sunday evening, spent the night here on business and expected to catch the train hauling the sheep and accompany it to Colorado. When the train pulled into the local station, Mr. Russell evidently thought it was not going to stop, so he tried to board it while in motion, with the result that he was thrown under the wheels and horribly mangled, dying before his body was picked up. The body was taken to the undertaking rooms of Pace & Tingley, where it was later viewed by Coroner Middleton and Messrs. G.E. Nelms, W.E. Anderson and McC Wilson, who had been empanelled as jurors. The inquest was held between 5 and 6 o'clock that evening and the jurors found that deceased came to his death through his own fault, holding the railroad company blameless.

The testimony of half dozen eye witnesses was to the effect that the train was slowing up to stop and was not running to exceed six to seven miles per hour.

Deceased leaves a divorced wife and four children, the latter ranging from one to seven years in age. Two of the children are in the care of Mrs. W.B. Curtis of this city and it was to arrange for their care that the father came to Price. The other two children are with relatives on the reservation. He is survived by a father, A.J. Russell, five brothers, David, Myron and Harrison of Nine Mile, and John W. and Charles H. of Idaho, and one sister, Mrs. Lillian Lee of Vernal. The father, Myron and Harrison and wife and the widow of deceased attended the funeral, which was held from the L.D.S. Tabernacle at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, with President Horsley officiating and speaking by John H. Pace and John Potter. The remains were interred in the Price cemetery.

16 July 1914
Eastern Utah Advocate
Donation to family of Heber Russell, deceased

Sheepmen of this section met Sunday and donated liberally to the family of Heber Russell, who was killed last week by a freight train. Following are the donators and the amounts subscribed by each:

$5.00 from: Joe Lavigne, John Duerden, Joe Gaillard, H. Garnier, Henry Levour, Wm. A. Robinson, S.W. Robinson, Pierre Curutchet, Willis Bartholamew
$2.00
Peter Mazet, Mar Blank
$1.00
August Renier, Jean Aldasora, J.H. McKindrick, Orsen Brothersen, Julian Gastelurnta, Joe Palany

9 July 1914
Eastern Utah Advocate
Heber Russell Killed

Heber Russell of Nine Mile met with a shocking death in the local freight yards Monday morning by being thrown under a freight train. The wheels severed the body into four pieces, crushing the features beyond recognition.

He had come to Price with a bunch of sheep which had been loaded for Kansas City. He thought the train was pulling out and as he was to accompany the sheep east he attempted to board it but missed his footing and was thrown underneath.

The deceased was only 30 years of age and leaves a wife and four children. Interment took place here yesterday, services being conducted from the tabernacle.

Life in the Mines, In Carbon County, Utah

I'll try to describe Sunnyside mine where I lived. As long as I can remember there were all kinds of nationalities in this coalmine area. There were Greeks, Austrians, Italians, Japanese, Chinese, and Englishmen, but especially Italians. There were Irishmen and Welshmen too, and they all lived in this little town of Sunnyside. During the First World War there were about five thousand people there. All these people came in from the old country, and lots of them couldn't speak English, and those that did, spoke broken English. I got to mingle with all these people and all those kids. I got to help teach Greek kids to speak English and I got to go to school with them. I got to eat with them and drink with them and learned their habits - more and more different habits. I got to learn a little of every kind of language, mostly swear words, but words anyway. But the best part of it was the different ways people lived. I'd go in and eat with the Greek kids, and I'd go in and eat with the Italian kids, the Japanese kids, and the others. It was completely different from our way of living. We'd call them "spaghetti fiends" and they'd call us "Mormons." In this little town we had our Greek town and Italian town and "Gobblers Nob," and all that. But we still all kind of mingled together. We kids were closer; there must have been about 700 kids in school then.

They had all kinds of coke ovens in the town because during the war they needed to produce coke to make steel. They had big, big coke ovens there in Sunnyside. They would mine the coal and make coke and the whole town would be smoky because they never caught any of the gas like they do now. They would send this coke in most cases to Columbia Steel, that place between Provo and Springville, but some of it they saved and sent all over for use as fuel. I don't know where they sent it before then or since because Columbia has shut down.

We had some of the better baseball teams in the county. That's what everybody played during the summertime. There weren't any swimming pools around so we made our own in the creek that went down through the middle of town. We'd get gunnysacks, put dirt in them, and then dam up the creek and make us a swimming pond. Once in a while a flood would come down and wash it all away, then we'd rebuild it. It was a good thing that it flooded out because all the sewers and everything was thrown into the creek. There was no such thing as inside plumbing; there were only outside toilets at that time and it all went underground into the creek. All the water from the bathhouses and all the dirt that was washed down was caught in our swimming pond. It's a wonder we didn't all die.

In Sunnyside there were two mines and they both had bathhouses for the men. All the men used those bathhouses, all the nationalities together, except the Japanese and they had their own. The Japanese used to have a big tub; it was about twenty-feet square and about three-feet deep. They would all get into it together and bathe in the same water. We used to go up and peek at them through the holes and they'd catch us and chase us away. The women used to go up once a week. Us kids used to take a bath in a number two-washtub set up in the middle of the floor. As we got older though, we'd sneak into the mine bathhouses and take a shower, then sometimes we'd shower twice a day.

There was a boiler house where they had 8 or 10 boilers. They made steam for power. There was very little electricity then, just enough for a few lights in town. What they used most of their steam for was to run the big steam engines to crush the coal at the Tipple. They had electric locomotives that they ran on a trolley line in the mine and hoists and lights. They used to load their coal by hand. They'd pick and drill holes and shoot it and then they'd get paid .40, .50, .60 cents a ton for loading it. It was mostly all contract work.

Some of the mines were two or three miles deep. There were cave-ins that killed a lot of men. Explosions and real disasters. I was never in one, although I went into the mines when I was about fourteen years old with my dad. I can't remember how much money I got paid then, but it couldn't have been much. On idle days my dad would go in and run pumps, like on a Sunday or sometimes when the mine wasn't running and I'd go with him and stay all day. Dad was a boss during the week, but on Sundays the men would take turns running the pumps to keep the mines from drowning out from underground streams. The streams would fill the lower parts and they would have to pump the water out so they could work. They pumped during the week too, but the men working there kept it pumped out. The mines ran down into the ground on a slope then they'd break off into each side and that's how they'd get their coal. They couldn't take it all out of one big place or the whole mountain would cave in.

Sunnyside was twenty-eight miles east of Price. There's Sunnyside, Columbia, Dragerton up there now which wasn't there before. Sunnyside is called Kaisers mine now. The mines are still running and there are still people living in Sunnyside. It was pretty good money at that time, better than average. Most of the coalmines closed down in the summer because nobody bought coal to heat their houses. This was before natural gas came into this part of the country. After natural gas came in they kept closing down mines and closing down mines until only industry and powerhouses buy coal now, because gas is used to heat houses now.

Winter never bothered us kids. The bigger the winter, the better we liked it. We went sleigh riding and skating. We skated on hills and down in the creek. The snow would pack down so hard we could skate down the hills. Up above our house there were ledges, red ledges and white ledges. Up on this red ledge we had an old shack. We used to steal chickens and potatoes and onions from our folks and we'd go up there and cook them. We kids had more fun in the summer up in the ledges. We'd climb the mountains all day long. It was a good place to stay out of mischief, and our folks just let us run. There were probably a few places that we should have stayed away from, like those big high cliffs. With us kids climbing all over them, it's a wonder one of us didn't get killed. One guy or two broke their legs though.

We used to have our own little coalmines up on the hill. We used to go up and dig this coal out and light little fires and then we had pipes we'd gather up and put them in the coal. It's a wonder we didn't get our eyes put out because we'd get these pipes red hot and then we'd pour water on them and the steam would come "whooshing" out. We'd have whistles on one end. We used to play ball on the old slack dump. (That's ground up coal; it's powdery and black). There were whole piles of it out there. We kids used to play baseball on it. They'd use this slack to put into the ovens to make coke, and where they took some of the slack out it would be kind of level. Down below in town they had a nice big ball diamond and sometimes we used to go down there and play, but you know how kids are, in their own backyards playing. We'd come home so black you couldn't tell who we were. Our mothers would give us a beating, tell us to stay home, make us take a bath, then we'd be back at the same place, playing ball again.

We used to spend a lot of time in the barn. They used to use horses in the mines. They'd pull the car cars and pull the coal out of the mine. They'd pull the coal up to the parting (that's where the shafts separated), then a hoist would take it from there. They had about 30 or 40 great big mules or horses that they'd keep in this big barn. We kids used to go up on top of this barn and throw rocks and everything else at these mules. We'd use flippers and BB guns and anything else we could lay our hands on. There was a man who was supposed to tend to them, but he couldn't tend to them and watch us too. He was called Barn Boss and he was real mean. I think his name was Cofford or something, but he sure was mean. We were up there one day and there was this one tough mule and we were poking the mule in the hind end with a piece of pipe. We were jabbing him and he was kicking the barn so hard the shingles were coming off the rock. Well, something hit me so hard I darn near passed out. This old Cofford had hit me with a black snake whip and made a great big S shape welt on my back. We really high-tailed for home. Of course I couldn't tell my dad or he'd have killed me for even being up there. One time a bunch of us kids were swimming up in the canyon. I was about fourteen I think, and this Greek neighbor of ours who lived up the road, got into a fight with another Greek. This other guy shot him right between the eyes, then he ran up the canyon. So I think he was muttering some kind of prayer. I've seen men in the mines crushed by slabs. When I was about 33 I broke my arm in the coalmine. I got hit with a hoist and had to have a steel plate put in my arm. Then the screws came out and they had to operate again. I was about two years laid up with that broken arm.

Living in the mines was a real colorful life; I don't know anybody who has had as colorful life as I've had. All these people I lived around taught me a lot about human nature and how to get along. I've learned to talk broken Greek, and Italian and everything else. It's been an interesting place to grow up in.