This week's prompt for #52Ancestors is Family Business. This is an interesting topic for some people. However, it is somewhat boring for my family, as they were mostly either farmers or coal miners.
Here's my paternal line:
- Father: George Robert Martin. He was the first generation to leave the mines and worked in a factory for his entire life.
- Grandfather: George Michael Martin (1900-1973). COAL MINER. He was crippled in a mine accident and I don't remember him ever working as I grew up.
- Great-grandfather: Michael Philip Martin (1876-1923) COAL MINER. Killed in a mining accident.
- Great-grandfather: Robert Halliday (1867-1933), COAL MINER. He was in the mines in County Durham, England at an early age and was involved in union activities in Iowa.
- Great-great-grandfather: Frank Martin (1824-1905). COAL MINER and plasterer.
- Great-great-grandfather: Wenzil Kausilik (1854-1933), COAL MINER.
- Great-great-grandfather: John Halliday (1838-after 1910). COAL MINER.
- Great-great-grandfather: Alexander Clark (1834-1912), COAL MINER.
- 3rd great-grandfather: John Halliday (1816-1843) COAL MINER. Died in Coal mining accident. "Fell out of the loop while about to descend the staple."
- 3rd great-grandfather: John Hutchinson (1829-1874) COAL MINER. Found dead at bottom of shaft. Accused of throwing himself down the shaft.
- 4th great-grandfather: John Halliday (1781-1854) COAL MINER but died of "natural decay."
Here's my maternal line:
- Grandfather: Anthony Martinek/Butzek (1907-1943) COAL MINER. Killed in mining accident.
- Great-grandfather: Anton Martinek (1875-?) COAL MINER.
- Great-grandfather: George Elmus Edwards (1880-1923) FARMER.
- Great-Great-grandfather: Hugh Richard Edwards (1856-1928) FARMER.
- Great-great-grandfather: Josiah Pogue (1848-1900) FARMER.
- 3rd Great-grandfather: Hugh H. Edwards (1821-1907) FARMER.
- 3rd Great-grandfather: John Rains (1832-1917). FARMER.
- 3rd Great-grandfather: Benagie McClerran (1831-1899) FARMER.
- 4th Great-grandfather: Hugh H. Edwards (1795-1834) FARMER.
- 4th Great-grandfather: John Rains (1800-1854) FARMER.
- 4th Great-grandfather: Moses Armes (1787-1862) FARMER.
- 4th Great-grandfather: Richard Hilton (1776-1865). FARMER.
Writing out the above ancestors and their occupations brought home the fact that the coal miners were mainly on my Paternal side and that ALL the coal miners were immigrants from Eastern Europe, England, and Scotland. The farmers on my mother's side were all from families that have been in the United States since the 1700s (or before).
