PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

An article recommendation

Agnieszka Pawlus — Thu Jun 24, 2021 8:16 am

Author: Agnieszka Pawlus

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 8:16 am

Hello,

At the request of one of our Forum members, Gerald https://polishorigins.com/userinfo/?uid=310
I would like to recommend you the text about Polish Miners in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania written by Sister M. Accursia, Bern., O.S.F.

It was published in the Polish American Studies, volume 3 from 1946 and it is available here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20147059. Please note that it is available for registered users only, but as I've checked reading 100 articles per month is free of charge.

It might be a great source of information about the Polish immigrants in Pennsylvania.

Re: Pennsylvania coal miners

Bohacek — Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:43 am

Author: Bohacek

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:43 am

You seemed like you knew your information, Adam, never the less with all whats going on, I have extra time on my hands and thought I could do some good and help. I also have a large tree but on Ancestry. I have used family search as well as other sites and its been a work in progress, of course this site has helped a lot. I gathered much information however there is still some information I cant seem to find...yet.

Thanks for writing back and offering to help.

Oh, I live in the U.S.A.

Best Regards

John

Re: Pennsylvania coal miners

adamsam — Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:28 am

Author: adamsam

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:28 am

Bohacek wrote:

Yes! I already have this record but thanks!

If you want to share your grandfathers name, ill be happy to see in my research if I can find information on him. I have much information in Poland on the Wroblewski's ...very little when they came to Pennsylvania and the coal miner life.

"and the story goes" I like that. So true.

Thanks again.

I have no problem with that but I believe I have most all records from Poland and existing Polish relatives. I have made 2 trips to Poland thru Polish Origins, 2015 and 2018. Presently researching Samelko family from Lawsk area and Wasosz parish. My grandfather, Jan Samelko and family was from the Romany area and I have an extensive family tree on My Heritage Family Tree Builder. If you try this website: https://www.familysearch.org/search/ you may uncover records and it is a free site, only need to set up user account. Final question, do you reside in U.S.A. or Poland; just curious.Many thanks for your assistance to help.
Adam

Re: Pennsylvania coal miners

Bohacek — Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:08 am

Author: Bohacek

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:08 am

Yes! I already have this record but thanks!

If you want to share your grandfathers name, ill be happy to see in my research if I can find information on him. I have much information in Poland on the Wroblewski's ...very little when they came to Pennsylvania and the coal miner life.

"and the story goes" I like that. So true.

Thanks again.

Re: Wroblewski family coal miners

adamsam — Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:48 am

Author: adamsam

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:48 am

Bohacek wrote:

Greetings,

I ran across this forum and I think its great. My ancestors from my mother's mother side were the Wroblewski's from Lomza (Russian) Poland. Florian first came to the United States on March 20 1894 then returned back to Poland around late 1894 - 1895. Florian returned to The United States with his family on April 4 1901, destination Shenandoah Pennsylvania to see (uncle) Elnard Dombrosky.

Florian Wroblewski worked in the coal mines in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania , Gary, West Virginia, and around West Hazelton Pennsylvania Wyoming Valley area. Florian's Brother, Frank worked in the same areas as well as Florian's brother in laws, Walter and Bronislaw Modelski along another brother in law, Vincent Chwastek.

Any information or records on my ancestors would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Did a quick search and ran across this. I don't know if this is the same family but this is what I found
Florian Wroblewski wed Justyna Modelska Parish: Lomza Act 94 year 1982.
A scan of the marriage is available and the link to it http://metryki.genealodzy.pl/metryka.php?ar=15&zs=0514d&sy=1892&kt=2&plik=094-095.jpg#zoom=1&x=0&y=0
I hope this is it - Good luck with your search. By the way, my grandfather came to U. S. from same province of Poland, ended up in coal mines, Shenandoah, Pa. married in Shenandoah raised family and the story goes on.

Wroblewski family coal miners

Bohacek — Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:24 am

Author: Bohacek

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:24 am

Greetings,

I ran across this forum and I think its great. My ancestors from my mother's mother side were the Wroblewski's from Lomza (Russian) Poland. Florian first came to the United States on March 20 1894 then returned back to Poland around late 1894 - 1895. Florian returned to The United States with his family on April 4 1901, destination Shenandoah Pennsylvania to see (uncle) Elnard Dombrosky.

Florian Wroblewski worked in the coal mines in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania , Gary, West Virginia, and around West Hazelton Pennsylvania Wyoming Valley area. Florian's Brother, Frank worked in the same areas as well as Florian's brother in laws, Walter and Bronislaw Modelski along another brother in law, Vincent Chwastek.

Any information or records on my ancestors would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Coal miners

Wally1049 — Sun Mar 01, 2020 10:52 am

Author: Wally1049

Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 10:52 am

My search only does the Wyoming Valley

Schuykill miners

Dza — Sat Feb 29, 2020 10:39 pm

Author: Dza

Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 10:39 pm

I also have family that migrated then became coal miners, I found a few pictures of my great grandmother brothers and sons in the mines, I also found an article of an accident that one of the brothers were injured in. Apparently my family was well known in the community. I’m trying to find out any info on where they came from, all the documents say either Poland, Europe or Lithuania which isn’t of much help.

Coal mining in the Wyoming Valley/ Northeast Pa.

Wally1049 — Thu Jan 09, 2020 7:06 pm

Author: Wally1049

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 7:06 pm

I will be posting links to coal mining in the Wyoming Valley In a couple of days. I may not be able to post on forum . I will try. If not try contacting me at
Wally1049@gmail.com and I will send a connection to the web site through your personal e-mails

Coal Miners

Winkle/Harvinski — Tue Dec 24, 2019 12:33 pm

Author: Winkle/Harvinski

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2019 12:33 pm

I know this is an old post, but just in case, has anyone heard of the mining families Winkel or Harzinski (Charzynska). They lived and worked in Jefferson County, PA in various mines.

Re: Pennsylvania coal miners

EricaKaczmarczyk — Sun Feb 24, 2019 7:41 pm

Author: EricaKaczmarczyk

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 7:41 pm

Hello all! I’m very glad to have found this forum and particularly this thread!

My great great grandfather Stanislaw Kaczmarczyk came to the US in 1911 from “Dambrowa, Russia” and I did some research and its possible that the region he came from is the Dabrowa region or even more specifically Dabrowa Gornicza which is known for coal mining. But that’s rather speculatory and something i’d Like to confirm eventually.

My great great grandfather eventually settled in Rices Landing, Greene County, PA and worked as a coal miner for 30 years. He eventually died of lung related issues, no surprise there.

Coal Mining in PA & Recruiters

RomanTimes — Sun Dec 02, 2018 2:28 am

Author: RomanTimes

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 2:28 am

I am from northeastern Pennsylvania (Taylor & Old Forge, Lackawanna County, PA). My great-grandfather, grandfather, and uncles worked in the anthracite coal mining industry until it's decline. I am intimately familiar with the immigrant experience working in the mines of NE PA.

In response to some posted potential theories, there were no "recruiters" in Europe... there didn't have to be. Waves of eastern European immigrants came to mining areas because work was plentiful for immigrants. They usually joined established communities of their own ethnic group. Most immigrants knew someone in the US who previously immigrated and relayed that work was plentiful. Generally, English-speaking immigrants (Welsh, Irish, etc.) had better jobs above ground. Eastern European immigrants generally had harder jobs below ground.

The PBS station in NE PA did a great documentary series a few years ago. I found the documentary to be extremely accurate in describing the experience of my Polish family. Info and a link for additional information is provided below.

THE EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY - THE EASTERN EUROPEANS
The Extraordinary Journey Series - The Eastern Europeans focuses on the largest eastern European ethnic groups that settled here--the Polish, Slovaks, and Ukrainians. It also includes the historical contributions of an additional 20 ethnic groups, including Russians, Lithuanians, Hungarians, and Czechs.

http://www.wvia.org/television/documentaries/extraordinary-journey/eastern-europeans/

Re: Coal miners from Pittston Pa

RomanTimes — Sun Dec 02, 2018 1:40 am

Author: RomanTimes

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 1:40 am

Ktsats wrote:

Hi, I just joined this web site and was interested in the coal mining connections. My great uncle Andrew Kozloski emigrated to Pittston in the 1890's followed by two brothers Victor and my grandfather Michael in 1898. They got out of the mines and ran a hotel, a bar and did house building in the Pittston,Plains and Taylor areas.
I believe that my grandmother was tHe niece of Andrew's wife Rose, according to info on the passenger's list.
Can anyone help me find birth records for these people. They came from Grodno and Proniski.

Hi "Ktsats"
I just joined the site in Dec 2018 and saw your post. I grew up in Taylor and know the area well. My great-grandfather, grandfather, and uncles worked in the mines in Taylor. I am also reasonably familiar with Pittston. I'm not sure if I can assist you or not, but I can try if you would like to touch base.

-RomanTimes

Re: Pennsylvania coal miners

Veronicavranish — Sat Apr 09, 2016 10:42 pm

Author: Veronicavranish

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 10:42 pm

Shellie wrote:

Carol329 wrote on another thread:

...I just received my aunt's birth record and found that my grandparents were peasant farmers from Wydmusy-northeast of Warsaw. My other set of grandparents were fromStazkowka in the Austrian section. Their families began emigrating in the 1880,s and would love to understand what they all went through. Interestingly enough both sets of grandparents settled in the coal mining region of Pennsylvania and were all coal miners.

Researching Dombroski, Wisniewski, Schabowski

Welcome Carol329 to Polish Origins!

I'm so happy to meet a new member and fellow grandchild of coal mining polish immigrants. My grandfathers also mined coal in PA - in Washington and Westmoreland Counties.

I look forward to hearing from you when you have a chance to start reading "The Nation in the Village". The book discussion can be found at: http://polishorigins.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=32

Shellie

the other side

dgawell — Sat Feb 13, 2016 8:22 pm

Author: dgawell

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 8:22 pm

I am not proud of this or of this particular relative who was reported as abusive and my great grandmother divorced him, but my great grandfather was one of the "special police" who was brought in by one of the coal companies to protect company interests: Here is a clip of the info:

In ca.1910 the Westmoreland Coal Company employed 608 men and boys at the Export Mines, many of whom were becoming increasingly restive over the coal company's refusal to recognize the United Mine Workers of America as their union. Workers at Export and other mines in northern Westmoreland County began a long and arduous coal strike in the spring of 1910. The Westmoreland Coal Company evicted many of the families from their houses and brought in the dreaded "Coal and Iron Police", a private police force, to maintain control of company property and to safeguard the replacement workers "scabs," that the coal company imported from the south to work in the mines during the miners strike. More than a year later the strike ended in defeat for the weary coal miners.

So, my great grandfather perhaps was the "enemy" of your ancestors. BTW- neither his children nor his second wife ever put a headstone on his grave. He was not Polish. He went back to "the Mayflower".

Question about a Mining Accident Report

typeogirl — Sat Feb 13, 2016 1:03 pm

Author: typeogirl

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 1:03 pm

If I found someone on http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r45_MineAccidentRegisters/r45-14AccidentRegistersInterface.htm in one of the reports, specifically on http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r45_MineAccidentRegisters/LsBituminous1907_1917.pdf, how do I go about getting the report? Do those exist anywhere? I am hoping there is genealogical information to be found.

Thanks everyone!

Re: Pennsylvania coal miners

Shellie — Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:17 pm

Author: Shellie

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:17 pm

Another cool old photo of PA coal miners in Mt. Pleasant PA. This is where my great-grandfather first worked when he arrived in the US, several years before my great-grandmother and the children arrived.

Found on this site with interesting things about Pennsylvania: www.onlyinyourstate.com/pennsylvania/pa-great-depression

Re: Pennsylvania coal miners

dancinchantilly — Mon Dec 28, 2015 8:43 pm

Author: dancinchantilly

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 8:43 pm

Tonight I quickly scanned all post on PA miners. I have this document that addresses immigration and life for Slavic immigrants, especially those that went to the anthracite fields of northeastern Pennsylvania. However, there are commonalities for all Slavs and life for the immigrant miners.

Re: Pennsylvania coal miners

dancinchantilly — Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:50 pm

Author: dancinchantilly

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:50 pm

This photo, circa 1910, is a of a mining town in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Fayette is south of Westmoreland County. My grandfather worked there when he first came to America.

Re: Pennsylvania coal miners

Shellie — Sun Dec 27, 2015 9:13 am

Author: Shellie

Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 9:13 am

It has been a while since we talked about coal mining. I love this photo of the miners in the coal cars:

Found at:
http://explorepahistory.com/displayimage.php?imgId=1-2-9D3