My mother-in-law's father was a coalminer in California PA who died as a result of a mining accident sometime in 1939. She can't remember exactly when during the year he died or what kind of accident he was in but she thinks it was possible that it was a cave in.

Does anyone know of (or know how to find out about) such an accident? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

What was the last name? DOB? Do you know the name of the mine?

Here are some things you can try to get info.

The State kept annual Mining Reports. These are very thick books. Many major libraries have some in their reference areas. These list men injured and men killed, along with info about the mine, production, etc.

The library at California PA has a large collection of area newspapers on microfilm.

Ancestry.com has papers for Charleroi and Monessen. If you post the man's name, perhaps another researcher will search the papers for you. Both these papers carried mining articles.

WWI or WWII draft cards often contained the name of the mine.

Being 1939, you should be able to find some info, versus if it had happened in the 1800s. Mines often had roof collapses.

Oldpathminer (I think that's the name) website has mine disasters listed.

Judy

Thanks for replying, Judy.

My husband's grandfather was Domenick (or Domenico) Isabello (could be Isabel) and was born in Italy in 1877. He arrived at Ellis Island 23 Apr 1904 and became a naturalized citizen 23 Jan 1914. He owned his own coal mine in California, PA but I don't know if that's the one in which he died.

I've searched ancestry.com for him and so far have only found him on one census (1930). He married in 1910/1911 but I can find no record of his marriage thus far.

If someone out there would be so kind as to offer to do a lookup, I'd be extremely grateful and most happy to return the favor if anyone needed a lookup in my area (SE Virginia).

Thanks again, Judy.

Fances