Coal mine deaths and Reuben Anderson

Find a Grave photo by Doris Christensen

Coal mining was a factor in Lucas County's economy for slightly more than a century, from January of 1876 when the Whitebreast field near Lucas was opened until 1978, when the Big Ben mine closed in Pleasant Township. During those years, roughly 100 miners died.

Reporting of mine-related deaths became mandatory in Iowa in 1883 and between then and 1960, 89 Lucas County deaths had been reported. One of these days, I'll pull out the Lucas County names, but if you're interested in research now, a statewide fatalities index for those years is located here, at the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs web site.

The first death in the alphabetical sequence of that index is that of a young man named Reuben Anderson, killed in a fall of slate in the Iowa-Nebraska Mine near Lucas on July 6, 1921, just days short of his 21st birthday. The Iowa-Nebraska, which closed in 1923, was the last of big Lucas-area mines, located in what now is a picnic-fishing area in Stephens State Forest.

Reuben's death was reported as follows in The Herald-Patriot of June 7:

MEETS DEATH IN LUCAS MINE

Fall of Slate Crushes Reuben Anderson of Lucas

WAS MARRIED RECENTLY

First Fatality to Occur in the Mine Opened But a Few Months Ago

Reuben Anderson, of Lucas, met instant death in the mine at that place yesterday forenoon about 11:30 o'clock. He was working in his room on the south side of the mine when a huge piece of slate fell, crushing him beneath it. The accident was apparently unavoidable and is greatly deplored by both officials of the coal company and his fellow workmen.

He was about twenty-one years of age, and was married the first of last September to Miss Ella Griffiths, who survives him. His father, John Anderson, passed away at Lucas but a few months ago. Besides his young wife, a bride of but a short time, he is survived by his mother, of Lucas, and by two brothers and two sisters.

Reuben Anderson was highly esteemed by all who knew him and his sudden and tragic death has brought sadness to the hearts of innumerable friends who will extend sincere sympathy to the bereaved ones. Funeral services will be held at Lucas tomorrow.

The Herald-Patriot published a complete obituary under the Lucas news heading of its edition of July 14, as follows:

CARL REUBEN ANDERSON

Carl Reuben Anderson was born in Chariton, Iowa, July 10, 1900, and departed this life at Lucas, Iowa, July 6th, 1921, at the age of 20 years, 11 months and 26 days.

On August 29th, 1920, he was married to Miss Ella Griffith. Two brothers and two sisters have gone before him and less than three months ago his father preceded him in death.

He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, Mrs. Reuben Anderson, mother, Mrs. John E. Anderson, and three sisters, Mrs. Anna Stover, Alma and Elizabeth, and two brothers, Albert and Paul.

He came with his parents to Lucas in the year 1904. He attended the Lucas public schools and later was employed at the Burlington depot. Last fall he started working in the Iowa-Nebraska Coal mine, where he met his untimely death.

His nature was such that he gained and held friends and he was loved and respected by every member of the community where he lived and worked. No man could hope to achieve a higher goal than that. May he sleep in peace till we meet again.

Funeral services were conducted by Elder Wm. Farley of the L.D.S. church at the school park to a congregation of over 700 people. Interment was at Fry Hill cemetery.