Robert D. Williams, a United Mine Workers pioneer

My annual subscription to Ancestry.com renewed itself the other day --- a not inexpensive proposition. But then it's a tool I use nearly every day that when cost is averaged turns out to be a relatively inexpensive source of information and entertainment.

It makes me especially happy when I find a wonderful photograph like this one --- the 1879 wedding portrait of Robert David Williams and Ann Powell, members of Welsh coal mining families who were married at Cleveland on Oct. 11 of that year, shared by a descendant.

Robert and Ann still were a handsome couple 60 years later when an article noting his status as a labor pioneer --- 50 years a member of the United Mine Workers of America --- was published in The Herald-Patriot of Oct. 10, 1940. But the portrait did not translate well to microfilm.

The reporter in charge of the article played fast and loose with place names and details, and while I've attempted to correct obvious errors it does need to be approached with caution:

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One of the few miners remaining who has belonged to the United Mine Workers of American during the 50 years of its existence is Robert D. Williams of Lucas.

He is a member of Union Local 799, one of the oldest locals in the UMWA, and is recording secretary and treasurer of the organization. He had the honor of receiving his 50-year button from the UMWA following the national convention in Columbus, Ohio, this year.

Born Aug. 28, 1859, near Cymmer Collery at Porth Station, Glamorgan (now Rhondda Cynon Taf), South Wales, Williams started to work in the mines as a messenger when but seven years old.

A year later he was working cleaning track and at nine his father took him into the mines to work.

In 1869, he came to the United States and worked at Kirksville, Illinois, working a shift of 15 hours a day. He worked at Braidwood, at Eureka Mines and at Diamond Mines where, shortly after he left a number of miners were drowned in an accident (Note: In 1883, 74 men and boys drowned in Diamond Mine No. 2, some 60 miles southwest of Chicago).

After an Illinois strike, he came to Lucas and later went to Flagler. In February of 1879, he was one of the 65 men who organized the Knights of Labor union after the group was involved in labor trouble over better working conditions and shorter hours.

In 1879 he was married to Ann Powell at Cleveland, Iowa, and nine children were born to the  couple --- four of whom are living. They are  Robert J. Williams of Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Fred H. Baux of Pershing, Iowa; Mrs. Margaret J. Baux (Box) of Chariton; and Mrs. M.F. Mitchell of Rock Springs, Wyoming.

He was among the men who went on strike May 3, 1883, for seven months. He was also a member of the pit committee during the fight for the eight-hour day at Kebb, Iowa.

At Big Hill (in Lucas), he was a member of the pit committee during the time John L. Lewis, national chairman of the C.I.O., worked in the mine, and he was also employed at Buxton in a mine with Thomas Lewis, father of John L. Lewis.

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Ann (Powell) Williams died at age 89 on Feb. 9, 1946, and Robert, two years later, also age 89, on Oct. 26, 1948. They are buried at Fry Hill Cemetery as are his parents, David and Jane (Roberts) Miller and her mother, Catherine (Thomas) Powell.