North Cemetery is now known as IOOF Cemetery. The Catholic Church in Moweaqua is St. Francis DeSales.
** On Wednesday, December 28, 1932 a high mass was held in the school gym for the 14 miners who were Roman Catholic. It was officiated by Right Reverend James A. Griffin, bishop of the Springfield diocese and assisted by Fr. Michael Donahue of Macon. More than 1000 people attended for the mass a funeral procession more than a mile long wound its way to Calvary Cemetery where all 14 men were buried.
JAMES BIRLEY, JR. Age 46
Brother of miner Thomas Birley
Born in Sheffield, England, July 12, 1886, he was the son of Sarah Bell and James Birley, Sr. Came to U.S. with parents in 1910 and settled in Niantic, IL until 1914 when he moved to Moweaqua. He married Sarah Slinn in 1911 and had five children, Matilda, Sarah, Mae, James and Tommy.
Services for James were held Wednesday, December 28, 1932 at 10 a.m. in the Methodist Church where he was a member. He was buried in the North Cemetery.
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THOMAS BIRLEY Age 44
Brother of miner James Birley, Jr.
Born in Sheffield, England, July 23, 1888, he was the son of Sarah Bell and James Birley, Sr. He married Lucy Ann Cooper in England on June 23, 1907 and in 1909 came to the U.S. and settled in Niantic, IL until 1914 when he moved his family to Moweaqua. His four daughters were Elizabeth, Eleanor, Edith and Lucy. He worked as a driver in the mine.
A member of the Masons and Odd Fellows, his service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, December 30, 1932 in the Methodist Church. He was buried in the North Cemetery.
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JAMES KENNETH BOARD Age 26
Born in Moweaqua, July 15, 1906, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Estel (Estol) Board. He had one brother, Wendell Board. His body was found on Monday, December 26 and his service was held at the Moweaqua High School Gym at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 28, 1932 Known as Kenneth, he was buried in North Cemetery.
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GEORGE BURRELL, JR. Age 29
Born in Derbyshire, England, December 15, 1903, he was the son of George and Emma Burrell. He married Bernice Fuller, November 20, 1924 and had one daughter, Lila Lee. Services were held Wednesday, December 28, 1932 at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church with Rev. Scroggs officiating and he was buried in the IOOF Cemetery.
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EDWARD ALLEN CAMPBELL Age 49
Father of miner Charles E. Campbell
Born February 19, 1883 in Flat Branch Township, Shelby County, Illinois, he was the son of Jerry and Alice Campbell. He married May Workman on July 17, 1907 and had seven children: James Everett, Charles Edward, Robert Lee, Cecil Lyons, Earl B., Bessie Ellen and Lydia Mae (she had preceded her father and brother in death, September 15, 1920).
Funeral services were held Friday, December 30, 1932 at the then North Cemetery with Rev. George Milford of Old Stonington Baptist Church officiating. Pallbearers were men from the United Mine Workers from Gillespie, Illinois.
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CHARLES EDWARD CAMPBELL Age 22
Son of miner Edward A. Campbell
Born February 3, 1910 in Christian County, Illinois, he was the son of Edward Allen Campbell and May Workman. He married Janet Adamson on December 6, 1932, only three weeks before his death. His nickname was “Chad.”
Funeral services were held Friday, December 30, 1932 at the then North Cemetery with Rev. George Milford of Old Stonington Baptist Church officiating. Pallbearers listed were Dale Adams, Carl Wyatt, Alfred Workman, Angelo Tinteri, and Homer and Addie Workman.
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JULES CASTAGNOLIA Age 49
Born November 13, 1883 in Lizzano in Belvedere near Bologna in Italy, his mother was said to be alive when he died, but names of the parents are not listed. He married Alpha Omega Hinton on December 24, 1913 and died on their 19th wedding anniversary. He was a driver in the mine.
Jules was a member of the Decatur Moose and services for him were held at the Moweaqua Christian Church on Wednesday, December 28, 1932. He is buried in the IOOF Cemetery. He is listed as Julius Castagnoli on Christian County Death Certificate # 0110421.
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ROY C. CATHERWOOD Age 40
Known as “Pee Wee,” he was born August 13, 1892 in Assumption, Illinois, his parents were Will and Neva Catherwood. He married Kathryn Worsham on June 3, 1913 and had two children, Marcella and Byron who were ages 13 and 6 when he was killed. Mr. Catherwood lived on East Warren Street and was a shoe cobbler when not working in the mine. His father Will Catherwood was a “check weigh man” in the mine and lost his leg when it got tangled in the chain of the mine cage elevator. Roy Catherwood started in the mine as a check weigh man and was working as a cutter machine operator at the time of his death.
Although a member of the Christian Church, his funeral was held at the Methodist Church on Tuesday afternoon, December 27, 1932. He was buried at the IOOF Cemetery.
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DAVID MATSON COOLEY Age 69
(a/k/a Davidson Madison Cooley)
Born near Illiopolis, IL on March 3, 1863 he was the oldest miner killed in the disaster. He had worked at the mine for 35 years. His parents were John and Rachel Cooley. He married Etta M. Craig on January 18, 1898 in McLean County, IL. Their children were John Keith and Helen Lucille, with an infant son and daughter both dying at birth. Mr. Cooley was a member of the Grove City Lodge 358 AF &AM and the Moweaqua Methodist Church.
His funeral service was held at home on the north edge of town just west of the railroad tracks at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 1932. He was buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in LeRoy, IL.
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ANDREW CORBY, SR. Age 55
Father of miners Andrew Corby, Jr. and John Corby
Andrew was born in the future country of Czechoslovakia on September 4, 1877. He married Anna Dzuris on June 10, 1902 and their children were Anna (who had died at one year of age), John, Andrew, Michael and George. He came to the U.S. at age 16 and moved to Moweaqua about 1902. He worked as a timberman in the mine.
His body was removed from the mine on Monday, December 26 and his service was held at the Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 with services being conducted by Lutheran ministers from Pana and Nokomis. He was buried in the West Mound Cemetery in Pana between his two sons.
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ANDREW CORBY, JR. Age 27
Son of Andrew Corby Sr. and
brother of John Corby
Born in Moweaqua April 11, 1905 he was the son of Andrew Corby, Sr. and Anna Dzuris. He married Anna Lucille Snyder on August 28, 1930 and had daughters Mary Ann and Sheila (born after his death). He was a member of the Lutheran Church in Streator, IL.
His body was removed from the mine on Monday, December 26 and his service was held at the Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 with services being conducted by Lutheran ministers from Pana and Nokomis. He was buried in the West Mound Cemetery in Pana next to his father and brother.
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JOHN CHARLES CORBY Age 29
Son of Andrew Corby, Sr. and
brother of Andrew Corby, Jr.
Born in Moweaqua on May 27, 1903 to parents Andrew Corby, Sr. and Anna Dzuris, he married Margaret Leitch of Bethany on September 25, 1929 in Carlinville, IL. One of their daughters died in infancy and the other Margaret Charlene was alive when he died.
Called “Chuck,” his body was removed from the mine on Sunday, December 25 and his service was held at the Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 with services being conducted by Lutheran ministers from Pana and Nokomis. He was buried in the West Mound Cemetery in Pana next to his father and brother.
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CHESTER CRAVEN Age 50
He was born January 24, 1882 in Prairie County, Indiana to parents David H. Craven and Mary Kathryn ? He married Lucinda Eldora Mumaw in 1901 and she preceded him in death in Clinton, IL on January 16, 1916. There two children were Wayne Craven and (Lola?) Mrs. Charles Phelan. He moved to Moweaqua with his parents in 1884 and he had been a miner for 14 years. He was a member of the Progressive Mine Workers union.
His body was removed on Monday, December 26 and his service was held on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 at 4 p.m. at the Baptist church. He was buried in the IOOF Cemetery. His name was often printed as “Cravens” in news articles about the disaster.
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ZELVIA LEE DAVIS Age 42
a/k/a/ “Zelva”
Born on June 11, 1890 in Niantic, IL to parents Samuel Davis and Amelia (Hunter?). He married Cloe Page of Shelbyville on November 15, 1912 and their children were Bert, Kathryn, Frances and Rosalie. He was a motorman at the mine. He was affiliated with the Christian Church and the Moose Lodge.
He is buried in the IOOF Cemetery.
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WILLIAM DAVISON Age 58
His name is spelled “Davison” on tombstone and “Davidson” on death certificate and news articles. He may have been from Kentucky and was born in 1869. He married Jennie Smith and his daughter Ruth Evelyn was born in Kentucky on December 21, 1891. His son Arthur was born in 1895 and died in Illinois in 1906. William Davison had lived in Stonington for 20 years before the mine accident.
His body was recovered on Monday, December 26 and his service was held on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 at the funeral chapel in Taylorville, IL. He was buried next to his wife and son in Oak Hill Cemetery at Taylorville.
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ARTHUR DOVE Age 47
Born June 10, 1885 in Gillespie, IL to Grandville (Greenville S.) Dove and Harriet Ophelia Taynor (Married February 12, 1876 in Macoupin County). He married Grace Laging of St. Louis, MO, November 21, 1912 and had daughters Ruth and Golda. They lived on Warren Street in a house across from the Catholic Church. He was a member of the Odd Fellows and Masons.
His service was held Friday, December 30, 1932 at the Methodist Church. Moweaqua Masons were in charge of the burial at the IOOF Cemetery.
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GEORGE PATRICK DOWD Age 48
a/k/a “Earl Dowd” and “Deacon”
Born January 21, 1884 to William Dowd and Emma Frances Long. He married Bessie Ohles, June 26, 1917 and had five children: Gerald, Laura, Marjory, Frankie and Evelyn Mae. He worked as a mule driver in the mine.
His service was conducted Friday, December 30, 1932 at 9 a.m. in the Catholic Church in Moweaqua. Burial was with military honors at the IOOF Cemetery.
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MICHAEL FLOSKI Age 25
Born June 21, 1907 in Moweaqua to Joseph Floski and Margaret (Magdelinia)? He was married to Modelle Davis they had one child, John. His father worked in the same coal mine and died at home on August 8, 1931. Several of the pallbearers at his funeral died in the 1932 explosion. Mike’s nickname was “Bimmy”. Mike’s brother Frank “Finn” Floski was the cage operator at the mine on the day of the explosion and was one of only two men who survived. Frank was the vice president of the Progressive Miners of America union local. Miner Mike Raugellis was married to Mike’s sister Mary Floski and he also died in the explosion.
His funeral was held at the Moweaqua High School Gym, Wednesday, December 28, 1932 at 10:30 a.m. and burial was at the Calvary Cemetery in Pana.**
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LYNNE JACKSON GREEN Age 28
Cousin of miner Charley W. Woodring
Born November 7, 1904 in Assumption to parents Hugh A. Green and Maynerd Jackson. He married LaVeta Hockman of Assumption on November 12, 1932 while in St. Louis and their son, Jackie Lynn was born after his death on September 25, 1933.
On November 6, 1929 Lynne and his father Hugh Green were overcome by black damp in the Moweaqua coal mine while working together. They were rescued in time after passing out. The Moweaqua News on November 13, 1929 reported the incident that hospitalized both men and stated that it was “the first time in the history of the mine that black damp has been detected there.”
His service was held, Friday, December 30, 1932, at 10 a.m. in the Christian Church. He was buried in the West Side Cemetery in Moweaqua.
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CHARLES JULIUS HARTMAN Age 28
Brother of miner Leonard Adlie Hartman
Born October 1, 1904 in Moweaqua he was the fifth child born to John Wesley Hartman and Martha Calvin. His father, also a miner, had died before the disaster and Martha Hartman received some relief funds from the Red Cross after the accident. Another son who worked in the mine was ill that day and did not go to work. Charles’ nickname was “Doe Cat.”
Services were held for Charles and Leonard Hartman on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 at 2:30 p.m. in the Methodist Church. Both brothers were buried in Ludwig Cemetery about four miles southeast of Moweaqua.
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LEONARD ADLIE HARTMAN Age 33
Brother of miner Charles Julius Hartman
Born April 24, 1899 in Moweaqua the third child of parents John Wesley Harman and Martha Calvin. He married Pearl ??? and had four children, John 8, William 6, Patricia 4, Robert 2 and one step-daughter, Geneva Bryant. He was nicknamed “Cat.”
Services were held for Charles and Leonard Hartman on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 at 2:30 p.m. in the Methodist Church. Both brothers were buried in Ludwig Cemetery about four miles southeast of Moweaqua.
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JOHN HARTSALLA, JR. Age 28
Nephew to Jurick Brothers
Called “Bullygood,” he was born on April 25, 1904 in Moweaqua to John Hartsalla and Mary Jurick. He was baptized Roman Catholic and married Mary McDonald. Their children were Charles and John (who was nine when his dad was killed). His mother was the sister of the Jurick brothers who were also killed in the mine disaster. John had been a coal miner for 12 years.
He was buried in Calvary (West Mound) Cemetery in Pana on December 28, 1932.
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OLIVER BENTLEY HUDSON Age 26
Born May 10, 1906 in Moweaqua to Joshua Hudson and Louisa (Toulson?). He married Opal Cherry and left children Betty Ann age 2 and Joshua Loren age 6 weeks when he died. He was known at “Ted” and had been a miner for 10 years.
His services were conducted graveside by Rev. Silas N. Wakefield, pastor of the Methodist Church and burial was on December 29, 1932 at the IOOF Cemetery in Moweaqua.
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THOMAS S. JACKSON Age 53
Born December 28, 1878 near Pana, Illinois to Thomas Edward Jackson and Ida May Akens (Eakins?). On November 27, 1901 he married Frances Birley and their daughter Iola died in 1915 and son Cecil was grown and living in California at the time of the accident. Tom began work in the mines at age 13 and after 40 years labor was serving as a “timber man” in the Moweaqua mine. He was well-known in town for playing Santa Claus each Christmas Eve. He was a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and Moose.
His service was conducted Thursday morning, December 29, 1932 in the Methodist Church and buried followed at the West Side Cemetery in Moweaqua.
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JOSEPH JURICK, JR. Age 41 or 49
Brother to miner Lotsie Jurick
Related to miner John Hartsalla
His obituary and grave stone states that he was born in 1883 in Eggloff, Czechoslovakia but his death certificate with information from his wife states that he was born March 1, 1891 to parents Joseph Jurick and Emeldia Geleca. He married Stella Pokorski and had one son, Frank. His sister was Mary Hartsalla and his nephew was John Hartsalla.. He had been a miner for 30 years. His body was positively identified by his family because he had lost toes in a previous mine accident.
He was buried on December 28, 1932 in Lincoln (Holy Cross) Cemetery, Lincoln, IL.
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LOTSI (MOX) JURICK Age 43
Brother to miner Joe Jurick, Jr.
Related to miner John Hartsalla
His obituary lists him as “Mox” and states that he was born in Eggloff, Czechoslovakia in 1886. His tombstone spells his name “Lotise” and lists October 16, 1888 as his birth date. His death certificate, with information supplied by his sister Melia Hanisko of Chicago, gives his birth as October 15, 1889. His name has also appeared as “Lotsie.” He was the uncle of miner John Hartsalla. He had been a miner for 14 years.
He was single and lived with his brother Joe. He earlier had lived in Lovington.
He was buried on December 28, 1932 in Saint Isidore Cemetery in Bethany.
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ANDREW KAPILLA Age 31
Born on August 13, 1901 in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania to Michael Kapilla and Mary Coleman. He married Anna Bednar of Nokomis in 1923 and two of their children, Clifford and Shirley, were alive when he died. His wife’s father, Andrew Bednar had also worked in the Moweaqua mine. Andrew Kapilla had started working in the mine as a teenager and had 14 years of service at the time of his death.
His service was held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Nokomis on Friday morning, December 30, 1932 and burial was in Nokomis Cemetery. Six of his seven brothers served as pallbearers.
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MICHAEL KRAJNACK Age 56
Born in Spiska, Czechoslovakia in 1876 he came to the U.S. at age 21 and married Julia Bobchonic in 1908 at the Catholic Church in Moweaqua. They had three daughters, Mary (1901), Anna (1903) and Margaret (1923). Nothing is known about his parents other than his father’s name was also Michael.
He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Pana on December 28, 1932.
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JOSEPH KRALL Age 59
According to his death certificate, with information given by Moweaqua miner widow Mary Hartsalla, Joe was born in Czechoslovakia on March 15, 1873 and had been working in mines for 40 years at the time of the disaster. She listed his parents as John Kral and Mary Zurick. Joe had married but was a widower in 1932. He lived with the Jurick brothers. However, his obituary states that he was born in 1871.
The Coal Mine Museum cites him as buried at Calvary Cemetery in Pana while his death certificate states that he was buried on December 28, 1932 at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Pana. St. Patrick’s Church in Pana was most likely mixed up with the cemetery.
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CHARLES MCDONALD, SR. Age 63 or 64
Two of his sons were also killed.
According to his death certificate, Charles McDonald was born on May 20, 1869 in Moweaqua to parents Hiram McDonald and Mary Richardson. However his obituary states he was born May 4, 1868. He married Bertie Ann Anderson in Decatur on December 4, 1902. (Charles’ obituary states they were married in June 1903.) Bertie McDonald died August 3, 1930. To this union were born eight children, one of whom Doris, died at the age of 2 years old and two sons, Carl and Charles, Jr. were taken in the same incident as their father. They other five children - Clyde, Mary, Dorothy, Herbert and Anderson – survived their father, the youngest boys considered orphans by the state. Charles had been a miner for nine years and was called “Dave.”
Although a Baptist, his service was held on Tuesday, December 27, 1932 at 2:30 p.m. in the Methodist Church. He was buried near his wife in the IOOF Cemetery in Moweaqua without a headstone. A grave marker was donated by the Coal Mine Museum on October 23, 1988.
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CHARLES MCDONALD, JR. Age 19
His father and brother were also killed.
According to his death certificate, Charles, Jr. was born September 27, 1913 in Moweaqua, the third child of parents Charles McDonald, Sr. and Bertie Ann Anderson. (His obituary states that he was born on September 28, 1913 and that is the date placed on his tombstone in 1988). He was single and had worked in the mine for two years before the accident. See Charles McDonald, Sr. for more family details.
He was buried next to his brother in the West Cemetery in Moweaqua on December 30, 1932 in an unmarked grave. In 1986 the Moweaqua Coal Mine Museum began a fundraising project to buy the family grave markers for $1000. On October 23, 1988 these markers were dedicated.
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CARL MCDONALD Age 27
His father and brother were also killed.
Born May 18, 1905 in Moweaqua the second child of Charles McDonald, Sr. and Bertie Ann Anderson. He never married and had worked in the mine for eight years. His nickname was “Crip.” See Charles McDonald, Sr. for more family details.
His service was conducted on Wednesday afternoon, December 28, 1932 along with his brother’s in the Baptist Church in Moweaqua. However, both he and his brother were not buried until December 30, 1932 in unmarked graves in the West Cemetery. Their burial permits state “No person in charge.” In 1986 the Moweaqua Coal Mine Museum began a fundraising project to buy the family grave markers for $1000. On October 23, 1988 these markers were dedicated.
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JOSEPH NEGRI (NEGRAY) Age 22
Brother of miner Michael Negri
Born June 19, 1910 in either Gallup or Heaton, New Mexico to parents John J. Negri and Elaine (Nellie) Potsick nee Supinie. Joe was single and had been a coal miner for six years.
His service was at the Catholic Church with two other miners at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, December 30, 1932 and burial was in Pana at Calvary Cemetery.
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MICHAEL NEGRI (NEGRAY) Age 25
Brother of miner Joseph Negri
Born November 27, 1907 in either Gibson or Gallup, New Mexico he was the son of John J. Negri and Elaine (Nellie) Potsick nee Supinie. His nickname was “Neg,” and he had worked as a miner or nine years.
There is no information about his service but most likely he is one of the miners who had a mass in the gym of Moweaqua High School the morning of December 28 as his burial was at Calvary Cemetery in Pana on Wednesday, December 28, 1932.
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GEORGE ONDES Age 41
Born September 18, 1891 in Lucavitza, Czechoslovakia and came to the U.S. in 1909 without his parents. He married Mary Supina (Supinie) on November 10, 1913 in Benton, IL and had children Mary Clarissa, Anna and John. (A H&R photo show a picture of 14 year-old “George Ondes, Jr.” waiting at the mine entrance in 1932 to see if his father will be brought out.) George Ondes worked as a miner for 25 years
He was buried with other Catholic miners in Pana on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 in Cavalry Cemetery.
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ROSCOE ALLEN PORTWOOD Age 46
Born December 1, 1886 in either Moweaqua or Allenboro, IL (the obit states he was born in Allenburg, IL, but no such place exists in IL while “Allenboro” was once a post office in Macon County). He was the son of James M Portwood and Ida Mae Price who were married in Clark County on January 12, 1881. Roscoe married Wanda Boyer and they had one daughter, Viola. He had worked as a miner for 18 years.
He was a member of the Christian Church and his service was held there at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 28, 1932 and then he was buried at the IOOF Cemetery.
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ANDREW “ANDY” POTSICK, JR. Age 17
Son of miner Mike Potsick
One of eleven children, he was born May 5 or 12, 1915 in Moweaqua to parents Mike (Andrew Michael?) Potsick and Vera (Veronica) Geletka. He had only worked in the mine for about four weeks before the accident.
His Catholic service was in the Moweaqua school gym and he was buried on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 in Calvary Cemetery in Pana.
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MICHAEL POTSICK Age 53
Father of miner Andy Potsick, Jr.
Possibly born as Andrew Michael Potsick, his death certificate states he was born in Czechoslovakia on April 15, 1879 to parents John and Helen Potsick. He came to the U.S. at age four. He married Vera (Veronica) Geletka on April 12, 1904 in Pittsburg, PA and they had eleven children: Mary, Vera, Helen, Anna, Amelia, Martha, Olga, Steve, Joseph (Jimmy), Andy, Jr. and Michael (born after the disaster). The family were members of St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church. Mike had been a miner for 39 years. (It appears that his brother Stephen Potsick was killed in the Moweaqua mine on November 5, 1908 at the age of 21.)
His service was held at the Catholic Church along with Mike Potsick, Mike Raugellis and Joe Negri on Friday, December 30, 1932 at 9:00 a.m. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery in Pana.
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L. MICHAEL RAUGELLIS Age 45
Brother-in- law of miner Mike Floski
According to his state death certificate with information presented by his wife, Mike was born August 6, 1887 in Russia with no information about his parents. His newspaper obituary stated that he was age 45 but born August 9, 1885 in Mieez, a province in Russia. (His tombstone lists his birth year as 1887.) Census records indicate that he emigrated to the U.S. in 1902 where he married Mary Floski on November 24, 1911. They were Roman Catholic and had seven children. One of their children, John “Butch” Raugellis was killed in a mine machine accident in Bishop, California in September 1952. Mary Raugellis was the sister of Mike Floski, another miner killed in the disaster. Mike Raugellis was a miner for 29 years.
His service was held at the Catholic Church on Friday, December 30, 1932 at 9:00 a.m. along with Mike Potsick and Joe Negri. He was buried later that day at Calvary Cemetery in Pana.
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GEORGE ROY REATHERFORD Age 39
Born February 9, 1893 in Moweaqua to parents Sherman Reatherford and Emanda (Amanda) Edwards. He married Flossie May (?) and they had three sons. Young sons, Roger Lee and Robert Earl died of scarlet fever just before the disaster on December 5 and December 14 respectively. George had been a miner for 12 years.
George was a Baptist but had his service Tuesday afternoon, December 27 at the Methodist church. He was buried that day in the IOOF Cemetery in Moweaqua.
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CHARLES WASHINGTON ROFF Age 45
Father of miner James Roff
Born May 30, 1887 in Perry County, Indiana to George Roff and Eliza ???. He came to Moweaqua with his parents when he was two months old. He married Edna Manes on August 28, 1907 and had four children. One son, Ernest E. Roff died in Moweaqua on October 28, 1932 and another son, James, died in the mine disaster. His third son Glen was age 10 at the time of his father’s death. Charles had been a coal miner for 26 years.
His service was held a home at 9:30 a.m., on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 with Elder White of Decatur officiating. He was buried that day in the IOOF Cemetery.
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JAMES ROY ROFF Age 19
Son of miner Charles Roff
Born February 15, 1913 in Moweaqua the son of Charles Roff and Edna Manes. He had been a high school athlete and had worked in the mine for three years. He was a member of the Christian Church and not married.
His service was held on Friday at 10:00a.m., December 30,. 1932 at the Christian Church with Rev. Finlayson officiating. He was buried in the IOOF Cemetery that same day.
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RAYMOND LUTHER SARVER Age 26
Brother of miner Verne Sarver
Born February 18, 1906 in Moweaqua to Luther M Sarver and Minnie Page. The Sarvers came to Decatur (from Effingham?) about 1905. Luther Sarver died in 1913 and Widow Minnie married coal miner William Catherwood in 1914. Raymond was unmarried, nicknamed “Tubby,” and had been a miner for 8 years at the time of the disaster. He was found dead in his brother’s arms.
The service for the two brothers was held Wednesday, December 28, 1932 at 2:30 p.m. in the Christian Church with Rev. Finlayson officiating. They were buried next to each other that day at the IOOF Cemetery in Moweaqua.
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VERNE GLEN SARVER Age 22/23
Brother of miner Raymond Sarver
Verne’s obit states he was born in Moweaqua on December 24, 1909 while his death certificate (attested to by his mother) states he was born in 1910. He died the morning of his birthday. His parents were Luther M. Sarver and Minnie Page. The Sarvers came to Decatur (from Effingham?) about 1905. Luther Sarver died in 1913 and his widow Minnie married coal miner William Catherwood in 1914. Verne was unmarried, nicknamed “Voss,” and had been a miner for over 3 years at the time of the disaster. He was found dead in his brother’s arms.
The service for the two brothers was held Wednesday, December 28, 1932 at 2:30 p.m. in the Christian Church with Rev. Finlayson officiating. They were buried next to each other that day at the IOOF Cemetery in Moweaqua.
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SAMUEL SCGLOSKI, JR. Age 27
This name is often spelled “Segloski” in government records. Sam was born in Moweaqua on April 28, 1905 to parents Simon Scgloski and Lillian Woodring. He was single and lived at 429 Plum Street. He had been a coal miner for 11 years.
His service was held on Tuesday afternoon, December 27, 1932 in the Methodist Church. He was buried that day in the IOOF Cemetery.
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ANDREW SMORADO Age 62
His obituary states that he was born in Spiska, Czechoslovakia (this could be Spisska Nova Ves in the current Slovak Republic) on December 3, 1870 while his death certificate states he was born January 1, 1870. In either case he was 62 years old when killed and had been a miner for 35 years. His father was John Smorado and his mother’s name is unknown. He came to this country about 1903 and married Anna Lasok in Streator, Illinois. They had six sons and three daughters. Three of these children were still at home at the time of the accident. (Andrew may have been related to Louis Smorodo who was also a miner. He was injured in a mine accident in November 1925 and spent about three weeks in the Moweaqua Hospital. He died from gangrene at age 57 in May 1932.)
Andrew was Catholic and after a group mass at the Moweaqua High School was buried on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 in Calvary Cemetery in Pana.
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ANDY SUPINA Age 19
Son of miner John Supina also killed in disaster.
The name Supina is used in obituaries, the death certificates and tombstone, but family members later spell their name Supinie.
Andy was born November 30, 1913 in Nadabala, Czechoslovakia to John Supina and Mary Novota. He came to the U.S. at age seven. He had two brothers and two sisters and lived at 413 South Plum Street.
He shared in the Catholic Mass at the high school and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Pana on Wednesday, December 28, 1932.
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JOHN SUPINA Age 41
Father of miner Andy Supina also killed in disaster.
The name Supina is used in obituaries, the death certificates and tombstone, but family members later spell their name Supinie. John was born in Nadabala, Czechoslovakia to Martin Supina and Mary Negri (later Vavarck). Two of his sisters were married to miners who also died in the disaster (George Ondes and John Negri). He married Mary Novota in Macon in 1913 but then returned to “the Old Country” and did not return until 1920. They had five children. At the time of the accident John had been a miner for 12 years. He lived at 413 South Plum Street in Moweaqua.
He shared in the Catholic Mass at the high school and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Pana on Wednesday, December 28, 1932.
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LOUIS TABACCHI Age 47
Although originally listed as being born December 24, 1885, his death certificate was amended in 1936 by undertaker B.E. Bulpitt of Taylorville to read June 29, 1885.
He was born in Italy as were his father John Tabacchi and mother. He and his wife Mary had two sons at the time of his death and she received a settlement from the state of $4,410 after the accident. Louis had worked in mines for 30 years, the last five years in Moweaqua.
His service was held with that for William Davidson on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 in the Taylorville Funeral Chapel and he was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in that town.
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HUGH HENRY THOMPSON, JR. Age 20
Born May 2, 1912 in Bellville, Kansas, Hugh was the youngest child of Hugh H. Thompson and Susan Martin. His mother died when he was young and he came to Moweaqua with his father and two sisters. He was a miner for two years, wasn’t married and was survived by one sister and his father who died in Moweaqua March 4, 1952.
His service was held at 2:30pm on Wednesday, December 28, 1932 at the High School gym with Elder White officiating and he was buried in the Macon Cemetery in Macon, Illinois.
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ANDREW (ANDY) TIRPAK Age 18 or 19
Son of miner Michael Tirpak
Andy was born April 11, 1913 according to obituary (or April 12, 1914 according to his death certificate or April 11, 1914 on his tombstone) in Moweaqua and had only worked as a miner for one month before the accident. His parents Mike Tirpak and Anna Oravitz (or Oravetz) were members of the St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church and had at least 13 children. They lived at 519 S. Plum Street.
His service was most likely in the school gym on Wednesday morning, December 28, 1932 and he was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Pana that day.
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MICHAEL TIRPAK Age 48 or 49
Father of miner Andy Tirpak
According to his tombstone he was born January 10, 1883 while his death certificate states he was born in Zavatka (today in the Slovak Republic) on November 12, 1884. He married Anna Oravitz (Oravetz) in Pittsburgh, PA in 1904 or on June 12, 1905. They lived at 518 S. Plum St. in Moweaqua and Anna still lived there when she died on May 27, 1970. They had at least 13 and possibly 15 children. Michael came to the U.S. at age nine and had worked in coal mines for 28 years at the time of his death. He and his family were members of St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church.
His service was most likely in the school gym on Wednesday morning, December 28, 1932 and he was buried next to his son in Calvary Cemetery in Pana that day.
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CHARLES WEAVER WOODRING Age 25 Cousin to two miners
He was born December 5, 1907 in Moweaqua the oldest child of Charles E. Woodring and Grace Jackson. He served 18 months in the U.S. Navy, never married and worked 7 years in the mine. His father was also a coal miner at one time. His parents had at least six other children and three of them (not Charles) were sent to Kemmerer Village children’s home in 1920.
His service was held Tuesday afternoon, December 27, 1932 at the Methodist church and he was buried in the IOOF Cemetery in Moweaqua that day.
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CASMIR CHARLES YONIKUS Age 57
His obituary states that Charles was born in Russia in October 1875 while his birthday is left blank on his death certificate (age 57) and his tombstone lists 1876 as his birth year. There is no information about his parents as he came to the U.S. at the age of 20 years and settled in Asonia, PA. He later worked in coal mines in Springfield, IL, Kenosha, WI and Assumption, IL where he moved in 1906. He spent 35 years working in coal mines and had survived previous accidents. He had worked in the Moweaqua mine for two years before the accident. He married Eva Ann Buckett (1873-1951) somewhere in the U.S.
His service was held at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, December 29, 1932 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Assumption and he was interred in St. Mary’s Cemetery there.
Prepared by Mark W. Sorensen
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