Robert Cox: Hanna Old Timer and Coal Miner
Page by Bob Leathers
Robert Cox (UPCCEM, Feb. 1930)
Life Story
1866: Robert Cox was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, England to Richard and Elizabeth (Roberts) Cox. He was born in what is now known as the Black Country in England.
1869: Robert Cox arrived in America with his parent Elizabeth and Richard Cox. He lived in Saint Clair, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania.
1880: Robert Cox was living in St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Robert's mother Elizabeth Cox, born about 1832, occupation keeping house, age 48, born in England was living in Saint Clair, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania with her husband Richard Cox, born about 1830 in England, age 50, a coal miner, and her son Robert J. Cox, age 16, a fan turner in the coal mine, a single, white, male, born about 1864 in England. (1880 U.S. Census)
1888: The Hanna town site at Chimney Springs was surveyed and the area explored for coal mine locations. Mark Hanna, at the request of the Union Pacific Railroad, toured the Wyoming coal mines. On his trip he visited the newly discovered coal fields at Chimney Springs for possible expansion. He recommended the coal field be developed. When the decision to move the coal operation from Carbon to Hanna was made, the coal site at Chimney Springs was named Hanna after Mark Hanna.
1889: Robert Cox along with his parents Elizabeth and Richard Cox and sister Jane Cox followed his brother Joseph Cox to Carbon, Wyoming and were living in the coal camp at Carbon in 1889.
1889 July 12: Robert's father, Richard Cox passed away in Carbon, Wyoming, at the age of 68.
1899: Robert married Alice Brown when he was 35 years old.
1890 June 19: A fierce fire broke out in Carbon and burned most of the business district to the ground. A few reports indicate the fire started in the Scranton House hotel where a guest knocked over a kerosene lamp. The fire fighters even tried dynamiting a few buildings in hopes of stopping the fire from spreading, but their efforts were not successful. Immediately after the fire, the people and businesses started rebuilding the town and new laws and ordinances were passed to help avoid such a thing from happening again.
1900: Robert was living in Carbon, Wyoming. He was a coal miner by occupation.
1900: The two-story Finn Hall was moved from Carbon to Hanna. The Finnish miners moved the hall by hand seven miles from Carbon to the Hanna. The hall was originally placed near the first school.
1902: The Union Pacific Coal Company towns of Carbon and Hanna overlapped coal production for 13 years from 1889 to 1902.
1903 June 30: The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 Mine exploded killing 169 men.
1903 August 8: The Coroner's Inquest was published for the Union Pacific Coal Company's June 30, 1903 explosion of Hanna mine No. 1, which killed 169 men. The report consisted of questions and answers from the miners that survived the explosion.
1908 March 28: The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 Mine Exploded again killing an additional 59 men.
1912: Robert Cox, age 48, married Mary Ann Buckley in Rock Springs, Wyoming. His sister Jane (Cox) Pickering was living in Rock Springs at the time.
1912 - 1929: Robert was living in Hanna and a coal miner. He was working in Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 mine and No. 4 mine. (BL)
1915 October 21: Robert's mother Elizabeth passed away in Lynn, Colorado, at the age of 88.
1929 December 5: Robert Cox died in Hanna, Wyoming at the age of 65. His death certificate indicated that he died from a Cerebral Hemorrhage, widowed, a laborer in mining, born 1864 in England, the son of Richard and Elizabeth (Roberts) Cox. (1929 Death Certificate) He was buried in the Fairmont Cemetery in Denver, Colorado with other Cox family members. (BL)
Death of Old Timer Robert Cox a Sad Blow to Hanna
The community of Hanna was shocked and grieved by the sudden death of Robert Cox on December 4th at the home of Mrs. Eliza While, where he was staying. Mr. Cox had not been sick previously but had been feeling as usual and had attended a social of the I.O.O.P. Lodge, of which he was a member. He had just returned home when death came.
Robert Cox was a member of the Old Timers’ Association and was well known and liked by all, making hosts of friends by his pleasant and congenial nature. He was born in Yorkshire, England, sixty-six years ago and came to this country with his parents when but a child. He lived in Carbon a number of years where he worked in the mines, moving from there to Rock Springs. He came to Hanna in January 1912, and has been employed here since, working in and around the mines.
Funeral Services were held in Denver, Colo., on Saturday, December 7th, and interment made in Fremont Cemetery. He leaves to mourn his death seven nieces, four nephews and a host of friends.
Among those who attended the funeral of Robert Cox were two nieces, Mrs. Milly Hanson of Rock Springs, and Mrs. Geo. Harris of Green River, Mrs. Eliza While and Jack While; Mr. And Mrs. John While, Sr., and Job While of Hanna; Mr. And Mrs. Joe Woods and Mr. James Buckley, of Cheyenne, and Mr. John Moody, of Hygiene, Colo. (UPCCEM, Feb. 1930)
Fairmount Cemetery, Denver County, Denver Colorado Records
Robert Cox Headstone at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. (Image by Bob Leathers)