Black Diamond a bit of Coal Dust - Rock Dust has compiled this listing of Ethnic Miners that worked in and around the Lynch, Kentucky Coal Mines. Many of these names are not the original ethnic name. When these families immigrated to this country through Ellis Island, New York, some of the officials that interviewed these individuals could not understand the language of origin and would write down what sounded like the name or in many instances would just write down what they thought was the name of the immigrant so as to give it an American flavor. If you know of a family that should be listed here, please forward the appropriate details toaudra-billearthlink.net
May you remember always that our forefathers, oppressed and foresaken, departed the land of their birth and came to this land of "The Home of The Brave", to begin a new life with hope in their hearts for a better future for their children and their childrens, children. They were honest and industrous people and they found a happy future here in America and so here are the ethnic familes today, humble but proud of the past. The U S Post Office at Lynch did a large volume of business. In 1921, over a half million pieces of mail were processed and it was reported that almost sixty percent of the outgoing mail was addressed to countries of eastern europe. There was also a bank for these early settlers. The bank had a foreign exchange department, kept foreign currencies on hand, and could exchange notes from more than fifteen countries. As we go forward for and into this great country, we should also remember those who sacrificed and gave their lives in the coal mining endeavor of Eastern Kentucky. Let us not forget and always remember-they loved God, America and their fellow man. In compiling this brief we are attempting to give children, grandchildren and great-great granchildren the most important gift we can give: an accounting of everday life as it was and as it continues today.
Everyone has a story of his own: Memories, Wisdoms, Scraps of Writing, School Reports, Year Books, Photographs, Aunts, Uncles, grand parents, neighbors and friends; and by sharing information we will be able to know something about our relatives.
What do we hope to learn by looking back over our shoulder? Hopefully, appreciation of family, kinship, friendship and some laughter. Understanding of some of the forces that have shaped us: Living in many different countries, houses, many different coal mining communities, churches, schools, wars: World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the different cities and states.
