Hugh O'Hara

     Hugh O'Hara was born on 1 November 1877 at Dernconner, Auchinleck, Ayrshire, Scotland.¹ He was the son of Hugh O'Hara and Mary Carnahan.¹

Hugh was enumerated with Hugh O'Hara on the census of 1 June 1880 at South Hickory Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, as Hugh O'Hara Jr. Hugh is 3 years old and was born in Scotland. His parents were both born in Scotland.²

The following mining history was submitted to Miners' Memorial by son Owen (Cobb) and his wife Erma O'Hara.

Hugh H. O'Hara was born on Feb. 22, 1877 in Scotland. My father started working in the mines in Scotland when he was nine years old. He immigrated to the United States, first coming to the Pennsylvania coal fields where they worked for a few years. They were strong union people. However, they weren't satisfied with the conditions there so they left for the coal fields at Streator, Ill. Later they traveled to Rich Hill, Mo., where they went to work in the mines.

The miners were determined to organize the union in Rich Hill. Eventually, they went on strike. The coal operators brought in Negro miners to work during the strike. My father and other miners decided to move on. It was told to me by my father that his family ordered a box car from the railroad to load all their kids, cows, chickens, and everything they owned for transport. Off they went for Weir City to work in the mines!

The miners organized in Weir City, but the mine operators there refused to recognize District 14 United Mine Workers of America. In fact, during the strike of 1899, the "Big Four" coal companies brought in scabs to work in an attempt to break the strike. Again, it was Negro miners [from Alabama]. Having other men take their jobs during a strike didn't set well with the miners, including my father, so it was time to move again.

Their next move was to Frontenac. Despite the miners' strong desire to ensure that they were paid a decent wage, they had problems organizing, but they did get it done. My folks stayed in Frontenac for years and that's where I still live.

If the mines were not working, my father would go to other places to work, including the mines of Colorado during the summer. Later, he went to Carpenter Creek, Montana where he met and married my mother, Josephine Gerlach. Their children are James Hugh, Owen Louis, Marzaric Josephine, and Patricia Sue and Veronica O'Hara. He and my mother decided it was too cold in Montana. We came back to Kansas. My sister Veronica was born in Frontenac. She is still living.

He worked most of the time in Kansas in the Frontenac mines for Jones and Dorris, the Pattons, Western Coal and Mining Company in Mine No. 21 north of Mindenmines, Central Coal and Coke Company in Mine No. 17, No. 22 north of Arma and others. That was the last of his coal mining days. He worked for over 55 years as a coal miner.

Dad was trained to give first aid to injured miners and was considered as one of the best in this work.

*Columnist Note: John M. Robb, in writing the summary of his thesis in July 1965, titled The Migration of Negro Coal Miners from Alabama to southeast Kansas in 1899, discovered that, in the spring of 1899, an organized corps of men appeared in Birmingham, Ala. They were employed by the "Big Four" coal companies to secure Negro miners for southeast Kansas coal fields. Aided by Negro orators, and printed propaganda, these men extolled the glories and advantages of the Kansan scene as compared to the lamentable conditions in Alabama. These men provided not only news of a better land, but transportation to that land, and an opportunity for the Negro miner to ply his trade there. To the Alabama miner, these promises sounded like opportunity knocking on the door of freedom. Eager to reach the better land, the Negro miner boarded trains provided by the companies and set out for "Beulah-land". When he reached the Kansan fields he discovered with surprised dismay, that a coal strike was in progress, and he was the weapon with which the companies sought to break the strike.

The strike by the District 14 United Mine Workers of America for recognition by the mining companies was threatened by the arrival of the Negro miners, but a general confrontation between Union and companies was circumvented when all operators in southeast Kansas, with the exception of the "Big Four", acceded to Union demands. During the ensuing period of adjustment by both white and Negro miners, approximately 65 percent of the Negro miners were organized into the ranks of the United Mine Workers. By December 1899, Negro miners had joined the United Mine Workers in such numbers that their value to the company as strikebreakers was generally lost. In June 1900, the strike was officially settled. All Union demands were granted.

The migration of Negro coal miners from Alabama to southeast Kansas in 1899 was only one of a multitude of manifestations of the Negro's search for self-identity and realization as a participating American citizen.

Robb's theses may be found in the Special Collections section of PSU Axe Library for an interesting and informative read. The "Big Four" coal companies were Central Coal and Coke Co. (largest), Western Coal and Mining Co., Kansas and Texas Coal Co., and Southwestern Coal and Improvement Co.

Anyone who has African-American ancestors who worked in the Weir-Pittsburg Coal Field of Cherokee and Crawford Counties are encouraged to submit their names to Miners' Memorial for etching on the monuments to be located in Immigrant Park on Second Street in downtown Pittsburg. Call Louis Casaletto at 232-1728 or Debby Close at 231-7419 for brochures and more information.³

Hugh was enumerated with Hugh O'Hara on the census of 6 June 1900 at Weir, Cherokee County, Kansas, as Hugh O'Hara. He is a 22 year old single white male born Nov 1877 in Scotland. Both of his parents were born in Scotland and he immigrated to the United States in 1878. He has been a resident for 22 years and is naturlaized. He is a coal miner and has been out of work for 7 months.⁴

Hugh O'Hara married Mary Jolly circa 1903.^5,6

Hugh O'Hara married Josephine Gerlach circa 1914.¹

Hugh is head of household on the census of 3 April 1930 at Wright Street, Frontenac, Crawford County, Kansas, as Hugh O'Hara. He is a 53 year old married white male born in Scotland as were both of his parents. His owns his own home which has a value of $500. He was 39 years old when first married. He works as a digger in a coal mine. Enumerated with him were Josephine Gerlach, James O'Hara, Owen Louis O'Hara, Marjorie O'Hara and Patricia O'Hara.⁷

Hugh O'Hara died on 14 February 1959 at Frontenac, Crawford County, Kansas, at age 81.¹ He was buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Frontenac, Crawford County, Kansas.⁵