Edward O'Toole: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American coal mining pioneer and inventor}} |
{{Short description|American coal mining pioneer and inventor}} |
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'''Edward O’Toole''' (December 27, 1866 – October 2, 1940), the first General Superintendent [https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/844 U.S. Coal & Coke Company], a subsidiary of [[U.S. Steel|U.S. Steel Corporation]] in [[Gary, West Virginia]], was coal mining visionary in the United States and inventor of national reputation. <ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Battlo |first=Jean |title=Pictorial History of McDowell County |publisher=McClain Printing Company |year=2003 |isbn=0-87012-692-X |pages=103-106}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Shawkey |first=Morris Purdy |title=West Virginia, in History, Life, Literature and Industry |publisher=The Lewis Publishing Company |year=1928 |volume=5 |location=Chicago, New York |pages=280-281 |lccn=28028392}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Toothman |first=Fred R. |title=Great Coal Leaders of West Virginia |publisher=Vandalia Book Co. |year=1988 |location=Huntington, WV |pages=200-205 |lccn=88051183}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Garay |first=Ronald G. |title=U.S. Steel and Gary, West Virginia: corporate paternalism in Appalachia |publisher=The University of Tennessee Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-57233-730-5 |edition=1st |location=Knoxville |pages=43-44, 70}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=McGehee |first=Stuart |date=1988 |title=Gary, A First-Class Operation |journal=Goldenseal |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=30-32 |issn=0099-0159}}</ref> His leadership led to rapid economic development in the region. He served on staffs of two West Virginia governors, resided as President of the Adkins District School Board, and organized several national banks. O’Toole had influence abroad and traveled around the world observing mining operations for his parent company. He later built a movie studio in Florida while working as an executive for Collonade Pictures Corporation. |
'''Edward O’Toole''' (December 27, 1866 – October 2, 1940), the first General Superintendent [https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/844 U.S. Coal & Coke Company], a subsidiary of [[U.S. Steel|U.S. Steel Corporation]] in [[Gary, West Virginia]], was coal mining visionary in the United States and inventor of national reputation. <ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Battlo |first=Jean |title=Pictorial History of McDowell County |publisher=McClain Printing Company |year=2003 |isbn=0-87012-692-X |pages=103-106}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Shawkey |first=Morris Purdy |title=West Virginia, in History, Life, Literature and Industry |publisher=The Lewis Publishing Company |year=1928 |volume=5 |location=Chicago, New York |pages=280-281 |lccn=28028392}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Toothman |first=Fred R. |title=Great Coal Leaders of West Virginia |publisher=Vandalia Book Co. |year=1988 |location=Huntington, WV |pages=200-205 |lccn=88051183}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Garay |first=Ronald G. |title=U.S. Steel and Gary, West Virginia: corporate paternalism in Appalachia |publisher=The University of Tennessee Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-57233-730-5 |edition=1st |location=Knoxville |pages=43-44, 70}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=McGehee |first=Stuart |date=1988 |title=Gary, A First-Class Operation |journal=Goldenseal |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=30-32 |issn=0099-0159}}</ref> His leadership led to rapid economic development in the region. He served on staffs of two West Virginia governors, resided as President of the Adkins District School Board, and organized several national banks. O’Toole had influence abroad and traveled around the world observing mining operations for his parent company. He later built a movie studio in Florida while working as an executive for Collonade Pictures Corporation. |
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Revision as of 16:28, 15 November 2023
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Edward O’Toole (December 27, 1866 – October 2, 1940), the first General Superintendent U.S. Coal & Coke Company, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel Corporation in Gary, West Virginia, was coal mining visionary in the United States and inventor of national reputation. [1][2][3][4][5] His leadership led to rapid economic development in the region. He served on staffs of two West Virginia governors, resided as President of the Adkins District School Board, and organized several national banks. O’Toole had influence abroad and traveled around the world observing mining operations for his parent company. He later built a movie studio in Florida while working as an executive for Collonade Pictures Corporation.
Early Life and Education
O'Toole was born in Salineville, Ohio, son of Edward and Margaret (Collins) O'Toole. His father was born in the town of Shrule in County Mayo, Ireland in 1828, the son of a surgeon. His mother was born in the parish of Islandeady in County Mayo, Ireland, 1828. Her father was a noted Irish scholar and farmer.[2]
The younger Edward attended the common schools of Columbiana County, Ohio and started to work in the coal mines in the summer between school terms when he was 9 years old.[1]
Career in Coal
With his early entrance in the coal mines and enduring career in the industry, O’Toole held a wide range of positions including mining, prospecting, purchasing, developing virgin tracts, and selling products. He was a known inventor and is credited with securing patents for new machinery and developing new coal processing methods.[3]
Prior to his successful career at U.S. Coal & Coke Company (USCC), O'Toole was employed by H.C. Frick Coke Company where he worked as an engineer before becoming an assistant to Orran W. Kennedy, the general superintendent of coal operations in Scottdale, Pennsylvania in 1888.[6][7]. When the Frick Company and USCC both became subsidiaries of U.S. Steel, Thomas Lynch formerly of H.C. Frick Coke Company and now president of U.S. Steel's coal mining subsidiaries, dispatched personnel of the highest caliber to lead USCC in making the mining operations in southern West Virginia a model in the industry. O'Toole was one of the leaders transferred to Gary to work as an assistant to Jared M. B Reis, the company's general manager in 1903. In 1904, Colonel O'Toole, as he would become known, became the longest serving general superintended in USCC history.[4]
Accomplishments
O'Toole directed the development of the great coal mines of U.S. Steel in West Virginia and Lynch, Kentucky over the course of 30 years. In that time, he invented several mining devices and innovative mining systems securing multiple U.S. Patents. Of most significance, were the O'Toole-Jeffrey Over Cutting Machine, the O'Toole Cutting and Loading Machine, and the process for the American Coal Cleaning Corporation's Dry Cleaning of Coal that he developed.[1]
He read papers before the American Iron and Steel Institute and Pocahontas Coal Field for the American Society of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers on the advantages of dry cleaning coal. HIs notable speaking engagements included addressing the American Society of Mechanical Engineers on the machinization of coal mines, and the operating officials of the Norfolk and Western Railway, an organization of esteemed efficiency of operation.[2]
O'Toole was the originator and supporter of the Workmen's Compensation Laws of the State of West Virginia in place in the 1920s.[2]
He was influential in politics as a member of the Republican Party and served as Colonel on Governor Dawson's staff from 1905-1909 and served as General under Governor Glassock from 1909-1913. O'Toole served as president of the Board of Education of Adkins District, West Virginia for 24 years. He belonged to the American Iron and Steel Institute, the Mining Engineers of Western Pennsylvania, and the American Society of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers.[2]
An expert in his field, O'Toole examined the mines of Germany, Belgium, France, and England, for the benefit of the coal mining branch of U.S. Steel. He visited South America for the purpose of investigating the coal market on behalf of the Central Pocahontas Coal Company and the Crystal Block Companies.[2]
Legacy
O’Toole, nicknamed "Colonel" played a large role in the economic development of the area of southern West Virginia and southeastern Kentucky. When he arrived in McDowell County in 1903, Gary and the surrounding areas were still resembled wilderness.[1][7] By the 1930’s in great part due to his and U.S. Steel's efforts, the area was well established and boasted of some of the finest schools in the county, modern houses, and the best equipped mining plants in West Virginia.[1] O'Toole established a company baseball club and occassionally recruited big-leaguers from as far as New York for important games against neighboring camps.[5]
The town of Sarah Ann, West Virginia acquired its name from the wife of Edward O’Toole. O'Toole was manager of the coal company when the town applied to the government for a post office.[8]
He was instrumental in the formation of the following institutions:[2]
- National banks of Gary, West Virginia, Anawalt, West Virginia and Lynch, Kentucky
- Central Pocahontas Coal Company
- Crystal Block Coal & Coke Company
- Crystal Block Mining Company
- Crystal Supply Company
- Tug River Electric Company
- Kentucky River Power Company
U.S. Patents
O’Toole is credited with being granted the approval for a series of U.S. Patents between 1914-1937.[9]
| Patent No. | Title | Filed | Granted |
|---|---|---|---|
| US1096795A | Method of and apparatus for sinking shafts | 1911 | 1914 |
| US1143897A | Mining-machine | 1912 | 1915 |
| US1283880A | Mining-machine | 1913 | 1918 |
| US1517095A | Mining apparatus | 1923 | 1924 |
| US1534462A | Mining machine | 1923 | 1925 |
| US1617688A | Rotary screen | 1924 | 1927 |
| US1638507A | Mining and loading machine | 1925 | 1927 |
| US1687306A | Mining machine | 1927 | 1928 |
| US1888636A | Screening and concentrating apparatus | 1929 | 1932 |
| US1914282A | Filter for removing dust from the air | 1931 | 1933 |
| US1949324A | Apparatus for dry cleaning of coal | 1931 | 1934 |
| US1950861A | Method and apparatus for feeding, and separating, dry coal from refuse | 1931 | 1934 |
| US1951705A | Apparatus for the separation of coal and the like | 1931 | 1934 |
| US2044628A | Treating coal, ore, grain, and similar materials | 1933 | 1936 |
Motion Picture Executive
O’Toole retired from U.S. Steel in 1933 and left McDowell County. He retired first to Florida in 1935 then to California, where he found a new interest in motion pictures. After studying motion pictures there, O’Toole returned to Florida, founded the Coral Gables Studio, and served as an executive at Collonade Pictures Corporation in Coral Gables, Florida.[1][10][11]
Death
Two months after visiting Gary and Bluefield, West Virginia, O'Toole suffered from a heart attack and died at his home in Coral Gables in 1940.[1][3] His body was returned to West Virginia by train for funeral services at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bluefield.[3] He is buried in Monte Vista Park Cemetery in Bluefield, West Virginia. O'Toole was survived by his wife Sarah who later died in 1954.
Personal Life
O'Toole was married in Saint Vincent de Paul's Church, Leisenring, Pennsylvania, to Sarah Goodwin of Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, who was educated in common schools of Pennsylvania and worked as a housekeeper. They were married on September 25, 1893 and were parents of 9 children born between 1894 and 1913.[2]
Their first child, William J. O'Toole, rose to prominence and was appointed as Minister to Paraguay in 1922 at age 28, the youngest to serve in such a position at the time.[3] William O'Toole died from an accidental fall supervising construction at the American Coal Cleaning Company's plant at Gilliam, West Virginia where he served as the corporation's president.[12]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Battlo, Jean (2003). Pictorial History of McDowell County. McClain Printing Company. pp. 103–106. ISBN 0-87012-692-X.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Shawkey, Morris Purdy (1928). West Virginia, in History, Life, Literature and Industry. Vol. 5. Chicago, New York: The Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 280–281. LCCN 28028392.
- ^ a b c d e Toothman, Fred R. (1988). Great Coal Leaders of West Virginia. Huntington, WV: Vandalia Book Co. pp. 200–205. LCCN 88051183.
- ^ a b Garay, Ronald G. (2011). U.S. Steel and Gary, West Virginia: corporate paternalism in Appalachia (1st ed.). Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press. pp. 43–44, 70. ISBN 978-1-57233-730-5.
- ^ a b McGehee, Stuart (1988). "Gary, A First-Class Operation". Goldenseal. 14 (3): 30–32. ISSN 0099-0159.
- ^ Vivian, Cassandra (2020). Henry Clay Frick and the golden age of coal and coke, 1870-1920. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-4766-8155-9.
- ^ a b "Connellsville Coal & Coke Region, Connellsville, Fayette County, PA". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. p. 53. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ Brandon Ray, Kirk (1937). "Origin of Place Names in Logan County, WV".
- ^ a b "Google Patents". Google Patents.
- ^ "Ed. OToole, Colonnade Pictures Exec, Dead". The Film Daily (Oct-Dec 1940). 78. 1940.
- ^ "COL. EDWARD O'TOOLE DIES". Evening Herald Courier (Bristol, Tennessee). October 3, 1940. p. 2.
- ^ "William O'Toole Killed By Fall". The Evening Star, Washington, D.C. August 27, 1928. p. 2.
