The Ancestors and Cousins of Tracy Lynn DeVault

Walter Homer Gammill, Jr.¹

M, #31926

Parents

Father	Walter Homer Gammill (b. 12 October 1906, d. 22 March 1993)
Mother	Francesca "Frances" Cardinale (b. 19 February 1912, d. 11 February 1994)

Pedigree Link

Family: Laurel Lee Wendte

Son	Todd W. Gammill
Son	Timothy R. Gammill
Son	Kirk N. Gammill

BASIC FACTS

Walter Homer Gammill, Jr., and Laurel Lee Wendte were married on 30 March 1969 in Yosemite National Park, Mariposa Co., California.²

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine

Family Explorer

Walter William Mansfield^1,2

M, #31927, b. 14 October 1895, d. 19 September 1972

Parents

Father	William Mansfield
Mother	Bessie Roberts

Pedigree Link

Family: Dorothy Louise "Louise" Gammill (b. 14 October 1907, d. 1 August 1998)

Son	Cleman Dale Mansfield (b. 3 January 1924, d. 16 July 1938)
Son	Walter J. "Bill" Mansfield+ (b. 25 January 1926, d. 18 January 1995)
Son	James Calton Mansfield+ (b. 20 August 1927, d. 7 June 2006)
Son	Jackie Edward Mansfield (b. 1 July 1930, d. 21 April 1945)
Daughter	Alta Dell "Jerrie" Mansfield+
Son	Charles Lewis Mansfield+
Son	Richard Lee Mansfield+ (b. 18 May 1939, d. 25 August 2006)

BASIC FACTS

Walter William Mansfield was born on 4 October 1895 in Oklahoma.³ He was born on 14 October 1895 in Okeene, Blaine Co., Oklahoma.^1,4 He and Dorothy Louise "Louise" Gammill were married on 4 June 1925 in Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado. He died on 19 September 1972, at age 76, in Rico, Dolores Co., Colorado.¹ He was buried in Craig Cemetery, Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.⁴

Walter William Mansfield had reference number 32219. His Social Security Number was 523-09-9298, issued: Colorado; last residence: Craig, Moffat, Co., Colorado.⁵ He was a Laborer - home farm (1910); painter - employed by Lee Mansfield (1917); laborer, sugar factory (1920); farmer - livestock (1930.)^2,4 He was enumerated on the census in Blaine County, Oklahoma (1910); Boulder County, Colorado (1920); Moffat County, Colorado (1930.)⁴ GRAVE MARKER

MANSFIELD
MOTHER FATHER
D. LOUISE WALTER W.
1907 - 1998 1895 - 1972.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S1577] 1930 Census, Colorado, Moffat County
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine
[S5460] Genealogy prepared by Cathy (Crabtree) Cook (Elizabeth (Dawalt) Payne File)
[S12398] Social Security Death Index, Source Medium: Book

Family Explorer

William Mansfield¹

M, #31928

Pedigree Link

Family: Bessie Roberts

Son	Walter William Mansfield+ (b. 14 October 1895, d. 19 September 1972)

BASIC FACTS

William Mansfield had reference number 32220.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)

Family Explorer

Bessie Roberts¹

F, #31929

Pedigree Link

Family: William Mansfield

Son	Walter William Mansfield+ (b. 14 October 1895, d. 19 September 1972)

BASIC FACTS

Bessie Roberts had reference number 32221.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)

Family Explorer

Cleman Dale Mansfield^1,2,3

M, #31930, b. 3 January 1924, d. 16 July 1938

Parents

Father	Walter William Mansfield (b. 14 October 1895, d. 19 September 1972)
Mother	Dorothy Louise "Louise" Gammill (b. 14 October 1907, d. 1 August 1998)

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

Cleman Dale Mansfield was born on 3 January 1924 in Hayden, Routt Co., Colorado.¹ He died on 16 July 1938, at age 14, in Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.¹ He was buried in Craig Cemetery, Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.³

Cleman Dale Mansfield had reference number 32222. He was enumerated on the census in Moffat County, Colorado (1930.) GRAVE MARKER

MANSFIELD
CLEMAN DALE
1924 - 1938.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S1577] 1930 Census, Colorado, Moffat County
[S4980] Find A Grave (Internet), Source Medium: Book

Family Explorer

Walter J. "Bill" Mansfield^1,2

M, #31931, b. 25 January 1926, d. 18 January 1995

Parents

Father	Walter William Mansfield (b. 14 October 1895, d. 19 September 1972)
Mother	Dorothy Louise "Louise" Gammill (b. 14 October 1907, d. 1 August 1998)

Pedigree Link

Family: Novella Armel Pulliam (b. 25 April 1932, d. 9 May 1990)

Son	Jackie Dale Mansfield+

BASIC FACTS

Walter J. "Bill" Mansfield was born on 25 January 1926 in Hayden, Routt Co., Colorado.³ He and Novella Armel Pulliam were married on 12 June 1949.⁴ He died on 18 January 1995, at age 68, in Moffat County, Colorado.^5,6,1 He was buried in Craig Cemetery, Craig, Moffot Co., Colorado.²

Walter J. "Bill" Mansfield was also known as Walter William "Bill" Mansfield, Jr.^3,7,8 He had reference number 32223. He was enumerated on the census in Moffat County, Colorado (1930.) His Social Security Number was 524-28-4973, issued: Colorado, last residence: Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.⁶ World War II.¹ GRAVE MARKER

MANSFIELD
NOVELLA A. WALTER J. "BILL"
APR. 25, 1932 JAN. 25, 1926
MAY 9, 1990 JAN. 18, 1995
MARRIED JUNE 12, 1949.

Citations

[S5460] Genealogy prepared by Cathy (Crabtree) Cook (Elizabeth (Dawalt) Payne File)
[S4980] Find A Grave (Internet), Source Medium: Book
[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine
[S9891] Obituary - Dorothy Louise (Gammill) Mansfield-Redmon
[S12398] Social Security Death Index, Source Medium: Book
[S1577] 1930 Census, Colorado, Moffat County
[S10955] Obituary - Leether Thomas Redmon

Family Explorer

James Calton Mansfield^1,2

M, #31932, b. 20 August 1927, d. 7 June 2006

Parents

Father	Walter William Mansfield (b. 14 October 1895, d. 19 September 1972)
Mother	Dorothy Louise "Louise" Gammill (b. 14 October 1907, d. 1 August 1998)

Pedigree Link

Family: Ethel F. Cattoor

Son	James Ray Mansfield
Daughter	Sandra Jean Mansfield+
Daughter	Diana Mae Mansfield (b. 5 August 1951, d. 4 October 1997)
Daughter	Susan Kaye Mansfield
Daughter	Pamela Ann Mansfield+
Daughter	Carolyn Fay Mansfield

BASIC FACTS

James Calton Mansfield was born on 20 August 1927 in Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.^1,2,3 He and Ethel F. Cattoor were married on 23 October 1948 in Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.⁴ He died on 7 June 2006, at age 78, in Grand Junction, Mesa Co., Colorado.^5,6,3 He was buried in Craig Cemetery, Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.⁷

James Calton Mansfield had reference number 32224. He was enumerated on the census in Moffat County, Colorado (1930.) His Social Security Number was 524-28-2946, issued: Colorado, last residence: Clifton, Mesa Co., Colorado.⁶ He resided in Craig, Moffat County, Colorado (1927- ); Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado (1994-2006); Clifton, Mesa County, Colorado (1998.)⁸ World War II, U.S. Army, enlisted 1945, spent part of that time in Korea. discharged in 1947 (obit); enlisted 7 Feb. 1946 at Camp Roberts, California for the Panama Canal Department as a PFC.^7,9 He was a Farmer (1945); truck driver & diesel mechanic, employed by Western Coal Carriers (23 years.)⁹ OBITUARY - Craig Daily Press, June 28, 2006

James Calton Mansfield was born in Craig on August 20, 1927, to Walter and Louise Mansfield.
James grew up in Craig and went into the Army in 1945 when he was 18 years old and spent part of that time in Korea.
He was discharged in 1947 and returned to Craig.
He married Ethel Cattoor in 1948, and they had six children; Sandra, Diana, Susan, Pamela, Carolyn and James Ray.
James was a truck driver and diesel mechanic and retired in 1989 after 23 years with Western Coal Carriers.
James was a life member of VFW post 4265 and a member of Cooties, a branch of the VFW.
James was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother.
He loved to hunt and fish, horses and anything he did with his family.
In 1994, James and Ethel moved to Grand Junction, where he passed away June 7, 2006. He was 78 years old.
James is survived by his wife, Ethel; his son James Ray (Laura) Mansfield of Grand Junction; his daughters Sandra Mansfield of Craig, Susan (Walter) Avila of Colorado Springs, Pamela (Jerry) Kregg of Centennial, and Carolyn (Mike) Houser of Fort Collins; his brothers Charles (Beth) Mansfield of Craig, and Richard (Gladys) Mansfield of Craig; his sister Jerrie Simpson of Craig; his stepbrother Don (Lottie) Redmon of Grand Junction; his stepfather Leether Redmon of Grand Junction; 12 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
James is preceded in death by his daughter Diana LeCompte; his parents Louise and Walter Mansfield; his brothers Bill, Clemen, Dale and Jackie and his brother-in-law Earl Simpson.

FUNERAL NOTICE - Craig Daily Press (CO), Internet Edition, Wed., June 14, 2006: Death: James Mansfield

Funeral services for James Mansfield were on Saturday, June 10, 2006 at the First Christian Church, 960 W. Victory. Interment will follow in the Craig Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Children's Hospital in care of Grant Mortuary.

GRAVE MARKER

JAMES
CALTON
MANSFIELD
PFC
US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
AUG 20 1927
JUN 7 2006.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S1577] 1930 Census, Colorado, Moffat County
[S10576] Obituary - James Calton Mansfield
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine
[S11655] Obituary - Richard Lee Mansfield
[S12398] Social Security Death Index, Source Medium: Book
[S4980] Find A Grave (Internet), Source Medium: Book
[S9891] Obituary - Dorothy Louise (Gammill) Mansfield-Redmon
[S5460] Genealogy prepared by Cathy (Crabtree) Cook (Elizabeth (Dawalt) Payne File)

Family Explorer

Jackie Edward Mansfield¹

M, #31933, b. 1 July 1930, d. 21 April 1945

Parents

Father	Walter William Mansfield (b. 14 October 1895, d. 19 September 1972)
Mother	Dorothy Louise "Louise" Gammill (b. 14 October 1907, d. 1 August 1998)

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

Jackie Edward Mansfield was born on 1 July 1930 in Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.¹ He died on 21 April 1945, at age 14, in Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.¹ He was buried in Craig Cemetery, Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery.²

Jackie Edward Mansfield had reference number 32225. When Jackie was 14 years 9 months and 14 days old, he and a friend, Pierre Johnson, were tending sheep about 4 miles north of Craig, Colorado. They had taken a .22 rifle with them to shoot squirrels and targets while tending the sheep. Pierre found a piece of wire and fashioned it into a sling to hang the rifle off his shoulder. The two boys were standing close together when Pierre slung the rifle off his shoulder. In some manner the gun fired, the bullet striking Jackie just above the left hip. He slumped to the ground telling Pierre, "I'm shot." Pierre ran to the nearest farm for help returning with the farmer and his car. Pierre held Jackie while traveling towards Craig. Jackie died in his friend's arms before they reached the hospital. Jackie had a brother (who is unknown at this time) named Cleman Gale who died in a shooting accident almost identical to this incident. Jackie was buried next to him at Fairview.

GRAVE MARKER

MANSFIELD
JACKIE EDWARD
1930 - 1945.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine

Family Explorer

Alta Dell "Jerrie" Mansfield^1,2

F, #31934

Parents

Father	Walter William Mansfield (b. 14 October 1895, d. 19 September 1972)
Mother	Dorothy Louise "Louise" Gammill (b. 14 October 1907, d. 1 August 1998)

Pedigree Link

Family: George Earl Simpson (b. 9 July 1927, d. 16 April 2000)

Daughter	Janine Louise Simpson (b. 16 November 1957, d. 27 June 1962)
Daughter	Judy Earlene Simpson+

BASIC FACTS

Alta Dell "Jerrie" Mansfield and George Earl Simpson were married on 23 May 1948 in Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.^2,1

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine

Family Explorer

Charles Lewis Mansfield^1,2

M, #31935

Parents

Father	Walter William Mansfield (b. 14 October 1895, d. 19 September 1972)
Mother	Dorothy Louise "Louise" Gammill (b. 14 October 1907, d. 1 August 1998)

Pedigree Link

Family: Beth Rickenbach

Daughter	Marlene Mansfield+
Daughter	Brenda Mansfield+

BASIC FACTS

Charles Lewis Mansfield and Beth Rickenbach were married on 2 November 1960 in Fruita, Mesa Co., Colorado.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine

Family Explorer

Richard Lee Mansfield^1,2

M, #31936, b. 18 May 1939, d. 25 August 2006

Parents

Father	Walter William Mansfield (b. 14 October 1895, d. 19 September 1972)
Mother	Dorothy Louise "Louise" Gammill (b. 14 October 1907, d. 1 August 1998)

Pedigree Link

Family: Frankie J. Unknown

Daughter	Denise Mansfield
Daughter	Marianne Mansfield
Daughter	Tammy Mansfield
Son	Allan Mansfield
Son	Dale Mansfield
Son	Terry Lynn Mansfield (b. 23 June 1958, d. 9 September 1967)

BASIC FACTS

Richard Lee Mansfield was born on 18 May 1939 in Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.^2,3,4 He and Gladys E. Shaffer were married on 4 November 1984 in Las Vegas, Clark Co., Nevada.⁴ He died on 25 August 2006, at age 67, in Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.^3,4 He was buried in Craig Cemetery, Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.⁵

Richard Lee Mansfield had reference number 32228. His Social Security Number was 522-48-5768, issued: Colorado, last residence: Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado.³ He resided in Craig, Moffat Co., Colorado (1998, 2006.)^6,7 OBITUARY - Craig Daily Press, September 6, 2006

Richard Lee Mansfield was born May 18, 1939, in Craig, to Walter and Louise (Gammell) Mansfield. He was raised and attended school in Craig, graduating from Moffat County High School in 1957. Following high school, Richard attended a vo-tech school, where he studied TV repair.
He had various occupations during his life including raising and breaking horses, running his own asphalt business in Las Vegas, working for Savage Brothers Trucking as a truck driver, as a heavy equipment operator in road construction and for Moffat County Road and Bridge Department.
Richard married Gladys Shaffer on November 4,1984, in Las Vegas. Richard enjoyed life and his spare time was spent fishing and hunting.
Richard died on Friday, Aug. 25 at The Memorial Hospital in Craig.
He is survived by his wife, Gladys Mansfield of Craig; daughters, Denise Speare of Lodi, Calif., Marianne Maigatter of Craig, and Tammy (Robert) Cowles of Newport, Ore.; sons, Allan (Beverly) Mansfield and Dale Mansfield, both of Las Vegas; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Gerry Simpson of Craig; brother, Charles (Beth) Mansfield of Craig; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Cleman, Jack, Bill and James, and a son, Terry.
Memorial services were held Friday at First Christian Church, with Mervin Johnson officiating. Musical numbers were "The Old Rugged Cross" and "The Church in the Wildwood," sung by Wanda Brown and accompanied by Anne Carr. Honorary pallbearers were all of Richard's family and his many friends.
Memorial donations may be made to the Moffat County Cancer Society in care of Grant Mortuary.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Craig Daily Press (CO), Internet Edition, Wed., Sep 27, 2006:

Gladys Mansfield and family: Thank you for response, support :
To the editor:
The family of Richard Mansfield would like to thank the police department, ambulance crew and hospital staff for their professional response to our emergency.
Also, for all the flowers, food, cards and visits from friends and family.
This is truly a reminder for all to appreciate our small town pulling together in time of need.
God bless.
Gladys Mansfield and family: Tammy, Marianne, Allen, Dale and Denise

GRAVE MARKER

TERRY LYNN
MANSFIELD
JUNE 23, 1958
SEPT. 9, 1967
SON OF
RICHARD L. & FRANKIE J. MANSFIELD

RICHARD L. MANSFIELD
FATHER
1939 - 2006.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine
[S12398] Social Security Death Index, Source Medium: Book
[S11655] Obituary - Richard Lee Mansfield
[S4980] Find A Grave (Internet), Source Medium: Book
[S10576] Obituary - James Calton Mansfield
[S9891] Obituary - Dorothy Louise (Gammill) Mansfield-Redmon

Family Explorer

Owen Kermit "Slim" Hamilton¹

M, #31937, b. 28 February 1903, d. 29 December 1983

Parents

Father	Robert J. Hamilton
Mother	Winifred Schooley

Pedigree Link

Family: Heazel Frances Gammill (b. 1 December 1910, d. 22 August 1989)

Son	Joseph Ray Hamilton+
Daughter	Judith Ann Hamilton+

BASIC FACTS

Owen Kermit "Slim" Hamilton was born on 28 February 1903 in Kamrar, Hamilton Co., Iowa.¹ He and Heazel Frances Gammill were married on 28 March 1928 in Haden, Routt Co., Colorado. He died on 29 December 1983, at age 80, in Grand Junction, Mesa Co., Colorado.¹ He was buried in Palisade Cemetery, Palisade, Mesa Co., Colorado.^2,3

Owen Kermit "Slim" Hamilton had reference number 32229. His Social Security Number was 522-03-9623, issued: Colorado, last residence: Clifton, Mesa Co., Colorado.⁴ He was enumerated on the census in Red Willow County, Nebraska (1910); Routt County, Colorado (1920); Carbon County, Utah (1930.)⁵ GRAVE MARKER

FATHER
OWEN K.
HAMILTON
FEB. 28, 1903
DEC. 29, 1983
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine
[S4980] Find A Grave (Internet), Source Medium: Book
[S12398] Social Security Death Index, Source Medium: Book
[S5460] Genealogy prepared by Cathy (Crabtree) Cook (Elizabeth (Dawalt) Payne File)

Family Explorer

Robert J. Hamilton¹

M, #31938

Pedigree Link

Family: Winifred Schooley

Son	Owen Kermit "Slim" Hamilton+ (b. 28 February 1903, d. 29 December 1983)

BASIC FACTS

Robert J. Hamilton had reference number 32230.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)

Family Explorer

Winifred Schooley¹

F, #31939

Pedigree Link

Family: Robert J. Hamilton

Son	Owen Kermit "Slim" Hamilton+ (b. 28 February 1903, d. 29 December 1983)

BASIC FACTS

Winifred Schooley had reference number 32231.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)

Family Explorer

Joseph Ray Hamilton^1,2

M, #31940

Parents

Father	Owen Kermit "Slim" Hamilton (b. 28 February 1903, d. 29 December 1983)
Mother	Heazel Frances Gammill (b. 1 December 1910, d. 22 August 1989)

Pedigree Link

Family: Dorothy Colvin

Daughter	Debora Ray Hamilton
Son	Mark Owen Hamilton
Son	Joseph Earl Hamilton

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine

Family Explorer

Judith Ann Hamilton^1,2

F, #31941

Parents

Father	Owen Kermit "Slim" Hamilton (b. 28 February 1903, d. 29 December 1983)
Mother	Heazel Frances Gammill (b. 1 December 1910, d. 22 August 1989)

Pedigree Link

Family: Howard Allen Marsh

Daughter	Daylene Marsh
Daughter	Kathleen Marsh

BASIC FACTS

Judith Ann Hamilton and Howard Allen Marsh were married on 16 May 1957 in Glenwood Springs, Garfield Co., Colorado.²

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine

Family Explorer

Arthur William Van Cleave^1,2,3

M, #31942, b. 8 March 1907, d. 27 January 1942

Parents

Father	Church William "Churchie" Van Cleave
Mother	Lila J. Kitchens

Pedigree Link

Family: Elizabeth Marzella "Marzella" Gammill (b. 23 November 1915, d. 23 October 1999)

Son	Carroll J. Van Cleave+
Daughter	Lila Jean Van Cleave+
Daughter	Rosemary Lee Van Cleave+
Daughter	Arthene Willette Van Cleave+

BASIC FACTS

Arthur William Van Cleave was born on 8 March 1907 in Steamboat Springs, Routt Co., Colorado.³ He died on 27 January 1942, at age 34, in Victor American Coal Company's Wadge Mine, Mount Harris, Routt Co., Colorado.⁴ He died on 27 January 1942, at age 34, in Steamboat Springs, Routt Co., Colorado.^1,3 He was buried in Steamboat Spring Cemetery, Steamboat Spring, Route Co., Colorado.⁵

Arthur William Van Cleave had reference number 32234. He was a Mechanic helper - garage (1930.)⁴ NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Craig Empire-Courier; January 28, 1942; http://www.museumnwco.org/lookBackArticle.php?lookBackID=40

Wadge Mine Disaster in Mount Harris.
The Following Six Men from Craig Are among Casualties; H. H. Hartman, Joe Goodrich, Don Ford, Raymond Pope, Charley Baker, Frank Shepherd.
State Officials Are Investigating Cause of the Blast.
Bodies Being Brought out Today.

Thirty-four Mount Harris miners lost their lives in what is believed to be Colorado's greatest mine disaster last night, when an explosion occurred in a workroom and tunnel of the Victor American Coal Company Wadge Mine at Mount Harris, 22 miles east of Craig. First news of the disaster reached the outside world at about 10:15 PM last night when Joe Gall, Robert Fickle, Elmer Eversole, and Mike Atanasoff escaped from the mine through the airshaft. They said that they were working in a room several hundred feet closer to the entrance of the mine than the room where the explosion took place. They felt the vibration of the blast, and knew that a serious explosion had taken place. Investigation of the disaster was started at once and it was soon apparent that all 34 men who were working in the 19th tunnel some 5500 feet from the mine entrance had been killed either by the force of the explosion or from falling rocks and coal from the tunnel and workrooms off this tunnel. The Wadge Mines main tunnel with air shafts parallel to the main tunnel extends west from the main entrance which is located on the north side of U.S. 40 in Mount Harris. From the main tunnel other work tunnels branch off to the north. It was in the 19th branch tunnel, the one furthest to the west and north that the explosion took place. The main tunnel drops off at an angle of about 10 degrees from the surface of the earth at the location. Hoists pull the cars from the mine on this incline. Thus the explosion actually took place at a distance of a little over a mile north and west of the town of Mount Harris. Work of clearing the debris from the mine in an effort to reach the bodies was started last night but it was 10:30 this morning when the first bodies were brought out. It was necessary to place these bodies on stretchers and carry them some 2000 feet where they were placed on mine cars and brought to the surface. At 10:30 AM eight bodies had been recovered. It is probable that it will be nightfall or later before all the bodies can be removed. Arrangements have been made at Mount Harris to take the bodies to the Liberty Hall, the town's movie theater where they will probably remain until the inquest can be completed. The mine officials and state mine inspectors have started an investigation in an effort to determine the cause of the explosion. It is believe that mine gas must have been the cause of the blast, but what set it off has not been determined. The men who lost their lives went into the mine at 3:30 yesterday afternoon and would have completed their shift at about 11 o'clock last night. Thus they had been at work for some time before the explosion took place. District attorney Ray Monson said here today, that the inquest would be started either tonight or tomorrow morning. Funeral arrangements of course had scarcely been considered today since friends and relatives are still stunned by the sudden disaster. All families of the deceased men will receive compensation through Colorado's workman compensation law and from Federal Social Security. Mr. Leonard Smith of Grand Junction will be in this community in the near future to make Social Security adjustments for the families. Of the men living in Craig who lost their lives, Charley Baker was age 37 and is survived by his wife and one child Aubrey, 13. Don Ford, single, age 25 is a brother of Emmett Ford. He had already completed examinations in preparation for entering the armed service and was only working until he would be called for active duty. His mother Mina C, Ford lives at Parkdale. Joe Goodrich age 40 was single and is survived by his brother George R. of Vernal, Utah. Frank Shepherd age 33 is survived by his wife and four children, Nina age 10, Anna age 9, Margie age 7, and Glenn age 4. H. H. Hartman age 47 is survived by his wife; they had been living at Mount Harris this winter, although they formerly lived in Moffat County. Following is a list of the dead from Mount Harris, Hayden and other points in Routt County. Antonio Adame 42, Arthur Van Cleave 34, Harrison Ward 44, Elmer Hindman 40, Leo Beck 42, Kenneth Hockman 32, Pete Creton 54, Plutarco Adame 45, Bob Nance 46, Tom McKnight 54, Tony Skufca 39, Harry Oliver, Sr. 55, Walter Blount 50, Adrian Vriezema 21, Harvey Hardin 46, Philip Gonzalez 50, Joe Martinek 55, Ross Cable 35, Ralph Cable 30, Max Bustos 65, Joe Sertich 50, Raymond Cable 38, Tim Trujillo 26, Jack Gasparich 42, Charles Vuckoman 49, George Searles 40, Harry Moore 29, H.T. Been 37.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Steamboat Pilot, Thursday January 29th, 1942: http://www.museumnwco.org/lookBackArticle.php?lookBackID=40

Tragedy Stalked at Mount Harris and 34 Killed in Explosion at Coal Mine.
Blast Occurred Tuesday Night in the Wadge Mine
- Greatest Mine Disaster in 25 Years.

Routt County and all of Colorado morn today with Mount Harris where in an improvised mortuary in the town theater, the torn and blackened bodies of 34 miners await identification. They were killed about 10:30 Tuesday night when a terrific explosion rocked the depths of the Wadge Mine of the Victor American Fuel Company and was followed by dense billows a blackdamp, deadly carbon monoxide gas. Of the entire night shift in the mine, only four men working 3000 feet from the entrance of the main tunnel escaped. Upon hearing the explosion further underground they raced to safety through an airshaft parallel to the main tunnel and gave the alarm. Scores of rescue workers equipped with oxygen helmets and other safety equipment reached the mine within a few minutes. Most of the rescue workers were made up from the highly trained rescue unit of the Mount Harris Mine which is located across Highway 40 and Yampa River from the Wadge Mine. It was hours later however, before the first rescue squad reached the pit from the mine entrance where 34 men had been working and where the explosion occurred. Thomas Allen, State Coal Mine Inspector rushed from the Denver office to the scene of the disaster. Coroner A. W. Heyer called up on morticians from Oak Creek and Craig to aid him in the work of taking care of the bodies. Identification of the bodies was very difficult. The first six bodies removed from the mine reached the surface on stretchers placed on a mine car at 11:00 AM Wednesday. All day the work of recovering the bodies continued. They were so badly mangled and burned that the immediate identification was almost impossible except in a few instances. It was the worst disaster the state has known since 1917 when 132 men were killed in the Hastings mine in Las Animas County. It was the first major mine disaster ever to occur in Routt County. Blackdamp or afterdamp frequently follows a mine explosion due to the exhaustion of the oxygen in the air by the blast itself; blackdamp is not explosive. But because it contains very little oxygen, oxygen masks are needed to sustain life where the mine air is mostly consisted of blackdamp, and afterdamp. The Wadge Mine always had been considered quite safe and a report made by Finlay McCallum, Deputy State Mine Inspector, in November 1941, said ventilation in the mine appeared to be good and that working conditions were satisfactory. The entire town went into mourning as word of the disaster spread. Schools in the town were closed Wednesday, and the 300 odd workers in the Colorado Utah Mine were told not to report for work. Henry Johnson is Mine Superintendent and Ben Snyder, mine clerk. The men who escaped to the surface were: Joe Gall, age 40, who lives in Milner, Bill Fickle, age 35, and Elmer Everson age 23, both of Hayden, and Mike Atanasoff, “Fat Mike”, of Mount Harris. 24 of the 34 men killed were married and most of them had children. Thomas Allen, Chief State Coal Mine Inspector, said Wednesday afternoon, that investigations show the explosion had been caused by firedamp, a methane gas which becomes highly explosive when mixed with oxygen in the air. The men in the mine, he said, were working near a fault or fissure. He expressed the belief that the firedamp was present in the fissure and escaped into the pit as the coal enclosing it was cut away. Firedamp is odorless, and being lighter than air it rises to the roof of the coal seam. A spark from the overhead trolley wire for the electric motors used to move the coal cars used in the mine or from electric coal cutting machinery might have caused the gas to ignite, Allen said. The town of Hayden went into mourning too and closed its school for the day. A basketball game between the Hayden and Steamboat Springs high schools scheduled for Wednesday night was canceled. Charles Ward, center of the Hayden team, is a son of Harrison Ford of Steamboat Springs, one of the mine victims. The Cable family of Hayden was hardest hit by the disaster three brothers Ralph, Ross, and Raymond Cable died in the mine and Elmer Hindman, also of Hayden, another victim, was a brother-in-law of Ralph Cable. The night shift at the Wadge mine had gone to work at 3:30 PM Tuesday. The explosion occurred about an hour and a half before the shift was due to quit work. Had the explosion occurred much later into the shift, the fatalities could have been doubled, because the changing of the shift took place inside the mine, and quite possibly two separate shifts would have been in the disaster instead of one. Henry Johnson, Mine Superintendent, said the explosion was so far underground that the sound of it was not audible on the surface. The main mine tunnel goes under the Wadge Mine holdings at a slope of about 10 degrees. Bill Fickle, one of the men who escaped, said he and his three companions heard a dull thud far back in the mine about 10 PM. Within a moment they smelled smoke and ran for their lives. They had happened to be near a passage, which connects the main tunnel with the air passage; near the junction is a telephone, which apparently was out of order, as Fickle and his companions could not get any response over it. Dashing through the air passage they were uncomfortable but not sick as a result of the blackdamp, Fickle said. "If we would have had to go a couple hundred yards in the mine tunnel itself we would not have made it,” he added. The air passage ends in a blower house through which the four men reached the surface. Superintendent Johnson first learned of the explosion from Fickle and his companions. Powerful blowers were to put to work to force fresh air into the main tunnel and draw off the blackdamp fumes. With the fans in operation rescue party members wearing helmets began to work their way deep into the mine. Others who rushed to the scene from Denver, in addition to Allen, were H.E. McDonald, President of the Victor American Fuel Company; W. H. Forbes, engineer in charge of the Denver Safety Office of the United States Bureau of Mines; E.L. Christensen, and E.A. Morgan, inspectors under Forbes; George B. Frittis, and Floyd G. Anderson, safety experts under Forbes, and James W. Gresham, mine rescue instructor for the State Department of Vocational Education. The federal officials brought with them a truck carrying rescue equipment. By the time the first bodies were removed from the mine, rescue workers on hand included 24 men equipped with oxygen helmets, and more than 50 men who were formed into relief crews. Allen said the damage to the mine in itself from the explosion did not appear to be great. While the men of the camp worked at their grim task, the women of Mount Harris and neighboring communities, which had been formed into first aid groups, set themselves to the work of doing all they could for the families of the mine victims. Mrs. Veda Burford, who is in charge of the Safety Division of the State Coal Mine Department, left Denver for Mount Harris Wednesday afternoon to help direct the women in their work among the families of the victims. Coroner Heyer is conducting an inquest at Mount Harris today, attended by District Attorney Ray Monson and many state officials. Tentative plans are that a mass funeral will be held at Mount Harris Saturday afternoon, but all the relatives have not yet been reached. If this is done, business houses in Steamboat Springs will be asked to close. The miners killed in the explosion from Steamboat Springs are; Arthur Van Cleave a native of Routt County, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Churchie Van Cleave. He has a wife and three children. Harrison Ward, recently living in Hayden has a wife and two children. Leo Beck is a son of Mrs. Josephine Beck, brother of Mrs. Charles Eckstein, and a longtime resident of Routt County.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine
[S8536] I.G.I. Version 5.0
[S5460] Genealogy prepared by Cathy (Crabtree) Cook (Elizabeth (Dawalt) Payne File)
[S4980] Find A Grave (Internet), Source Medium: Book

Family Explorer

Church William "Churchie" Van Cleave^1,2,3

M, #31943

Pedigree Link

Family: Lila J. Kitchens

Son	Arthur William Van Cleave+ (b. 8 March 1907, d. 27 January 1942)

BASIC FACTS

Church William "Churchie" Van Cleave had reference number 32235.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S8536] I.G.I. Version 5.0
[S5460] Genealogy prepared by Cathy (Crabtree) Cook (Elizabeth (Dawalt) Payne File)

Family Explorer

Lila J. Kitchens¹

F, #31944

Pedigree Link

Family: Church William "Churchie" Van Cleave

Son	Arthur William Van Cleave+ (b. 8 March 1907, d. 27 January 1942)

BASIC FACTS

Lila J. Kitchens was also known as Eliza Hitchens.² She had reference number 32236.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S8536] I.G.I. Version 5.0

Family Explorer

Charles Robert Bowden¹

M, #31945

Pedigree Link

Family: Elizabeth Marzella "Marzella" Gammill (b. 23 November 1915, d. 23 October 1999)

Son	Douglas Lynn Bowden
Son	Charles Robert Bowden, Jr.
Son	Phillip Grover Bowden+

BASIC FACTS

Charles Robert Bowden and Elizabeth Marzella "Marzella" Gammill were married after 1942.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)

Family Explorer

Charles Robert Bowden, Jr.¹

M, #31946

Parents

Father	Charles Robert Bowden
Mother	Elizabeth Marzella "Marzella" Gammill (b. 23 November 1915, d. 23 October 1999)

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

Charles Robert Bowden, Jr., and Grace Fenton were married on 30 March 1956 in Phoenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona.²

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine

Family Explorer

Grace Fenton¹

F, #31947

Pedigree Link

BASIC FACTS

Grace Fenton and Charles Robert Bowden, Jr., were married on 30 March 1956 in Phoenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona.²

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine

Family Explorer

Phillip Grover Bowden^1,2

M, #31948

Parents

Father	Charles Robert Bowden
Mother	Elizabeth Marzella "Marzella" Gammill (b. 23 November 1915, d. 23 October 1999)

Pedigree Link

Family: Marilyn J. Kughn

Son	Del R. Bowden
Daughter	Tracy O. Bowden

BASIC FACTS

Phillip Grover Bowden and Marilyn J. Kughn were married on 8 October 1966 in Kingfisher, Kingfisher Co., Oklahoma.

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine

Family Explorer

Douglas Lynn Bowden^1,2

M, #31949

Parents

Father	Charles Robert Bowden
Mother	Elizabeth Marzella "Marzella" Gammill (b. 23 November 1915, d. 23 October 1999)

Pedigree Link

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine

Family Explorer

Carroll J. Van Cleave^1,2

M, #31950

Parents

Father	Arthur William Van Cleave (b. 8 March 1907, d. 27 January 1942)
Mother	Elizabeth Marzella "Marzella" Gammill (b. 23 November 1915, d. 23 October 1999)

Pedigree Link

Family: Judy A. Randall

Son	Rick J. Van Cleave+
Son	David A. Van Cleave+
Son	Michael R. Van Cleave+

BASIC FACTS

Carroll J. Van Cleave and Judy A. Randall were married in 1958 in Meeker, Rio Blanco Co., Colorado.²

Citations

[S6505] Genealogy prepared by Kimberly Ann (Gammill) Davis (email address)
[S7441] Genealogy prepared by Thomas Roswell Heazeltine