Marion County Cole Mines
The map below was created in 1863 and shows some of the mine locations before the Civil War: Etna, Battle Creek, Whitwell, Victoria, Needmore, Orme, Inman, Whiteside, Tracy City, Dorans, Kelly’s Ferry, Vulcan, Sweeden’s Cove, Sequatchie, and Summit, with Castle Rock and Russell Gordon Mines below the State line, in Georgia. (Two very old coal mines near Mt. Eagle are not identified.)
Below the map you will find excerpts from the book: “OLD MINES and MINERS of MARION CO.,TN” by Nonie Webb
“STORY of MINING in MARION,”
(Capt Frater died in 1910, story was written in 1909)
Told in a most interesting and very informative manner, Capt. Frater takes you through the process of setting up each mine, one by one, from the crude methods of 1859 to the then “present day” modern methods. (1909). Mrs. Webb then added in the appropriate places old precious photographs of each mine to enhance his story and give the reader a more vivid picture of what Capt. Frater was relating to. (pages 10-37)
Excerpt: The FIRST COAL MINES TENNESSEE were:
| 1831 | Rockwood Mines | The first coal shipped was by Capt. William Jackson. |
| 1841 | Roane County | Location- One mile from the Rockwood Mines. Allisson Howard, blacksmith Using Charcoal to shod horses at Post Springs,TN |
| 1843 | Sale Creek | Located in Northern part of Hamilton Co., TN. |
| 1852 | Etna Mines | Located in MARION Co, TN (on top of Etna Mtn) |
| 1853 | Rhea County | |
| 1854 | Battle Creek Mines | located in Marion Co., TN. (Southwest end) |
| 1854 | White Co., TN | Bon Air |
| 1877 | James Bowron & Assoc. brought into the Marion Co. valley sufficient capital to develop the Iron & Coal Industries. Coal Mines were opened in Whitwell, Coke Ovens built in Vicoria, Iron oar was obtained from Inman, and Smelter erected in South Pittsburg. Coal was worked in Georgia and Alabama and Shipped to Shellmound in Marion Co.,TN. Marion Co. had claim on it as Coal development. | |