Elias S. Amos (1853 - 1916)

Born 17 Jul 1853 in Marion, Virginia, United States

Died 8 Dec 1916 at age 63 in Fairmont, Marion, West Virginia, United States

Biography

Elias Amos was Marion County Coroner investigating the Monongah Nos. 6 and 8 Mine Disaster 1907 on 6 December, 1907

Elias Amos lived in Appalachia, in Virginia (now West Virginia). See Appalachia Project.

He was the son of Edgar W. and Dorcas (Clayton) Amos. He married Rhoda Annis Parker 25 Dec 1879 in Marion County, West Virginia.^[1]

Elias dedicated his life to public service. He was a school teacher for a number of years. He also served as a Justice of the Peace.

He is mainly remembered as the Coroner for Marion County as he dealt with the aftermath of the Monongah Mine Nos. 6 and 8 disaster of 6 November 1907, the worst mining disaster in history, in which over 300 were killed.

"As fast as the bodies are removed from the mines they are being taken to the morgue and prepared for burial. After being placed in coffins they are taken to an adjoining room, where a steady stream of people file by all day long. When a body is recognized by relatives or friends the information is at once given to Coroner E. S. Amos, who has been on duty since the first body was brought from the mines. Outside the morgue in the mud stands a shivering maw of humanity, many of the people having been there for hours, braving the cold to get a chance to once again gaze on the face of their dead ones. After the identification of the bodies and they are claimed by friends. Coroner Amos holds the inquest and permits the relatives to remove them to their homes. The bodies of all Polish miners are being removed to the Polish church just above Monongah as soon as they are identified and are being placed in the basement of that edifice."^[2]

Amos led the investigation into the Monogah Mining Disaster in January 1908.^[3]

Squire E.S. Amos died 8 Dec 1916 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Fairmont, West Virginia.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "West Virginia Marriages, 1854-1932", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRH3-9XD : 30 January 2020), Elias S. Amos, 1879.
2. ↑ http://www.wvgenweb.org/wvcoal/mono.html
3. ↑ https://monongahdisaster.wordpress.com/2020/01/15/monday-january-6-1908-news-hour-night/
4. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #175185302 (accessed 3 July 2024)
   Memorial page for Elias S Amos (1854-8 Dec 1916), citing Woodlawn Cemetery, Fairmont, Marion County, West Virginia, USA; Maintained by JC66 (contributor 48758802).

• "West Virginia Births and Christenings, 1853-1928", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X55H-168 : 30 January 2020), Elias S. Amos, 1853.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6RB-MMR : 15 July 2017), Elias S Amos, Pawpaw, Marion, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district ED 92, sheet 503C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,407.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9CT-1K3 : accessed 30 August 2020), Elias Amos, Fairmont city Ward 4-5, Marion, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 53, sheet 9B, family 189, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,764.

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPN1-8WB : accessed 30 August 2020), Elias S Amos, Fairmont Ward 5, Marion, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 62, sheet 18A, family 346, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1687; FHL microfilm 1,375,700.