November 1915
Thomas Pruden is Dead of Acute Indigestion
Thomas Pruden, aged 60 years, died unexpectedly Monday afternoon at 1:45 o'clock at his home in Fountain City, Tennessee.
News of the death of Mr. Pruden was a surprise and sorrow to his many friends in Knoxville and elsewhere. He was one of the best known men in the coal producing industry in East Tennessee and southwest Kentucky, having extensive interests in many of the largest coal operating companies in this section. He was president of the Pruden Coal company and the Harvey Coal company, to which interests he had given chief attention in recent years.....
Mr. Pruden is survived by his wife, three daughters and as many sons. The daughters are: Mrs. Virgil Bowden, of Pruden, Mrs. Dr. Herbert Acuff, of this city, and Miss Janie Pruden, who is a student of Centenary College, Cleveland. The sons are: Clyde Pruden, of Marysville, Harry Pruden, of Pruden, and Jip Pruden. Wife is at home.
Mr. Pruden was a member of the Fountain City M.E. church, South. Also of Masonic bodies and other organizations, in all of which he took an active part. He was noted for his philanthropies, doing many acts of charity about which the public knew nothing. He spent considerable sums in benefactions to less fortunate humanity, and delighted in doing good unto others. One of the most recent of his benefactions was a gift of $500 to the fund for the purchase of an athletic field for the Central High school at Fountain City.
Mr. Pruden was born near Newcastle in Staffordshire, England on the fourth day of April, 1856. He has never worked at anything other than coal mining, first on coming to America a quarter of a century ago, in the Ohio field, then for several years as bank boss for the Mingo, and from there to take the superintendency of the Fork Ridge Coal & Coke company.
In May, 1899, he acquired a controlling interest in the company, which was thoroughly re-organized. Mr. Pruden was made president and superintendent along with J.M. Manring who had long been connected with the Middlesboro Coal company, left it to take the position of first vice-president and general manager. Working capital was provided, new machinery installed, and an entirely new mine opened up on the opposite side of the mountain valley.
And with all these improvements looking to making money for the corporation other things were done to make life better worth living for the workmen and their families. The very best class of dwelling were put up, opened a store upon an equity basis, every safeguard and safety appliance known to the science of mining was employed and, as a touch beyond any other mine, an absolutely free school was provided for the miners' children.
Then, when Christmas came last year, President Pruden saw to it that each and every workman in the employ of the company was given a turkey.
One of the proudest remembrances of Mr. Pruden's life was when he was presented with a gold medal by his employees on his forty-fifth birthday. This was on April 4, 1901.
--Knoxville, Tennessee
(obit provided by dhintx #47160808)
**********
One curious fact that has surfaced while researching my great-grandparents Thomas Pruden and Lillie Price is their marriage record - recorded October 19, 1898 in Perry County, Ohio - 15 years after the info from family members that they were "supposed" to have been married in 1884! All but one of their children were already born by this time.
Several years ago I was contacted by a fellow researcher who said that Thomas Pruden had married Hannah Gibbons, a neighbor back in Staffordshire England and had a family back there before immigrating to America in 1881/82. This was news indeed. I can only surmise that perhaps Thomas thought he was divorced from Hannah and maybe found out that he was not and he and Lillie had to re-tie their knot legally many years after the fact. It is still a puzzle that I continue to search but so far have found no record of that "first" marriage date of 1884 for Thomas and Lillie. - dhintx
Thomas Pruden is Dead of Acute Indigestion
Thomas Pruden, aged 60 years, died unexpectedly Monday afternoon at 1:45 o'clock at his home in Fountain City, Tennessee.
News of the death of Mr. Pruden was a surprise and sorrow to his many friends in Knoxville and elsewhere. He was one of the best known men in the coal producing industry in East Tennessee and southwest Kentucky, having extensive interests in many of the largest coal operating companies in this section. He was president of the Pruden Coal company and the Harvey Coal company, to which interests he had given chief attention in recent years.....
Mr. Pruden is survived by his wife, three daughters and as many sons. The daughters are: Mrs. Virgil Bowden, of Pruden, Mrs. Dr. Herbert Acuff, of this city, and Miss Janie Pruden, who is a student of Centenary College, Cleveland. The sons are: Clyde Pruden, of Marysville, Harry Pruden, of Pruden, and Jip Pruden. Wife is at home.
Mr. Pruden was a member of the Fountain City M.E. church, South. Also of Masonic bodies and other organizations, in all of which he took an active part. He was noted for his philanthropies, doing many acts of charity about which the public knew nothing. He spent considerable sums in benefactions to less fortunate humanity, and delighted in doing good unto others. One of the most recent of his benefactions was a gift of $500 to the fund for the purchase of an athletic field for the Central High school at Fountain City.
Mr. Pruden was born near Newcastle in Staffordshire, England on the fourth day of April, 1856. He has never worked at anything other than coal mining, first on coming to America a quarter of a century ago, in the Ohio field, then for several years as bank boss for the Mingo, and from there to take the superintendency of the Fork Ridge Coal & Coke company.
In May, 1899, he acquired a controlling interest in the company, which was thoroughly re-organized. Mr. Pruden was made president and superintendent along with J.M. Manring who had long been connected with the Middlesboro Coal company, left it to take the position of first vice-president and general manager. Working capital was provided, new machinery installed, and an entirely new mine opened up on the opposite side of the mountain valley.
And with all these improvements looking to making money for the corporation other things were done to make life better worth living for the workmen and their families. The very best class of dwelling were put up, opened a store upon an equity basis, every safeguard and safety appliance known to the science of mining was employed and, as a touch beyond any other mine, an absolutely free school was provided for the miners' children.
Then, when Christmas came last year, President Pruden saw to it that each and every workman in the employ of the company was given a turkey.
One of the proudest remembrances of Mr. Pruden's life was when he was presented with a gold medal by his employees on his forty-fifth birthday. This was on April 4, 1901.
--Knoxville, Tennessee
(obit provided by dhintx #47160808)
**********
One curious fact that has surfaced while researching my great-grandparents Thomas Pruden and Lillie Price is their marriage record - recorded October 19, 1898 in Perry County, Ohio - 15 years after the info from family members that they were "supposed" to have been married in 1884! All but one of their children were already born by this time.
Several years ago I was contacted by a fellow researcher who said that Thomas Pruden had married Hannah Gibbons, a neighbor back in Staffordshire England and had a family back there before immigrating to America in 1881/82. This was news indeed. I can only surmise that perhaps Thomas thought he was divorced from Hannah and maybe found out that he was not and he and Lillie had to re-tie their knot legally many years after the fact. It is still a puzzle that I continue to search but so far have found no record of that "first" marriage date of 1884 for Thomas and Lillie. - dhintx
November 1915
Thomas Pruden is Dead of Acute Indigestion
Thomas Pruden, aged 60 years, died unexpectedly Monday afternoon at 1:45 o'clock at his home in Fountain City, Tennessee.
News of the death of Mr. Pruden was a surprise and sorrow to his many friends in Knoxville and elsewhere. He was one of the best known men in the coal producing industry in East Tennessee and southwest Kentucky, having extensive interests in many of the largest coal operating companies in this section. He was president of the Pruden Coal company and the Harvey Coal company, to which interests he had given chief attention in recent years.....
Mr. Pruden is survived by his wife, three daughters and as many sons. The daughters are: Mrs. Virgil Bowden, of Pruden, Mrs. Dr. Herbert Acuff, of this city, and Miss Janie Pruden, who is a student of Centenary College, Cleveland. The sons are: Clyde Pruden, of Marysville, Harry Pruden, of Pruden, and Jip Pruden. Wife is at home.
Mr. Pruden was a member of the Fountain City M.E. church, South. Also of Masonic bodies and other organizations, in all of which he took an active part. He was noted for his philanthropies, doing many acts of charity about which the public knew nothing. He spent considerable sums in benefactions to less fortunate humanity, and delighted in doing good unto others. One of the most recent of his benefactions was a gift of $500 to the fund for the purchase of an athletic field for the Central High school at Fountain City.
Mr. Pruden was born near Newcastle in Staffordshire, England on the fourth day of April, 1856. He has never worked at anything other than coal mining, first on coming to America a quarter of a century ago, in the Ohio field, then for several years as bank boss for the Mingo, and from there to take the superintendency of the Fork Ridge Coal & Coke company.
In May, 1899, he acquired a controlling interest in the company, which was thoroughly re-organized. Mr. Pruden was made president and superintendent along with J.M. Manring who had long been connected with the Middlesboro Coal company, left it to take the position of first vice-president and general manager. Working capital was provided, new machinery installed, and an entirely new mine opened up on the opposite side of the mountain valley.
And with all these improvements looking to making money for the corporation other things were done to make life better worth living for the workmen and their families. The very best class of dwelling were put up, opened a store upon an equity basis, every safeguard and safety appliance known to the science of mining was employed and, as a touch beyond any other mine, an absolutely free school was provided for the miners' children.
Then, when Christmas came last year, President Pruden saw to it that each and every workman in the employ of the company was given a turkey.
One of the proudest remembrances of Mr. Pruden's life was when he was presented with a gold medal by his employees on his forty-fifth birthday. This was on April 4, 1901.
--Knoxville, Tennessee
(obit provided by dhintx #47160808)
**********
One curious fact that has surfaced while researching my great-grandparents Thomas Pruden and Lillie Price is their marriage record - recorded October 19, 1898 in Perry County, Ohio - 15 years after the info from family members that they were "supposed" to have been married in 1884! All but one of their children were already born by this time.
Several years ago I was contacted by a fellow researcher who said that Thomas Pruden had married Hannah Gibbons, a neighbor back in Staffordshire England and had a family back there before immigrating to America in 1881/82. This was news indeed. I can only surmise that perhaps Thomas thought he was divorced from Hannah and maybe found out that he was not and he and Lillie had to re-tie their knot legally many years after the fact. It is still a puzzle that I continue to search but so far have found no record of that "first" marriage date of 1884 for Thomas and Lillie. - dhintx
Thomas Pruden is Dead of Acute Indigestion
Thomas Pruden, aged 60 years, died unexpectedly Monday afternoon at 1:45 o'clock at his home in Fountain City, Tennessee.
News of the death of Mr. Pruden was a surprise and sorrow to his many friends in Knoxville and elsewhere. He was one of the best known men in the coal producing industry in East Tennessee and southwest Kentucky, having extensive interests in many of the largest coal operating companies in this section. He was president of the Pruden Coal company and the Harvey Coal company, to which interests he had given chief attention in recent years.....
Mr. Pruden is survived by his wife, three daughters and as many sons. The daughters are: Mrs. Virgil Bowden, of Pruden, Mrs. Dr. Herbert Acuff, of this city, and Miss Janie Pruden, who is a student of Centenary College, Cleveland. The sons are: Clyde Pruden, of Marysville, Harry Pruden, of Pruden, and Jip Pruden. Wife is at home.
Mr. Pruden was a member of the Fountain City M.E. church, South. Also of Masonic bodies and other organizations, in all of which he took an active part. He was noted for his philanthropies, doing many acts of charity about which the public knew nothing. He spent considerable sums in benefactions to less fortunate humanity, and delighted in doing good unto others. One of the most recent of his benefactions was a gift of $500 to the fund for the purchase of an athletic field for the Central High school at Fountain City.
Mr. Pruden was born near Newcastle in Staffordshire, England on the fourth day of April, 1856. He has never worked at anything other than coal mining, first on coming to America a quarter of a century ago, in the Ohio field, then for several years as bank boss for the Mingo, and from there to take the superintendency of the Fork Ridge Coal & Coke company.
In May, 1899, he acquired a controlling interest in the company, which was thoroughly re-organized. Mr. Pruden was made president and superintendent along with J.M. Manring who had long been connected with the Middlesboro Coal company, left it to take the position of first vice-president and general manager. Working capital was provided, new machinery installed, and an entirely new mine opened up on the opposite side of the mountain valley.
And with all these improvements looking to making money for the corporation other things were done to make life better worth living for the workmen and their families. The very best class of dwelling were put up, opened a store upon an equity basis, every safeguard and safety appliance known to the science of mining was employed and, as a touch beyond any other mine, an absolutely free school was provided for the miners' children.
Then, when Christmas came last year, President Pruden saw to it that each and every workman in the employ of the company was given a turkey.
One of the proudest remembrances of Mr. Pruden's life was when he was presented with a gold medal by his employees on his forty-fifth birthday. This was on April 4, 1901.
--Knoxville, Tennessee
(obit provided by dhintx #47160808)
**********
One curious fact that has surfaced while researching my great-grandparents Thomas Pruden and Lillie Price is their marriage record - recorded October 19, 1898 in Perry County, Ohio - 15 years after the info from family members that they were "supposed" to have been married in 1884! All but one of their children were already born by this time.
Several years ago I was contacted by a fellow researcher who said that Thomas Pruden had married Hannah Gibbons, a neighbor back in Staffordshire England and had a family back there before immigrating to America in 1881/82. This was news indeed. I can only surmise that perhaps Thomas thought he was divorced from Hannah and maybe found out that he was not and he and Lillie had to re-tie their knot legally many years after the fact. It is still a puzzle that I continue to search but so far have found no record of that "first" marriage date of 1884 for Thomas and Lillie. - dhintx
