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Father: Ben Wilson Lindsay
Ben Wilson LINDSAY, son of James B. LINDSAY and Elizabeth
BERKLEY, was born
25 December 1883 in Hawesville, Hancock Co., Kentucky, and died of a heart
attack 1 June 1962 at Welborn Baptist Hospital in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co.,
Indiana. His funeral was held at the Methodist Church in Winslow, Pike Co.,
Indiana, with burial in Sunset Cemetery about a mile northeast of Winslow.
Ben had but three years of education in the public schools of Hawesville, Hancock Co., Kentucky.
Soon afterward, he joined his dad and brother, working in the Victoria Coal Mine,
near Hawesville. This mine, earlier, had claimed the lives of Edward BERKLEY, his grandfather, and Benjamin
BERKLEY, his uncle.
When the Victoria Mine ceased operation, many of the miners moved to areas where new mines were opening. Ben went with his father and brother to Basket Station, Henderson Co., Kentucky, where all three worked at a
mine in Basket.
Not long afterward, about 1901, Ben's father took the two boys to Patoka Township, Pike Co., Indiana. All three of them lived at a hotel in the community of Ayrshire and worked for the Ingle Coal Company's underground #4 Mine.
It was here that Ben became acquainted with William GREEN, a fellow coal miner. As a result of this meeting, a short time, later, Ben married Nellie Bryant
GREEN, the eldest daughter of his new friend.
Ben witnessing so many of his friends losing their lives in this hazardous occupation, quit his underground job and went to work for a new form of mining, called strip mining. The Wolfman Company became his employer, mining coal Northeast of Winslow, Pike Co., Indiana. It was here that Ben became a strong advocate of the Union worker. He was so vocal and actively engaged in Union organizing, that other newer companies moving into the area, blackballed Ben from becoming one of their employees. As a result, when the Wolfman Mine closed, Ben could not find a
job in the industry. This was told to me by Eursey AUTEN shortly after Ben died.
Unable to find a job, and with the approaching "greatest" economic depression this nation ever witnessed, Ben turned to plastering in an attempt to earn a living for his family. The most pay for a plasterer was less than 75 cents an hour, during this time period.
To further complicate Ben's woes was there were but few houses being built because of the depression. For example, in 1928 Ben plastered two houses. Both jobs were the same house. A storm had blown the house off its foundation and Ben got the job, again.
No doubt about it, he took this as divine intervention.
Ben was one of the first and farthest to the right member of the Republican party that I ever knew, or have heard about, since. He voted against Franklin D. Roosevelt for no other reason than because the newly elected president ended prohibition. This was something, I could never understand, because we had three bootleg joints almost
within spitting distance of our house. As a kid I saw many drunks stagger by our house every day, including Sundays.
Ben had drank his share of booze in his youth, but got religion shortly after he and mom married. Thereafter, he was a tee-totaler and preached his belief to anybody who would listen. Roosevelt's election was such a
disappointment to Ben, that he refused to support, or use, any of Roosevelt's programs. For instance, he would not accept commodities, even though he had half-starved children of his own. Another instance, which gives you a picture of his
determination, or stubbornness, was the fact he flat turned down the offer of a job as Superintendent of the W.P.A. crews who were building sidewalks in the town of Winslow. Ben did this even though he had neither a job, nor, a prospect of one at the time. I sat on the front porch and heard Harcourt Scales, a prominent Democrat, make the
offer to him.
I'm certain that dad never had the same feelings as me, or his thinking would have been different. I remember how my stomach would growl when I would visit some of my friends and smell some of that canned roast beef warming on the stove. I think dad's actions made the
screaming liberal Democrat that I am, today.
It wasn't until 1937 that Ben was able to find work at a mine. Kenneth Youngs gave him a job at his fledgling strip operations North of Winslow. Not long, thereafter, his son-in-law, Howard P. Nichols, gave him the best job he ever held. That job was working at the tipple of the Enos Coal Company North of Spurgeon, Indiana. "Nick" was tipple boss and even provided dad with a free ride to and from work each day. If Ben ever thanked "Nick" I didn't know. Perhaps, he did.
Ben was very religious and took the literal view of the bible. That part which say spare the rod and spoil the child was the most important thing to him. He didn't use a paddle, either. His weapon was a long branch cut from a cherry tree in our back yard. He would hold us by the hand and keep hitting until the switch broke off in his hand. When it ended, this harsh treatment left bloody whelps behind my knees. I went through such "spare the rod and spoil the rod" routines on a daily basis until March of 1935 when I became bedfast from a miss-diagnosed injury to my right leg.
Thank God, today, such treatment of children are not allowed. I expect Ben would have ended up in prison if he had used such technique in today's world. I know dad did what he thought was right and I forgive him for it. He didn't know any better. I know from experience that system don't work. It only made me meaner than I otherwise would have been.
As mentioned earlier, Ben Lindsay was a coal miner for the better part of his life. He loved to bird hunt and was a pretty good dog trainer. He was a self-educated person with but little common school education. He learned to read, by reading the Bible and could quote more scripture than any TV Minister I have ever seen. He was affiliated with no church; but, attended them all. He always said, "I belong to the Church of God." He died with a heart attack and is buried in the Sunset Cemetery, 1 mile Northeast of Winslow, Pike Co., Indiana.
Ken Lindsay
30 September 2004
Mother: Nellie Bryant Green
Nellie Bryant GREEN, daughter of James William GREEN and Mary Ann
BRYANT, was
born 13 April 1886 at Winslow, Pike Co., Indiana, and died in her sleep 23
October 1972 at the Holliday Nursing Home in Princeton, Gibson Co., Indiana. Her
funeral was held at the Methodist Church in Winslow, Pike Co., Indiana, with
burial in Sunset Cemetery about a mile northeast of Winslow.
Nellie was educated in the Winslow Public School of that day. A high school education was not available at that time; therefore, her education was complete at the end of the 8th. grade. The school that she attended was only a block west of her home.
Nellie was a hard working woman and did everything to the tune of a regular schedule. She remembered the
Sabbath and kept it holy. She washed clothes on a scrub board every Monday. Each piece, be it linen
handkerchiefs, or dirty overalls, was scrubbed with the knuckles the same way and hung on the line to dry. In the afternoon, she might work in her garden, or pick greens from the yard to feed her hungry family their evening meal.
Every Tuesday was the assigned day to iron all the clothing that were washed the previous day. The iron consisted of a handle that picked up the cast iron body from the coal range where they were heated. At least two spares were kept on the stove ready for use once the one in use became too cool.
Wednesdays were usually reserved for meetings or church related activities. In the evening, she and dad always went to prayer meeting. Of course. I always tagged along, whether I wanted to, or not. As a child, this seemed meaningless and boring. I once thought about sneaking a note into the collection plate saying, "I am being held against my will."
I thought better and came to the conclusion this might not be a wise act. Good judgment
took hold and I never did do it.
Thursday was the day set aside for general housecleaning and mending the holes in socks or britches. She might even visit with neighbors or go shopping. During the summer months, this day was also used for picking wild berries, making jelly, or canning some of vegetables out of our garden.
Nellie (Green) Lindsay was an active member of the Eastern Stars and the Winslow Methodist Church. She was big of heart, but small in stature, being only 5'2" tall. Her death was caused by strokes.
Kenneth Lindsay
30 September
Spouse: Mary Magdalene Muensterman
Mary Magdalene MUENSTERMAN, daughter of Edward MUENSTERMAN and Elizabeth
KORESSEL, was born 9 January 1926 in Newburgh, Warrick Co., Indiana, and
died 15 February 1991 in the Parkview Nursing Home located on St. Joseph Avenue,
Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana. Her funeral mass was held at St. Benedict
Cathedral with burial at St. Joseph Cemetery, Evansville, Vanderburgh Co.,
Indiana.
Mary Magdalene graduated from Evansville F. J. Reitz High School in 1945. She was a beautiful young lady with an outgoing personality. These were the war years and "Maggie" had four brothers in the service of their country. She chose to work for the popular Woods Drug Store Chain in Evansville. It was while working at a drug store across from the campus of Evansville College that she first met her future husband in the fall of
1947. They had occasional dates the following spring which blossomed into true love while Kenneth attended summer school in 1948.
If there ever was a perfect wife, "Maggie" would be at the top of the list. In her lifetime, she never had many material possessions; and she never expected those things that many people almost worship. Her life was devoted to husband, children, and the catholic church.
"Maggie" never met a stranger, but her life was dedicated to her children. When the grandchildren came along, they became her own. She just plain loved kids. In fact she turned her backyard into a playground for all the kids in the neighborhood. She always gave more of herself, never expecting more in return.
Her greatest pastime was making quilts for all her children. In the winter days it was hard to move about the living room because quilting frames took up all the spare space. "Maggie" was a devout Catholic and supporter of the church. She was buried from her beloved St. Benedict and rests in peace alongside her grandson in St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Kenneth Lindsay
4 October 2004
Friend: Anna Josephine Traylor
Anna Josephine TRAYLOR, daughter of Homer LeRoy TRAYLOR and Zella
MEADOWS, was born 21 December 1924 in St. Albans West Virginia, and died of kidney failure due to diabetes and congestive heart failure
in Houston, Harris Co., Texas, May 12, 2004. Her funeral service and rosary was held at Kingwood Funeral Home in Kingwood, Texas. She was buried at the V.A. Cemetery on West Rd. in Houston
Texas, at the side the man she never stopped loving.
She went by the name of Josephine and the family relocated in Jasper, Indiana. She was the oldest of four
children who were all raised in the Presbyterian faith.
Josephine graduated from Jasper High School finishing the 12th grade in 1942. Before graduating she worked at a cleaners in Jasper. After graduation she went to work at the General Electric Plant in
Huntingburg, Indiana.
She had three children while living in Jasper, Dubois Co., Indiana: Diana BUCHTA TRAYLOR,
Mary Alice LINDSAY TRAYLOR, and Michael Dewitt NORRIS.
She met and married Joseph Lee NORRIS and relocated to Nashville
Tennessee in1954. Josephine had another child, Patricia Margaret NORRIS. In 1955
the Norris family relocated to Houston, Harris Co., Texas. They had six more Children:
Mark Andrew
NORRIS, Terry Allen NORRIS, Carla Lynn NORRIS, Denise Rene NORRIS, Daniel Gene
NORRIS, and Sandra Gay NORRIS.
Joseph Norris adopted Diana and Mary Alice in 1964 before Diana's marriage to Larry
BIELAMOWICZ. All her children were raised in the Catholic Faith of her husband.
In about 1968 Josephine went to work for Harris County Courthouse as a custodian where she retired after 25 years of service.
Josephine did not have a wealthy life but never ask for a dime she did not earn and took pride in that. She never cared what you did for a living as long as it was an honest living.
She was outspoken on some things and held back on many others. She could be the kindness of kind but could curse like a
sailor if she chose and did not care who was present or who heard it. Yet, she was a loving woman and each of her
ten kids thought they were her favorite.
The home she raised her kids in at 7928 Way St., Houston, Texas, was destroyed by fire in the
1970's. With no insurance on the home the family was forced to rent. After the death of her husband
Josephine bought a mobile home where she lived in until her death, along with her youngest
daughter, Sandy, and grandchildren Cassidy and Carolina.
Anna Josephine (TRAYLOR) NORRIS left this world with 10 children, 21 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren loving her very much.
Her biography can be viewed at www.mem.com
Mary Alice Stewart
6 October 2004
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