Biography of James B. Lindsay (1857-1938)

Both his parents died when James was but a young boy and he and his siblings were raised, thereafter by an uncle, Andrew Jackson LINDSAY of Hawesville.  Soon after reaching the age of 13, James Lindsay went to work in the Victoria Coal Mine. This was an underground mine where they mined the rare "cannel" coal. This had no dust and you could light it with a match. It was an excellent fireplace coal because it burned with a beautiful blue flickering flame. This seam of coal was thin which made for difficult working conditions. Most of the workers were forced to work on their knees and often crawl on their bellies.

At Hawesville, Hancock Co., Kentucky, on 7 May 1876, James B. LINDSAY married Elizabeth BERKLEY, daughter of Edward E. BERKLEY and Elizabeth WILSON.

When the Victoria mine ceased operations, James Lindsay and his two boys obtained work farther down the Ohio River at a coal mine located in Basket Station, Henderson Co., Kentucky. The mother remained in Hawesville during this period of time.

The mine at Basket Station employed a great many men who had immigrated from Scotland. One Scot, in particular, was quite gifted in the sport of boxing. James Lindsay became his manager, scheduling many matches in the nearby city of Henderson. The Scot won many matches and was undefeated until his activities were interrupted with a broken arm. It seems a mule drawn cart upset on the road to Henderson. According to grandpa this ended the Scot's boxing career.

James B. Lindsay brought his family to Ayrshire, near Winslow, from Basket Station, Henderson Co., KY about 1900. He was a coal miner and followed that trade most of his life. He died from strokes.

The superintendent of the Basket Station mine quit to take a job with the Ingle Coal Company who had coal mining operations between Oakland City and Winslow across the river in Indiana. This superintendent, another Scot, was to open a new mine for Ingle a few miles farther northeast of their Ingleton operations near Oakland City. Many of the Basket Station miners, many of whom were Negro, followed their superintendent and settled near the new mine called Ingle #2. The superintendent named the settlement Ayrshire in honor of his hometown back in Scotland.

The family lived in a small house near the mine until the two boys married and left home. In a few years James Lindsay took up with another woman and grandma divorced him. James Lindsay, forever afterward, lived in Winslow, and grandma continued living in the home in Ayrshire.

They had 3 children (all born at Hawesville, Hancock Co., Kentucky):

1. Edward Robert LINDSAY, b. 9 Apr 1879; d, 31 Mar 1880; bur. in the Hawesville Cemetery.
2. George Thomas LINDSAY, b. 5 Feb 1880; d. 5 Nov 1944 in Patoka Twp., Pike Co., Indiana; bur. in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Winslow, Pike Co., Indiana; m. (1st) Ethel BRYANT (div.), (2nd abt 1901, Lola Maude SCOTT, (3rd) Mrs. Ophra ERWIN.
3. Ben Wilson LINDSAY, b. 25 Dec 1883; d. 1 Jul 1962; bur. Sunset Cemetery, Patoka Twp., Pike Co., Indiana; m. Nellie Bryant GREEN, 15 Jun 1903 at Winslow, Pike Co., Indiana