Timberman in a Copper Mine

[Colin Rowledge]

The 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Precinct 34, Silver Bow, Montana, lists a 55 year old man as a Timberman in a Copper Mine. In the 1900 census he was just listed as a Miner.

Due to his age, I wonder if he was no longer 'fit' to work in the mine and was now used as a labourer to cut the timber used for shoring in new excavations prior to the mine actually being worked? If however he was involved in the actual shoring up process, then I would suspect that this would be quite a dangerous occupation and since I can't find him in future census records, should I consider the latter as his job and concentrate on looking for his death between 1910 and 1920.

His name was Thomas W. Tucker, born abt. 1854 in Ohio.

[Neil Wilson]

A timberman is worker involved in the installation of timbers in a mine to support the roof and walls of haulageways, passageways, and the shaft.

[Colin Rowledge]

A timberman is worker involved in the installation of timbers in a mine to support the roof and walls of haulageways, passageways, and the shaft.

Thanks Neil.

[Yeates]

Dear Colin,
Are you able to read the numerical code in the 1920 census for your Thomas? It could give insight into the specific mining category for his job. Evidently, the 1910 and 1920 used the same occupation-coding system. This site lists the 3-digit codes for ‘Extraction of Minerals’ in the 1920:
http://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/92occup.shtml
By the way, I also had ancestors in the Silver Bow mines...

[Colin Rowledge]

Dear Colin,
Are you able to read the numerical code in the 1920 census for your Thomas? It could give insight into the specific mining category for his job. Evidently, the 1910 and 1920 used the same occupation-coding system. This site lists the 3-digit codes for ‘Extraction of Minerals’ in the 1920:
http://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/92occup.shtml
By the way, I also had ancestors in the Silver Bow mines...

I am unable to decipher the numerical codes in the 1920 census, however, I was interested to note that you had ancestors in the Silver Bow mines.

Would you be willing to share information with me by email or private message?

Thanks
Colin

[Yeates]

Dear Colin,
This morning, I misread your original request and thought you were asking about 1910 and 1920. Now, I see you were interested in 1900 and 1910. That makes more sense with the data you have. I suspect the question about your Thomas is one of specificity found in the 1910 over the 1900.

From http://dgmweb.net/Census/General/Wha...mbersMean.html listing census categories by decade:
Occupation data gathered in the 1900:
OCCUPATION
19. Occupation.
20. Months not employed.

Occupation gathered in the 1910:
OCCUPATION.
18. Trade or profession of, or particular kind of work done by this person, as spinner, salesman, laborer, etc.
19. General nature of industry, business, or establishment in which this person works, as cotton mill, dry goods store, farm, etc.
20. Whether an employer, employee, or working on own account.
If an employee—
21. Whether out of work on April 15, 1910.
22. Number of weeks out of work during year 1909.

I have a message drafted to send via private mail. Being new to B-G, I have not used this feature yet. However, watch for it, as I will try to send this soon.
Yeates

[notanotherminer]

I have a message drafted to send via private mail. Being new to B-G, I have not used this feature yet. However, watch for it, as I will try to send this soon.

Hi Yeates

To send Colin a private message you just need to click on his name to the left of his post and, in the dropdown box that opens, click Private message

[Colin Rowledge]

To Graham - yes thank you for helping Yeates to navigate the site.

Hi Yeates, I have your private message and will review that and the comments in post #6 and use your personal email address that you have provided. Thank you for being a willing contributor to my research.

Cheers
Colin