Coyne, Tom F.

prominent citizen of Webb City Missouri and widely known mine operator of the district, is regarded as in a critical condition, suffering from heart disease at his residence. His recovery is said to be doubtful. Dr. A. B. Willus, a heart specialist of Rochester Minnesota, was summoned this week because of Coyne's condition. The specialist is said to have pronounced Coyne's condition critical. Coyne has been in bad health for the last several months. He recently returned from Rochester clinic, where he underwent an examination. His condition apparently was improved until about a week ago, when he suffered a relapse.

Thomas F. Coyne, pioneer mining operator, died at his home in Webb City Missouri, at 8 o'clock this morning. His health became impaired more than a year ago, and for the last several months he had not been active in business, but up to about two weeks ago his condition was not considered serious, and he believed he was on the way to complete recovery. A disease of the heart, probably the result of a serious attack of influenza about two years ago, was the direct cause of his death. Mr. Coyne was 57 years old. Besides his widow, he leaves two children, Roy Coyne, and Mrs. W. M. Stewart, both of Joplin Missouri. The funeral will be held at Webb City Monday, more definite announcement of which will be made later. In the passing of Tom Coyne the district loses one of its oldest and most aggressive mine operators. For many years he was engaged in mining in the old Joplin-Webb City district and became interested in the Oklahoma field about three years ago. Aside from his mining interests he operated a chain of lumber yards in various towns of the district, one of his yards being in Miami. Tom Coyne never allowed the word "failure" to enter into his vocabulary. If any of his business enterprises did not prove the success he planned, he never peddled his disappointment he always came up with a smile and played the game that much harder. He had a host of friends all over the mining district who will miss him.

Funeral services for Thomas F. Coyne, 56 years old, widely known mine operator who died at his home 506 West Broadway, at 8 o'clock Friday morning, will be held at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon at the residence. The Rev. John G. Hilton, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will deliver the funeral sermon, with Masonic rites at the grave in Mount Hope cemetery. Members of the Masonic and Elk lodges, of which he was a member, will attend the service in a body. Active and honorary pallbearers were selected from among Mr. Coyne's intimate friends and business associates. The honorary pallbearers will be E. T. Webb, George W. Ball, C. E. Matthews, T. C. Hayden, George W. Moore, Judge Howard Gray, Delmar C. Wise, L. P. Buchanan, Jesse G. Starr, Judge S. W. Bates, L. Solomon and George S. Webster. Active pallbearers will be Haywood Scott, John Skinner, C. B. Chenoweth, W. C. Ball, J. M. Hirons, T. J. Roney, R. J. Teel and Charles R. Chinn. The body will lie in state at the residence from 2 to 5 o'clock Sunday afternoon and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday. Business probably will be suspended in the city during the hours of the funeral service. Mr. Coyne, who was one of Webb City's wealthiest citizens, died following a long illness from heart disease. He had been critically ill the last three weeks, and at noon Wednesday lapsed into an unconscious state from which he did not recover. Several weeks ago, Mr. Coyne went to the Mayo hospital at Rochester, where his case was pronounced as critical. For a short time after his return he apparently improved, but he suffered a relapse three weeks ago, the most severe illness with which he had been attacked, and which confined him to his bed until his death. Mr. Coyne had resided in Webb City virtually his entire life, being actively associated with the civic progress of the town through all the various stages of its development. He operated mines a greater part of the last thirty years, many of which were the largest ore producers of the district, and at his death he held interests in mines in the Tri-State district. In his career as operator he had been owner or part owner of 20 mining properties. Born at Bosobel Wisconsin, Jan 6, 1871, Mr. Coyne came to Webb City with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Coyne, when he was 2 years old. In the early days of the town, his parents operated a hotel, the Transient House, which stood on East Broadway. The father also was an ore buyer for a Granby Missouri smelter. From a family of moderate circumstances, Mr. Coyne amassed wealth by his own efforts, entering the mining industry when a young man. He began his career as a day laborer when 12 years old, working underground in a mine owned by his brother-in-law, A. D. Hatten of this city. With the money he saved, he attended a business college at Sedalia Missouri, from which he was graduated. Returning to Webb City, he was employed for a number of years as a bookkeeper in the Webb City bank. It was while working in the bank that he became interested in mining. With the late O. J. Raymond, he made his first mining venture at Midway, between here and Joplin and near Turkey Creek. A moderate strike was made, which compensated him sufficiently to continue mining. Mr. Coyne took charge of his first mine in 1897. It was known as the Coyne-Dermot Mining Company and situated on the Center Creek land, between Webb City and Carterville. In 1900, he affiliated himself with a Boston concern and developed the New Jersey Mine at Oronogo. Other mines which followed in the "old days" of the district include the Ada Mine, south of Webb City; the Mercantile Mine, near Duenweg Missouri; the Mary Louise Mine, on the Missouri Zinc fields land; the Mary C. Mine, at Thomas Station; the Osceola Mine, the Rochester Mine and C. C. & H. Mine, and the Tom G. Mine, which comprised four mills situated on the Connor land and Thousand acre tract. A booster for his home town, Mr. Coyne entered into many projects which were influential in building Webb City from a small camp. When a mining deflation came, Mr. Coyne exerted his efforts to continue this field as a mining center. He took an active interest in the organization of the Community Drilling association, an organization which drilled extensively adjacent to Webb City in an effort to open mines to keep Webb City labor here. A strike was made, the Jack Bin Mine on the Connor land, which Mr. Coyne developed and operated. Mr. Coyne took a personal interest in his employees and was loved and respected by his men. Miners of the early days recall how, when motor cars were an innovation, he insisted on as many employees as could to "pile" on for their "first ride." Another story related, which is characteristic of him, was when a cave-in occurred at one of his mines. Three men were caught in an avalanche of dirt which imprisoned them. Mr. Coyne worked a day and night besides his employees in an effort to extricate the men. All three were dead when the rescuers reached them, or died shortly after being removed. When all mining activities ceased, Mr. Coyne entered the Oklahoma field, where at Hockerville Oklahoma, he developed a mine known as the Coyne Lead and Zinc Company. The Mary Jane Mine and Patty C. Mine, named after his grandchildren, were developed southwest of Baxter Springs, and the C. & S. Mine west of Joplin. At his death, Mr. Coyne held interests in the Patty C. Mine, the C. & S. Mine, and the High Five Mine, the latter at Waco, which recently was sold, was originally developed by him in 1915. Mr. Coyne was an ardent baseball fan. When a young man, he was a pitcher on the famous Webb City Stars, a fast amateur team which defeated virtually all the surrounding teams and several professional aggregations which were brought here. In recent years he took considerable interest in projects to maintain organized baseball in Joplin, and was offered the presidency of the Joplin club when it was first granted a franchise in the Western league. He was vice-president of the Webb City bank. Surviving Mr. Coyne are his widow, Mrs. Louise Miller Coyne, to whom he was married Dec 16, 1891; one son, Roy Coyne of Joplin, a former prosecuting attorney; a daughter, Mrs. William Stewart of Joplin; three sisters, Mrs. A. D. Hatten and Mrs. Mary McMenony of Webb City and Mrs. T. H. Riffee of Kansas City; a brother, Harry Coyne of Kansas City; two grandchildren, Mary Jane Stewart and Patty C. Coyne.

Obituary.

Mr. Coyne was one of the founders of the Tri-State Zinc & Lead Ore Producers association and for the last four years was a member of the board of directors and also one of the executive committee. He was very active in all the affairs of the association and foremost in every movement for the advancement of the mining industry of the district. The funeral services will be attended by many of his close personal friends in Miami and other towns of the district. Aside from his mining interests, Mr. Coyne was interested in a chain of six lumber yards, one of which is in Miami, one at Cardin Oklahoma, one at Picher Oklahoma, and three in the Waco and Lawton districts. He was also a stockholder in the Webb City-Carterville Foundry & Machine Company and in the Interstate Grocery company of Joplin.