Truman, Harry S.

A new book simply entitled "Truman", by David McCullough relates Harry S. Truman's experience in the Tri-State Mining field. In 1916 Truman wrote from Commerce Oklahoma about his stay in the area. He was in partnership with two Masons, Tomas Hughes and Jerry Culbertson in a mine located at Commerce, in the northeast corner of Oklahoma, a short distance from the Missouri state line. The name of their mining company was the T.H.C. Mining Company, and the name of the mine was the Eureka Mine. By May 19, 1916, in a letter to his soon to be wife, Bess, it seemed he could see his investment disappearing. By September of 1916 the zinc mine closed. Following is information on an accident that happened at the mine before the above date: On Apr 3, 1914, Joe Allen, age 26, was killed on a Thursday by falling back into the shaft at the Eureka Mine. News Article on the accident: Joe Allen, a hoister man at the Eureka Mine fell into the shaft 212 feet to the bottom Thursday afternoon and was instantly killed. The remains were brought to Millner and Fribley's undertaking establishment and dressed for burial. Deceased was a son-in-law of Ed Burnett, and leaves a wife. At the time of going to press, but meager particulars could be learned. He was probably 30 years of age and it is said had not long been married.

Joe Allen, age 26, who was killed last Thursday by falling back into the shaft at the Eureka mine Thursday, was buried at Galena Kansas, Saturday, his former home. He had gone into the mine with the superintendent, and was being hoisted. He had intended to get out of the tub at the upper level and was in the act of doing so when the tub started. Partially out, he lost his balance and fell to the bottom, a probable distance of 200 feet. He was found dead, and the supposition is he was instantly killed by the fall. He was a hoister man, usually at work on the surface, and seldom did his duties take him beneath the ground. Just what duty induced him to make this fatal trip was not learned. He was married to a Miss Burnett of this city, December 24, 1912. No children survive from the union. He left a wife.

TRUMAN MINED IN THIS FIELD - Long before he traveled the political path which let him straight to the White House, President Harry S. Truman, besides being an obscure county judge, was also an Ottawa county Oklahoma mine operator, it was learned Saturday. According to Mrs. Happy Bennett of Commerce Oklahoma, President Truman and a partner came to Commerce from Independence Missouri, about 28 years ago and operated the old Eureka Mine, the ruins of which can be seen today less than a mile west of the town. During his six-months' stay at Commerce, Mr. Truman lived with the mine's mill man, W. H. Troop, and his family. Mrs. Bennett said she recalls sitting at the same table with the man who was to become the nation's chief executive more than a quarter of a century later. Other members of the Troop family include Mrs. Byron Hutchens, now living in Commerce; Minford Troop of Miami; Mrs. Gladys Odell, former Commerce resident, now residing out of the county; Lucy Belle Troop and Cecil Troop, who left several years ago for California. Although several persons offered information which substantiated the fact that Mr. Truman operated a mine near Commerce before going overseas with the AEF during World War I, no information as to the success or failure of his Tri-State district mining venture could be learned.