Wilson, Ina

Back in the days of mining activity in the old Webb City Missouri field, shortly after the turn of the century, little Ina Wilson at the age of 10 years made her first trip underground, which was to lead later to the performance of regular duties which are believed to be unparalleled in the history of mining. Ina's father, Sam Wilson, was ground foreman at the Avondale Mine, located at Prosperity Missouri, and owned by Patton and Dodge. Ina had made but a few trips underground when she began helping make shots by assembling caps and fuses in preparation of their insertion in the drilled holes. Although the shafts were approximately 175 feet deep, Mr. Wilson was not the least bit worried for his daughter to ride the cans as long as Al Fowler, now of Picher Oklahoma, was at the hoist controls. However, Mr. Wilson did require that she sit down in the cans while traveling the shaft. Ina's Saturday holiday always consisted of a trip to the mines where she would go underground and carry steel changes to the headings and do a little work with a shovel. During her summer vacations, she went to the mines every day that it was possible for her to slip away from her mother. All this fitted little Ina for the task she was later to perform. In 1907 Mr. Wilson died following a six months illness. He was able to hold his position as ground foreman until the time of his death with the assistance Ina was able to give him. Each day during the six months of her father's illness, Ina made regular trips underground and reported the progress being made there to her father. Ina entered each of the three shafts at least once each day. During the three years she had visited the mines with her father she had become so familiar with mining methods of that day that she was able to act for her father when it became necessary. The Avondale Mine consisted of three shafts with a mill located at each shaft. The shafts were approximately 150 yards apart. Approximately 275 men were employed in the mines and mills. The late Ed White of Johnstown was superintendent for Patton and Dodge. That was in the day of the old sunshine lamp, and Ina recalls that as a child she chewed the Sunshine wax and liked it, although its only flavor was of kerosene. Ina is today Mrs. Hunter Gregory and lives at 2101 Choteau in .........