MILAM COUNTY TEXAS - A History of Rockdale Texas (LIGNITE IN THE ROCKDALE AREA)
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Lynna Kay Shuffield for the
Milam County Genealogical Society
milamco@yahoo.com
July 26, 2001
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There is an html version of this information with pictures at
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LIGNITE IN THE ROCKDALE AREA
(Researched by Mrs. Ida Jo Marshall)

Lignite is the most important mineral resource in the Rocdale area. It occurs in great 
quantities within Milam County. This resource of coal attracted the attention of the early 
settlers.

Seven years before the founding of Rockdale, in 1867, the coal deposits of Milam County 
were surveyed by Samuel B. Buckley, Assistant State Geologist. This survey showed 
extensive deposits of coal beds in the county.

ln 1890 the hrst mine in Milam County was put into operation three miles east of 
Rockdale by Herman Vogel. The slope type of mining was used, and the coal was hoisted 
by windlass and mule until the installation of boilers and

Two years later, 1892, the Rockdale Mining and Manufacturing Company began 
operating a mine just five hundred yards from the Vogel mine site. Since both mines were 
situated near the track of the International and Great Northern Railway, the transporting 
of lignite to other localities was greatly facilitated. The total

By 1895 there were six coal mines in operation in Milam County. production of the 
mines amounted to about 29 cars of coal a day. In 1903 the following mines were in 
operation in the county:

               Name of Mlne Superintendent                   Number of Employees
               ========================                   ==================
	Worley Mine A. J. Worley                                 25
	Big Lump Coal Company S. J. Taylor               50
	Lignite Eggette and Coal Co. S. J. Taylor        140
	J. J. Olden Mine John Eggwart                          35
	Black Diamond Coal Co. Gus Lorenz                65
	Aransas Pass Coal Co. P. H. Perry

In 1910, the following mines were operating in Milam County; the American / Lignite 
and Briquette Company, Charles Bergstrom, superintendent; the Bigt | Square Mine, E. 
Rowlett, superintendent; the Milano Coal Company, A. B./ Hamil, superintendent; the 
International Mine, E. Rowlett, superintendent;\ the Santa Fe Mine, George Taylor, 
superintendent; the Sessions Mine, \ William Wells, superintendent; the Texas Coal 
Company, John Tolbert, superintendent, the Vogel and Lorenz Mine, formerly known as 
Black Diamond Mine, Gus Lorenz, superintendent; the Sandard Lignite Company, J. P. 
Sughrue, superintendent; the Witcher Mine, William Wells, superintendent; and the 
Worley Mine, William Wells, superintendent.

Frequent cave-ins happened in the tunnel mines of that period, the most serious of which 
occurred at the Vogel Mining Company in 1913. A cave-in in a creek near the mine shaft 
caused the mine to flood. This cut off and entombed seven miners within the mine. At 
once, a hole was dug from the surface into the mine, through which fresh air could reach 
the trapped miners. After five and one-half days of digging, six of the seven miners were 
rescued through another hole dug into the flooded mine.

Lignite mining continued to grow each year. By 1915 Milam County was producing and 
shipping more than seven thousand cars annually. A decrease in the number of mines 
began to decrease. By 1924, there were only six mines left in production. These were: 
Big Lump Coal Company, Calvert Coal Company, Sparks Lignite Company, Consolidated
Coal Company, Texas Coal Company, and the Sandow Lignite Company.

The peak in production of lignite in Milam County was reached in 1931. At that time 
Milam County produced 1,000 tons of coal each day. Since 1931, the lignite industry in 
the county continued to decline. By 1949, the only mine in operation was the McAlester 
Fuel Company, nine miles southwest of Rockdale.

With the coming of The Aluminum Company of America to Rocdale in 1951, the 
revival of this brown coal has had a profound effect on the city of Rockdale.