Biography of Edward O'Toole

WEST VIRGINIA In History, Life, Literature and Industry
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1928 - Volume 5, page 280-181

        EDWARD O'TOOLE, general superintendent United States Coal & Coke
Company, Gary, West Virginia, is one of the foremost mining men of the
United States, and an inventor of national reputation. He was born in
Salineville, Columbiana County, Ohio, December 27, 1866, a son of Edward
and Margaret (Collins) O'Toole. The elder Edward O'Toole was born in the
town of Shrule, on the banks of Lough Corrib, in County Mayo, Ireland, in
1828, the son of a surgeon. His education was limited, for during his
childhood it was a criminal offense to educate Catholics in Ireland, he was
forced to become a working man, and was in the mines, continuing his work
until he retired. As a general thing he voted the Democratic ticket in
national elections. Mrs. Margaret (Collins) O'Toole was born in the Parish
of Islandeady, County Mayo, Ireland, 1828. Her father was a noted Irish
scholar, and a farmer.
        The younger Edward O'Toole attended the common schools of
Columbiana County, Ohio, and when he was only nine years old he started to
work in the coal mines between school terms. In the years that have
followed he has filled every position and occupation that is connected with
the coal mining. There is nothing about this line of business with which he
has not been associated from the mining of coal to the prospecting and
purchasing of mines, etc., etc. He has been interested in the coal business
and the purchase of coal lands in West Virginia for the last thrity-five
years. Mr. O'Toole possesses inventive genius of a high order, and is the
inventor of the O'Toole Jeffrey Over Cutting Machine, the O'Toole Cutting
and Loading Machine, and the developer of the American Coal Cleaning
Corporation's Dry Cleaning of Coal Process. He read a paper before the
American Iron and Steel Institute on the advantages of dry cleaning coal;
and one of the Pocahontas Coal Field for the American Society of Mining and
Metallurgical Engineers; and he addressed the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers, on the Machinization of Coal Mines and General
Mining, and the operating officials of the Norfolk and Western Railroad, an
organization of efficiency of operation. He is the originator and supporter
of the present Workmen's Compensation Laws of the State of West Virginia.
Another important accomplishment of this versatile man was the building and
management of the coal mines of the United States Steel Corporation in West
Virginia and Kentucky; and it was he who organized the national banks of
Gary, and Anawalt, West Virginia and Lynch, Kentucky. He organized the
Central Pocahontas Coal Company, the Crystal Block Coal & Coke Company, the
Crystal Block Mining Company, the Crystal Supply Company, the Tug River
Electric Company, and the Kentucky River Power Company. In addition to the
above Mr. O'Toole has examined the mines of Germany, Belgium, France and
England, for the benefit of the coal mining branch of the United States
Steel Corporation, and he visited South America for the purpose of
investigating the coal market on behalf of the Central Pocahontas Coal
Company and the Crystal Block Companies.
        Mr. O'Toole is affiliated with the Republican party. From 1905 to
1909 Mr. O'Toole served as colonel on the governor's staff under Governor
Dawson; and from 1909 to 1913 he served as general on the governor's staff
under Governor Glassock. For twenty-four years he served as president of
the board of education of Adkins District, West Virginia. While he is a
Catholic, Mr. O'Toole is interested in all religious and charitable work,
and is a patron and promoter of churches of all denominations. Methodist,
Baptist, Catholic and all churches of the colored people. He belongs to the
American Iron and Steel Institute, the Mining Engineers of Western
Pennsylvania, and the American Society of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers.
        Mr. O'Toole was married in Saint Vincent de Paul's Church,
Leisenring, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, to Miss Sarah Goodwin, who was
educated in common schools of Pennsylvania. Her father, James Goodwin, is a
farmer, and her mother, Mrs. Mary (Campbell) Goodwin, is connected with the
Goodwins and Hays of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. O'Toole became the parents of
the following children; William Joseph, who was born March 15, 1894, in
Fayette County, Pennsylvania, received his degree of Bachelor of Arts from
the Catholic University, is now clerk of the county court and manager of
the American Coal Cleaning Corporation, Welch, West Virginia, married
Deborah Kinney, and they reside at Welch; Julia Cecelia, who was born
February 7, 1897, married Raymond A. Wyland, and they live at Anawalt, West
Virginia. He attended Saint Aloysius Academy, took her degree of Bachelor
of Arts from Trinity College, and was a student of the Catholic University.
Edward Austin, who was born January 16, 1899, attended the old Point
Comfort College and the University of West Virginia, and and the Catholic
University, and is now vice president Central Pocahontas Coal Company, of
Welch, West Virginia, married Helen Myers; Margaret Mary, who was born
February 15, 1901, attended Immaculate Conception Academy, Washington,
Trinity College, and Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, married
Hobart Baldwin, and they live at Sprigg, West Virginia; Anna Regina, who
was born November 11, 1903, attended Saint Aloysius Academy, received the
degree of Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College, took a special course in
English at Oxford University, is now teaching in the high school at Gary,
West Virginia; James Michael, who was born July 4, 1907, attended Old Point
Comfort College, Leonard Hall, Mount Saint Joseph College, Notre Dame
University, United States preparatory School, and is at present a
midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland;
Lawrence, who was born July 13, 1909, attended Old Point Comfort College,
Leonard Hall, Mount Saint Joseph College, and the public schools of Gary,
West Virginia and is now at Georgetown University; Sarah, who was born
April 9, 1911, attended Saint Aloysius Academy, is now attending Mount
Notre Dame Academy, Reading, Ohio; and Thomas, who was born September 20,
1913, is attending the public schools of Gary, West Virginia. His son
Edward was at Prattsburg Training camp and was placed in command of
battalion at the Catholic University awaiting orders for overseas duty when
the armistice was signed.

Submitted by Gina M. Reasoner <AUPQ38A@prodigy.com>

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