See that I get a resting place in the same clay that shelters
the miners who gave up their lives on the hills of Virden…
I hope it will be my consolation when I pass away
to feel I sleep under the clay with those brave boys.
-Mother Jones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Martyrs of Virden, October 12, 1898
Four of the martyrs died during the battle:
E. W. Smith
Edward Cahill, Virden strike leader stated at the coroner’s inquest morning of Oct 13th:
“Shots were fired from the train before it reached the depot. I think, too, there was a good deal of firing from the tower at the shaft. I saw all of the bodies that were in the pasture and recognized Ellis Smith of Mt. Olive as one of them.” [From Illinois State Journal, Oct. 14, page 1.]
Ernst Kaemmerer
Sadly the many variations on the name, Ernst Kaemmerer, given by the reporters of the day, make research on Brother Kaemmerer difficult. He was listed by the Illinois State Journal (Oct. 13, page 1) as deceased by 10 p. m. Oct 12th, and was not one of the two miners who died on the field soon after the battle. A photograph of him does exist with this caption:
Ernst Kaemmerer, one of the Mt. Olive miners who was killed in the Virden riot. This is a greatly retouched version of a photograph that probably was made when he was in his late twenties. [See Keiser below.]
George Franklin Bilyeu
Frank Bilyeu was born January 6, 1854, according to cemetery records (see below.)
The Illinois State Register of October 15th, page 2, reported:
Taylorville, Ill., Oct. 14-The remains of Frank Bilyeu, late of Springfield were brought to this city this morning and interment was made in Oak Hill cemetery at 3 o’clock this afternoon. Bilyeu was killed in the riot at Virden Wednesday and was a conspicuous character among the miners. The funeral to-day was [largely?] attended by miners from Springfield and Pana.
Fifty came over from Pana on the noon train. Bilyeu formerly lived here and was the local leader in the strike of 1897. He is survived by seven children.
Abram Hale Breneman
One of the Springfield men who was with Burke told of the killing of Abe Brennaman [Breneman] of Girard. Brennaman was shot through the body and died almost instantly. His young son came upon the field soon afterward and the grief of the boy was most pitiable. When the lifeless form of his father was lifted into the wagon the boy took his place beside it and rode to the improvised morgue at the O’Neil boarding house.
[The boy said:]
Its a sad blow to us. Father was the head of a family of nine of us. I don’t know what we will do now. It will break their hearts at home. [Illinois State Journal, Oct. 13, page 1.]
The Chicago Inter Ocean of October 15th reported:
A large number of Virden miners went to Girard yesterday to attend the funerals there. Most interest centered about the interment of Abe Brennaman, an old and influential miner. His body was escorted to the Christian church by a guard of honor of 162 miners. The church was crowded and hundreds stood outside the door. Brennaman was 55 years old, and left a wife and six children.
—————
From the Illinois State Journal of October 13, 1898:
SCENES AFTER THE BATTLE.
—–Virden, Oct. 12-(Special.)-The scenes that attended the removal of the dead miners from the field east of the stockade were pathetic in the extreme as soon as the firing had ceased and while there was still the greatest danger of a resumption of the fire from the stockade, shrieking, bare-headed women, their hair flying in the air, ran from the houses in the vicinity and rushed for the place where the miners had fallen, looking for their husbands and fathers. As they run they shouted curses at the men in the stockade and shook defiant fists at the grim tower from which had come the shower of lead.
The train which had incited the riot had hardly passed out of view before the dead and wounded in the field had been surrounded by their friends and in a remarkably short time wagons, their teams decked with foam, dashed onto the battlefield. Their drivers had received the word that they were wanted almost before the firing ceased and they had driven with all haste to the aid of the injured men. Tenderly the wounded miners were lifted into the big wagons and, then slowly and sorrowfully, the return to the town was made.
The O’Neill Home at Virden, Miners’ Temporary Morgue
From The Daily Inter Ocean of October 15, 1898:
From the St. Louis Post Dispatch of October 13, 1898:
In the front yard of the home of Miner John O’Neill, a story-and-a-half cottage, stand five black-covered coffins, on each of which is a simple plate, engraved with the words “At Rest.”
—————
Two of the martyrs died on the field after the battle:
From the Illinois State Journal of October 13, page 1:
Two of the men who fell were not dead when their companions reached them. These were Joseph Kilale [Joseph Gitterle] of Mt. Olive and Edward Welch of Springfield. A messenger was immediately sent for Father John Clancy and the good priest arrived in time to administer the last rites of the Catholic church to the dying men. Under the shade of the clump of trees on the blood-dyed field, and directly beneath the guns of the stockade, the minister performed his sad office and said a fervent prayer for the souls that were fast leaving the mangled bodies.
Both of the men to whom the priest administered, died before they were removed, with the clergy man kneeling at their side and surrounded by the men who had been at their side when they fell. There was not a dry eye in the assemblage as these men gasped their last breaths and their eyes were closed by their companions, but through the tears of many glistened the fire of desired revenge and bands that held firearms grasped them tighter.
Joseph Gitterle
Joseph Gitterle was from Mt. Olive and is one of the miners honored at Union Miners Cemetery at the Mother Jones Monument in Mt. Olive.
Note: of these four martyrs, only Brother Long is not buried at Union Miners Cemetery (see below.)
Edward Welch
From the Illinois State Journal of October 14, page 3:
Edward Welsh is survived by his father, Martin Welsh, residing in the north part of the city, one sister, Mamie, and three brothers, James, Joseph and Martin, jr. He was born in this city and had resided here all his life. The funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock this afternoon at the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
[…..]
An invitation is also extended to all labor organizations to take part in the funeral of Brother Edward Welsh, which will proceed from Foster’s undertaking parlors at 2 o’clock this afternoon; thence to the Church of the Immaculate Conception where the funeral services will be held at 2:30 o’clock.
—————-
Two of the martyrs died the next day, October 13:
From the Illinois State Journal of October 14, page 3:
Two of the miners who were shot during the Virden riot Wednesday died yesterday [Thursday October 13th] in St. John’s hospital. The names of the two men who swelled the list of fatalities to a dozen are: Ernest Long, aged 19 years, of Mt. Olive, and William Harmon, aged 49, of Girard.
Ernest F. Long
Ernest Long, aged 19 years, of Mt. Olive…breathed his last at 12:07 o’clock yesterday afternoon…Long was shot in the bladder, in the left leg, and twice in the right hip…Long is survived by his father, four sisters and two brothers. The remains were taken to Blach’s undertaking parlors where they were prepared for burial. Last night the body was taken to Mt. Olive for burial. the deceased was a member of the A. O. U. W., which order will have charge of the funeral service. [Illinois State Journal, Oct. 14, page 3.]
William Harmon
From the Illinois State Journal of October 13, page 1:
William Harmon, a Girard miner, who was shot in the back, was taken to the home of Mrs. Carrie Teeters. Harmon’s wound was an agonizing one and the poor fellow could not move without suffering the most excruciating pain. He begged piteously for a doctor, but it was a long time before one could be found to care for him. Harmon was with his three sons, Ollie, Oliver and Willie, when he was struck. His son Ollies’s head was grazed by one of the rifle balls and a forrow was plowed through his hair. He was only stunned by the bullet.
From the Illinois State Journal of October 14, page 3:
William Harmon, aged 49, of Girard…expired at 5:30 o’clock in the evening…Harmon, was shot through the spine and lungs….The remains of William Harmon were taken to Foster’s undertaking parlors and prepared for burial. They will be taken to Girard at 6:45 o’clock this morning. A son of the deceased will accompany the remains home. Harmon was 49 years of age and is survived by a wife and five children.
Virden Martyrs Buried at Mt. Olive Union Miners Cemetery
-Mother Jones, buried near Virden Martyrs as per her wishes.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/552/mary-harris-jones
-E. W. Smith
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67697101/ellis-w-smith
-Joseph Gitterle
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67697150/joseph-gitterle
-Ernst Kaemmerer
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67697189/ernst-kaemmerer
Other Virden Martyrs at FindaGrave
-Ernest F. Long – Woodlawn Cemetery Edwardsville, IL
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134784943/ernest-f.-long
-William Harmon – Kirkland Cemetery, Sorento IL
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26105945/william-harmon
-George Franklin Bilyeu – Oak Hill cemetery – Taylorville IL,
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116091029/george-franklin-bilyeu
-Edward Welch – Calvary Cemetery, Springfield IL
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21892803/edward-welch
-Abram Hale Breneman – Girard Township Cemetery, Girard IL
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73722640/abram-hale-breneman
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCES
Letter from Mother Jones of Nov 12, 1923
http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/mopl/id/14/rec/13
The Illinois State Journal
(Springfield, Illinois)
-Oct 13, 1898, page 1
-Oct 14, 1898, pages 1 & 3
https://www.genealogybank.com/
Illinois State Register
(Springfield, Illinois)
-Oct 15, 1898, page 2
https://www.genealogybank.com/
The Daily Inter Ocean
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Oct 15, 1898
https://www.newspapers.com/image/34196428
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
(St. Louis, Missouri)
-Oct 13, 1898
https://www.newspapers.com/image/138138681/
IMAGES
Virden Martyrs Ernst Kaemmerer & E. F. Long
http://www.motherjonesmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Virden-keiser-Union-Miners-Cemetery.pdf
WNF Virden, O’Neill House, Chg Intr Ocn p2, Oct 15, 1898
https://www.newspapers.com/image/34196428
Virden Martyrs Long, Kaemmerer Gitterle Smith, ab 1898
http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/mopl/id/16
See also:
Tag: Battle of Virden 1898
https://weneverforget.org/tag/battle-of-virden-1898/
Great photographs of Union Miners Cemetery:
http://dagblog.com/reader-blogs/labor-day-remembrance-and-inspiration-mother-jones-virden-massacre-3729
History of Union Miners Cemetery:
Union Miners Cemetery at Mt Olive
-by John H Keiser
http://www.motherjonesmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Virden-keiser-Union-Miners-Cemetery.pdf
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~