LINVILLE - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

LINVILLE FAMILY -- thanks so much to Marjorie :)

Source: Unknown newspaper - hand dated January 1935 -- sent by Pat D via Marjorie L - thanks, Girls! Johnnie Linville, veteran Hillsboro merchant, was one of the folks who was out bright and early New Year's day greeting everyone with a happy smile. He is 86 years of age and aside from beng troubled with some rheumatism in his left knee gets about as spry as a 40 year old boy. Tuesday morning when our reporter visited with Mr. Linville at his store in Hillsboro he was told about some of his early days when he lived south of Veedersburg and worked at the woolen mill. The woolen mill was then located where the old Hetfield Mill stood and was for years one of the prosperous enterprises of Western Indiana. The mill at that time was owned and operated by Hetfield & Mitchell and later Hetfield & Crowley. Before working at the woolen mill Mr. Linville worked on a farm in the Dice neighborhood. He finally gave up farming and started at the Mill as a wool sorter and washer. He advanced until he was given the position of dyer and colorer for the mill. When the woolen mill b usiness failed in 1875 the firm paid Linville off in hogs and book accounts. From this source he was able however to balance the account he had with them for labor. One of the things Mr. Linville was still interested in concerned the coal resources of that section. When he was a young man he remember that many times candle coal was found around the dam and south of it which had been washed down Coal Creek when the heavy spring rains flooded the creek. At one time they found a chunk of candle coal which weight 72 pounds. He helped make several investigations and looked for the candle coal bu tno one was ever able to locate the bank where it could be found. The company which then owned the land where the Mill stood and where the clay company now stands drilled for the candle coal but to no avail. Mr. Linville was born in Kentucky and remembered having burned candle coal in the fireplace at his home near Lexington in the days before the Rebellion.