The obit we couldn't find
The End of Paul Sander Kovach
The Beginning of Coal-Mining in the Kovach/Hassaj family
“Nothing is irrelevant to this.”
That’s how my mom chastised me when I interviewed her about her history, our common family history, and I made an off-handed comment about someone on my dad’s side of the family: that something on my dad’s side of the family was irrelevant to her or my story. And she’s right; it’s not that simple, and everything is connected.
When Trump started talking about coal, I thought of my dead grandfathers. My mom’s dad and my mom’s mom’s dad. They both worked, and died, in Pennsylvania. In Coal-Mining Country. in the midst of the Appalachian mountains, even if that’s not where people imagine Appalachia being, like in West Virginia or Kentucky or Alabama.
My great-grandfather came over from what was then called Austria-Hungary before the whole area got sliced and diced during and in between the Wars. A decade after he came here, the Depression hit, but he managed to keep his job in the mines. And that is where he would die. Crushed. In an Anthracite mine. In the months just before the US joined World War II, where his son Paul, fought as a grunt on the front lines.
You can find the accident information, his name listed among hundreds of other men’s names of those involved in various mining accidents between the years 1933-1972.
Surnames beginning with “K” (PDF file: size, 1400KB). His name among hundreds, and that’s just those with a last name that started with “K” from the early 30s to the 70s, and just those who worked with anthracite coal.
Card #: 4
Mine Name: Baltimore Tunnel
Operator: Hudson Coal
Year: 1941
Month: 6 (June)
Day: 10
Surname: Kovach
First and Middle Name: Paul S.
Age: 50
Fatal/Nonfatal: fatal
Inside/Outside: Inside
Occupation: Laborer
Nationality: Slavic
Citizen/Alien: Citizen
Single/Married: Married
#Children: 1 (under the age of 18)
Mine Experience: 25 years
Occupation Exp: 25 years
Accident Cause or Remarks: fall roof shoveling coal face of pillar
Fault: Officials
County: Luzerne
Page #: __
Mining Dist.: 11th
Film #: 3592
Anthracite.
But Paul Sanders Kovach was more than his work, and I am sad that until my research began, all that I knew about him was that his job killed him. It’s not that simple.
The obit we couldn't find highlighted on the original page.
31 Alaska Phila Reading Coal Iron 1937 6 16 Kostino John 52 nonfatal inside miner Italian married fall of rock pillar work Northumberland 23rd 3591 Anthracite
38 Prospect Lehigh Valley Coal 1934 5 12 Kostok George 37 nonfatal inside laborer Slavic citizen married thumb caught between sprag & car Luzerne 9th 3591 Anthracite
37 Lytle Lytle Coal 1938 9 23 Kostonavage Nestor 48 nonfatal inside laborer married struck by coal that fell from car Schuylkill 19th 3591 Anthracite
6 Primrose Primrose Coal 1940 3 8 Kostonavage Nestor 48 nonfatal inside miner single bruised foot dropped coal loading Schuylkill 21st 3591 Anthracite
56 St.Clair St.Clair Coal 1934 10 13 Kostroba Joseph 30 nonfatal inside machine helper American citizen single struck by flying rock from blast Schuylkill 18th 3591 Anthracite
5 Buttonwood Glen Alden Coal 1953 5 28 Kostrybili Joseph 60 fatal inside laborer American citizen married 41 41 fall roof preparing timber hitch miner Luzerne 13th 3592 Anthracite
1 St.Clair St.Clair Coal 1954 6 3 Kosty aka Alec Eleck Eliz 48 fatal outside slate picker American citizen married 30 1 cerebral hemorrhage inside breaker Schuylkill 19th 3592 Anthracite
43 Stillwater Hudson Coal 1936 12 9 Kotar Louis 43 nonfatal inside miner Austrian married struck by prop dislodged by blast Wayne 1st 3591 Anthracite
38 Johnson No.2 Penn Anthracite 1936 5 8 Kotch Barney 33 nonfatal inside miner Polish married hand caught in chain & conveyor Lackawanna 6th 3591 Anthracite
27 Wolf Creek Sims Brothers 1935 6 8 Kotch Joe 40 nonfatal outside laborer Russian citizen married sprain back try hold back coal rush Schuylkill 18th 3591 Anthracite
11 No.6 Susquehanna Collieries 1934 10 8 Kotch John 51 fatal outside laborer American citizen single 8mo picking refuse from pan roof collapse others Luzerne 14th 3591 Anthracite
1 St.Clair St.Clair Coal 1947 7 19 Kotch Joseph 51 fatal inside laborer Austrian citizen married 27 2da caught between car & rib coupling victim Schuylkill 19th 3592 Anthracite
John 32 fatal inside motorman Russian citizen married 16 2 fall roof motor knocked out prop Luzerne 13th 3592 Anthracite2 Huber Glen Alden Coal 1945 8 23Kotchan
13 Mt.Pleasant Scranton Coal 1934 10 23 Kotchko John 29 fatal inside laborer Polish citizen married 2 10 10 fall roof shoveling coal into chute accidental Lackawanna 4th 3591 Anthracite
13 Heidelberg Heidelberg Coal 1940 3 13 Kotiela Theodore 26 nonfatal inside brakeman married broke ankle caught under bumpers Luzerne 7th 3591 Anthracite
4 Nottingham Glen Alden Coal 1939 8 22 Kotinsky Leo 53 fatal inside miner Polish citizen married 2 35 5 struck by derailed car ;d.Aug24 Luzerne 12th 3591 Anthracite
4 Bliss Glen Alden Coal 1933 1 20 Kotlinski John 36 fatal inside laborer Polish alien widower 2 15 15 fall rock preparing to 1 Candlemas Haddock Mining 1935 1 4
24 Henry Lehigh Valley Coal 1935 6 22 Kotsook John 59 nonfatal inside laborer Austrian citizen married bumped elbow against prop chamber Luzerne 10th 3591 Anthracite
7 L.V. No.251 Steve Whiteko 1945 1 25 Kott Steve 44 fatal inside miner American citizen married 5 25 20 fall roof Kotishanstand prop accidental Luzerne 14th 3591 Anthracite
George 53 nonfatal inside miner Russian citizen married struck bycar when motor bumped it Schuylkill 16th 3591 Anthracitedressingoaff pillar;d.Jan26 Schuylkill 20th 3592 Anthracite
29 No.6 Volpe Coal 1938 6 18 Kotula Edward 41 nonfatal inside miner married struck by rock while trimming coal Luzerne 8th 3591 Anthracite
43 Loomis Glen Alden Coal 1937 11 15 Kotulak Michael 36 nonfatal inside timberman American citizen married fingers caughtinpuley79 Henry Lehigh Valley Coal 1939 12 20 Kovack Steve 25 nonfatal inside
10 Pine Ridge Hudson Coal 1940 2 5 Kovack Paul 49 nonfatal inside laborer Slavic married 2 cut hand struck by coal from chute Luzerne 10th 3591 Anthracite
4 Baltimore Tunnel Hudson Coal 1941 6 10 Kovach Paul S 50 fatal inside laborer Slavic citizen married 1 25 25 fall roof shoveling coal face of pillar officials Luzerne 11th 3592 Anthracite
49 Butler Slope Volpe Coal 1940 10 2 Kouslak Thomas 29 nonfatal inside laborer American married 1 bruised arm fell walking along road Luzerne 7th 3591 Anthracite
1 Hollenback Glen Alden Coal 1942 1 7 Kotzer Alexander 52 fatal inside laborer Austrian citizen married 25 fall roof exam sounding with pick officials Luzerne 11th 3592 Anthracite
41 Wanamie No.18 Glen Alden Coal 1937 5 26 Kotz Alex 27 nonfatal inside footman American citizen married caught leg between car & motor Luzerne 14th 3591 Anthracite
& rope scoop Luzerne 13th 3591 Anthraciterockstower married bruised ankle by rope walking plane Luzerne 10th 3591 Anthracite
60 Prospect Lehigh Valley Coal 1933 10 18 Kovacs Paul 49 nonfatal inside miner Austrian citizen married caught by coal he was digging down Luzerne 9th 3591 Anthracite
4 county highway Glen Alden Coal 1956 12 10 Kovadike Eugene 45 fatal outside truck driver American citizen married 3 1 coronary occlusion Luzerne 7th 3592 Anthracite
5 Nottingham No.15 Glen Alden Coal 1936 5 26 Koval John 48 fatal inside miner Polish alien married 4 4 died May 26 from natural causes Luzerne 12th 3591 Anthracite
44 Prospect Lehigh Valley Coal 1936 6 9 Koval John 28 nonfatal inside motormanast American citizen single hand caught by car wheel throw latch Luzerne 9th 3591 Anthracite
15 Dorrance Lehigh Valley Coal 1939 4 27 Koval John 26 nonfatal inside laborer married fall coal loading coal bruised hand Luzerne 11th 3591 Anthracite
91 No.6 Susquehanna Collieries 1935 9 23 Kovalage John 23 nonfatal inside laborer American citizen single lifting rock broke&fell on leg chamber Luzerne 14th 3591 Anthracite
46 Prospect Lehigh Valley Coal 1933 9 19 Kovalek Andrew 47 nonfatal inside motorman American citizen married car ran over his hand gangway Luzerne 9th 3591 Anthracite
1 Eddy Creek Hudson Coal 1935 1 5 Kovalek Joseph 35 nonfatal inside laborer Slavic married rock broke & fell on his foot heading Lackawanna 3rd 3591 Anthracite
27 Wanamie Glen Alden Coal 1934 3 15 Kovaleski John 23 nonfatal inside motormanast American citizen single run over by mine car gangway Luzerne 14th 3591 Anthracite
6 Bliss Glen Alden Coal 1940 4 10 Kovaleski John E 33 fatal inside miner Polish citizen married 2 15 10 fell down chamber stand on lagging victim Luzerne 14th 3591 Anthracite
13 Butler Slope Volpe Coal 1938 6 2 Kovalewski John 49 fatal inside laborer Polish citizen married 19 19 explosion of gas Luzerne 7th 3591 Anthracite
2 Harry E Harry E Coal 1950 6 8 Kovalick George 63 fatal inside minerCzeck citizen married 40 3mo caught between motor & trip Luzerne 9th 3592 Anthracite
13 Locust Gap Phila Reading Coal Iron 1942 11 20 Kovalick Joseph 34 fatal inside miner American citizen married 15 6 rush coal chute start blocked coal accidental Northumberland 23rd 3592 Anthracite
17 Spring Mountain Lehigh Valley Coal 1938 5 18Kovalics Joseph 31 nonfatal inside miner married struck by coal barring breaker slope Luzerne 16th 3591 Anthracite
12 Tamaqua Lehigh Navigation Coal 1939 1 24Kovalisky Peter 40 nonfatal inside miner married 2 broke leg fall coal from rib chute Carbon 17th 3591 Anthracite
73 No.7 Susquehanna Collieries 1940 11 11 Kovalski Adam 34 nonfatal inside miner American married 1 broke vertebrae struck by fall collar Luzerne 14th 3591 Anthracite
5 No.7 Susquehanna Collieries 1944 4 7 Kovalski Stanley 54 fatal inside trackman Polish citizen married 15 squeezed between cars link broke officials Luzerne 14th 3592 Anthracite
10 Westmoreland Lehigh Valley Coal 1942 2 26 Kovatch Dennis 25 fatal inside laborer American citizen single 5 5 fall roof shoveling coal into chute miner Luzerne 9th 3592 Anthracite
16 Hazleton Shaft Lehigh Valley Coal 1935 3 5 Kovatch George 36 nonfatal inside miner American citizen married slipped & fell against a prop chute Luzerne 15th 3591 Anthracite
73 Paker Duryea Anthracite 1940 9 26 Kovatchick Alex 24 nonfatal inside laborer single injured instep fall rock gobbing rock Luzerne 10th 3591 Anthracite
23 Jermyn Hudson Coal 1936 5 13 Koveesky Charles 32 nonfatal inside laborer American citizen married struck by rolling coal loading car Lackawanna 1st 3591 Anthracite
15 Prospect Lehigh Valley Coal 1937 1 28 Kovelanskas William 47 nonfatal inside miner Lithuanian married caught by rock he was taking down Luzerne 9th 3591 Anthracite
30 Seneca Phoenix A Pittston Duryea Coal 1935 5 28Kovelaski Dominic 29 nonfatal inside motorman ast American citizen married caught between derailed car & rib Luzerne 7th 3591 Anthracite
14 Locust Gap Phila Reading Coal Iron 1934 3 5 Koveleskie Felix 41 nonfatal inside miner Polish citizen married fall of coal heading Northumberland 23rd 3591 Anthracite
1 Olyphant Hudson Coal 1939 1 18 Koveleskie Stanley 50 nonfatal inside laborer Polish single 25 8 coal rolled on hand cut finger pillar Lackawanna 6th 3591 Anthracite
15 Cameron Stevens Coal 1939 6 1 Koveleskie Theodore 35 nonfatal outside laborer married 2 cut scalp fell repairing hoist breaker Northumberland 24th 3591 Anthracite
38 Richmond Scranton Coal 1934 5 25 Koverlesky Frank 43 nonfatal inside miner Lithuanian married rail slipped & truck him in abdomen Lackawanna 6th 3591 Anthracite
24 New Castle Repplier Coal 1933 7 26 Kovich John 54 nonfatal outside laborer Austrian married mine car ran over his hand Schuylkill 19th 3591 Anthracite
3 Bell Bell Colliery 1938 6 20 Kovich Michael 35 fatal inside miner American citizen married 14 10 caught under coal push out battery Schuylkill 18th 3591 Anthracite
20 Hillside Scranton Anthracite Coal 1933 6 23 Kovich Peter 47 nonfatal inside miner Russian citizen married caught by coal that slid down bar Luzerne 7th 3591 Anthracite
11 New Castle Repplier Coal 1936 3 23 Kovich Peter 45 nonfatal inside laborer Austrian married finger caught between timber tunnel Schuylkill 19th 3591 Anthracite
2 Coaldale Lehigh Navigation Coal 1945 1 22 Kovich Valent 51 fatal inside miner Austrian citizen married 1 28 25 fall of coal timbering chute gangway victim Schuylkill 17th 3592 Anthracite
4 New Castle Repplier Coal 1940 1 13 Kovick John 51 nonfatal inside miner American married 5 crush finger caught on rock loading Schuylkill 19th 3591 Anthracite
6 Barnum Scranton Anthracite Coal 1933 2 1 Kovolenko John 36 nonfatal inside miner Polish citizen married finger caught between coal loading Luzerne 7th 3591 Anthracite
5 River Slope Knox coal 1959 1 22Kovoleski Dominick 52 fatal inside laborer American citizen married 25 Susquehanna River flooded cave officials Luzerne 10th 3592 Anthracite
6 Coal Brook Hudson Coal 1939 3 30 Kovolisky Chester 28 fatal inside laborer American citizen married 6 5 fall roof shoveling coal face pillar Lackawanna 2nd 3591 Anthracite
78 No.7 Susquehanna Collieries 1936 9 30Kowakki Thomas 49 nonfatal inside miner Polish married struck in eye by coal burst from rib Luzerne 14th 3591 Anthracite
44 Primrose Primrose Coal 1939 10 4 Kowal Frank 52 nonfatal inside miner married sprained back lifting collar gangway Schuylkill 19th 3591 Anthracite
17 Colonial Colonial Colliery 1940 8 29 Kowalchick John 43 nonfatal inside timber helper Slavic married 2 hernia carrying timber up counter Northumberland 24th 3591 Anthracite
4 Archbald Shaft Continental Archbald 1944 6 19 Kowalchick John 38 fatal inside miner American citizen single 12 5 electrocuted contact with trolley wire accidental Lackawanna 5th 3592 Anthracite
6 Germantown Raven Run Coal 1952 8 8 Kowalchick John 55 fatal inside footman American citizen married 8 8 coronary occlusion standing at chute Columbia 22nd 3592 Anthracite
2 Centralia CentraliaColieries 1939 1 17 Kowalchick Steve 61 fatal inside miner Russian alien married 1 23 3 fall coal barring down face ;d.Mar5 Columbia 23rd 3591 Anthracite
2 Storrs No.73 Moffat Coal 1957 7 18Kowaleik Stanley 46 fatal inside miner Polish alien married 1 30 6mo electric shock Lackawanna 3rd 3592 Anthracite
8 Capouse Penn Anthracite 1939 1 23 Kowaleski Francis 45 nonfatal inside miner Lithuanian married 1 19 7mo finger caught in conveyor tail pillar Lackawanna 4th 3591 Anthracite
1 Storrs No.2 Shaft Moffat Coal 1958 10 17 Kowaleski Joseph 58 fatal inside laborer American citizen married 34 4 fall roof returning to face after firing officials Lackawanna 3rd 3592 Anthracite
27 Mineral Spring Mineral Spring Coal 1940 4 15 Kowalezyk Stanley 28 nonfatal inside laborer married 1 broke leg fall roof riding loader scoop Luzerne 10th 3591 Anthracite
27 Hammond Phil'a Reading Coal Iron 1938 9 20 Kowalick Frank 28 nonfatal outside laborer American married caught between ropes & wheel Schuylkill 21st 3591 Anthracite
22 Beaver meadow Coxe Brothers & Co. 1933 5 1 Kowalick John 37 nonfatal inside miner Slavic citizen married sprain back taking prop up rock hole Carbon 16th 3591 Anthracite
4 Prospect Lehigh Valley Coal 1949 5 10 Kowalick John 59 fatal inside miner Austrian citizen married 1 35 heart disease walking out manway Luzerne 9th 3592 Anthracite
3 Oneida Wolf Collieries 1934 1 22 Kowalick Joseph 53 fatal inside miner Slavic citizen married 30 15 suffocated under rush coal gangway officials Schuylkill 16th 3591 Anthracite
38 No.1 Pittston Co. 1933 8 15 Kowalla Frank 38 nonfatal inside laborer Slavic married finger caught between pieces coal Lackawanna 5th 3591 Anthracite
23 Lytle Lytle Coal 1935 4 22 Kowalshick Mike 37 nonfatal inside miner American citizen widower strained back lifting collar gangway Schuylkill 19th 3591 Anthracite
17 Baker Glen Alden Coal 1936 5 27 Kowalski Alex 50 nonfatal inside laborer Ukranian citizen married fall of roof gangway Lackawanna 5th 3591 Anthracite
8 Packer No.5 East Bear Ridge Colliery 1943 8 16 Kowalski John 25 fatal inside laborer American citizen single 4 2wk fall slate waiting for miner airway miner Schuylkill 22nd 3592 Anthracite
2 Olyphant Hudson Coal 1951 8 7 Kowalski Louis 47 fatal inside miner American citizen married