A Little Seatonville History
The village of Seatonville, always known as a mining town, had its first coal mine in 1878 owned by the Seaton Brothers and called the Nigger creek coal mine. Coal was hoisted by the use of a gin. This mine was purchased ten years later by the Chicago, Wilmington and Vermillion Coal Company who made it larger and it became the first third vein coal mine in Bureau county. Under the management of John Glover, St., who held this position for ten years. George Ramsey, better known as Taddy Ramsey, was the first engineer. After the death of Mr. Glover in 1885, a Mr. Dixon became manager, also a Mr. Baird. In the year 1889, James Cherry, Sr., who came to Seatonville from Braidwood, Ill., became the superintendent and held this position for several years. The Spring Valley Coal Company purchased the mine from the Chicago, Wilmington and Vermillion Coal Company in 1902 and operated same until the sinking and completion of the new mine in 1904. On Aug. 9, 1913, the mine was closed by the officials of the Spring Valley Coal Company