From Coal Dust to River Depths: Spring Valley's Eastland Story
Introduction:
Many Eastland victims and survivors came from a coal mining town called Spring Valley, IL to work in Chicago. The Theiss sisters, Clara and Agnes; another sister, Harriet, survived; Leonard or Leo Winski; siblings, Walter and Nellie Summit.
Last updated: July 12, 2024
One More Thing for 2023
A funny thing happened to me on the way to posting my latest podcast, From Coal Dust to River Depths: Spring Valley's Eastland Story. In the last few months, I've spent more time in (mostly) Illinois newspapers from the early 1900s until just after the Eastland Disaster (1915). The purpose was to get a greater understanding of early Chicago. But I also wanted to see if there was additional information about communities and individuals affected by the Eastland Disaster. It turns out there's more than I could have imagined. These old newspapers are gold — they can immediately take us into the past.
Hint: All primary sources, such as newspapers, still need to be corroborated.
I've learned more about other lives affected by the Eastland Disaster and the communities they were part of in Chicago: German, German-Polish, German-Russian, Polish, and Lithuanian. That's just for starters. Oh, and there's the amateur baseball connection to the Eastland Disaster.
In parallel, I began working with other genealogists who've challenged me to get even more rigorous about documenting and cross-documenting my research, which I reference in my podcasts.
My latest podcast came about because of this headline in the FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1916 issue of Bureau County Tribune (PRINCETON, ILLINOIS).
FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1916 issue of Bureau County Tribune (PRINCETON, ILLINOIS).
FORMER SPRING VALLEY RESIDENTS IN DISASTER
On Eastland--Arnold Theis of LaSalle Loses Three Sisters on iIl-Fated Boat.
SPRING VALLES BOY A HERO
Leo Wynski, Graduate of Brown's Business College in LaSalle, among the Dead
Spring Valley, Illinois?
I'd never heard of it and reached out to a Chicago historian friend who also never heard of Spring Valley. However, a few searches on Google, Google Books, and Hathitrust revealed that a small mining city—about 100 miles from Chicago— held a lot of history—some of it quite painful to read. Starting in the late 1800s, there were labor strikes, murders, and riots. Check out the podcast for the whole story.
Several people from Spring Valley and nearby locations were killed on the Eastland. While most of these folks worked for Western Electric, I wondered what drew them to Chicago in the first place. I did some quick biographical sketches for each, but they deserve more attention, and I've also reached out to one of their historical societies for more info. Stay tuned. I've only just begun to research this.
Another Surprise
I know some find genealogy boring, but from where I'm sitting, this has been the craziest ride I've ever been on—like the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. For example, while finishing the script for this podcast, I got an internal prodding to check Ancestry.com to see if I had any DNA matches from Spring Valley. As an experienced genealogist and family historian, I have a good handle on my ancestor's migration patterns. At least, that's what I tell myself. But, just for the heck of it, I logged onto Ancestry, accessed my DNA matches, entered Spring Valley, IL, in the search field, and waited a second. The result? I ended up with several DNA relatives who have family/ancestors in Spring Valley!
In tandem, I applied the same procedure to my (full-blooded) sister's profile. She has the same Spring Valley matches as I—plus a few more.
One DNA matches has one of the Eastland families that I just profiled in my podcast. Yep.
While I must do a lot more investigating, our Eastland Disaster connections likely extend beyond our immediate family. This is the second time I've encountered this, as I've researched other families involved in the Eastland Disaster.
Coffee Talk
Years ago, I sat in a coffeeshop somewhere in Minneapolis with my writing pal, author Leslie Morgan Steiner (she's phenomenal and one of the most courageous people I know). I shared how my research project (the scattered pages that would become Flower in the River) seemed to be morphing into something more. Something that was being guided by my great-aunt from the even greater, great beyond. Did you follow that?
That was tough to say aloud because I was so self-conscious, fearing I was turning into one of my fortune-telling/seance conducting relatives. Leslie acted as if that was the most normal thing ever, saying, "Maybe, Natalie, you're the only one who could hear her. Maybe your great-aunt’s been trying to get through to someone for years, and you're the only one who could pick up on her signal." That was validating, comforting, and a bit frightening. Still, it was all I needed to keep on.
And, my curiosity took hold, so I started walking down the "road not taken" — without a map. I can't read maps anyway, so it would have done me little good.
So, when the nearly exact experience was happening again as I recently began exploring others affected by the Eastland Disaster, I didn't fight it. Right now, I'm in the middle of Synchronicity City, now finding matches and connections at breakneck speed. This time, it didn't surprise me. If I had any doubt, I remembered Leslie's words.
Will I ever be able to prove that intuition and guidance from the great beyond are real? Naw. Nonetheless, I have a lot of primary sources, source citations and DNA analysis to back up my research. That should count for something. Right?
To paraphrase Ted Lasso, "I feel like I fell out of a lucky tree, hit every branch on the way down, and ended up in a pool full of cash and Sour Patch Kids."
Collage of images of those from Spring Valley, IL who perished in the Eastland Disaster. Headline from FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1916 issue of Bureau County Tribune (PRINCETON, ILLINOIS).FORMER SPRING VALLEY RESIDENTS IN DISASTER
Podcast Notes
Come along with me as we traverse the poignant histories of Spring Valley's (IL) coal mining roots and their interwoven tales with the harrowing Eastland Disaster of 1915. The quiet streets of this city bear witness to a story that extends far beyond its borders, a narrative of labor struggles, cultural diversity, and the devastating loss of several of its own to the murky waters of the Chicago River. As we navigate the complex tapestry of early 20th-century life, we pay tribute to those who perished, and the community forever altered by industrialization's dual promise and peril.
The past isn't always what it seems, and deciphering the true stories behind historical events can be akin to solving a puzzle with elusive pieces. Some course correction is needed to bring to life the stories of survivors like Harriet Theis, and honor the memory of siblings Walter and Nellie Summit (Latowski). From the documentation of near-misses to the heroic efforts of rescuers amidst chaos, we shed light on the resilience and humanity that emerged from tragedy. This chapter of history reminds us that every name on a memorial plaque was a life full of stories, and we endeavor to ensure their narratives are told with integrity and respect.
As we weave the threads of history with personal discovery, I share a revelation that intimately links my family lineage to the very events we've been exploring in Spring Valley. Who knew?? Genealogy and DNA testing have opened a window into my own ancestral connections to Spring Valley and its mining communities. It's a testament to the magic that unfolds when one's intuition collides with rigorous research, revealing the entangled branches of family trees that reach through time. Join us as we celebrate not only the strength of the survivors but also the rich tapestry of legacies they've passed down through generations.
Podcast Link
From Coal Dust to River Depths: Spring Valley's Eastland Story
