Muhlenberg County Kentucky

Muhlenberg Map

News: N

Nelson Creek Coal Company Mining Accident

Seven Miners Die in Mine of Nelson Creek Coal Company
Five Miners Die In An Attempt To Save Two Others
Two Are Sons of First Two Victims at Nelson Creek, Ky. Three Others Suffering From Gas Fumes.

Nelson Creek, Ky., February 17. - Five miners made the supreme sacrifice here Tuesday when they attempted to rescue two other miners, who were killed by a premature explosion of a shot at the coal mines of the Nelson Creek Coal Co. here.

Two of them - Archie Huter and Carl Brandon - were sons of the first two victims.

Three others today were suffering from effects of deadly gases that filled mines after the explosion but are expected to live.

The first explosion occurred as the members of the day shift were leaving the mines. Hearing the explosion, Huter and Brandon, accompanied by Tom Richardson, Gabe Woodruff and Mathew King, rushed to their rescue. The second explosion then occured, killing them. Accumulated coal dust from the “windy shot” caused this explosion.

Other miners, undaunted by the fate of their companions, descended in the mine which was rapidly filling with gas.

Another of Huter's sons, Leonard, with Leonard Richardson, son of Tom, and Cecil Fulkerson, mine foreman, were severely gassed.

The explosions were not heard on the surface, but the miners felt a slight blast which they knew could be caused by nothing but an unusual explosion. Later a puff of smoke found its way out of the shaft, giving the only visible signs of the disaster below.

Physicians called to the scene also encountered trouble, muddy roads making the mines inaccessable. They left their cars two miles from the scene and plowed through the mud to the mine, where they made heroic efforts to save the lives of the gassed victims.

Officials stated that little damage was done to the mine and operations will be resumed after the funerals of the victims.

New County, 1883

The Muhlenberg Echo says there is talk of a new county being formed out of parts of Muhlenberg, Butler, Todd and Logan counties.

New Cypress Church Dedication 1911

New Cypress Church Dedication Oct. 15

New Cypress church, just completed, will be dedicated on the third Sunday in October. Dr. W.D. Powell, of Louisville, having been secured for that purpose. The church is near the Isbell schoolhouse, five miles from Greenville, on the Madisonville road, and there will be an immense crowd present if the weather is fair. Dinner will be provided for all, and everyone is cordially invited to attend.

Nicholls, Sam

Auto party fired upon. Near Central City Saturday night.
Woman seriously wounded, and coal miner is placed behind bars.

Central City, Ky., Aug. 11 - The Central City jail was being guarded last night for the purpose of protecting Sam Nicholls, a white coal miner, both from his friends and his enemies. There was considerable talk of mobbing Nicholls on the streets Sunday, and there were also rumors that his friends would try to get him out, but no trouble occurred.

Saturday night Nicholls and ten companions came to Central City from their homes at Hillside, three miles away, and began drinking. As they started home an automobile passed them in the suburbs of the city. Nicholls pulled two pistols and flourished them at the chauffeur, and when the latter drove on Nicholls fired two shots into the auto party. One shot went directly through the body of Mrs. W.M. Houston, who held a baby in her arms. A shift from the left arm to the right a few moments previously saved the baby's life, as the bullet came out at the point where its head rested on Mrs. Houston's left breast. The second shot went through the coat sleeve of John Grigsby, who sat on the front seat of the car, causing a flesh wound.

Mrs. Houston was carried to a nearby residence and the Central City police were called. Chief Langley secured an automobile and hastened to the scene. He caught and searched Nicholls and all his companions without finding a weapon, but saw Nicholls dropping some cartridges from his pocket, and placed him and two Tucker brothers under arrest. Resistence was offered, but drawn revolvers cowed the disarmed men. Two pistolls, identified as belonging to Nicholls, were found near the scene of the shooting, and then Nicholls confessed.

A reign of terror has been maintained along the Hillside road for several months. A few weeks ago John Martin, a Greenville young man, was shot while driving past Hillside in a buggy. Auto parties have been held up once or twice, and shooting on the highway has been frequent. It is the frequency of these occurrences which cause indignation to run so high in this vicinity.

Mrs. Houston is the wife of an official of the Gibraltar Coal Company, operating a half mile from Hillside. She is not thought to be fatally hurt, as the bullet missed her lung. Grigsby is also connected with the Gibraltar Coal Company. Supt. Smith, of the Gibraltar Company, and Mayor Woodburn, of Central City, offered rewards agregating $600 for the apprehension of the parties who did the shooting.

Noffsinger, Bradford

Those Noffsinger people. Bradford Noffsinger was born in Muhlenberg county, August 16, 1819. His wife was born in Virginia in the year 1822. They have fifteen children, nine living, six sons and three daughters; ninety grandchildren and eighty-two great-grandchildren. They have four sons-in-law and six daughters-in-law and all the sons and sons-in-law are Republicans except one and all belong to the Baptist church. The church they belong to enrolls 170 members, and sixty of them are Nofsingers, and they are his children and grandchildren. - [Madisonville Journal.

Noffsinger, Charles Townes

Central City man for clerk. Mr. C.T. Noffsinger of Central City, announces his candidacy in this paper this week. He seeks the favor of the Republican party at its primary, for nomination for county clerk, and if he wins that, will make equally as strong a candidate at the general election. He is a member of one of the pioneer families of Muhlenberg, all of them honorable, industrious people, who have done vast things in the county's uplift and development. Mr. Noffsinger has all the needed qualifications, will make a clean effort for the nomination, and do everything possible to elect the Clerk no matter who is nominated.

Noffsinger, George

Home and contents burned. Mr. George Noffsinger, who lives near Midland, had the misfortune to lose his home and entire contents last Saturday afternoon by fire. Mr. Noffsinger and his wife were away from home on a visit and did not know of the fire until some time afterward. The fire is supposed to have originated in a kitchen flue, as the rear part of the building was practically destroyed before anyone discovered the danger. Nothing could be saved, and the few people who gathered had hard work in saving the barn and outbuildings. There was no insurance, and the loss falls heavily on Mr. Noffsinger, who had recently completed the home.

Noffsinger, John T. Jr.

John T. Noffsinger, Jr., assigned new job

John T. Noffsinger, Jr., of Bloomington, Indiana, who is employed with the B.F. Goodrich Co., of Akron, Ohio, has recently been transferred to Hopkinsville, Ky., to take charge of the credit department there.

Mr. Noffsinger has been with the Goodrich Company for three years, starting his working career at Evansville immediately after graduating from Lockyear's Business College.

After working in Evansville for one and a half years he was transferred to Vincennes, Ind., then shortly to Bloomington, Ind., to take charge of the credit department at the Bill's Consolidated Store. After having worked there for one year and a half he was transferred back close to Central City and is now credit manager at the Hopkinsville store of Bill's.

Mr. Noffsinger is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Noffsinger of this city.

Noffsinger, Lurlie

Mrs. Noffsinger on Trial in Kentucky's Hammer Murder Case.

Henderson, Ky., May 30. - Presentation of evidence in the trial of Mrs. Lurlie Noffsinger, charged with willful murder in connection with the death of her husband, Gus Noffsinger, got under way in Henderson circuit court here today with indications that Ollie Gibbons, convicted principal in the slaying, would be placed on the stand as a witness for the defense.

Selection of a jury of a special venire of 150 Union county men was completed late Tuesday. The State's case was presented by Commonwealth's Attorney Talbott Berry.

Gibbons, convicted of a charge of murder in connection with Noffsinger's death and sentenced to life imprisonment in the penitentiary, is being held under State troops until after his appearance on the stand. The guard was provided at the request of county officials, who feared high feeling against the prisoner here might result in an outbreak unless adequate steps for his protection were taken.

Both the defendant and the convicted principals are credited with confessions relative to the “hammer murder.”

Gibbons, according to officials, blamed the woman, declaring she “nagged” him until he agreed to undertake the slaying of Noffsinger, who he admitted had befriended him. Mrs. Noffsinger, it was said, stated she had refused to become a party to plans made by Gibbons, a former boarder at the Noffsinger home, for her husband's removal and had attempted without avail to warn the victim of his danger.

Noffsinger, Shelby

Greenville, Ky., Feb. 27. - Mr. Shelby Noffsinger and family have moved to the Simon Miller property in Cherry Street.

Noffsinger, William Bradford

Midland man visits city for first time in twenty-two years

William Bradford Noffsinger, retired farmer of the Cedar Grove community, was in Central City last week-end, 22 years having elapsed since the last time he was here. His home is about seven miles from Central City. It was the first time he had spent the night here in 46 years.

The old Central Coal & Iron Company Building looked about the same as in 1916, Mr. Nofsinger said. The overhead tracks of the Illinois Central railroad were new to Mr. Noffsinger, the Post Office building, City Building and numerous others. He was impressed with the paved streets, the white way, as well as the general appearance of the city; the improved streets and automobile traffic.

Mr. Noffsinger stated that his father, W.B. Noffsinger, Sr., came here in 1860, considering purchasing of the Stroud farm, but not liking the tract, purchased the 165 acres, the homestead where he now resides.

Mr. Noffsinger is 71 years of age, the youngest of fifteen children, six living, the oldest being a brother 95 years old.

Mr. Noffsinger said taht during his younger days he came to Central City frequently, recalled the hitching posts, horse lots instead of parking lots, livery stables instead of autmobile garages, free watering troughs and not free air service for autmobiles, as well as many other changes.

Last Summer, Mr. Noffsinger said, he visited Greenville, 21 years rolling by since the last time he was at the county seat.

Mr. Noffsinger suggested the name of Wheeler as his community' first post office. After construction of the railroad from Central City to the mine, the name was changed to Midland.

Updated April 7, 2024.

Homepage   Top   News