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Blythe Naratives

MYSTIC MAN, 89, DIGS BRAND NEW COAL MINE

from Centerville Iowegian, editorial by C.B. Depuy, December 1952

James J. Blythe, Sr., will be 89 years of age on April 20. He is not a large man, neither is he tall. He has been a resident of Mystic since 1889. He was born in Scotland, and went into the mines at the age of 18. For 64 years, he worked in the coal mines in Scotland and in America. Perhaps that isn't so unusual, but the next sentence we write is unusual in a great big way. James J. Blythe, Sr., 88, if Mystic, Iowa, is now engaged in digging back to coal in a mine that he has just dug and cribbed at his home.

The mine is in the southwest part of Mystic, in a portion of the yard at the Blythe home. The shaft extends into the ground far enough so that a sizable ladder is required to reach the bottom. The entry is being driven and basketfull by basketfull the earth is being raised to the top by Mr. Blythe. There is a hill which rises to the west of the shaft, and into which Mr. Blythe is driving entry with the result that he hopes to get usable fuel very soon.

HOUSE BURNED

This is the way it all came about. The house of a neighbor burned down, apparently partially due to a lack of water. Mr. Blythe decided to put down a well so large that he would have sufficient water for use in fire protection. He dug his well, but as he puts it himself, "It was dry as a bone."

Thus, Mr. Blythe had on his hands a generously large deep shaft. And it's no joke that being a Scotchman, he didn't want to let it rest there. If the shaft was dry, then why not go to coal. And that is just what he has done. The shaft is neatly squared and cribbed, swinging doors cover the top and already it is within a few feet of coal.

NOT NEW

Sinking a mine in Mystic is hardly a new thing for this doughty man of 89, or nearly that. As a matter of fact, he says, and we quote, "I opened the first mine in Mystic, for John Seddon, and I opened or sunk pretty nearly every coal mine in Mystic."

To go back for a moment, James Blythe went into mines in Scotland at the age of 12 and worked for a shilling a day, which was the equivalent of 24 American pennies. He came to the United States in 1882, went to Galesburg, Illinois, and there got his citizenship papers, after which he heard there was "good work" in Appanoose County. Since that time, he has done everything in a coal mine up to being a mine foreman, but never owned a mine.

In 1936, they told me I should retire on an old age pension, and make way for a younger man," he said. Well, that was in 1936. In 1952, years after that, he owns himself a mine which he created himself.

Mr. Blythe recalls that when he came to Mystic, it was a small town, and he says "with almost nobody in it." It is an interesting fact that the Christian Church of Mystic marked an anniversary this year well above the half century mark, and that James Blythe was one of three men who caused it to be built. He, together with the late David Lodwick and Jacob Greenwell, did the original preparation for the construction of the church. (Note: Grandpa Blythe also bought the carpet for the church.)

It was also Mr. Blythe who, at the time that Jim Seddon was mayor, purchased five acres of land from a man by the name of Green, and created Highland Cemetery.

WIFE DIED IN '32

From the days when the Orr brothers had the only mine in Mystic and the town was just being surveyed, and lots laid out, Mr. Blythe has been a part of its activities.

Somehow it seems a fitting thing that this man who has followed the art of bringing black fuel from out of the ground should in the autumn of his life, at last realize an ambition to have a mine of his own, even though he has dug it himself. As he says, he is taking it easy, and some weeks he only works two or three days a week. But it is safe to say that no other man except this staunch and somewhat slight Scotchman has ever sunk a mine with his own labor in the state of Iowa or any other state on the eve of 89 years.

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from AROUND THE TOWN by C.B. DePuy, Centerville, Iowegian Out of the Mail Basket:

Dear Mr. Depuy:

I enjoyed the story of James Blythe, Sr.'s life because thru this written story I learned many things concerning this ambitious man that I did not know. but I would like for the people to know a few more interesting tasks that this aged man has undertaken.

Last spring he planted a very large patch of corn. He tended the corn by hand and this fall he picked and stored away many bushels of corn that the patch yielded.

He walks to the post office every day, which I jusge would be about eight blocks from his house. However, I think this is the most interesting fact: it shows that Mr. Blythe, although born in Scotland, is a true American and that he is thinking of this land of ours and its future beyound the years when he will be gone to rest.

Sometime ago Mr. Blythe went to the river and brought back some little walnut trees, about 20 or 30 of them, and all about 18 inches high. He planted them in his large backyard. When asked why he didn't get larger and faster growing trees, some that had more of a start, he replied: "Perhaps these walnut trees will help my country in future generations. I hope it may not be that wars persist, but if they do, these trees could make a lot of gunstocks."

In closing I would like to add that I am the neighbor whose home burned, that was mentioned in the story concerning Mr. Blythe's life. Sincerely yours, Mr. Fred Dunham, Mystic, Iowa

**********

The following article appeared in the evening issue of the Des Moines Tribune , 21 January 1953. Grandpa Blythe died on the morning of 21 January 1953.

AT 88, HE DIGS COAL MINE IN YARD

from ALONG THE WAY by Herb Owens

MYSTIC, IOWA: Seventeen years after retiring on old age pension, James J. Blythe, 88, is digging a coal mine in his own backyard.

Within 30 yards of the little white house at the southwest edge of town, the hardy little Scotch mine veteran has sunk a 5-by-5 foot shaft down 18 feet in bedrock, then into a hillside toward a 3 foot vein of "good coal". "The coal I'm getting now is 'crop coal', a soft type which isn't good coal--in fact, it just smolders in a stove and turns into a clinker--but I know there's good coal ahead, not too far away," said Blythe.

"I worked in the mines in this country and in Scotland, for 64 years. I started at 12 earning a schilling (about 24 cents) a day. Back in 1938 when I retired to make room for younger men, my top wages were $15 for 7 1/2 hours, at a dollar a ton."

"This is the first time I ever was a mine owner," smiled Blythe, who's wondering what happens to his Social Security if the mine hits "pay dirt".

ACCIDENT

Being Scotch, Blythe couldn't stand to see that well shaft "stand wasted". He'd known there was coal in the hill. He found a 2-foot layer of clay before the vein of crop coal. he scraped that away to have his mine shaft on bedrock.

This mine wasn't the first Jim had opened. In fact, it was Blythe who sank the first mine in the coal-studded Mystic area. That was for Jim Seddon about 65 years ago. Since then, Jim's had a part in the opening of most of the mines in this region.

But digging a mine at 88--he'll be 89 on April 18-- is not the same job at 58 or 38. With his flashlight, Jim goes down a built-in ladder to his shaft. The dirt and crop coal he boroughs out is carried to the surface in baskets. It's a slow, arduous task.

I only work at it 3 or 4 days a week, and then only in good weather," he said. "After all, I'm still recuperating from a serious operation in 1949, so I can't do the work I used to do."

MOTHER

His mother having died when he was 9, little Jim Blythe went to work in the Scotish mines at 12. At 18, the youth came to Galesburg, Illinois where he worked for his American citizenship. Hearing that there was "good work" in Appanoose County coal fields, Bylthe came here in 1888 to work for Seddon. There wasn't much of a town at Mystic then. Jim married and fathered two sons here. Mrs. Blythe died in 1932. (Note: Second wife, Ellen died in 1930. Maggie Smith Blythe, mother of the two sons, died in 1914.) One son, James is a welder in Centerville; the other, Tom, lives is Wichita, Kansas.

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OBITUARY FOR JAMES JONES BLYTHE, SR. (1865-1953)

MYSTIC, IOWA: James Jones Blythe, one of Mystic's aged pioneers born in Scotland, April 20, 1865, succumbed to a heart attack at his home Wednesday morning, January 21, 1953; aged 87 years, 9 months, and 1 day.

Mr. Blythe came to this country 65 years ago and followed the occupation of mining and he studied hard and passed his final naturalization papers and became an American citizen January 25, 1889. (Note: Actual date was 25 February 1888.)

He was united in marriage to Margaret Smith, January 25, 1889. To this union three children were born: Alexander, having died in infancy, James and Thomas. She preceded him in death April 18, 1914.

He was a charter member of the Mystic Christian Church, helping to build the original building and buying and laying the carpet in the church. He had been a miner for 63 years.

On December 18, 1916 he untied in marriage to Mary Ellen Armstrong-Harris. (My mother, a grand-daughter, called her Aunt Ellen.) She preceded him in death on December 8, 1930.

He began working in the mines in Scotland when 12 years old for about 24 cents per day; he came to America to build his home and in 1949, he recovered from a severe operation, the effects of which is attributed to his sudden death, however at the age of 87 years, he dug a mine and worked in his back yard. The slogan, "Let me die working", was true until his sudden passing, for he shoveled his walks and had gone into his house where he had prepared breakfast and passed on.

He was a man of sterling character, honest and industrious. He was kind father, loved and respected by all his loved ones. He formed a wide acquaintance of friends and neighbors.

Those surviving are; sons, James J. Blythe of Mystic, Iowa, and Thomas E. of Wichita, Kansas, and step children, Bill Harris of Rock Island, Illinois, and Dorothy Radford, Modesta, California. Four grand-daughters, eight great grandchildren, nephews and nieces, other relatives, and friends.

The funeral services were held at the Swanson Funeral Parlors in Mystic, Iowa, Monday, January 26, 1953 at 2 p.m. with G.W. Swan officiating; Internment at Highland Cemetery.

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from Albia Union-Republican, September 1962

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

Mr. & Mrs. James Blythe, Jr. of Mystic will observe their 50th wedding anniversary with open house at their country home south of Mystic on Sunday, September 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. Mrs. Blythe is the former Mable Allerdice, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Alex Allerdice, formerly of Jefferson County. The couple was married September 21, 1912 at Mystic, where they have lived all their married lives. Blythe is a retired blacksmith and welder. They are both members of the Methodist Church of Mystic and Mrs. Blythe has been an active member of the Rebekah Lodge. They are the parents of three daughters: Mrs. James Kelly of Albia, Mrs. Tom Miller of Rockford, Illinois, and Mrs. Bill Miller of Centerville. They also have 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

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Obituary for James Jones Blythe, Jr.

from Albia Union Republican, 22 September 1974

BLYTHE FUNERAL: funeral services for James Jones Blythe, Jr., will be Thursday at 1:30 at Miller-Wehrle Funeral Home.

Mr. Blythe, 83, a retired welder and blacksmith who had resided at 235 North 10th in Albia four years, died Tuesday, September 24, 1974, at Monroe County Hospital. He had been ill two weeks.

Born June 1, 1891, in Mystic, he was the son of James Jones , Sr., and Margaret Smith Blythe. He was married to Mable Allerdice September 21, 1912, and the couple celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary this fall. He had lived in Centerville and Mystic many years.

Mr. Blythe was a member of the Mystic Christian Church.

Surviving are his widow, three daughters, Mrs. Bill (Nellie) Miller, Centerville; Mrs. Tom (Marjorie) Miller, Rockford; and Mrs. James (Wilma) Kelly, Albia; a grandosn, Michael Blythe, who they reared in their home; ten grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and one step sister, Mrs. Don Radford, Napa, California.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother and a great granddaughter.

The Rev. Gary Mayes will officiate at the funeral, and burial will be in Highland Cemetery in Mystic. The family will be at the funeral home Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m.

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Obituary for Mable Grace Allerdice Blythe

from Albia Union-Republican,29 March 1984

Mable Grace Allerdice Blythe, 90, 219 North 10th Street, died Wednesday, March 28, 1984 at the Monroe County Hospital. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Miller Wehrle Funeral Home, Centerville. The Rev. William Bellard will officiate.

Burial will be in the Highland Cemeter, Mystic. Visitation will be from 7-8 p.m. Thursday.

Mrs. Blythe was born August 31, 1893 at Beckwith in Jefferson County, the daughter of Alexander and Mary Elizabeth Rizor Allerdice. She was married to James J. Blythe on September 21, 1912 in Mystic. He died September 24, 1974.

Mrs. Blythe has lived the past 13 years in Albia. She was a member of the Methodist Church, the Mystic Star Rebekah, and the Mystic Sunshine Flower Club.

She is survived by a grandson, Michael, who was raised in her home; three daughters, Wilma Kelly of Albia, Nelle Miller of Washington, and Marjorie Miller of Rockford, Ill.; 10 grandchildren; 16 great grandchidlren; and two great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters.

Memorial should go to the Monroe County Activity Center.

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