| Frank Newsam | Thomas Newsam |
| John Newsam | Henry Nurse |
| Richard Newsam | more to come... |
NEWSAM,
FRANK; It is doubtful if any man in Peoria county has a more exhaustive
knowledge of the mining possibilities of Illinois, that has Frank Newsam, a
resident since 1883 of a farm near Mapleton, Hollis Township. A native of
Lancashire, England, he was born April 6, 1841, a son of John and Sarah
(Blakely) Newsam, natives of England. John Newsam, who was a cotton spinner by
trade, emigrated to America and settled in Peoria county in 1870; his death
occurred in the city of Peoria in the spring of 1901. To himself and wife were
born the following children: Sarah; Frank; Richard; Mary Ann, who is deceased;
John; Thomas; Martha; and Margaret, also deceased.
Accompanied by James Southern, Frank Newsam came to America in 1863, and from
the first became interested in mining in the vicinity of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. In August of 1864 he removed to St. Clair County, Illinois, where,
for about a year, he engaged in mining with Hamilton White. He came to Peoria
county March 1, 1865, and went to Peoria to hear the speech delivered by Robert
G. Ingersoll, soon after the death of President Lincoln. He operated the mines
at Lancaster until 1872, in which year his occupation was changed to that of a
hotel and boarding-house keeper in Mapleton. After the expiration of two years
he became identified with the mercantile enterprises in Mapleton, continuing in
the same line of business for nine years. However, beginning with 1876, he spent
one year in Fulton County, in partnership with James Frame, of Burlington, and
during the preceding year opened the Walker Mines. Other mines which have come
under his able management including a mine in Fulton County and another in East
Mapleton, in which latter connection he was two years with the firm of Neill,
McGrew and company, but later operated these mines on his own account. At
another time he entered into partnership with his brother, their mining affairs
at Orchard Mines being conducted for seven years under the firm name of Newsam
brothers. He was for a time interested in gold-mining in California. The
interests of Mr. Newsam has been by no means self-centered, for his activity in
promoting the general growth of his township has extended in many directions. A
Republican in national politics, he has been Supervisor of Hollis Township for
one term, and has also served as School Director and Mine Inspector, and was for
ten years Postmaster at Mapleton. In religious belief he is an Episcopalian.
Fraternally he is associated with the Masons, having joined the Kingston Mine
Lodge, No. 357, in 1867. He is also affiliated with the Chapter and Knights
Templar, and became a Consistoryman in 1880, having attain the thirty-second
degree. He attended the Conclave of Knights Templar in Chicago in 1883.
May 15, 1865, in Peoria, Mr. Newsam married Emma Harris, and of this union seven
children have been born, three of whom are living: John T., William F., and
Richard. (Historical Encyclopedia
of Illinois and History of Peoria
County, 1902, pages 713-714, submitted by Janine Crandell)
NEWSAM, JOHN; Proprietor of a General Store; born in Lancashire, England, April 13, 1853, is the son of John and Sarah Ann (Blakely) Newsam, both natives of Lancashire. John Newsam, Sr., came to this country in 1870. Several of his sons had preceded him, and he was soon after joined by the remaining members of the family, including his wife and John, Jr.. They settle near Peoria, where John Newsam, Jr., engaged in coal mining. About 1885 he became a member of the Orchard Mines and Mapleton Coal Company, and soon after united with the firm of Newsam Brothers, remaining with the latter company until 1894, when he came to Peoria to engage in the grocery business. Soon after locating he bought two lots at Nos. 3109 and 3111 South Adams Street, where he built a handsome two-story and basement brick building, in which he now handles a large stock of general merchandise and does a good business. Mr. Newsam and Mary Eberly were married in Peoria December 19, 1875, and have five children: Mary Ann, Lena, John, Sarah and Frank. Mr. Newsam is a Mason, a member of the Second Congregational Church Choir, and an active worker in the Republican party. He has frequently been a delegate to conventions, and was a member of the Peoria county delegation to the convention in Peoria in 1900 which nominated Richard Yates for governor, and took a prominent part in the " Stampede for Yates, " by carrying the county banner forward to the place where Yates' portrait was displayed. (Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, 1902, page 611, submitted by Janine Crandell)
NEWSAM,
RICHARD, Coal Mine operator, was born in Chorley, Lancashire, England,
November 11, 1843, the son of John and Sarah (Blakely) Newsam. The father was
born in Yorkshire, and the mother in Chorley, Lancashire. John and Anna Newsam,
the paternal grandparents of Richard, were born in Yorkshire, while Matthew
Blakely, the maternal grandfather, was a native of Yorkshire. John Newsam, the
father, was a cotton spinner, but also worked in the mines. Richard Newsam went
to work in the mines when a boy, and had so little opportunity to attend school
that he may be regarded as self-educated. He continued mining until he became
foreman or superintendent, when, recognizing the restricted opportunities for
advancement, he left his native country and came to the United States, were his
brother, Frank, had preceded him in 1860, remaining for a time in Pennsylvania,
whence he came to Kingston mines, Illinois. Richard Newsam came to Kingston
mines in 1869, and has remained in Peoria county to the present time. He began
mining at Kingston mines, but later became superintendent of the Orchard Mines.
In 1874, in connection with his brother, Frank, he leased these mines, and thus
they began business on their own account. Having bought his brother Frank's
interest, however, he began business for himself. Later, with his brothers, John
and Thomas, he took on the Mapleton Mines, the Black Diamond or Buckeye Mines,
the Kingston Mines, the Millard Mines, the Maplewood Mines at Farmington, the
Hanna City Mines and the Star Mines, the four last mentioned being on the Iowa
Central Railroad. Later on he bought out the interests of his brother John, and
Richard and Thomas have since been partners and are now running the Kingston
Mine, the Reed City Mine, the Maplewood Mine at Farmington, the Hannah City and
Star Mines. He and his brother, Thomas, now operates five mines, employing about
500 men, and put out 50 cars of coal per day, doing three times the business of
any other operator in Peoria county.
In connection with mining, Mr. Newsam has paid great attention to the burning of
coal, and has developed a method of firing engines that saves from 1/6 to 1/4 of
coal ordinarily used. He calls it the single-shovel methods. He is probably the
only coal miner in the world ever invited, by a railroad company to instruct its
engineers and fireman how to fire engines. This he did for the Burlington, Cedar
Rapids and Northern Railroad, and not only saved the amount of coal mentioned,
but greatly abated the black coal smoke nuisance, so that the engines appear
almost smokeless, developing at the same time more power and greater speed. His
methods were adopted by the B. C. R. & N. road, and in 6 months in 1897-1898,
the road saved $14,483 in coal bills, and ran its engines 117,618 more miles. In
effect, he decrease the coal costs from seven to five cents a mile. His methods,
which he taught by firing an engine many days with his own hands, have been
investigated by other roads, and pronounced the best and cheapest known. With it
there is little smoke or cinders to annoy the passengers, which is a vast boon
in the summer season, alike to the traveling and the general public. Mr. Newsam
is an authority on mines and mining, and has been a member of the State Board of
Mine Examiners for a number of years, serving for some time as President of the
Board.
Mr. Newsam was married at Henley, Lancashire, England, May 20, 1866, to Frances
Wolestenholme, daughter of John and Ellan Wolestenholme, both natives of
England. Mr. and Mrs. Newsam are the parents of 13 children, 7 of whom are
living: Margaret Ann, the wife of Herbert Wilson; Sarah and Helen, deceased;
John, who is charge of the store at Kingston Mines; Frank, Martha Ellen, George
and Emma, deceased; Richard, who is working in the mines at Kingston; Thomas,
who is superintendent of the Maplewood Mines at Farmington, Illinois; Mary Ellen
and Cora, who live with their parents; and William, who is a machinist in the
Toledo, Peoria and Western shops at Peoria.
Mr. Newsam is a Republican and a thirty-second degree Mason, having joined the
order in 1878, and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine.
Since first coming to this country, he is made eight visits to his native land,
England, the first been in 1882. Sometimes he has gone alone, but several times
he has taken his wife and children. (Historical Encyclopedia
of Illinois and History of Peoria
County, 1902, pages 533-534, submitted by Janine Crandell)
NEWSAM, THOMAS; Coal Mine Operator; Kingston, Timber Township, born at Blackburn, Lancashire, England, September 3, 1855. He is the son of John and Sarah (Blakely) Newsam, natives of Yorkshire, England. The father came to America and settled at Orchard Mines, Peoria, in 1869. And the following year his family followed, sailing from England on June 10, 1870. He was a cotton spinner, but failing sight compelled him to change his employment. He died February 12, 1901, at the home of his son, Richard, in Peoria. Thomas and Richard Newsam, under the firm of Newsam Brothers, are operating the following mines: the Star Mines, the Hanna City and Farmington Mines on the Iowa Central Railroad, and the Kingston and the Reed City Mines on the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway, the combined output of which is about 1,500 tons daily. Mr. Newsam married Miranda Jane Jacobs in the city of Peoria, in December, 1879, and has one daughter, Mary. Mrs. Newsam was born near Kingston, Peoria county, August 11, 1861, the daughter of Peter and Mary (Keely) Jacobs, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Illinois and settled near Kingston. Mr. Newsam is a Mason, a member of the Blue Lodge, the Consistory and the Mystic Shrine. In politics he is a Republican. (Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, 1902, pages 831-832, submitted by Janine Crandell)
