Coal Industry Of Oakford Page 36 During the year 1898 the village of Oakford was the only town in the county without a coal shaft. At this time considerable interest was built up to explore the possibilities of a shaft being sunk. The village board appropriated $150, railroad $133, John Armstrong $48.71, Robert Ishmael $15.55, E.S. Cheaney & Co. $15.85, and J.D. Perkin for the project. The shaft was sunk on the west bank of Mott Creed in the northwest corner of the Henry Baker farm about a mile south of town. The old timers said the project was successful and that coal was mined; however, the operator of the sinking of the shaft caused a cave-in and the project was dropped. Some say the promoter was bought off by coal interest further south. No other attempt was ever made to mine coal again. Next Previous Index Copyright © 2007 Jeanie Lowe & contributors All rights reserved Illinois Ancestors Home