SOLOMON DEEBLE.-Superintendent and general manager of the Carlisle (Ind.) Coal and Clay Company, Solomon Deeble is a native of Monmouthshire, Wales, where he was born June 14, 1854, son of Tames and Margaret (Ashton) Deeble. The father was born in Cornwall, England, and the mother in the north of Wales. They came to America in 1864, locating in Dover, New Jersey, where they remained one year, then went to Pittston, Pennsylvania. In 1869 their son Solomon, of this sketch, came to this country and joined his parents in Pittston. Here the father died. He was a miner and usually followed that business for a livelihood.
Solomon Deeble lived in Pittston, Pennsylvania, for thirty-six years, being a mine superintendent for several years at that place. He began the occupation of a coal miner in Wales, when but seven years of age, acting as a trapper, which part of the mining work he performed for three years and then started in as a driver boy, continuing in such role in the mines of his native land, until he was fifteen years old. He then came to Pittston, Pennsylvania, where he commenced as a driver-boy. Two years were spent at that branch of the work, after which he started in as a real laborer and mined one year, when he had mastered the situation in the coal mining business sufficiently to enable him to work as a regular miner, which he did for twelve years. His next position was that of driver boss, at which he worked two years, then as fire boss one year, when he commenced as pit boss. This was in 1891 and he continued in that service for ten years, being employed by the Avoca Coal Company at Avoca, Pennsylvania. Resigning he was made superintendent of the Traders Coal Company (although still holding his residence at Avoca) and held this position for five years. In 1897 he was appointed post master of Avoca, Pennsylvania, and served in that capacity until 1904, being superintendent of the mines at the same time. In 1904 he resigned the postmastership, as well as his positions in the mines, and in March, 1905, went to Carlisle, Indiana. There he established the Carlisle Coal and Clay Company. He began the sinking of a shaft in the month of April and has been superintendent and manager of the company ever since. The shaft was sunk to the depth of two hundred and forty feet, and work begun on vein number six. March 19, 1906. After having worked the mines to a daily output of two hundred and fifty tons, they observed the roof was weak and the mine was abandoned. They then went down to a distance of three hundred and fourteen feet, and began working number five in October, 1907. This vein of coal is five feet in thickness, and of an extra good grade; the roofing is said to be of an excellent quality, too. The daily output of this mine is two hundred and fifty tons and the coal produced is sold throughout Indiana and also in Chicago. This mine is provided with an escape shaft down to number four vein, at a depth of four hundred and ninety-five feet, it being the deepest shaft within the entire state of Indiana, while the vein of pure coal is five feet in thickness. The president of this mine is John Williamson, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; J. C. Wiegand, of the same place, is secretary and treasurer; Solomon Deeble, manager, and Thomas J. Deeble, is salesman.
Solomon Deeble was united in marriage to Ruth Davis May 22, 1874. She was born in Wales, in the same locality as her husband. This union has been blessed by seven children: Thomas, died in infancy; Anna, wife of Joseph McPherson of Carlisle, Indiana; Thomas J., married Fannie Mae Pearce, of Carlisle, in 1904 and now has two children-Emma Ruth and Jessie Lois; Birdella, wife of William L. Evans, residing in Carlisle; Viola, wife of William T. Pratt, and has two children-Ruth Deeble and William Thomas, Jr., residing in St. Albans, Vermont; William F., married Grace Wilson and has one daughter-Viola Dean; Roy Edgar, married Miss Geneva Hammond and is still at home.
Politically, Solomon Deeble affiliates with the Republican party and in fraternal societies, he is connected with the following: Masons, Blue lodge, chapter, commandery and Shriners; Odd Fellows; Ancient Order of United Workmen; Foresters; and Knights of Pythias. He was a member of the school board at Avoca, Pennsylvania, for nine years. Mr. Deeble received no schooling in his youth but is a self-educated man and he and his wife both being self-educated appreciate a good practical education and gave their children a high school and college course. Four residences on the Sullivan road between Carlisle and the mines were erected by Mr. Deeble.