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George
E. Firestone Jr. |
George E. Firestone Jr. was born on Dec. 15, 1881 (or more likely 1879) in New Salem, Fayette County, PA, the son of George E. and Barbara (Minerd) Firestone Sr. He also has given his birthdate as Dec. 14, 1882.
When required to register for the World War I draft in September 1918, George was living and working as a coal miner for the Amend Coal Company. in Newcomer, Fayette County, about four miles west of Uniontown. The draft official recorded that he was of medium height and build, with blue eyes and brown hair.
The year after the war ended, in about 1919, when he was age 30, George married Lillian May (Lee) Hughes ( ? -1961), daughter of Simon R. and Mary Elizabeth (Ogle) Lee of Brownfield, Fayette County.
She brought two stepsons to the marriage, Arthur Hughes and Harry A. Hughes. They attended the Free Methodist Church at Footedale, Fayette County.
George was a longtime coal miner, employed by United States Steel at the Palmer works, and a member of the United Mine Workers of America.
In 1920, living in Luzerne Township, George and his stepsons all earned a living as coal mine laborers. Later, they resided at House 211 in Footedale, PA circa 1940, when he was mentioned that year in the newspaper obituary of his brother, William, in the Uniontown Morning Herald. Circa 1955, their residence was New Salem, Fayette County.
George suffered from ulcers and hardening of the arteries and endured a heart attack in September 1955, dying 18 days later in Uniontown Hospital on Oct. 13, 1955, at the age of 73. Harry Hughes of Uniontown signed the death certificate. Burial was in Maple Grove Cemetery, with the Edward E. Minerd Funeral Home handling the arrangements, and with Rev. H.L. Davis officiating.
Lillian lived for another six years after George's death. She passed into eternity at the age of 78 in the Somerset (PA) State Hospital on Oct. 29, 1961, due to heart attack following years of hardening of the arteries. Interment was in Maple Grove Cemetery.
Copyright © 2001, 2016 Mark A. Miner