| Roscoe Conklin Mines was born Nov. 1, 1889, in Adamston, Harrison County, West Virginia, a son of Lewis and Caroline Titchenal Mines. The family, including Roscoe�s brothers and one sister moved to a farm in Howland Township, Trumbull County, Ohio, about 1903. He then lived in Warren, Ohio, from about 1913. Roscoe attended Warren Business College, after which he worked for the Union Savings and Trust company. On April 3, 1918, he enlisted in the National Army and served in the 241st Ambulance Company but was never sent overseas. He received an honorable discharge Feb. 12, 1919. On October 11, 1924, he married Rhea Emma Donahue, the daughter of James Donahue and Clara Scoville. The couple likely met at Central Christian Church, where they were both members. In 1926, Roscoe and Rhea had their first child, a daughter, Patricia Ann. In 1931 a son, Lewis Wesley, was born. The stock market crash and bank closings of 1929 hit Roscoe hard. He lost his bank job and went to work for the city water department. A few years later, in 1935, his world turned upside down again when Rhea died of scarlet fever. Her mother, Clara, had moved in with them during the Depression and helped Roscoe take care of the children. He never remarried. Though all the Mines brothers had a reputation for being somewhat gruff, Roscoe must have enjoyed society, since he was a member of Old Erie Lodge, F & AM, Mahoning Chapter, RAM, Warren County R & SM, past commander of Warren Commandery 39, Knights Templar and a member of Al Koran Temple. His son, Lewis, remembers Roscoe as �good with figures, I think that�s why he loved to play cards. He and [his brother] Lloyd, boy, you didn�t want to play cards with them! Their game was double pinochle. They�d sit at the Masonic Lodge and take on all comers. I never saw them lose a game.� A niece, Joanne Knowles, lived on the same street and recalls Roscoe�s visits to their house after his children were grown. �He would often come up for supper and chat with Mom and Dad,� she says. �His favorite singer was Burl Ives and he was a pipe smoker. He often helped my dad with digging up the garden in the spring.� Roscoe developed cancer of the colon and was cared for by his sister until his death at her home, March 8, 1961. He was 71 years old. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Warren, Ohio. Sources: Interview with Lewis W. Mines Warren Tribune Chronicle, �Roscoe C. Mines is Dead; Active in Masons Here�, Mar. 8, 1961, p. 7 Warren Tribune Chronicle, marriage announcements, date unknown Death Certificate for Roscoe Mines, Trumbull County Department of Health Marriage Certificate for Roscoe Mines, Trumbull County Archives |
| Roscoe Conklin Mines, 1889-1961 |
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