Record obtained from Blue, Heald & Paxton cemetery records.
Evening Independent - September 14, 1915
Philip J. Sonnhalter Dies After a Long and Busy Career
Coal Operator of More Than Half a Century Passed Peacefully Away This Morning - Was Conscious to the End
Philip J. Sonnhalter, sr., 72, who until May 1, held the title as the oldest coal operator in northeastern Ohio, and who since then has led a retired life, although connected with several coal companies in Massillon and Cleveland, died this morning at 9 o'clock of organic heart disease at his residence in South and Hill streets.
Mr. Sonnhalter had been in ill health since last February, Monday he was confined to his bed but this morning he arose and with the assistance of his wif, Mrs. Mary Catherine Sonnhalter, dressed and came downstairs to rest on a couch. A few minutes before 9 o'clock he talked freely with members of the family. About 9 o'clock he passed peacefully away.
For more than 50 years Mr. Sonnhalter was connected with the coal business in Ohio. He was an expert in his line and the state geologist often conferred with him to learn the aspects of the coal product in this district. He opened more than 100 coal mines in this part of Ohio and held positions with many companies. Beside being connected with numerous coal companies he was president of the firm of the Sonnhalter Sand and Stone Company, of this city. Before that he was also manager and treasurer of the company.
Mr. Sonnhalter for two years before the Civil war worked as coal miner in mines west of Massillon. During the year 1861 he joined Company H. No.37, O.V.I. of Ohio, the third German regiment to organize in this state. December 11, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of corporal. He re-enlisted in the year '63 and fought in many famous battles of the war. He marched with Sherman to the sea and received an honorable discharge from the army at the end of the war.
In the year of 1864, he married Miss Mary Catherine Eberly, who lived in Stark county, having come here with her parents a few years before from Alsace, Germany.
Upon his discharge from the army he went into the coal business upon his own responsibility in West Brookfield. A few years later he became engaged with the Rhodes Coal Company and the Somers Coal Company, of Cleveland. A short time later he resigned both companies and opened several more mines for himself. In 1870 he came from Summit county to Massillon where he became connected with the Crawford Coal Company, and later the Rhodes Mining Company. He served as superintendent at both places.
During the year 1880, he organized the Massillon Coal Company, which later became known as the Massillon Central Coal Company. He was manager and treasurer and later he organized the Sonnhalter Sand & Stone Company.
Until his retirement he was connected with the Sonnhalter Coal Mining Company of Massillon, and the C. W. Somers Coal Company, of Cleveland. He also served as township trustee, sewer commissioner and member of the board of directors of the city hospital.
Mr. Sonnhalter was born in Sarbucken, Prussia, January 8, 1843. He finished his schooling there in 1855 and came with his parents to America, settling in Akron in 1856. Besides his wife, he is survived by six children, Sister H. Helen, of St. Joseph's convent, Cleveland; Mrs. W. H. Hansen and Mrs. J. V. Miller, of Massillon; Adam T. Sonnhalter, of Canton, Phillip J. Sonnhalter, Jr., of Elyria, and Ernest Sonnhalter, of Massillon; one sister, Mrs. Anna Brandt, of West Brookfield, 23 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Evening Independent - September 14, 1915
Philip J. Sonnhalter Dies After a Long and Busy Career
Coal Operator of More Than Half a Century Passed Peacefully Away This Morning - Was Conscious to the End
Philip J. Sonnhalter, sr., 72, who until May 1, held the title as the oldest coal operator in northeastern Ohio, and who since then has led a retired life, although connected with several coal companies in Massillon and Cleveland, died this morning at 9 o'clock of organic heart disease at his residence in South and Hill streets.
Mr. Sonnhalter had been in ill health since last February, Monday he was confined to his bed but this morning he arose and with the assistance of his wif, Mrs. Mary Catherine Sonnhalter, dressed and came downstairs to rest on a couch. A few minutes before 9 o'clock he talked freely with members of the family. About 9 o'clock he passed peacefully away.
For more than 50 years Mr. Sonnhalter was connected with the coal business in Ohio. He was an expert in his line and the state geologist often conferred with him to learn the aspects of the coal product in this district. He opened more than 100 coal mines in this part of Ohio and held positions with many companies. Beside being connected with numerous coal companies he was president of the firm of the Sonnhalter Sand and Stone Company, of this city. Before that he was also manager and treasurer of the company.
Mr. Sonnhalter for two years before the Civil war worked as coal miner in mines west of Massillon. During the year 1861 he joined Company H. No.37, O.V.I. of Ohio, the third German regiment to organize in this state. December 11, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of corporal. He re-enlisted in the year '63 and fought in many famous battles of the war. He marched with Sherman to the sea and received an honorable discharge from the army at the end of the war.
In the year of 1864, he married Miss Mary Catherine Eberly, who lived in Stark county, having come here with her parents a few years before from Alsace, Germany.
Upon his discharge from the army he went into the coal business upon his own responsibility in West Brookfield. A few years later he became engaged with the Rhodes Coal Company and the Somers Coal Company, of Cleveland. A short time later he resigned both companies and opened several more mines for himself. In 1870 he came from Summit county to Massillon where he became connected with the Crawford Coal Company, and later the Rhodes Mining Company. He served as superintendent at both places.
During the year 1880, he organized the Massillon Coal Company, which later became known as the Massillon Central Coal Company. He was manager and treasurer and later he organized the Sonnhalter Sand & Stone Company.
Until his retirement he was connected with the Sonnhalter Coal Mining Company of Massillon, and the C. W. Somers Coal Company, of Cleveland. He also served as township trustee, sewer commissioner and member of the board of directors of the city hospital.
Mr. Sonnhalter was born in Sarbucken, Prussia, January 8, 1843. He finished his schooling there in 1855 and came with his parents to America, settling in Akron in 1856. Besides his wife, he is survived by six children, Sister H. Helen, of St. Joseph's convent, Cleveland; Mrs. W. H. Hansen and Mrs. J. V. Miller, of Massillon; Adam T. Sonnhalter, of Canton, Phillip J. Sonnhalter, Jr., of Elyria, and Ernest Sonnhalter, of Massillon; one sister, Mrs. Anna Brandt, of West Brookfield, 23 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Record obtained from Blue, Heald & Paxton cemetery records.
Evening Independent - September 14, 1915
Philip J. Sonnhalter Dies After a Long and Busy Career
Coal Operator of More Than Half a Century Passed Peacefully Away This Morning - Was Conscious to the End
Philip J. Sonnhalter, sr., 72, who until May 1, held the title as the oldest coal operator in northeastern Ohio, and who since then has led a retired life, although connected with several coal companies in Massillon and Cleveland, died this morning at 9 o'clock of organic heart disease at his residence in South and Hill streets.
Mr. Sonnhalter had been in ill health since last February, Monday he was confined to his bed but this morning he arose and with the assistance of his wif, Mrs. Mary Catherine Sonnhalter, dressed and came downstairs to rest on a couch. A few minutes before 9 o'clock he talked freely with members of the family. About 9 o'clock he passed peacefully away.
For more than 50 years Mr. Sonnhalter was connected with the coal business in Ohio. He was an expert in his line and the state geologist often conferred with him to learn the aspects of the coal product in this district. He opened more than 100 coal mines in this part of Ohio and held positions with many companies. Beside being connected with numerous coal companies he was president of the firm of the Sonnhalter Sand and Stone Company, of this city. Before that he was also manager and treasurer of the company.
Mr. Sonnhalter for two years before the Civil war worked as coal miner in mines west of Massillon. During the year 1861 he joined Company H. No.37, O.V.I. of Ohio, the third German regiment to organize in this state. December 11, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of corporal. He re-enlisted in the year '63 and fought in many famous battles of the war. He marched with Sherman to the sea and received an honorable discharge from the army at the end of the war.
In the year of 1864, he married Miss Mary Catherine Eberly, who lived in Stark county, having come here with her parents a few years before from Alsace, Germany.
Upon his discharge from the army he went into the coal business upon his own responsibility in West Brookfield. A few years later he became engaged with the Rhodes Coal Company and the Somers Coal Company, of Cleveland. A short time later he resigned both companies and opened several more mines for himself. In 1870 he came from Summit county to Massillon where he became connected with the Crawford Coal Company, and later the Rhodes Mining Company. He served as superintendent at both places.
During the year 1880, he organized the Massillon Coal Company, which later became known as the Massillon Central Coal Company. He was manager and treasurer and later he organized the Sonnhalter Sand & Stone Company.
Until his retirement he was connected with the Sonnhalter Coal Mining Company of Massillon, and the C. W. Somers Coal Company, of Cleveland. He also served as township trustee, sewer commissioner and member of the board of directors of the city hospital.
Mr. Sonnhalter was born in Sarbucken, Prussia, January 8, 1843. He finished his schooling there in 1855 and came with his parents to America, settling in Akron in 1856. Besides his wife, he is survived by six children, Sister H. Helen, of St. Joseph's convent, Cleveland; Mrs. W. H. Hansen and Mrs. J. V. Miller, of Massillon; Adam T. Sonnhalter, of Canton, Phillip J. Sonnhalter, Jr., of Elyria, and Ernest Sonnhalter, of Massillon; one sister, Mrs. Anna Brandt, of West Brookfield, 23 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Evening Independent - September 14, 1915
Philip J. Sonnhalter Dies After a Long and Busy Career
Coal Operator of More Than Half a Century Passed Peacefully Away This Morning - Was Conscious to the End
Philip J. Sonnhalter, sr., 72, who until May 1, held the title as the oldest coal operator in northeastern Ohio, and who since then has led a retired life, although connected with several coal companies in Massillon and Cleveland, died this morning at 9 o'clock of organic heart disease at his residence in South and Hill streets.
Mr. Sonnhalter had been in ill health since last February, Monday he was confined to his bed but this morning he arose and with the assistance of his wif, Mrs. Mary Catherine Sonnhalter, dressed and came downstairs to rest on a couch. A few minutes before 9 o'clock he talked freely with members of the family. About 9 o'clock he passed peacefully away.
For more than 50 years Mr. Sonnhalter was connected with the coal business in Ohio. He was an expert in his line and the state geologist often conferred with him to learn the aspects of the coal product in this district. He opened more than 100 coal mines in this part of Ohio and held positions with many companies. Beside being connected with numerous coal companies he was president of the firm of the Sonnhalter Sand and Stone Company, of this city. Before that he was also manager and treasurer of the company.
Mr. Sonnhalter for two years before the Civil war worked as coal miner in mines west of Massillon. During the year 1861 he joined Company H. No.37, O.V.I. of Ohio, the third German regiment to organize in this state. December 11, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of corporal. He re-enlisted in the year '63 and fought in many famous battles of the war. He marched with Sherman to the sea and received an honorable discharge from the army at the end of the war.
In the year of 1864, he married Miss Mary Catherine Eberly, who lived in Stark county, having come here with her parents a few years before from Alsace, Germany.
Upon his discharge from the army he went into the coal business upon his own responsibility in West Brookfield. A few years later he became engaged with the Rhodes Coal Company and the Somers Coal Company, of Cleveland. A short time later he resigned both companies and opened several more mines for himself. In 1870 he came from Summit county to Massillon where he became connected with the Crawford Coal Company, and later the Rhodes Mining Company. He served as superintendent at both places.
During the year 1880, he organized the Massillon Coal Company, which later became known as the Massillon Central Coal Company. He was manager and treasurer and later he organized the Sonnhalter Sand & Stone Company.
Until his retirement he was connected with the Sonnhalter Coal Mining Company of Massillon, and the C. W. Somers Coal Company, of Cleveland. He also served as township trustee, sewer commissioner and member of the board of directors of the city hospital.
Mr. Sonnhalter was born in Sarbucken, Prussia, January 8, 1843. He finished his schooling there in 1855 and came with his parents to America, settling in Akron in 1856. Besides his wife, he is survived by six children, Sister H. Helen, of St. Joseph's convent, Cleveland; Mrs. W. H. Hansen and Mrs. J. V. Miller, of Massillon; Adam T. Sonnhalter, of Canton, Phillip J. Sonnhalter, Jr., of Elyria, and Ernest Sonnhalter, of Massillon; one sister, Mrs. Anna Brandt, of West Brookfield, 23 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
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