Bio-Mills, HelenCooperEmerson

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Helen (Mills) Benistone
Cooper Emerson
(1890- ? )

Helen (Mills) Beniston Cooper Emerson was born in 1890 in Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Joseph Henry and Flora (Minerd) Mills Sr.

Helen was first married to John Benistone (or "Benstone"), perhaps at the age of about 16. They are believed to have had one son, Joseph James Benistone. Sadly, the marriage did not last long, and ended with John's death on Dec. 14, 1908. The cause of death is not known.

Later, Helen married Earl Cooper ( ? - ? ). They were residing in the coal patch town of Republic, near Brownsville, Fayette County, in 1913. The fate of Earl is not known.

Later, sometime before 1930, Helen married again, to Charles Emerson (1889- ? ), who was a coal miner.

When the federal census was taken in 1930, Helen and Charles resided in Fallowfield Township, Washington County, PA. Later, circa 1943, when she was mentioned in the Uniontown Morning Herald obituary of her mother, they lived in nearby Clarksville, Greene County, PA.

In her second and third marriages, Helen is not thought to have had any children.

What became of Helen and her husband after 1943 is unknown.

~ Son Joseph James Benistone ~

Son Joseph James Benistone (1906-1935) is seen at left. He married Gladys (?). They had two daughters -- Helen Benistone and Josephine Benistone. The family resided in Monongah, near Fairmont, Marion County, WV, when the federal census was taken in 1930. Circa 1935, the Benistones lived in the coal mining town of Jordan, Marion County, in house 43. Joseph was a motorman in the local coal mine.

Tragedy struck the family on June 4, 1935. Joseph, age 29, was killed at work when he was caught under a motor, crushing his head and body. His skull was punctured, his shoulder and hip fractured and his abdomen lacerated. He was buried at Beverly Hills, WV. Joseph is one of an alarming number of extended cousins in the Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor to lose his life in a coal, coke or steel accident.

Monongah mine of Consolidation Coal near Fairmont