Who’s in the book?

The story of bootleg coal is told through the words of the people who lived it. This is a list of the most prominent people quoted in the book. Most of them are bootleggers themselves, though some community leaders are also noted. If you are a descendant of these people and have any more information about them, please get in touch! Thank you!

Branchdale / Newtown / Llewellyn

• Andy “Red” Drebitko, bootleg miner, born 9/29/1927, died 6/24/2010.
  Vice president and co-founder of the Independent Miners Association.
• William H Adams, bootleg miner, PA Dutch, born 7/22/1914, died 11/26/1998.

Coaldale / Lansford

• James H. Gildea, newspaperman, born 10/21/1890, died 6/5/1988.
  President, Panther Valley Equalization Committee. Chairman, Coaldale Relief Society.
  Founder & editor of the Coaldale Observer and The Schuylkill Legal Record
  US Representative, 1935 to 1939
• Reverend John Pounder, Lansford Baptist Church, English, born 5/3/1885.
  member of the Panther Valley Equalization Committee

Donaldson

• John Wetzel, bootleg miner, PA Dutch, born 3/1/13.

Forestville

• John Demcher, bootleg trucker, born 3/28/1905.

Heckscherville

• Father P. J. Dougherty, Saint Kieran’s Parish.
• Jack Campion, bootleg miner, Irish & Ukranian, b. 12/26/1925.
• P. Joseph Brennan, bootleg miner,(Coal Castle), died 8/11/1943.
  President of Minersville Bootleggers Union.
• Jack Campion, bootleg miner, Irish & Ukrainian, born 12/26/25.

Mahanoy City

• “Scrappy” Byron
• Farmers and Laborers Unemployed Union

Minersville

• Albert “Al” Akulauckas, bootleg miner, Lithuanian, born 1906.
• Peter Joseph Paul (Paulakaitis), bootleg miner, born 7/29/1898, died 10/16/47.
  President of the Minersville Bootleggers Union. Member of the Communist Party.
• Gomer Paul (Paulakaitis), brother of Peter, bootleg miner, Lithuanian.
• Carl Herman, bootleg miner, Lithuanian, born 3/7/1887.
  Member of the Communist Party.
• Michael “Mick” Kozura, bootleg trucker, Ukrainian, born 2/14/11, died 1/31/70.
• Helen (Onuszko) Kozura, wife of Mick, seamstress & bootleg trucker, Ukrainian and Polish, born 3/9/96.

Mount Carmel

• Mike Demchak, bootleg miner.
  Member of the American Workers Party (Musteite)

Pottsville

• Con Foley (Cornelius Francis Foley), Irish, miner, barber, and socialist, died 4/21/1934.

Shamokin

• Kenny Burrows (Kenneth B.), bootleg trucker, born 5/15/1913, died 8/31/07.
• Bill Heintzman, bootleg trucker, born 3/29/05.
• Clarence “Mooch” Kashner, bootleg miner, Polish, born 12/16/1916.
  President, Independent Miners’ Association (1970s)
• William Earl Humphreys, bootleg miner, born 5/17/1905(?). Sometimes written as Humphrey (no “s”)
  President and spokesperson, Independent Miners’ Association.
• Joseph “Joe” Agor, newspaperman, born 1894, died 10/14/1952.
  Editor of the Shamokin News-Dispatch