The following article is a blending of information from several sources. The Mesaba Ore, a weekly newspaper, on February 23, 1907, reported about the problems caused by the mine for area roads. The Hibbing Daily Tribune published an article on December 2, 1973, at the time of the mineâs closure. The Chisholm Free Press on December 27, 1973, also published information about the mine and its impact. Marvin G. Lamppaâs outstanding book âMinnesotaâs Iron Countryâ supplied information to this article. Aaron Brownâs âMinnesota Brownâ website also contributed to this article about the Mighty Mahoning.
Every iron ore mine in northern Minnesota has a story or two (or more!) connected to it. There are stories of discovery, of course, but also stories of odd events, powerful men and equipment, and sometimes death.
One of Americaâs leading financiers in the 1800s was Charlemagne Tower, Senior. His family roots began in England, then arrived in the first Puritan colonies in America, and eventually moved to New York State. His wife, Amelia Bartle Tower, was born in Ohio but traveled with her parents to California, where she met Charlemagne during a trip he made there. After their marriage they settled in Pennsylvania. He began to invest in the development of coal mines and the railroads that went with them. One of his railroads was the famous Reading Railroad.
During the American Civil War, Charlemagne gathered a group of men from Pennsylvania to form a Union troop. He paid for much of the menâs equipment and provisions. They fought well in several battles and he retired from the army as a captain.