Clair B. Woodford: Whitley County miner in 19th century Korea : Part 2

Life at the Oriental Consolidated Mining Company's [OCMC] gold mining camps in northern Korea could be extremely difficult ― especially for families. It was an isolated region with little interaction with the outside world leaving the mining community no other option but to entertain itself.

As in any small community, there was an over-familiarity with one another that was perpetuated by busybodies and their petty ― but sometimes lascivious ― gossip, biases and jealousies. There were arguments, fist fights, cheating, broken marriages, suicides and even murders at the mines ― likely caused by the boredom and depression of living in such a closed community.

The Woodfords were no different. They say that every story has at least two sides, but, unfortunately, this tale doesn't even really have one as we are forced to try and piece it together from stray bits of information in newspapers, documents and correspondences from other families. We know that sometime in late 1925 or very early 1926, Lillian left Korea and returned to the United States ― possibly New York ― abandoning Clair (her husband) and their daughters.

On April 5, 1926, Clair and the two girls arrived in San Francisco and returned to Indiana where the girls were able to celebrate their birthdays with their relatives, but we can assume that it was not a very joyous occasion as there was one person still missing ― their mother. On May 15, Clair filed for divorce stating that he believed his wife was residing in New York City but apparently did not elaborate on why she had left him. Throughout the summer, Clair and the girls remained in Indiana awaiting the court's decision which was announced in October ― it wasn't good.

The court granted Clair a divorce from Lillian stipulating that he would pay the court fees. Furthermore, it granted custody of Rae (9 years old) and Elizabeth (6 years old) to Lillian with the stipulation that he could “visit them at reasonable times.” He was probably devastated but there was little he could do so he returned to Korea and working for the OCMC.

It is frustrating not to know more about the events surrounding Clair's divorce especially when we have this gem of gossip from a letter sent home by one of his fellow miners (also from Indiana) at the OCMC's Tabowie mining camp:

“Everyone has plenty of Korean servants to bring them the latest camp gossip ― from petty affairs to real scandal, which sometimes happens. One event took place while I was in camp and my servant told me in the morning that a certain one of the men in camp and a school teacher had been given four hours and half to get out of camp and head for the railroad, fifty-five miles away.”

Who was the unnamed miner and who was the school teacher?

For the next couple of years we know very little of Clair's activities save that he was steadily growing sicker and sicker with tuberculosis. Working and living in close quarters, this disease took a heavy toll upon the Korean miners as well as the Western foremen and their families.

By the summer of 1928 it was clear he was losing battle with the disease. In late October, he informed his friends in Indiana that he had “somewhat improved” and would shortly sail for the United States. He arrived in California ― presumably very weak ― where he spent his final months until his death in San Fernando on Feb. 5, 1929, just short of his 53rd birthday.

However, the story does not end here. Prior to his death, Clair made a will in which he bequeathed his $3,000 estate to his daughters. He further declared his ex-wife as being “unfit to act as guardian for the children” and asked that Lois Irene Marshall be granted them custody.

Lois's deceased husband was Thomas R. Marshall ― the 28th Vice President of the United States (1913-1921) and Clair's cousin. It was partially through Marshall's assistance that Clair first went to work for the OCMC in Korea ― in fact, most of the early miners from Indiana had some connection to Marshall.

The Marshalls had been unable to have children of their own and in 1917 unofficially adopted Clarence Ignatius Morrison, a sick baby boy (a twin), and ― according to Wikipedia ― referred to him as Morrison Marshall but nicknamed him Izzy. A contemporary newspaper, however, claims he was named Thomas Marshall Jr., and was often called Tommy. Regardless of the name, the boy died before his fourth birthday, and, four years later, Thomas Marshall died leaving Lois a lonely widow.

When Lois learned of Clair's arrival, she left her home in Arizona and stayed with him in California and tended to his needs. It was probably about this time that the two girls were brought from New York to be with their father in his final hours. One newspaper account claims that Clair had been granted custody of the children and that after he died they were turned over to Lois.

Shortly after his death, Lillian contested the will declaring that regardless of any clause in Clare's will, “she was the natural guardian.” Superior Judge Ruben Schmidt agreed and allowed Lillian to retain custody. According to one newspaper article:

“Mrs. Marshall showed her disappointment at the judge's decision, but smiled at Mrs. [Lillian] Woodford. The latter, who has been employed in New York since the divorce, said she would obtain employment here [in Los Angeles] immediately.”

Apparently Lillian found employment as a nurse in Los Angeles and Lois returned to Phoenix, Arizona. It is unclear if the women ever spoke to one another again ― perhaps that is only a question their families can answer.

My appreciation to the Lower Family for graciously providing me with copies of their family albums and to Diane Nars and Jan Downing for their invaluable assistance.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books including, Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.