Otto F. Zwicker

Job Title(s)

Spinner

Dates of Employment

c. 1900-1909

Last Name  Zwicker 
First Name  Otto 
Middle Name  Frederick 
Born  12 Oct 1886/1887 in Blue Point, Illinois  
Home Addresses (Salem) 

       

 25th & Leslie 

1553 Wilbur 

1559 Wilbur
1351 Wilbur 
Died  26 Feb 1939 in Salem, OR 
Place Buried  Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, OR 
Wife  Rose Emilie (Amelia) Steinke 
Date of Marriage  14 Mar 1906 in East Salem, OR  
Children  Glenn O, Roy M, Virgil A, Marjorie, Marianne 
Dates of Employment  1900 – 1909  
Job(s)  Spinner 
Story  Otto Zwicker worked as a spinner at TKWM between 1900 and 1909. Wife Rose and sisters Augusta and Hulda also worked for TKWM. 

Otto Frederick Zwicker was born 12 Oct 1886/7 in Blue Point, Illinois to German immigrant parents George and Clara [Hubrich] Zwicker. He was one of eleven children born to the couple. The family came to Oregon in 1889-1892 and settled in Dutchtown, an area off of 25th St. in Salem named for the number of German families living there.  

The 1900 federal census records Otto’s occupation, at age 13 as a spinner in a woolen mill. According to city directories he worked as both a spinner at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill and a driver for the Imperial Furniture Company before eventually beginning his own business as a carpet cleaner and upholsterer. He married Rose Emilie Steinke 14 Mar 1906 in East Salem at the home of her father. The couple would have five children. 

Otto would eventually go on to establish the Salem Fluff Rug and Mattress Factory in Salem, the history of which can be read here: https://www.willametteheritage.org/the-zwicker-family-and-the-fluff-rug-industry/  

Wife Rose died 9 Apr 1930 in Salem, OR. Otto followed her 26 Feb 1939. They are buried at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem. 
References 
Name  Remarks 
Salem City Directories  1905  Zwicker O Frederick, carpet clnr, res 656 S 25th 

1907  Zwicker Otto H, driver Imperial Furn Co, res 656 S 25th 

1909  Zwicker Otto H, spinner TKWM Co, bds ss Leslie 2 e 25th 

1910  Zwicker Otto H, driver Imperial Furniture Co, res 656 S 25th St 

1911  Zwicker O Frederick, carpet clnr, res 656 S 25th 

1915  Zwicker Otto F (Rose), carpet clnr 1553 Wilbur, res same 

1917  Zwicker Otto F (Rose), Propr Salem Steam & Vacuum Carpet Cleaning Works, res S 14th and Wilbur 

1924  Zwicker Otto F (Rose), Propr Salem Carpet Cleaning & Fluff Rug Works, h S 13 ½ and Wilbur. 

1928  Zwicker Otto F (Rose), Propr Salem Fluff Rug & Mattress Factory, h 1351 Wilbur 

1930  Zwicker Otto F (Rose), Prop Salem Fluff Rug & Mattress Factory, h S 13th and Wilbur 

1932  Zwicker Otto F (Rose), Propr Salem Fluff Rug & Mattress Factory, h S 13th and Wilbur 

1934  Zwicker Otto F (Rose), Prop Salem Fluff Rug & Mattress Factory, h S 13th and Wilber 
   1895 Marion County, OR Census. Otto Zwicker. Age 8. Birthplace: Illinois. Height: 3’8”. Weight: 50#. Student. Male. Additional household members. George, 50. Clara, 42. Wm., 19. Leonard, 17. George, 16. Emma, 14. Otto, 8. Clara, 7. Hulda, 5. Augusta, 3. L. 1. 

1900  Otto Zuicker. Age: 13. Birth Date: Oct 1886. Birthplace: Illinois. Home in 1900: Stole St. Prospect, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH. Father born in Germany. Mother born in Germany. Occupation: Wool Spinner. Additional household members: George Zuicker, 50. Clara Zuicker, 46. Leonard Zuicker, 22. George R. Zuicker, 20. Emma Zuicker, 19. Richard Zuicker, 17. Henry Zuicker, 15, Otto Zuicker, 13. Clara Zuicker, 12. Hulda Zuicker, 10. Augusta Zuicker, 7. Louie Zuicker, 6. Fred Zuicker, 4. Tillie Zwicker, 2. Lillie Zwicker, 2. 

Rose Stinke. Age: 12. Birth Date: Mar 1888. Birthplace: Wisconsin. Home in 1900: Easton, Marathon, Wisconsin. Single, daughter to HOH. Parents born in Germany. Additional household members: Julius Stinke, 48. Minnie Stinke, 41. Edward Stinke, 21. Louis Stinke, 19. Alexander Stinke, 16. George Stinke, 14. Rose Stinke, 12. Amanda Stinke, 7. Lilia Stinke, 5. 

1910  Otto F Zwicker. Age: 23. Birth Date: 1887. Birthplace: Illinois. Home in 1910: S-25th St. Salem Ward 6, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Parents born in Germany. Occupation: Laborer in Furniture Store. Additional household members: Rose A Zwicker, 22. Glen O Zwicker, 1. Gustave F Abraham, 27 (brother-in-law), Clara T Abraham (sister-in-law), 21. Lucile M Abraham, 1 (niece). 

1920  Otto Zwicker. Age: 33. Birth Year: 1887. Birthplace: Illinois. Home in 1920: 1569 Wilbur St. Salem Ward 7, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Carpet Cleaning. Additional household members: Rose Zwicker, 31. Glenn Zwicker, 10. Roy Zwicker, 8. Virgil Zwicker, 4. Marjorie Zwicker, 2. 

1930  Otto F Zwicker. Age: 41. Birth Year: 1889. Birthplace: Illinois. Married, HOH. Home in 1930: 1351 Wilbur St. Salem, Marion, OR. Occupation: Manufacturer of Mattresses and Rugs. Additional household members: Rose A Zwicker, 40. Roy M Zwicker, 18. Virgil A Zwicker, 14. Marjorie R Zwicker, 12. Marian W Zwicker, 10. 
WW1 Draft Registration  Otto Fred Zwicker. Age 29. Address: 1559 Wilbur St. Salem, OR. Date of Birth: 12 Oct 1887. Birthplace: Blue Point, Illinois. Occupation: Upholsterer, carpet cleaner & renovater. Self-employed. Dependent family. Height: Medium. Build: Stout. Eyes: Blue. Hair: Light. Date of registration: 5 Jun 1917. 
Marriage   Otto F. Zwicker – Rose Steinka. 14 March 1906. Salem, Marion, OR. Certificate #7386 
Oregon Death Index 

 

 Otto Zwicker. Death Date: 26 Apr 1939 [incorrect, should be 26 Feb 1939]. Death Place: Marion. Spouse: Rose. Certificate: 167. 
Find-a-Grave 

 

 Otto F. Zwicker. Birth: 12 Oct 1886. Death: 26 Feb 1939 (aged 52). Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 38361892. 

Rose Zwicker. Birth: 27 Mar 1888. Death: 1 Feb 1932 (aged 43). Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 38361939. 
Newspapers  Oregon Statesman 14 Mar 1906 p 4. Marriage License 

Oregon Statesman 17 Mar 1906, p. 4 Marriage Announcement 

Oregon Statesman 11 Apr 1930 p 1. Clara Zwicker Obituary 

Capital Journal 27 Feb 1939, p 8. Otto Zwicker Death Notice 

Capital Journal 27 Feb 1939, p 8. O.F. Zwicker Obituary 
WHC Materials  2008.038.0175-176          Oregon Magazine 

2010.080.0027                  Oregon Magazine 

Blogpost: https://www.willametteheritage.org/the-zwicker-family-and-the-fluff-rug-industry/