| Life Story |
Henry Semke worked at TKWM from at least 1896 through 1910. Many of his family and extended family also worked at the woolen mill.
Henry Semke was born to Samuel and Susanna (Radke) Semke on 15 Aug 1867 in Bulgaria. It is believed that Henry married the widow Elisabetha “Christina” (Matthis) Herboldt before coming to America around 1885. Henry’s parents and siblings also immigrated around that same time.
Henry was 21 years younger than his wife. She had six children from her first marriage to Conrad Herboldt, so Henry became stepfather to a large family when he was about 19 years old. He was closer to his stepchildren’s age than to Christina’s. His stepchildren were Jacob, Louis, John, Martha, Pauline and William Herboldt.
The family settled in Crystal Falls, Iron, Michigan and remained there until around 1893. Henry and Christina’s daughter Helena Emiline Semke was born in Michigan in 1885.
The entire family moved west and began a new life in Salem, OR. By 1896 Henry was working as a weaver at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. His stepchildren from his first marriage all lived in Oregon but the three oldest would eventually move to Idaho. Henry and Christina’s daughter Helena married Franklin Charles Palmer in 1905.
In June 1906 Henry and Christina bought a new home at 1191 N Winter St. Unfortunately, Christina passed away at that home on 13 Aug 1906 at age 60 from gallstones and cancer. She was buried at City View Cemetery in Salem.
Henry received his naturalization papers on 20 Sep 1906 and became a US Citizen. Henry married for the second time, to Miss Albertina Cecilia Mumm on 10 Jun 1907. By this time Henry was assistant foreman at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. Henry and Albertina had two sons born in Salem, Ralph born in 1908 and Leon born in 1909.
In 1913 Henry and Albertina moved their family to Eugene, OR. Henry went to work as a wool washer and then a scourer at the Eugene Woolen Mill. He spent the remainder of his life working there. He was also active in the Eagles lodge.
Henry passed away at his home on 19 June 1931 following a brief illness. He was buried at West Haven Memorial Park in Eugene, OR. His wife Albertina remained in Eugene until she was committed to the Oregon State Hospital for the Insane according to the 1940 census. Albertina passed away on 24 Sep 1948. She was buried next to Henry in Eugene. |
| Salem City Directories
(unless otherwise noted) |
1896 – Semke Henry, weaver, res e s 13th 1 s Nebraska av.
1897 – Semke Henry, emp[loyee] W. Mill
1902 – Semke Henry, Loom rpr [repair] TKWM Co
1905 – Simke Henry, weaver TKWM Co
1907 – Semke Henry, asst frmn [foreman] TKWM Co, res 1191 N Winter
1908 – Semke Henry, weaver TKWM Co, res 1191 N Winter
1909 – Semke Henry, loom rpr [repair] TKWM Co, res Winter n e cor N Oak
1909 – Semke Henry, weaver TKWM Co, res 1191 N Winter
1910 – Semke Henry, TKWM
1913 – Semke Henry, Lab[orer], Eugene, OR
1914 – Semke Henry (Albertina C), wool washer Eugene Woolen Mill Co, res 742 Monroe, Eugene, OR |
| Census Records |
1900 – Henry Semke – Age: 38, Birth Date: Aug 1861, Home: D Street, Englewood, Marion, Oregon. Race: White, Gender: Male, Immigration Year: 1885, Relation to Head of House: Head, Marital Status: Married, Spouse’s Name: Christina Semke, Marriage Year: 1888, Years Married: 12, Years in US: 15, Occupation: Weaver, House Owned or Rented: Own, Home Free or Mortgaged: F, Farm or House: H. Additional household members: Christina Semke (51), Hellen Semke (14)
1910 – Henry Semke – Age: 42, Birth Date: 1868, Birthplace: Bulgaria, Home: 1191 N Winter, Salem Ward 5, Marion, Oregon. Race: White, Gender: Male, Immigration Year: 1890, Relation to Head of House: Head, Marital Status: Married, Spouse’s Name: Albertine Semke, Father’s Birthplace: Bulgaria, Mother’s Birthplace: Germany, Occupation: Weaver, Industry: Woolen Mill, Home Owned or Rented: Own, Home Free or Mortgaged: Free, Farm or House: House, Naturalization Status: Naturalized, Years Married: 2. Additional household members: Albertine Semke (36), Ralph Semke (2), Leonelle Semke (1)
1920 – Henry Semke – Age: 52, Birth Year: abt 1868, Birthplace: Bulgaria, Home: 632 Blair St, Eugene, Lane, Oregon. Race: White, Gender: Male, Immigration Year: 1898, Relation to Head of House: Head, Marital Status: Married, Spouse’s Name: Albertine C Semke, Father’s Birthplace: Bulgaria, Mother’s Birthplace: Bulgaria, Occupation: Wool Scourer, Industry: Woolen Mill, Home Owned or Rented: Rented. Additional household members: Albertine C Semke (45), Ralph Semke (11), Leon Semke (10).
1930 – Henry Semke – Birth Year: abt 1869, Gender: Male, Race: White, Age: 61, Birthplace: Bulgaria, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Head, Home in 1930: 357 E 4th, Eugene, Lane, Oregon. Home Owned or Rented: Rented, Age at First Marriage: 40, Attended School: No, Able to Read and Write: Yes, Father’s Birthplace: Bulgaria, Mother’s Birthplace: Bulgaria, Immigration Year: 1890, Naturalization: Naturalized Able to Speak English: Yes, Occupation: Scourer, Industry: Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Albertine Semke (56), Ralph Semke (22), Leon Semke (21). |
| Digital Newspapers |
The Capital Journal – 14 Aug 1906, pg. 4 – Mrs. Semke Dead
Statesman Journal – 14 Aug 1906, pg. 4 – Died: Semke
Statesman Journal – 21 Sep 1906, pg. 4 – Three More Become Citizens
Statesman Journal – 11 Jun 1907, pg. 5 – They Will Wed –
The Capital Journal – 12 Jun 1907, pg. 8 – Married Semke-Mumm
The Diamond Drill – 5 Sep 1908, pg. 1 – Death Samuel Semke (father)
Statesman Journal – 22 Apr 1921, pg. 5 – Died Susanna Semke (mother)
The Eugene Guard – 19 Jun 1931, pg. 3 – Henry Semke (obituary)
Statesman Journal – 20 Jun 1931, pg. 8 – Former Salem Resident Dies
The Eugene Guard – 26 Sep 1948, pg. 5 – Albertina C. Semke (obituary) |
