| Life Story
|
Claire Joel Howe worked in the TKWM beginning in 1890 at the age of 17. He worked in the finishing department and very likely met his bride, Sadie Smith there. Sadie was a burler at the woolen mill. Claire’s brother Rolla also worked at the TKWM for a brief period of time, around 1909 as a spinner.
C. J. Howe was born 19 Nov 1873 in Buchanan, Berrien County, Michigan to parents Francis Marion “Frank” and Martha Jane “Jennie” (McIntyre) Howe. He was one of four children, two boys and two girls. The family moved from there to Kansas where the youngest daughter was born in 1883. The family then moved on to Salem, Oregon by 1890. Claire’s parents were farmers and resided on Garden Rd nr RR. Both parents are buried in City View Cemetery.
Claire Joel Howe married Sarah “Sadie” Smith on 10 Dec 1895 at the home of Bud Chapman, with only immediate family present. Their marriage announcement in the Statesman Journal mentioned they were among the employees of the Salem woolen mill, holding lucrative positions prior to its destruction by fire a few weeks before their wedding. The couple moved into a little cottage on Sixteenth street following their nuptials. The cottage had been placed in readiness by the groom.
C. J. Howe worked at the TKWM for 15 years. On 20 Feb 1906 articles of incorporation were filed in the county clerk’s office incorporating the Eugene Woolen Mill Co. The incorporators were T. B. Kay, E Koppe, Arthur W. Lord and C. J. Howe. Claire Joel Howe moved his family to Eugene and became a foreman at the Eugene Woolen Mill in 1906. He later became vice president of that mill and spent the rest of his working life there. He retired in 1949.
Claire and Sadie Howe raised four children. Their oldest daughter, Edith Edna (Howe) Butt was born in Salem in 1903. The next three children were all born in Eugene, OR. A son, Eugene Claire Howe, born in 1906; and two more daughters, Grace Gladys (Howe) Wilson born in 1909, and Lois Mildred (Howe) McDonald born in 1913.
Claire Joel Howe passed away in Eugene on 23 Mar 1952 at the age of 79. His wife Sadie passed away six years later. They are buried at the Rest Haven Memorial Park in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon. |
| Salem City Directories |
1893 Howe Claire J, finisher TKWM Co, bds 16th s w cor D
1896 Howe, Claire J, res e s 16th 1 s Ferry
1905 Howe Claire J, finisher TKWM Co, res w s 13th 2 n Mission
1909 Howe Claire J, finisher TKWM Co, res w s 13th 1 n Mission (this directory is confusing as Claire & Sadie moved to Eugene in 1906) |
| Federal / County Census Records |
1880 Clair Howe. Age 6. Birth Date: Abt 1874. Birthplace: Michigan. Home in 1880: Niles, Berrien, Michigan, USA. Dwelling Number: 286. Race: White. Gender: Male. Relation to HOH: Son. Marital Status: Single. Father’s Name: Frank Howe. Father’s Birthplace: Michigan. Mother’s Name: Martha Howe. Mother’s Birthplace: Michigan. Additional household members: Frank Howe (father) 31, Martha Howe (mother) 28, Nettie Howe (sister) 9.
1885 Clair Howe. Census Date: 1 Mar 1885. Residence County: Ottawa. Residence State: Kansas. Locality: Logan. Birth Place: Michigan. Marital Status: Single. Gender: Male. Age: 11. Birth Year: 1874. Race: White. Additional household members: Frank Howe (father) 36, Martha Howe (mother) 34, Nettie (sister) 14, Rolla (brother) 4, Olive (sister) 1.
1900 Clare J Howe. Age 25. Birth Date: Nov 1874. Birthplace: Michigan, USA. Home in 1900: 369 13th Street, Salem Ward 4, Marion, Oregon. Race: White. Gender: Male. Relation to HOH: Head. Marital Status: Married Spouse’s Name: Sada E Howe. Age 28. Marriage Year: 1896. Years Married: 4. Occupation: Fuller
1910 Clare J Howe. Age 37. Birth Date: 1873. Birthplace: Kansas. Home in 1910: 376 West Sixth St, Eugene Ward 3, Lane, Oregon, USA. Race: White. Gender: Male. Relation to HOH: Head. Marital Status: Married. Spouse’s Name: Sadie Howe. Age 39. Father’s Birthplace: Kansas. Occupation: Finisher. Industry: Woolen Mill. Years Married: 14. Additional household members: Sadie Howe (wife) 39, Edith Howe (daughter) 6, Eugene Howe (son) 3, Grace Howe (daughter) 0.
1920 Claire J Howe. Age 46. Birth Year: 1874. Birthplace: Michigan. Home in 1920: 750 6th Avenue, Eugene Ward 3, Lane, Oregon. Race: White. Gender: Male. Relation to HOH: Head. Marital Status: Married. Spouse’s Name: Sarah Howe. Father’s Birthplace: Michigan. Mother’s Birthplace: Michigan. Occupation: Finisher. Industry: Woolen Mills. Additional household members: Sarah Howe (wife) 49, Ada Howe (daughter) 16, Eugene Howe (son) 13, Grace Howe (daughter) 10, Lois Howe (daughter) 6.
1930 Claire Howe. Birth Year: 1874. Gender: Male. Race: White. Age 56. Birthplace: Michigan. Marital Status: Married. Relation to HOH: Head. Home in 1930: 860 Ferry, Eugene, Lane, Oregon, USA. Father’s Birthplace: Michigan. Mother’s Birthplace: Michigan. Occupation: Finisher. Industry Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Sadie Howe (wife) 59, Eugene H Howe (son) 23, Lois Howe (daughter) 16.
1940 Claire J Howe. Age 65. Estimated Birth Year: 1875. Gender: Male. Race: White. Birthplace: Michigan. Marital Status: Married. Relation to HOH: Head. Home in 1940: 860 Ferry Street. Eugene, Lane, Oregon. Inferred Residence in 1935: Eugene, Lane, Oregon. Occupation: Labor. Additional household members: Sarah Howe (wife) 69.
1950 Clair Howe. Age 76. Birth Date: 1874. Gender: Male. Race: White. Birth Place: Michigan. Marital Status: Married. Relation to HOH: Head. Home in 1950: 860 Ferry, Eugene, Lane, Oregon, USA. Father Birth Place: USA. Mother Birth Place: USA. Occupation: Other (“retired”). Additional household members: Sarah Howe (wife) 79. |
| Digital Newspapers
|
Statesman Journal 11 Dec 1895, p. 8. Married – Howe-Smith
Morning Register 21 Feb 1906, p. 2. Woolen Mill Company Files Articles of Incorporation
Statesman Journal 25 Feb 1906, p. 4. Eugene Woolen Mill Incorporators
The Eugene Guard 24 Mar 1952, p. 5 Claire J Howe – Obituary
The Eugene Guard 7 Oct 1958, p. 15 Mrs. Sadie Howe – Obituary |
