| Story |
Clara T. Zwicker [Abraham, Kavanaugh] worked as a spooler and weaver at TKWM on-and-off for many years under her maiden name and two married names. Her last husband, Joseph Kavanaugh, was also a mill employee.
Clara T. Zwicker was born on 19 Apr 1888 in Illinois to George Zwicker and Clara (Hubrig) Zwicker. Her parents were both born in Germany but came to the U.S. many years before their marriage in 1874. By 1892, the family had moved to the Salem area and by 1900 sister Emma (19) and brothers George (16) and Otto (13) worked for the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. Clara also worked at the mill prior to her first marriage in 1908.
Clara married Gustave Abraham on 22 Jan 1908 in Salem, and by the end of the year, they had a daughter, Lucile Minnie Abraham. Clara was employed by TKWM using the Abraham name between 1910 and 1913. She divorced Gustave Sep 1913, with paperwork filed in Portland.
Clara married weaver Joseph M. Kavanaugh in Pendleton, OR on 6 May 1914. The couple had one child, Donald Leonard Kavanaugh, born 10 Dec 1916. Joseph Kavanaugh registered for the WWI draft in 1917 and stated that he was married with two children, the second most likely being his stepdaughter, Lucile.
Clara and Joseph moved back to Salem sometime around 1920. Joseph began working for the city street department, while Clara worked for TKWM between 1930 and 1932.
Joseph Kavanaugh died in 1962, while Clara died at age 90 in 1978. Both were buried at Restlawn Memory Gardens in West Salem. |
| Census Records |
1895 Marion County Census. Zwicker family. George, 50, born in Germany, HOH, Catholic. Clara, 42, born in Prussia, wife, Catholic. Wm, 19, born in Illinois, son. Leonard, 17, born in Illinois. George, 16, born in Illinois. Emma, 14, born in Illinois. Otto, 8, born in Illinois. Clara, 7, born in Illinois. Hulda, 5, born in Nebraska. Augusta, 3, born in Oregon.
1900 Clara Zuicker, 12, born abt 1888 in Illinois. Residence: Leslie St, Prospect District, Salem, OR, single, daughter of HOH, student. Father and Mother born in Germany. George Zuicker, 50, HOH (day laborer). Clara Zuicker, 46, wife. Leonard, 22, son. George R. 20, son. Emma, 19, daughter (wool weaver). Richard, 17, son. Henry, 15, son (wool spinner). Otto, 13, son (wool spinner). Clara. 12, daughter. Hulda, 10, daughter.
1910 Clara T. Abraham, 21, born in 1889 in Illinois. Residence: S 25th St. married sister of HOH. Father and Mother born in Germany. Weaver, in woolen mill. Married 2 years, 1 child born, 1 living. Otto F. Zwicker, 23 HOH and brother. Rose A. Zwicker, 22, HOH wife. Glen O. Zwicker, 1, HOH son. Gustave F. Abraham, 27, husband. Clara T. Abraham, 21, wife. Lucile M. Abraham, 1, daughter.
1930 Clara M. Cavanaugh, 42, born 1888 in Illinois. Married to HOH. Residence: 625 S 25th St. Salem, OR. Age at first marriage, 26 (forgetting about her first marriage?) Mother and Father born in U.S. Weaver, woolen mill. Joseph M. Cavanaugh, 40, HOH (laborer, city street dept). Clara M. Cavanaugh, 42, wife. Donald L. Cavanaugh, 13, son.
1940 Joseph M. Kavanaugh, 52, in Colorado. Married HOH. Truck Driver, Road Repair. Clara M. Kavanaugh, 52, wife born in Illinois. Weaver, Woolen Mill (crossed out). Donald L. Kavanaugh, 23, son, born in Oregon. Fisherman, Wholesale Fishing. |
| Salem City Directories |
1908 Zwicker
-Augusta, spooler, bds 2582 Lee
-Clara, spooler, bds 2582 Lee
-George F, teamster, bds 2582 Lee
-George M, lab P Gen Elec Co, res 2582 Lee
-Hulda, weaver, TKWM, bds 2582 Lee
-Leonard, retort tender P Gen Elec Co, bds 2582 Lee
-Otto, carder TKWM, res 521 S 18th
-Rosa, weaver TKWM, no res shown
-Wm R, retort tender P Gen Elec, res 646 S 25th
1917 No Joseph or Clara Kavanaugh
1924 Joseph M. Kavanaugh (Clara) concrete man h 646 S 25th.
1928 Joseph M Kavanaugh lab City Street Dept h 625 S 25th. (Neither Clara or Lucile listed)
1930 and 1932
-Joseph M Kavanaugh (Clara) lab h 625 S 25th.
-Clara M Kavanaugh weaver TKWM h 625 S 25th
-Lucile M Kavanaugh r 625 S 25th
1935
-Joseph M Kavanaugh (Clara) lab h 625 S 25th. (Clara not listed separately and Lucile not listed) |
| Newspapers |
Capital Journal 25 Jan 1908, p. 3 – Abraham/Zwicker Wedding. On Wed (22 Jan 1908) at groom’s parent’s home on 24th St. Performed by pastor of the German Lutheran church of Salem.
Oregonian 10 Sep 1913, p. 7 – Divorce granted, Gustave F Abraham vs Clara Abraham, desertion.
Albany Democrat 1916-1920 – Several human-interest notices about a Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Abraham, possibly Clara Zwicker’s ex-husband.
Oregon Statesman 24 Jul 1921, p. 5 – George and Clara Zwicker deeded N1-2, lots 1 and 2, lock 3, Simpson’s addition to Clara Kavanaugh.
Capital Journal 27 Nov 1922, p. 7 – Walter Low, Bill Zwicker and Joe Kavanaugh returned from a salmon fishing trip.
Oregon Statesman 1 Apr 1930, p. 1 – Obituary, Mrs. Clara T. Zwicker [mother].
Oregon Statesman 10 Jul 1978, p. 28 – Death Notice, Clara M. Kavanaugh, 90, Toledo, died Friday at 10:30 am. Barrick mortuary. |
| Public Records |
1874 Illinois Marriage Record. Parents: Clara Hubrig married George C W Swicker in 1874.
1908 Oregon Marriage Record. Zwicker-Abraham
-Clara Zwicker age 24 married on 22 Jan 1908. (No partner named. No Kavanaugh in this record.)
-Gust Abraham 24 married on 22 Jan 1908 (No partner named.)
1908 Oregon Birth Record. Daughter: Lucile Minnie Abraham. Born to Gustave Abraham (laborer) and Clara Zwicker (housewife) on 11 Dec 1908.
1914 Oregon Marriage Record. Kavanaugh-Abraham
-Joseph M Kavanaugh (24) married Clara M Abraham (26, 2nd marriage) in Pendleton, OR on 6 May 1914. Both resided in Pendleton and claimed to be weavers.
1914 Oregon Marriage Record. First Husband [post divorce] Gustav Abraham (31) married Cressa Tennis in late Aug 1914 in Washington County, OR.
1916 Oregon Birth Certificate. Son: Donald Leonard Kavanaugh born to Joseph Kavanaugh and Clara Zwicker in Pendleton, OR on 10 Dec
1916. Joseph born in Colorado and Clara born in Illinois. Joseph was a weaver.
1917 WW1 Draft Record. Joseph Milton Kavanaugh born 28 Jan 1891 in Colorado. Married with 2 children. Residence: Box 423, Pendleton, OR. Railroad Bridge Tender.
1935 Oregon Marriage Record. Daughter: Lucile Kavanaugh (Registered Nurse) married Dewey H Campbell in Medford, OR. She showed herself being born in Medford, her mother being born in Illinois and her father being born in Colorado. Although she took the name of her stepfather, the parental birthplaces correspond to Clara Zwicker and biological father Gustave Abraham.
1959 Washington Marriage License. Daughter, second marriage. Lucile Minnie Campbell 56 b 11 Dec 1908 in Salem, OR. Widow. Application date: 5 Mar 1959 in Skamania, WA. To George R Shaw.
1962 Oregon Death Certificate. Husband: Joseph Milton Kavanaugh. Born 28 Jan 1890. Died on 29 Jun 1962 at Salem Memorial Hospital. Residence: Rt 1, Box 229, Turner, OR. Wife Clara Kavanaugh. Father Humphrey Kavanaugh. Mother Anna (unknown maiden name).
Geneanet Community Trees Index. Lucille Kavanaugh b 10 Dec 1908. Spouse George Ren Shaw III. D Dec 1997. |
