| Story |
Bessie Bigler worked as a weaver at TKWM from 1911 through the summer of 1913. Her sister Lettie Bigler also worked for TKWM.
Bessie Bigler was born on 5 Sep 1893 in Dover Township, Michigan to Fredrick Albert Bigler and Matilda C Buck Bigler. She had four siblings and sister Lettie was the youngest. Fredrick was a farmer.
Fredrick brought the family from Littlefield, MI to Salem, Oregon in 1910 and there, he became a laborer. 19-year-old Bessie almost immediately found work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, as a weaver. By 1913, when sister Lettie was 17, she also found work in the weaving department at TKWM. The sisters remained with their parents at 2515 Current St (now called Rose St).
Bessie at age 20 married John A. Gosser, 22, in September of 1913. Less than a year later, her sister Lettie married Edward C Moyer. Both John and Edward worked for the state asylum for a short time so they may have known each other before marrying the sisters.
After marriage, Bessie left work at TKWM. The couple moved to West Salem. Her husband John Gosser became a dental assistant and later served as the mayor of West Salem in 1924. By 1930, the couple had two sons, Winston and Jack, and a foster daughter, Helen. Daughter Helen joined the family at age 8 and was in fact, the niece of Bessie. She had been left an orphan after the death of her mother Lettie in 1923.
Around 1935, Bessie and her family moved to Portland where John still worked as a dental assistant. Winston was 17 and Jack was 13 at that time. Helen married Dwight H Loken in Marion County on 31 May 1935.
The family was still in Portland in 1950 at 3321 SE Harrison. John still worked at age 56 and Jack, now 28, continued to live at home while working as a bartender. Bessie and John lived at this address until Bessie’s death in April of 1969. Husband John died 27 Mar 1976 in Portland. Both are buried at Skyline Memorial Gardens, in Portland. |
| Census Records |
1900 Bessie Bigler Age: 6. Birth: Sep 1893 in Michigan. Residence: Littlefield, Emmet, Michigan. Single, daughter of HOH. Father born in New York. Mother born in Michigan. Household members: Frank Bigler, age 37, HOH, farmer; Matilda C. Bigler, age 36, wife; Otis Bigler, age 16, son; Harry Bigler, age 16, son; Eba Bigler, age 8, daughter; Bessie Bigler, age 6, daughter; Violette Bigler, age 3, daughter.
1910 Unable to locate
1920 Bessie Gosser Age: 26. Birth: abt 1894 in Michigan. Married, wife of HOH. Occupation: Housewife. Residence: High St, Salem, OR. Father born in New York. Mother born in Michigan. Household members: John A. Gosser, age 29, HOH, dentist; Bessie Gosser, age 26, wife; Winston A. Gosser, age 2, son.
1930 Bessie Gosser Age: 36. Birth: abt 1894 in Michigan. Married, wife of HOH. Resident: 350 Kingwood Ave, W Salem, OR. Age at first marriage 20 (1910). Father born in New York. Mother born in Illinois. Household members: Jack A. Gosser, age 39, dental mechanic, Bessie Gosser, age 36, wife; Winston Gosser, age 12, son; Jack Gosser, age 8, son; Helen C. Gosser, age 15, foster daughter.
1940 Bessie Gosser Age: 46. Birth: abt 1894 in Michigan. Married, wife of HOH. Residence: 2407 Skidmore St, Portland, OR. Residence in 1935: Salem, OR. 8th grade education. No income. Household members: John A. Grosser, age 49, HOH, dental mechanic; Bessie Gosser, age 46, wife; Winston A. Gosser, age 22, son; Jack Gosser, age 18, son.
1950 Bessie Gosser Age: 56. Birth: abt 1894 in Michigan. Wife of HOH. Residence: 3321 (unknown street), Portland, OR. Occupation: Keeping House. Household members: John A. Gosser, age 59, HOH, dental tech; Bessie Gosser, age 56, wife; Jack Gosser, age 28, son, bartender. |
| Find-a-Grave |
Bessie Bigler Gosser. Birth: 5 Sep 1893 in Dover Township, Otsego County, Michigan. Death: Apr 1969(aged 75) in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. Burial: Skyline Memorial Gardens, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. Memorial ID: 179809376.
John Ariel “Jack” Gosser. Birth: 14 Nov 1890 in Shelton, Mason County, Washington. Death: 27 Mar 1976 (aged 85), Portland, Washington County, Oregon. Burial: Skyline Memorial Gardens, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. Memorial ID: 179809366. |
| Newspapers |
Oregon Statesman 8 Feb 1911, p. 5 – At the Hotels. Salem Hotel. Elizabeth Bigler of Scotts Mills.
Oregon Statesman 7 May 1926, p. 9 – Mrs. Bessie Gosser was a cast member in the play “Rebecca’s Triumph” presented at the West Salem church.
Oregon Statesman 2 June 1935, p. 7 – Miss Helen Gosser became the bride of Dwight Loken on May 31 at the methodist parsonage in West Salem. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J A Gosser of West Salem. Graduate of Salem HS. Both new husband and wife have been employed at the state school for the blind.
Oregonian 15 Apr 1969, p. 35 – Bessie Gosser death notice. Bessie, of 3321 SE Harrison, wife of John A. Gosser.
Oregonian 28 Mar 1976, p. 86 – John A. Gosser death notice. John A. of Portland. |
| Public Records |
Oregon Marriage Record. 6 Sep 1913. Bessie Bigler, age 20, resident of Multnomah County, born in Michigan. Works at home. 1st Marriage. Father born in New York. Mother born in Michigan. Married John A. Gosser, age 22, resident Salem, Oregon. Born in Washington. Occupation: Dentist. 1st Marriage. Mother and Father born in Pennsylvania.
Oregon Birth Record. 20 Jul 1921. Born to Bessie Gosser, age 27 of Rt 2, Salem, OR and J. A. Gosser, age 29, same address, a son Jack A. Gosser Jr. Three children born including this one, two living including this one. |
