Ella Lehman Clearwater, Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Employee. WHC Collections, M3 2007-010-0014

Ella Lehman     [Clearwater]

Job Title(s)

Weaver

Dates of Employment

c. 1917-1920, 1924

Last Name   Lehman     [Clearwater] 
First Name  Ella 
Middle Name  Dora 
Born  4 May 1899 in Salem, OR 
Home Addresses (Salem) 

       

 2040 Oxford 

Salem-Turner Highway, Rural Route 6 

5660 Culver Dr. SE 
Died   4 Mar 1965 in Salem, OR   
Place Buried  Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, OR 
Spouse  Orrin Russell Clearwater 
Date of Marriage  15 May 1920 in Salem, OR 
Children  William David, Gay Arlene 
Dates of Employment  1917-1920, 1924 
Job(s) at TKWM  Weaver 
Life Story 

 

 

 Ella Clearwater worked as a weaver at TKWM from 1917-1920 and again in 1924. Father August Lehman and siblings also worked at the mill.  

Ella Dora Lehman was born on 4 May 1899 to August and Anna Lehman. She was one of six children born to the couple. Her parents were German immigrants.  

Ella attended public school in Salem until eighth grade. In 1915 she worked for a glove factory in Salem, then found work in the weaving department at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill with her father and brothers.  

Ella married Orrin Russell Clearwater on 15 May 1920 in Salem, OR. The couple would have two children, William and Gay. Orrin had served in Battery F, 60th Field Artillery during World War I. He was discharged in February 1919. Orrin was a cattle farmer and dealer. The family lived on Salem-Turner Highway in East Salem.  

Ella died 4 Mar 1965 in a nursing home in Salem, OR. Cause of death was colon cancer. Her husband Orrin died of lung cancer a year later 24 Jan 1966 at the Veteran’s Hospital in Portland. Both were buried in Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem.  
 
Name   
Salem City Directories  1915  Lehman Ella, mach opr Gleason Glove Co., rms 2040 Oxford 

1917  Lehman Ella, weaver T K W M Co. Rms 2040 Oxford 

1934  Clearwater O R (Ella) box 146 [Rural Route 6] 

1935  Clearwater O R (Ella) box 60 [Rural Route 6] 
Census Records  1900  Ella Lahman [Lehman] Age: 1. Birth Date: May 1899 in Oregon. Home in 1900: Yew Park, Marion, OR. Single, daughter to HOH. Additional family members: August Lahman [Lehman], age 32 (father), Anna Lahman [Lehman], age 37 (mother), Charlie Lahman [Lehman], age 6 (brother), Fred Lahman [Lehman], age 4 (brother), Willie Lahman [Lehman], age 3 (brother). 

1910  Ella D. Lehmann Age: 10. Birth Date: 1900 in Oregon. Home in 1910: Salem Ward 6, Marion, OR. Single, daughter to HOH. Attended School: Yes. Able to Read and Write: Yes. Parents born in Germany. Additional household members: August C. Lehmann, age 43 (father), Anna R. Lehmann, age 42 (mother), Carl A. Lehmann, age 16 (brother), Fritz W. Lehmann, age 14 (brother), Willie A. Lehmann, age 13 (brother), Otto H. Lehmann, age 7 (brother), Hermann R. Lehmann, age 4 (brother), Dora E. Lehmann, age 0 (sister).  

1920  Ella Lehman Age: 20. Birth Year: abt 1900 in Oregon. Home in 1920: Oxford St. Salem Ward 6, Marion, OR. Single, daughter to HOH. Occupation: Weaver. Attended School: No. Able to Read and Write: Yes. Parents born in Germany. Additional household members: August Lehman, age 53 (father), Anna Lehman, age 52 (mother), Fred Lehman, age 23 (brother), William Lehman, age 22 (brother), Otto Lehman, age 17 (brother), Herman Lehman, age 14 (brother), Dora Lehman, age 10 (sister).  

1930  Ella D. Clearwater Age: 30. Birth Year: abt 1900 in Oregon. Home in 1930: Salem-Turner Highway, East Salem, Marion, OR. Married, wife to HOH. Attended School: No. Able to Read and Write: Yes. Parents born in Germany. Age at First Marriage: 21. Additional household members: Russell O. Clearwater, age 33 (husband), William D. Clearwater, age 8 (son). Husband is a cattle farmer.  

1940  Ella Clearwater Age: 40. Birth Year: abt 1900 in Oregon. Home in 1940: East Salem, Marion, OR. Married, wife to HOH. Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade. Additional household members: Orrin Clearwater, age 43 (husband), William Clearwater, age 18 (son), Gay Clearwater, age 8 (daughter).  

1950  Ella Clearwater Age: 50. Birth Date: abt 1900 in Oregon. Home in 1950: Turner Rd. East Salem, Marion, OR. Married, wife to HOH. Occupation: Keeping House. Additional household members: Orrin Clearwater, age 53 (husband), Gay Clearwater, age 18 (daughter). 
County Marriage Record  15 May 1920, Salem, Marion, OR. Clearwater-Lehman. Husband: Orrin Russel Clearwater. Residence: 233 S. Church St. Salem. Age: 23. Birthplace: Iowa. Occupation: None. No. of Marriage: First. Father’s Birthplace: Iowa. Mother’s Birthplace: Iowa. Wife: Ella Lehman. Residence: 1740 Oxford St. Salem. Age: 21. Birthplace: Salem, OR. Occupation: None. No. of Marriage: First. Father’s Birthplace: Germany. Mother’s Birthplace: Germany. 
Oregon Death Index   Ella D. Clearwater. Age: 66. Birth Date: abt 1899. Death Date: 4 Mar 1965. Death Place: Marion [County]. Spouse: Orrin. Certificate #3550. 
Find-a-Grave  Ella D. Clearwater  Birth: 1899. Death: 4 Mar 1965 (aged 65-66) Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, OR. Plot: Block 43, Section 69, Lot 1. Memorial ID: 171321626  

Orrin Russell Clearwater  Birth: 8 Jul 1896 Winterset, Madison County, Iowa. Death: 24 Jan 1966 (aged 69). Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, OR. Plot: Block 43, Section 69, Lot 2. Memorial ID: 138157577 
Digital Newspapers 

 

 Capital Journal 15 May 1920, p. 7 – Marriage License 

Oregon Statesman 5 Mar 1965, p. 2 – Death Notice, Ella  

Oregon Statesman 6 Mar 1965, p. 7 – Obituary, Ella 

Oregon Statesman 7 Mar 1965, p. 20 – Death Notice, Ella 

Oregon Statesman 25 Jan 1966, p. 17 – Death Notice, Orrin 

Capitol Journal 25 Jan 1966, p. 8 – Obituary, Orrin 
WHC Materials  M3 1966-001             Mill Record 

M3 2007-010-0014  Photo