| Story |
Ellis Britton worked for TKWM as a watchman from 1941-1963 and may have been one of the last mill employees remaining when it ceased operation.
Ellis Doat Britton was born on 19 August 1901, in LaCross, Indiana, to John A. and Edith M Heinbaugh Britton. He was the fourth of their ten children. Raised in a farming family, Ellis left school after completing the sixth grade and worked as a farm laborer through his twenties. The Britton family moved between Indiana and Kansas, settling in Crooked Creek, Kansas.
Around 1931, the family relocated to Springfield, Colorado, where Ellis married 25-year-old Elsie Jackson Goodall, a divorcee, at age 30. By 1934, they had moved to Euphoria, Kansas, a small town situated near the railroad line, where their two children, Betty and Bobby, were born.
Ellis and his family arrived in Salem, Oregon, by 1940. He was employed as a carpenter’s helper and lived with his father John, who identified as a widower. However, the census showed that Ellis’s mother, Edith, along with her two youngest children, Everett and Emeline, still resided in Springfield, Colorado. She also claimed to be a widow.
In 1941, Ellis began working for the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill as a night watchman, a position he held until 1962, making him one of the final employees at the mill when it ceased operations. Ellis registered for the World War II draft in 1942, but was not called to serve due to age. Tragedy struck the family on 22 December 1943, when their son, Bobby Gene, passed away at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland from cerebral degeneration at just nine years old.
Ellis and Elsie divorced in February 1947 but remarried in Salem two months later. Their reconciliation was short-lived; they divorced again in May 1948, with 15-year-old Betty remaining with Elsie. It is believed that Elsie and Betty may have returned to Kansas.
Ellis stayed in Salem, continuing his career at TKWM. He remarried Lucille M. McMahon Slagle between 1951 and 5 September 1954, when their son, Thomas Wade, was born. Lucille had a son from a previous marriage, Arthur Slagle, who also worked at TKWM. By 1960, Ellis transitioned to working as a fireman (boiler operator) as the mill began scaling back operations. After TKWM closed in 1962, Ellis joined Mountain Fir Lumber Co. in Independence, Oregon, where he worked until his death on 6 February 1967. He was buried at City View Cemetery in Salem, Oregon. Lucille lived until 2008 and her remains are in the City View Mausoleum. |
| Census |
1910 Ellis Britton. Age: 9. Birth: 1901 in Indiana. Residence: Pembroke, Illinois. Single son of HOH. Father and Mother born in Indiana. Household members: John Britton, age 37, HOH, farmer; Edith Britton, age 30, wife; Eva Britton, age 12, daughter; Golda Britton, age 10, daughter; Ellis Britton, age 9, son; Edna Britton, age 6, daughter; OJ Britton, age 2, son; Frank Britton, age 18, hired man.
1915 Kansas Census Ellis Britton. Age: 13. Birth: abt 1902 in Indiana. Son of HOH. Residence: Crooked Creek, Kansas. Household members: John Britton, age 43, HOH; Edith Britton, age 37; Eva Britton, age 17; Goldie Britton, age 15; Ellis Britton, age 13; Edna Britton, age 11; Britton, age 7; Naomi Britton, age 6; Rollie Britton, age 3; Alex Britton, infant.
1920 Ellis D. Britton. Age: 17. Birth: abt 1903 in Indiana. Residence: Stonington, Colorado. Single son of HOH. Occupation: Farm laborer, home farm. Father and Mother born in USA. Household members: John A. Britton, age 49, HOH, farmer; Edith M. Britton, age 40, wife; Eva Britton, age 21, daughter (born in IN); Ellis Britton, age 17, son (IN); Edna B. Britton, age 15, daughter (IN); OJ Britton, age 13, son (IN); Naomi R. Britton, age 10, daughter (IN); Rilla M. Britton, age 8, daughter (KS); Aleck S. Britton, age 5, son (KS); Eugene H. Britton, age 2, son (KS); Everett H. Britton, age 4, son (CO).
1930 Ellis Britton. Age: 29. Birth: abt 1901 in Kansas. Single lodger. Residence: Garfield, Kansas. Occupation: Farm Laborer. Father and Mother born in Kansas. Household members: Ralph Blanton, age 27, HOH, farmer; Iva Blanton, age 27, wife; David Dale Blanton, age 5, son; Betty Louise Blanton, age 3, daughter; Ellis Britton, age 29, lodger.
1940 Ellis Britton. Age: 38. Birth: abt 1902 in Indiana. Married HOH.
Rents residence at 650 ½ Locust, Salem, Marion, Oregon. Residence in 1935, Emporia, Kansas. (Entire family) Occupation: Carpenter’s Helper. Education, 6th grade. Worked 18 weeks in 1939. Household members: Ellis Britton, age 38, HOH; Elsie Britton, age 32, wife; Betty B. Britton, age 7, daughter; Bobbie Britton, age 5, son; John Britton, age 68, father widowed.
1950 Ellis D. Britton. Age: 48. Birth: abt 1902 in Indiana. Divorced HOH. Residence: 3155 Cooke, Salem, Marion, OR. Occupation: Watchman, retail and wholesale woolen mill. Hours worked, 42. |
| Newspapers |
Oregon Statesman 5 Feb 1947, p. 4 – Elsie Britton vs Ellis Britton: Decree of divorce grants custody of minor child, $40/mo. support and restoration of Maiden name to plaintiff; Elsie Jackson.
Oregon Statesman 4 Apr 1947, p. 4 – Marriage License Applications. Ellis Britton, 45, Farmer, and Elsie Jackson,40, housewife, both of Salem.
Oregon Statesman 19 May 1948, p. 6 – Elsie vs Ellis Britton divorce granted awards plaintiff custody of minor child and $50/mo. support. (previous note says married 3 Apr 1947 in Salem.)
Oregon Statesman 9 Sep 1949, p. 4 – Building permit issued to Ellis Britton, 3155 Cooke St for private garage $1000.
Capital Journal 8 Sep 1954, p.5 – A son born on 7 Sep to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Britton, 3155 Cook St.
Capital Journal 7 Feb 1967, p. 7 – Ellis D. Britton obit. Died at age 66 on 6 Feb 1967 at a Salem hospital. Residence 3155 Cook St S. Born in Illinois and came to Salem in 1937. Night watchman at TKWM for 23 years and for Mountain Fir Lumber in Independence for the last three years. Survivors: widow Lucille of Salem; two daughters Beverly at home, and Mrs. Betty Smith, Nickerson, KA; son Thomas Britton at home; five sisters and four brothers. |
| Public Records |
1931 CO Marriage Record. In Baca Co, Ellis Britton 30 married Elsie Goodall 25 in Springfield, CO on 12 Dec 1931.
WW2 Draft Card. 14 Feb 1942. Ellis Doat Britton 40 b in LaCross, IN. on 19 Aug 1901. Res 6501/2 Locust St changed to 1370 Leslie, Salem, OR. 5’10” 150lbs eyes hazel, hair brown, complexion light. Unemployed. NOK Mrs. E M Britton, Springfield, CO.
1943 Oregon Death Certificate. Bobby Fene Britton (son) of 1307 Leslie St, Salem OR. died at Doernbecher Hospital in Portland on 22 Dec 1943 of cerebral degeneration, unknown cause, after 5.5 month stay. Born 17 Jul 1934 in Emporia KA. F Ellis Britton. M Elsie Jackson.
1947 OR State Divorce Record. Elsie Jackson, plaintiff, married Ellis Britton on 12 Nov 1934 in Springfield, CO. Divorce granted 4 Feb 1947 in Marion Co, OR. No alimony granted, one child effected by this decree.
1947 OR Marriage License. On 3 Apr 1947, in Salem, OR, Elsie Jackson 40, b 7 Feb 1907 in KS, divorced, third marriage, married Ellis Britton 45 b 19 Aug 1901 in IN, divorced, second marriage.
1951 OR Divorce Record. Truman Slagle of WI divorced Lucille Slagle of Marion Co, OR in 5 Nov 1951. 3 children from the marriage. Date of marriage 15 Feb 1932.
1967 Oregon Death Certificate. Ellis Doat Britton of 3155 Cook St, Salem, OR died at Salem Memorial Hospital on 6 Feb 1967, at age 66 of throat cancer. Married. Spouse Lucille. Length of stay in Salem 30 yrs. Watchman, Woolen Mills. Father John Britton. Mother Edith Heinbaugh.
Public Records Index. Thomas W Britton b 7 Sep 1954 address 1251 Royvonne Ave SE apt 55, Salem, OR. |
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