Elsie Hammer Papenfus, WHC Collections 0079.001.0002

Elsie Hammer  [Papenfus]

Job Title(s)

Seamstress, Specker

Dates of Employment

c. 1928-late 1930s

Last Name  Hammer    [Papenfus] 
First Name  Elsie 
Middle Initial  M 
Born  21 Jul 1882 in Wisconsin   
Home Addresses 

(1929-1934) 

 1099 Mill St 
Died  12 Jan 1966 in Salem, OR 
Place Buried  Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, OR 
Spouse  Paul Papenfus 
Date of Marriage  Before 1904 
Children  Erma L and Alice L Papenfus 
Dates of Employment  1928 – between 1935 and 1940 
Job(s)  Seamstress, Specker 
Story  Elsie M Papenfus worked at TKWM from 1928 through the late 1930s.  

Elsie M Hammer was born in Wisconsin on 21 Jul 1882 to George Hammer and Helena Freitag. Before moving to Oregon in 1904, she married a German immigrant, Paul Papenfus. In 1910, the couple had two children, Erma and Alice, and Paul worked for the Oregon State Hospital in Salem, as a steam plant stoker. In 1917, Paul still worked at the OS Hospital along with the other people with the family name Papenfus:  Barney, Julia, and Ben. Any relationship between the four is unproven at this time. 

In 1920, Paul continued to work at the OS Hospital as a steam engineer. Elsie was now 37 and her daughters were still in school. Sometime before 1928, Paul left the home and Elsie began work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. She began as a seamstress. Erma worked as a stenographer and Alice as a bookkeeper to make ends meet.  

Elsie claimed to be a widow on the 1930 and 1940 Federal Census records, though actually divorced. Paul remained in Salem and remarried. Elsie retired from TKWM between 1935 and 1940. She passed away on 13 Jan 1966 and is interred at Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, OR.  
   
References 
Name  Remarks 
Census  1910 Elsie M Papenfus. Born about 1883 in Wisconsin. Res on Oak St. Wife of HOH. Father’s birthplace at sea, mother’s Maryland. Years married 5. No Occupation. Number of children born 2, living 2. Paul Papenfus 26 (Fireman, State Hosp), Elsie M Papenfus 27, Erma L Papenfus 4, Alice L Papenfus 2.  

1920  Elsie Papenfus. Born about 1883 in Wisconsin. Res S 19th St, Salem. Married to HOH. Father’s and Mother’s birthplace Massachusetts. Paul Papenfus 36 (Steam Engineer, Refer Plant), Elsie Papenfus 37, Erma L Papenfus 14, Alice Papenfus 12.  

1930 Elsie M Papenfus. Born about 1883 in Wisconsin. Widowed HOH. Owns house at 1099 Mill St. Father birthplace at sea, mother’s Maryland. Seamstress, Woolen Mill. Elsie M Papenfus 47, Erma L Papenfus 24 (daughter), Lina Hammer 74 (mother) 

1940 Elsie M Papenfus. Born about 1883 in Wisconsin. Widowed HOH. Owns house at 1060 E Rural Av. No Occupation. No work, no income. Elsie M Papenfus, 57.  

Paul Papenfus. Born about 1886 in Germany. Divorced Lodger. 689 N Capitol. Machinist, Paper Co. Mildred C Park 38, Ida E Park 15, Pau Papenfus 54.  
City Directories (Salem unless otherwise stated)  1917 Elsie Papenfus. (Paul, Fireman O S Hosp) No Occ.795 S 19th.  

1924 Elsie Papenfus. (Paul, Elec O S Hosp) No Occ. 468 S 13th. 

1928 Mrs Elsie M Papenfus. Seamstress TKWM. 1099 Mill. 

1930 Mrs Elsie M Papenfus. Empl TKWM.1099 Mill.  

Paul Papenfus. Mach OP&P Co. No address 

1932 Mrs Elsie M Papenfus. Specker TKWM. 1099 Mill. 

Paul Papenfus. Mill Wkr OP&P Co. 689 N Capitol 

1934 Mrs Elsie M Papenfus. Mill Wkr TKWM. 1099 Mill. 

Paul Papenfus. Mill Wkr OP&P Co. 689 N Capitol 

1935 Mrs Elsie M Papenfus. Finisher TKWM. 1099 Mill. 

Paul Papenfus. Mill Wkr OP&P Co. 689 N Capitol  
Find a Grave  Elsie M Papenfus. Birth: 21 Jul 1882 in Wisconsin. Death: 13 Jan 1966 in Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID:114681924 
Wisconsin Birth Records  Elsa Hammer. Born 21 Jul 1882 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to George Hammer and Helena Freitag.  
Oregon Death Index  Paul Papenfus. B May 1885. D 9 Apr 1977 at age 91 in Marion County. Spouse Mildred.  
Newspapers  Capital Journal 14 Jan 1966 p 24   Obituary – Elsie Papenfus 

Statesman Journal 12 Apr 1977 p 20 Obituary – Paul Papenfus  
WHC Materials  M3 1966-001        Mill Records 

0079.001.0002     Photo 

0079.001.0003     Photo 

0079.001.0004     Photo 

X2016.010.0001   PhotoÂ