| Life Story |
Grace Rockhill Herboldt worked as a weaver at TKWM as early as 1905. Her husband William and siblings Pearl and Fred also worked at the mill.
Grace Mamie Rockhill was born to Henry Leslie Rockhill and Anetta Alice “Nettie” (Minnich) Rockhill in July 1888 in Coffey County, Kansas. Grace was the fifth of eight children born to this couple, five sons and three daughters. In 1900 the family lived in Pleasant, Coffey, Kansas.
Grace attended Rock Creek school in 1902 in Burlington, Kansas. Grace’s father farmed in Coffey County for 33 years. In Sept 1903 there was a fire caused by a lightning strike which destroyed the family’s barn and most of its contents so in Nov 1903 Henry sold his farm of 80 acres, four and a half miles from Burlington and moved his family to Salem, Oregon.
On 21 Jul 1905, in Salem, a marriage permit was issued to William Herboldt and Grace Rockhill. The exact wedding date has not been found. In 1905 Grace worked as a weaver at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. Her husband William Herboldt also worked at the mill in 1905, as a carder. Grace appears to have left work, to raise her family. Son Walter was born in 1906, sons Arthur and Willis in 1907, and daughter Alpha in 1908.
In 1909, Grace’s husband William passed away suddenly at the age of 25, from diabetes and left Grace with four young children. She and the children moved in with her parents until she could get back on her feet. Grace returned to the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill and worked as a weaver from 1911 through approximately 1920.
Grace met a barber in Salem named Charles Luke Riley. The couple were married in Vancouver, Washington on 25 Sept 1918. The marriage certificate lists her occupation as a weaver. She continued to work after this marriage. Grace and Charles had one daughter together, Francis Marie Riley born in Salem on 29 Sep 1920. He raised the other children as his own.
Grace may have worked at TKWM beyond 1920, but at the time of research, no mill records were found to verify her employment. On 19 Jul 1923 Grace passed away at her home near Haysville at the age of 35. She died from diphtheria. Grace was buried at City View Cemetery in Salem, OR next to her first husband William Herboldt. William does not have a gravestone, but cemetery records confirm his burial. William’s sister Martha Herboldt Ettner Brand is also buried close by.
Grace’s second husband Charles Riley remarried in 1947 at the age of 72. He passed away on 7 Mar 1959 and was buried at the Aumsville Cemetery. |
| Salem City Directories |
1905 – Herboldt Grace (wid Wm), weaver TKWM Co, bds 2068 Trade
1907 – Herboldt Grace, bds 457 S 18th
1909 – Rockhill Grace, bds 19th s cor Trade (father’s res)
1911 – Herboldt Grace (wid Wm), weaver TKWM Co, bds 2068 Trade
1913 – Herboldt Grace M (wid Wm), weaver TKWM Co, bds 1334 Ferry
1915 – Herboldt Grace M (wid Wm), weaver TKWM Co, res 407 S 18th
1917 – Herboldt Grace M (wid Wm), weaver TKWM Co, rms 319 S 17th |
| Census Records |
1900 – Grace Rockhill – Age: 11, Birth Date: Jul 1888, Birthplace: Kansas, Home in 1900: Pleasant, Coffey, Kansas, Race: White, Gender: Female, Relation to HOH: Daughter, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Name: H. Leslie Rockhill, Father’s Birthplace: Ohio, Mother’s Name: Nettie Rockhill, Mother’s Birthplace: Ohio. Additional Household Members: H. Leslie Rockhill (48), Nettie Rockhill (44), Clarence A Rockhill (24), Joseph Rockhill (18), Pearl Rockhill (9), Freddie E Rockhill (6), Myrtle A Rockhill (6/12)
1910 – Grace Herbolt [Herboldt]– Age: 21, Birth Date: 1889, Birthplace: Kansas, Home in 1910: South 19th Street, Salem, Marion, Oregon, Race: White, Gender: Female, Relation to HOH: Daughter, Marital Status: Widowed, Father’s Name: Henry L. Rockhill, Father’s Birthplace: Ohio, Mother’s Name: Annetta Rockhill, Mother’s Birthplace: Ohio, Occupation: Weaver, Industry: Woolen Mill, Number of Children Born: 3, Number of Children Living: 3. Additional Household Members: Henry L. Rockhill (56), Annetta Rockhill (55), Pearl Rockhill (19), Fred Rockhill (16), Myrtle Rockhill (10), Walter Herbolt (3), Arthur Herbolt (2), Alpha Herbolt (1).
1920 – Grace Riley – Age: 31, Birth Year: abt 1889, Birthplace: Kansas, Home in 1920: South 13th Street, Salem, Marion, Oregon, Race: White, Gender: Female, Relation to HOH: Wife, Marital Status: Married, Spouse’s Name: Charley L. Riley, Father’s Birthplace: Ohio, Mother’s Birthplace: Ohio, Occupation: Weaver, Industry: Woolen Mill. Additional Household Members: Charley L. Riley (47), Walter Herboldt (13), Willis Herboldt (12), Arthur Herboldt (12), Alpha Herboldt (11). |
