| Life Story |
Jack Earl worked as a weaver, then spinner from approximately 1905 to 1919 at TKWM with a break for service in World War I and other occasional employment opportunities. Additional family members that worked at the mill are his father Edward, brother William and sisters Mary and Esther.
John Edward “Jack” Earl was born 21 Feb 1895 in Mitchell, South Dakota to Edward G. and Frances [Quinn] Earl. He was one of six children born to the couple.
The family came to Salem in 1903 and rented a home at 695 S. 20th St. Father Edward worked for the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in the Dye House. Jack also worked at the mill. He would have been ten years old, possibly a bobbin boy.
In March 1917 Jack married Susan V. Bennett of Portland, OR. His marriage record listed a residence of Multnomah County and occupation of mechanic. The couple would have 3 daughters – Frances, Ernestine and Barbara.
In June of the same year, he registered for the draft, WW1. From 1918 to 1919 he served in the Oregon Militia as a private of the 6th Separate Co. of the Infantry. He received an honorable discharge on 26 Apr 1919. His Discharge papers also state that he had prior service as a Private in Company “F” First Regiment in the Oregon Guard.
In 1920 Jack is 24 years old and a father of two daughters according to census records. He is listed as a farm laborer on a hop farm off Wheatland Rd. In Quinaby, Marion County, OR. In December 1928, the family moved to Eureka, Humboldt, CA. Jack and Susan took work at the Eureka Woolen Mill. By the 1940 census, John and Susan are divorced and living separately.
Jack’s WWII draft registration records the following physical description. Height, 5’9”, weight, 160 lbs. With a light complexion, gray hair, and brown eyes. An additional note states that he has a crippled little finger on the right hand. The address on his draft card is 223 East L Street, the address of his sister Mary [Marie] and she is listed as the person who will always know his address.
On 8 Apr 1944, Jack married Marie Louise Nutter in Bernicia, CA. It was the second marriage for them both with previous marriages that had ended in divorce. The groom was a carpenter, the bride an electrician helper at Marc Island. Her maiden name was Allard. By the 1950 census, John and Marie have moved to 228 East N St. In Benicia, Solano, CA. He was a carpenter at the Ordnance Depot and Marie a clerk at the Navy shipyard.
In 1956 Jack and friend Alfred V. Nielsen were in a jeep accident near the Mad River east of Bridgeville. They were hunting at night when their vehicle fell into a deep trench 10 feet by 20 feet. Alfred was driving and had the worst injuries. John sustained a broken ankle and injured his back and neck. In 1959 they sued the company that constructed the logging road for negligence in cutting a deep trench across a private roadway without posting or erecting warnings. In 1962 they won their case and were awarded $70,200 in damages and lost wages.
Jack died 5 Feb 1976 in Solano County, CA. He was buried at the Saint Dominics Catholic Cemetery in Benicia. Following his death, wife Marie moved to Boca Raton, Florida where she died in 1979. She was taken back to Benicia for burial.
*The decision was made to standardize the family surname to Earl throughout all the TKWM biographies, though it also appears in public records with the additional letter ‘e’ at the end* |
| Salem City Directories |
1905 Earl, John, spinner TKWM Co, bds 695 S 20th
1907 Earl, John, weaver Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Co
1910 Earl, John, weaver Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Co
1915 Earl, John E, spinner TKWM Co, rms 695 S 20th
1917 Earl, John E, spinner TKWM Co, rms 640 S 18th
1921 Earl, John, laborer T K Woolen Mill Co r 12th and Ferry
1924 Earle, John E (Susan), laborer T K Woolen Mill Co, h 345 Hood
1928 Earle, John E (Susie), weaver T K Woolen Mill Co, h 521 S 18th |
| Census Records |
1900 John E. Earle. Age: 4. Birthdate: Feb 1896 in South Dakota. Home in 1900: Logan, Sanborn, South Dakota. Single, son to HOH. Additional household members: Edward Earl, age 36 (father), Frances Earl, age 35 (mother), Mary Earl, age 7 (sister), Esther Earl, age 6 (daughter), Louisa Earl, age 3 (sister), Birnie Earl, age 1 (sister).
1905 Marion County, OR Census. Edward Earl Family. Edward, age 40, teamster. Frances, age 37. Mary, age 14, at school. Esther, age 12, at school. John, age 10, at school. G [sic], age 8, at school. Vernia, age 6. Villa [sic], age 4.
1910 John E. Earl. Age: 15. Birthdate: 1895 in South Dakota. Home in 1910: 695 S. 20th St. Salem, Ward 4, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH.
Additional household members: Edward G., age 44 (father), Frances E. Earle, age 42 (mother), Mary P. Earl, age 18 (sister), Esther E. Earl, age 17 (sister), Lulu L. Earl, age 13 (sister), Vernie Earl, age 11 (sister), William Earl, age 9 (brother).
1920 John E. Earl. Age: 24. Birth Year: abt 1896 in South Dakota. Home in 1920: Salem Wheatland Road, Quinaby, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Farm Laborer on Hop Farm. Additional household members: Susan H. Earl, age 22 (wife), Frances M. Earl, age 1 (daughter), Earnestine Earl, age 0 (daughter).
1930 John E. Earl. Age: 35. Birth Year: abt 1895 in South Dakota. Home in 1930: 2161 Fairfield St. Eureka, Humboldt, CA. Married, HOH. Occupation: Textile Worker in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Susie Earl, age 33 (wife), Frances Earl, age 12 (daughter), Ernestine Earl, age 10 (daughter), Barbara Earl, age 7 (daughter).
1940 John Earle. Age: 45. Birth Year: abt 1895 in South Dakota. Home in 1940: 264 Hulsdale, Eureka, Humboldt, CA. Married, lodger to HOH. Occupation: Draw in, Textile Mill. Additional household members: Raymond Reedy, age 22 (HOH), Francis Reedy, age 22 (wife to HOH).
1950 John E. Earle. Age: 55. Birth Date: abt 1895 in South Dakota. Home in 1950: 228 East N St. Benicia, Solano, CA. Married, HOH. Occupation: Carpenter. Additional household member: Marie L. Earle, age 48 (wife). |
| Digital Newspapers |
Blue Lake Advocate [Blue Lake, CA] 25 May 1940, p. 3 – divorce
Eureka Humboldt Standard [Eureka, CA] 17 Sep 1959, p.19 – files damage suit
Eureka Humboldt Standard [Eureka, CA] 8 Feb 1962, p. 15 – witnesses testify in crash suit
Eureka Humboldt Standard [Eureka, CA] 10 Feb 1962, p. 11 – wins accident court case
Benicia Herald [Benicia, CA] 19 Feb 1976 – death notice
Boca Raton News [Boca Raton, Florida] 25 Oct 1979, p. 8 – obituary, Marie |
