Joseph Dignam [Digman]

Job Title(s)

Spinner

Dates of Employment

c. 1890

Last Name  Dignam [Digman] 
First Name  Joseph 
Middle Initial   
Born  1 Jan 1823 in Lancashire, England 
Home Address 

(1890) 

 Boarding at Wade’s 
Died  31 Jan 1908 in Salem, OR. 
Place Buried  St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery (now St. Barbara Cemetery) 
Spouse  None 
Date of Marriage  N/A 
Children  None 
Dates of Employment  1890  
Job(s)  Spinner 
Story  Joseph Dignam [Digman] was born in Lancashire, England on 1 January 1823. When he immigrated to the U.S. or where he may have first settled is unknown. However, by 1871 Joseph and John Digman, possibly brothers, were boarding at Wade’s in Salem, OR and working in the woolen industry. Joseph was a spinner and John was a carder. 

 Joseph worked at the old Willamette Woolen Mill until it burned then took up farming in rural Marion County. He was on the county tax roles for many years but was never listed as living in any town in the county. He was lured back to the woolen mill industry when TKWM first opened. He was 63 years old at the time. 

Joseph never married and had no heirs when he died on 31 January 1905. His left his estate, valued at close to $13,000, to the Society of Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary (Catholic Church) in Salem. The funds were to be used to support the Sacred Heart Academy.  

At various times in his life, Joseph’s last name was documented as either Digman or Dignam. The official log of his death in the records of the Catholic Church used Dignam. His headstone in St. Barbara Cemetery is so marked. 
References 
Name  Remarks 
Census  1889(Washington State)  J Digman. Garfield County WA. B in England. Not Married. B abt 1826. White. Line:1 Roll:V228_3 
City Directory (Salem unless otherwise indicated  1871Joseph Digman, Spinner, bds at Wade’s 

John Digman, Carder, bds at Wade’s 

1872Joseph Digman, Spinner, bds at Mansion House 

John Digman, Carder, bds at Mansion House 

1890No Entry for Digman. 

1891No Entry for Digman 

1893No Address Entry for Digman. Marion County Tax Record. Joseph Dignam $700. 

1896No Entry for Digman 

 

1905Joseph Digman. Marion County Tax List. $230 

1907Joseph Digman. Marion County Tax List. $200 

1909Joseph Digman. Marion County Tax List. $230 

1911Joseph Digman. Marion County Tax List. $1200, Salem 
Find a Grave  Joseph Dignam. B 1823 D 1908. St. Barbara Cemetery, Salem, OR 
Willamette Valley Death Records  Joseph Digman. Male. Death Age: 8.  B 1 Jan 1823 in Lancashire, England. D 31 Jan 1908 in Salem, OR. St Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. 

Obituary (clipping found in death records, no citation) “DIGMAN – At Salem hospital, Friday, January 31, 1908, Joseph Digman, aged 85 years. Funeral at St. Joseph’s church at 3 o’clock this (Sunday) afternoon. Interment in St. Joseph’s Catholic cemetery. The deceased was a pioneer, having lived in Salem for over 45 years. He was employed for some years in the old woolen mill on North Mill creek. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1872. He was well known to all the old residents of Salem. He was born in Lancashire, England, Jan. 1, 1823. He was noted for his honesty, integrity, and fair dealing. He leaves no family.” 
Newapapers.com  Weekly Oregon Statesman 3 Jan 1872 pg 3. “Our Interests” article alludes to “establishment of a woolen factory in this place (Salem). 

Weekly Oregon Statesman 11 Jul 1874 pg 4. Joseph Digman sold 283 acres of land Marion County to Andrew Clark. 

CJ 11 Oct 1904 pg 5. Joe Digman had imbibed too much and was fined $5 in Police Court. 

SJ 4 Feb 1908 pg 5. The Joseph Digman estate. No legal heirs. $1,000 to Rev E.P. Murphy. Remainder to The Society of Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary, Salem. 

SJ 31 May 1908 pg 2. The late Joseph Digman was a benefactor of Sacred Heart Academy. 

 
Oregon Church Records  Joseph Dignam. B in England. Age 85. D 31 Jan 1908. St Joseph Cemetery. Senile Debility. Services in Church. 
WHC Resources  None identified at this time.