| Story |
Joseph Leabo worked at TKWM as a weaver for a brief time around 1895.
Joseph Elias Leabo was born 27 May 1855 in the Oregon Territory to Isaac and Mary [Lewis] Leabo. He was one of thirteen children born to the couple.
Joseph married Mary Catherine Mansfield in 1886. They were the parents of five children: Hope, Helen, Carl, Howard, and Beatrice. The Portland city directory for 1891 lists Joseph as a loom fixer at the Oregon City Mills, and a resident in Canemah (near present-day Oregon City). That same year his brothers John and Isaac were employees at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in Salem, OR. By 1895 Joseph has joined them at the mill and moved his family to Salem.
By 1900, Joseph and his family had moved to Washington, first to Tacoma and then Bellingham. Until his death in 1933 he worked a series of odd jobs as a laborer according to federal census records. The 1930 census and his death certificate also indicate that he was a resident at the King County Alms House in Seattle, WA.
His wife Mary died in 1919 in Bellingham. Joseph died on 5 August 1933 at the age of 76. They are both buried in Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham, WA. |
| Census |
1860 J Lebo (5). Born about 1855 in OR. Home, Salem, OR. Additional family members: J Lebo (age 44), M Lebo (age 40), J J Lebo (age 17), J J Lebo (age 15), W C Lebo (age 12), J Lebo (age 10), M Lebo (age 8), E Lebo (age 7), and E Lebo (age 1).
1870 Joseph Leabo (14). Born about 1856 in OR. Home, Monmouth, Polk, OR. Additional family members: Isaac Leabo (age 54), Mary Leabo (age 51), Isaac Leabo (age 25), Emily Leabo (age 16), Elisabeth Leabo (age 10), Thomas Leabo (age 8), Wm Leabo (age 10), and Jasper Leabo (age 7).
1880 Elias Leahs [Elias Leabo] (Joseph Elias Leabo) (24). Born about 1856 in OR. Home, Toledo, Benton, OR. Occupation: Laborer. Additional family members: Isaac Leahs (age 65), Mary Leahs (age 60), and Thomas Leahs (age 18).
1895 Marion County Census – Joseph Leabo. Birthplace: Oregon. Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856. Residence: Salem, Marion, OR. Religion: Protestant. Occupation: Weaver. Gender: Male. Age: 39.
1900 Jos Leabo (43). Born Jun 1856 in OR. Rents house at 507 3rd St, Tacoma, WA. Married HOH. Marriage Year: 1886. Years Married: 14. Occupation: Machinist. Additional family members: Mary Leabo (age 29), Hope Leabo (age 9), Hellen Leabo (age 6), Carl Leabo (age 2).
1910 Joseph Leabo (55) Born about 1855 in OR. Rents home on Washington St, Bellingham, WA. Married HOH. Occupation: Laborer, Odd jobs. Married 23 years. Additional family members: Mary Leabo (age 39), Helen Leabo (age 16), Carl Leabo (age 13), Howard Leabo (age 7), and Beatrice Leabo (age 3). |
| City Directories (Salem unless otherwise noted) |
1889 Joseph Leabo. Filling Carrier. OCM (Oregon City Manufacturing) Co. Res w I J Leabo.
1890 Joseph Leabo. Loom Fixer. OCM Co. res Canemah (near present Oregon City). Portland CD.
1891 Joseph Leabo. Loom Fixer. OCM Co. res Canemah (near present Oregon City). Portland CD.
1896 Joseph E Leabo. Laborer. Bush sw cor Liberty.
1903 Joseph Lebo. No occ. 612 E 16th, Portland, OR |
| Find a Grave |
Joseph Elias Leabo. B 1856 in OR. D 5 Aug 1933 (age 76) in Seattle. Buried Bayview Cemetery, Bellingham, WA Memorial ID: 209137037 “Joseph Elias was the son of Isaac Jasper Sr and Mary May (Polly) Leabo. He had 13 siblings: Noah J., John James, Isaac Jasper, Walter Jesse, Mary Rachel, Sarah Elizabeth McCluskey, Thomas Meritt, Emma Phoebe Thayer, Hannah, Unicy, Emily, and William E. He married Mary Mansfield on January 2, 1887, in Benton County, Oregon. In the 1930 Census, Joseph is listed as widowed and an inmate at King County Alms House in Seattle.”
Mary Catherine Mansfield Leabo. B 16 Feb 1871 in Jacksonville, OR. D 3 Jun 1919 in Bellingham, WA. Bayview Cemetery, Bellingham, WA Memorial ID: 7816421 “Mary Catherine was the daughter of James N. and Hanna L. (Rawles) Mansfield. She married Joseph Elias Leabo on January 2, 1887, in Benton County, Oregon. He died in 1933. Census for 1900 says 4 children, 3 living; Hope, Helen I; and Carl C. Census for 1910 has 4 children, Hope, Helen, Carl, and Beatrice. Two sons were killed in France, one son was killed at Camp Lewis, Washington; two girls died as nurses, all during World War II. Children – deceased infant (1886-1886), Hope (1891-1910), Helen Irene (1894-1955), Carl C. (1897-1922), Howard O. (1903-?), and Beatrice (1907-).” |
