| Life Story
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Julia Feilen worked as a weaver at TKWM from 1916 to 1917. She was part of the 1916 group of female employees that actively protested the state welfare commission’s efforts to reduce women’s working hours.
Julia “Jewell” Feilen was born 21 Mar 1899 in Wisconsin to John and Magdalena [Rischard] Feilen. She was one of eight children. Her father was a farmer.
By 1913, the family had moved to Salem and lived at 1595 Saginaw, then at 1858 S. 13th St. Julia worked as a machine operator at the Gleason Glove Co. while living with her parents. In 1916, she was hired by the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill as a weaver. She was 17 years old and a high school graduate.
Tragedy struck in 1919 when her sister died in the family home shortly after arriving from Wisconsin. By 1920, Julia had moved to Portland, Oregon, where she lived with her brother on Market St. and worked as a machine operator in a glove factory. She was 21 years old. At that point in her life, she also switched to using the name Jewell.
According to family records, Julia “Jewell” married John J. Brown, a veteran of the Spanish American War, sometime between 1918 and 1920. The couple had no children.
Jewell and her husband John lived in California, where John worked as a civil engineer for the State of California, first in the San Diego area and later in San Gabriel. Jewell’s sister Virginia moved to California as well, and eventually, their parents joined them. Sadly, their mother Lena passed away in December 1929 in Jewell’s home, followed by her father John in March 1930.
In the 1940 census record, Jewell was 38 years old, married and lived in San Diego, California with John. They rented their home for $35 a month, and John reported earnings of $2940 in 1940, current to the date the census was taken. He was a civil engineer. Julia did not have an occupation listed.
By 1950, Jewell and John had moved to San Gabriel, California. At 51 years old, Jewell was keeping house while John continued to work for the state government as a civil engineer.
John died 19 Apr 1979. Julia “Jewell” passed away on 19 Feb 1984 in Los Angeles County. She was cremated and her ashes placed in Mausoleum 1 of the Resurrection Cemetery in Montebello, alongside her husband John. |
| Salem City Directories (unless otherwise noted) |
SALEM
1915 Feilen Julia, machine operator, Gleason Glove Co, rms 1858 S 13th
1917 Feilen Julia A, weaver, TKWM Co, rms 1858 S 13th
PORTLAND
1920 Feilen Jewel, machine operator, r 2-494 Market [Portland, OR]
CALIFORNIA
1929 Brown John J (Jewell J) laborer, h 374 63d [San Diego, CA]
1934 Brown John J (Jewell) h 1222 Madera [San Diego, CA]
1940 Brown John J (Jewell) civil engineer, h3771 Arnold ave [San Diego, CA]
1962 Brown John J (Jewell) civil engineer, State of California, h 1624 S Palm [San Gabriel, CA]
1964 Brown John J (Jewell) civil engineer, State of California, h 1624 Palm Av [San Gabriel, CA] |
| Census Records |
1900 Julia Feilen Age: 1. Birth Date: Mar 1899 in Wisconsin. Home in 1900: Cleveland, Marathon, Wisconsin. Single, daughter to HOH. Additional household members: John Feilen, age 41 (father), Lena Feilen, age 35 (mother), Eva Feilen, age 11 (sister), Lena Feilen, age 8 (sister), Andrew Feilen, age 7 (brother), Lorenz Feilen, age 6 (brother), Joseph Feilen, age 4 (brother), Peter Feilen, age 70 (grandfather).
1910 Juliana A. Filan [Feilen] Age: 11. Birth Date: 1899 in Wisconsin. Home in 1910: Stratford, Marathon, Wisconsin. Single, daughter to HOH. Additional household members: John F. Filan [Feilen], age 51 (father), Magdalena Filan [Feilen], age 46 (mother), Andrew Filan [Feilen], age 17 (brother), Lorenz P. Filan [Feilen], age 16 (brother), Joseph P. Filan [Feilen], age 13 (brother), Henry Filan [Feilen], age 8 (brother), Regina Filan [Feilen], age 7 (sister).
1920 Jewel Feilan Age: 21. Birth Year: abt 1899 in Wisconsin. Home in 1920: Market St. Portland, Multnomah, OR. Single, sister to HOH. Occupation: Operator at Glove Factory. Additional household member: Leonard L. Feilen, age 25 (brother).
1930 Unable to locate Jewell
1930 John J. Brown [husband] Age: 30. Birth Year: abt 1900 in Connecticut. Married, lodger to HOH. Home in 1930: 809 West 23rd St. Midwick Apts., Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. Occupation: Engineer in Bridge Construction. No additional immediate household members.
1940 Julia Jewell Brown Age: 38. Birth Year: abt 1902 in Wisconsin. Home in 1940: 3771 Arnold St. San Diego, San Diego, CA. Married, wife to HOH. Residence in 1935: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. Highest grade completed: High School, 4th year. Additional household member: John J. Brown, age 40 (husband).
1950 Julia Jewell Brown Age: 51. Birth Date: abt 1899 in Wisconsin. Home in 1950: 1624 S. Palm St. San Gabriel, Los Angeles, CA. Occupation: Keeping House. Additional household member: John J. Brown, age 50 (husband). |
