| Life Story
|
Mary B. Benson worked as a spooler, and then as a dresser for TKWM from 1905-1913. Her brothers, Roy and Ray, also worked for the mill.
Marie Blanche Benson was born 13 Aug 1890 in Salem, Oregon to Lyman and Rosa [Powell] Benson. One of eight children, she spent her childhood in the Englewood area. By 1900, at age 9, she lived with her family on D Street and attended public school. She used the nickname Mary during her childhood.
At 15, Mary began working as a spooler at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, where her brothers Ray and Roy also worked. Unusually for a woman at the time, Mary later became a dresser, responsible for setting up the warp on looms. By 1910, she lived with her family on Winter St. in Salem and continued her work at the mill.
In 1914, the family moved to Portland, where Mary worked as a telephone operator. The 1920 census shows her living on 40th St. with her family. Mary’s father Lyman, passed away in 1925. By 1930, she, her mother Rosa, and sister Dorothy lived on Alder St. in Portland. Mary continued to work as a telephone operator.
Mary never married. The 1940 and 1950 census record her living with her mother and sister in Portland. Rosa died in 1950, having lived with her daughters until her death.
Mary retired in August 1955 after 41 years with the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. An interview in the Oregonian newspaper highlighted her long career and the technological changes she witnessed, from manual switchboards to dial operation.
Mary died on November 5, 1966, at age 76 in the Portland Sanitorium. She was cremated and her ashes interred at Rose City Cemetery in Portland. |
| Salem City Directories (unless otherwise noted) |
1905 Benson Mary B, spooler T K W M Co, bds 510 N Liberty
1907 Benson Mary B, bds 1463 N Winter
1908 Benson Mary B, spooler T K W M Co, bds 1463 N Winter
1909 Benson Mary B, spooler, T K W M Co, bds 1463 N Winter
1911 Benson Mary B, spooler, T K W M Co, bds 510 N Liberty
1913 Benson Mary B, opr [operator], Pac Tel & Telg Co, bds 308 S Winter
Portland
1915 Benson Marie B, r 463 E Couch [lives with her family]
1916 Benson Marie B, telopr [telephone operator], r 347 E 8th [lives with her family]
1918 Benson Marie B, opr [operator], r 261 E 40th
1933 Benson Marie B, tel opr [telephone operator], r 120 E 42d
1956 Benson Marie B, h 1329 SE 39th av |
| Census Records |
1895 Marion County Census
Benson, M.B. Age: 4. Born in Oregon. Height of 2’6” and weight 36 lbs. With a dark complexion.
1900 Mary B. Benson. Age: 9. Birth Date: Aug 1890 in Oregon. Home in 1900: D St. Englewood, Marion, OR. Single, daughter to HOH. Additional household members: Lyman Benson, age 55 (father), Rosella Benson, age 36 (mother), Jessie M. Benson, age 17 (sister), Ray L. Benson, age 14 (brother), Roy E. Benson, age 13 (brother), Harry O. Benson, age 4 (brother), Ralph W. Benson, age 6 months (brother).
1910 Mary Benson. Age: 20. Birth Date: 1890 in Oregon. Home in 1910: N. Winter St. Salem Ward 5, Marion, OR. Single, daughter to HOH. Occupation: Dresser in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Lyman Benson, age 63 (father), Rosa Benson, age 54 (mother), Harry Benson, age 14 (brother), Ralph Benson, age 10 (brother), Dorothy Benson, age 6 (sister), Ray Benson, age 25 (brother), Roy Benson, age 21 (brother).
1920 Marie Benson. Age: 27. Birth Year: abt 1893 in Oregon. Home in 1920: 40th St. Portland, Multnomah, OR. Single, daughter to HOH. Occupation: Telephone Operator in Telephone Exchange. Additional household members: Lyman L. Benson, age 75 (father), Rosella Benson, age 57 (mother), Roy E. Benson, age 32 (brother), Harry L. Benson, age 24 (brother), Ralph W. Benson, age 20 (brother), Dorothy Benson, age 15 (sister).
1930 Marie Benson. Age: 33. Birth Year: abt 1897 in Oregon. Home in 1930: 1252 E. Alder, Portland, Multnomah, OR. Single, daughter to HOH. Occupation: Operator in Telephone Industry. Additional household members: Rosa Benson, age 67 (mother), Dorothy Benson, age 24 (sister).
1940 Marie B. Benson. Age: 49. Birth Year: abt 1891 in Oregon. Home in 1940: 715 SE 39th, Portland, Multnomah, OR. Single, daughter to HOH. Occupation: Telephone Operator. Additional household members: Rosa Benson, age 79 (mother), Dorothy P. Benson, age 35 (sister).
1950 Marie B. Benson. Age: 59. Birth Date: abt 1891 in Oregon. Home in 1950: 1329 SE 39th Ave, Portland, Multnomah, OR. Single (never married), HOH. Occupation: PBX Operator in Telephone Industry. Additional household member: Dorothy P. Benson, age 45 (sister). |
