(1929-1934) 

Oscar was born on 4 Apr 1886 in Sweden to Carl J (John) and Carolina Donaldson. In late summer of 1887, the family emigrated to the U.S. when Oscar was not yet 2 years old. Oscar had three older brothers and one older sister at the time. The family settled in Stillwater, Minnesota where father John obtained employment from Isaac Staples (1816-1898), a major figure in Minnesota’s early commercial development.  

Minnesota was, however, just a stop on their way to Oregon. By 1888, the family had settled in Dallas where Oscar’s youngest brother Hilge (sometimes called Luke) was born. However, tragedy struck in 1892 when father John passed away. Oscar’s oldest brother George J was now tasked with providing an income for the family. By 1900, George was joined in this by brothers Charles and Emil, all three worked as day laborers. Nineteen-year-old sister Augusta helped around the house while 15-year-old Oscar and 12-year-old Hilge attended school. 

Five years later in 1905, the family moved to Salem. Oscar had begun work as a spinner at TKWM and lived apart from the family. Emil, George and Hilge also worked at the mill but remained in their mother’s household with sister Augusta.  

On 7 Nov 1907 Oscar married Ella Maria Comstock in Salem. Her family had moved from Iowa to Salem prior to 1900. She was employed as a bookkeeper until the birth of their first child George Ercel in 1908. During this period Oscar left TKWM to try his hand at construction work. His family lived at several different addresses in downtown South Salem. 

With the start of WWI, Oscar came back to TKWM for work as a spinner. He also had to register as an alien due to his foreign birth. In Sep 1918, at age 33, he was living 1460 Cottage St. with Ella. His draft registration card says ““claims declarant but has not rcvd first paperwork but has applied for same.”     

In 1924, Oscar, Ella and their children Ercel G, Maxine M, Oscar L Jr (Luke) and Joan C were living at 1490 Cottage St S. During this period, and for years after, Oscar maintained a close relationship with his brothers, Emil, Hilge, Oscar and Charlie even though Charlie had moved to Portland to work at another woolen mill. They attended regular lodge meetings and participated in song and dance musicals together. They even went to a national convention in San Francisco. Some of the brothers also played on an amateur baseball team. 

At TKWM in 1935, Oscar worked alongside his sister Augusta (Allport) and brothers Emil, George G and Hilge E. who was a foreman. By 1940, Oscar was overseeing the spinning room at TKWM and his son Oscar Jr (Leonard) 23, was a spinner. Oscar and Ella owned a house at 1597 S Cottage. Oscar and his brother Hilge worked side by side at TKWM until they both retired around 1952. 

Oscar passed away on 23 Jun 1956 in Salem. Ella lived on to age 84 passing away on 2 Nov 1971. They are both buried at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem.  

1907 Same as 1905  

1909 Same as 1907  

Ella  Bkpr Salem Steam Laundry 1876 Broadway 

1911 Same as 1907 except 

Emil now at 335 S 15th 

1913 Oscar L (Ella)  Lather 1460 Cottage 

1915 Oscar now married – Ella 

1917 Same as 1913  

1924 Oscar L (Ella)  Lab TKWM 1490 Cottage 

1930 Oscar (Ella) spinner TKWM 1590 S Cottage 

1932 Oscar (same as 1930)  Maxine still lives with them as well as George E (Ella) now a spooler at TKWM. 

1935 Oscar L (Martha) carder TKWM  536 S 14th 

1938–1940  Oscar – frmn TKWM 1590 S 14th 

Oscar Jr spinner TKWM 

1945–1951  Oscar and Helge TKWM 

1954 Oscar and Helge – no job specified. 

George J (25) day laborer b 1875 

Charles (23) day laborer b 1877 

Emil (21) day laborer b 1879 

Gusta (F) (18) b 1881 (Augusta Carolina) 

Oscar (15) student b 1885 

Helge (12) student b 1888 in Oregon 

1910 Oscar L Donaldson (23), 1520 Belview, Salem, b in Sweden, emigration year 1890, spinner woolen mill. Ella (22) b in Iowa, married 3 years. Ercel (1.5) b in Oregon. 

1920 Oscar Donaldson (33) b in Sweden. Spinner woolen mill. Mortgaged house. Ella 32, Ercel 10, Maxine 8, Leonard 3. 

Carolina (70) b in Sweden  548 S 14th 

George J (42) Amanda. Dyer TKWM  548 S 14th 

1930 Oscar L Donaldson (43) Frmn Wool Mill. 1590 S Cottage. Ella M 41, Ercel G 21, Maxine M 19, Oscar L Jr 13 Joan C 7 

Carolina (80) widow. 558 S 14th 

George J 53 carder, Mildred 50, Gilbert 16 546 S 14th 

1940 Oscar L Donaldson (53) overseen spinning rm. Owns house. 1597 S Cottage. Ella M 51, George E 31 shoe sales, Leonard 23 spinner wool mill, Jo Ann 17.   

Ella Maria Comstock Donaldson Birth: 5 Aug 1877 in Clio, Wayne, Iowa. Death: 2 Nov 1978 (aged 84), Salem, Marion, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion, OR. Memorial ID: 136212980 

Capital Journal 7 Jun 1942, p 3   Donaldson Family Holds Reunion at Dallas Park 

Capital Journal 23 Jun 1956, p 7   obituary – Heart Attack Fatal to Long Time Resident “Oscar L. Donaldson, 70, who for many years before his retirement six years ago, was a foreman in the spinning department of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mills here, died at a local hospital Saturday morning. Donaldson had suffered a heart attack at his home about 1:45 a.m. Saturday morning and was taken to the hospital at that time. He had had a heart ailment for several years. Born in Sweden May 4, 1886, Donaldson came to the United States with his parents to Dallas, Ore., when about two years of age. They moved from Dallas to Salem in 1901. Donaldson had been a member of the Woodmen of the World for many years and attended St. Marks Lutheran church here. Surviving are his wife, the former Ella Comstock to whom he was married in Salem in 1906; two sons, George E. Donaldson and Oscar L. Donaldson Jr., Salem; two daughters, Mrs. John L. Hall, Eugene, and Mrs. Doug Gordinier, Medford; a brother, Helge Donaldson, Salem; a cousin, Oscar Peterson, Salem; and nine grandchildren. Announcement of funeral services will be made later by the Clough-Barrick chapel.” 

M3 1974-015-0014     Photo 

Me 1992-101-0018     Photo 

M3 1992-117-0010     Photo 

M3 1992-117-0012     Photo 

M3 2004-008-0019    Photo 

X2015.010.0002          Photo 

M3 1992-008-0001     Photo 

M3 1994-016-0013     Oral History (Carl Allport) 

M3 1994-016-0043     Oral History (Virgil & Bessie Shipman) 

M3 1966-001                 Mill Records