| Life Story
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Ray L. Benson worked as a spinner at TKWM from 1903-1906, and again from 1908-1909. He also worked for the Koppe family at the Eugene woolen mill in 1906-1907. His sister Mary and brother Roy also worked for the Kay Woolen Mill.
Ray L. Benson was born on 29 July 1885, in Salem, Oregon, to Lyman W. and Rosa [Powell] Benson, and was one of eight children. He lived with his family in the Englewood district of Salem and attended public school through the eighth grade.
At 17, Ray began working at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. In 1903, he survived a serious incident of blood poisoning after striking his head on a rock while diving. In 1906, he moved to Eugene to work at the woolen mill owned by the Koppe family, former Thomas Kay millworkers. He returned in 1907 and continued to work for the Kay mill.
In 1910, Ray, now 25 lived on Winter St. in Salem with his family, working as a laborer in a sash and door factory. He married Ellen May Sischo on June 12, 1912, and they settled in Salem after a brief honeymoon in Portland.
By 1918, Ray worked as a shipbuilder for Grant Smith Porter Co. in Portland where he lived at 307 S. Center St. The 1920 census shows him working as a machinist in a sash factory, living at 513 Bidwell Ave. with his wife Ella and son Harold Ray Benson, born May 30, 1920.
In 1930, the family lived on Bybee Ave. in Portland, where Ray worked as a millman for a sash and door factory. The couple owned their own home and had three lodgers living with them. By 1940, they had moved in with Ellen’s mother, Emma Sischo, and her son Robert, in Portland. Son Harold is 19 years old and still lives with the couple.
Ray’s World War 2 draft registration card filled out in 1942 described him as 5’7” tall, weighing 140 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. He was 56 years old at the time and worked for the Overhead Door Co.
By 1950, Ray and Ella had moved to 3025 SE Tacoma St. where they lived with son Harold and Robert Sischo, Ella’s brother. Ray was 64 years old at the time of the census and was foreman at the door manufacturing plant. He retired in 1958, and the family moved to San Mateo, California.
Ray died on 11 March 1964 in San Mateo, California, at age 78. He was interred at Olivet Memorial Park in Colma, California. |
| Salem City Directories |
1905 Benson Ray L, spinner, T K W M Co, bds L W Benson [father]
1907 Benson Ray L, mach[inist], A M Hansen, bds 1463 N Winter
1908 Benson Ray L, carder, T K W M Co, 1463 N Winter
1909 Benson Ray L, carder, T K W M Co, 1463 N Winter
Portland
1916 Benson Ray L (Ella M), mach[inist], h 466 E Harrison
1917 Benson Ray L (Ella M), mach[inist] hand, h 1283 Corbett
1920 Benson Ray L (Ella), woodworker, h 513 Bidwell av |
| Census Records |
1900 Ray L. Benson. Age: 14. Birth Date: Jul 1885 in Oregon. Home in 1900: D Street, Englewood, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH. Occupation: Student. Additional household members: Lyman Benson, age 55 (father), Rosella Benson, age 36 (mother), Jessie M. Benson, age 17 (sister), Roy E. Benson, age 13 (brother), Mary B. Benson, age 9 (sister), Harry O. Benson, age 4 (brother), Ralph W. Benson, age 6 months (brother).
1910 Ray L. Benson. Age: 25. Birth Date: 1885 in Oregon. Home in 1910: N Winter St. Salem Ward 5, Marion, Oregon. Single, son to HOH. Occupation: Laborer in Sash & Door Factory. Additional household members: Lyman Benson, age 63 (father), Rosa Benson, age 54 (mother), Mary Benson, age 20 (sister), Harry Benson, age 14 (brother), Ralph Benson, age 10 (brother), Dorothy Benson, age 6 (sister), Roy Benson, age 21 (brother).
1920 Ray L. Benson. Age: 34. Birth Date: 1886 in Oregon. Home in 1920: 513 Bidwell Ave. Portland, Multnomah, OR. Rented. Married, HOH. Occupation: Machinist in Sash Factory. Additional household member: Ella Benson, age 27 (wife).
1930 Ray L. Benson. Age: 44. Birth Year: abt 1886 in Oregon. Home in 1930: 589 Bybee Ave. Portland, Multnomah, OR. Owned. Married, HOH. Age at first marriage: 26. Occupation: Millman in Sash Factory. Additional household members: Ella M. Benson, age 37 (wife), Harold R. Benson, age 9 (son), three lodgers.
1940 Ray L. Benson. Age: 54. Birth Year: abt 1886 in Oregon. Home in 1940: 1405 SE Henry St. Portland, Multnomah, OR. Married, in-law to HOH. Occupation: Machinist. Additional household members: Emma J. Sischo, age 76 (mother-in-law), Robert L. Sischo, age 37 (brother-in-law), Ella M. Benson, age 46 (wife), Harold Benson, age 19 (son).
1950 Ray L. Benson. Age: 64. Birth Date: abt 1886 in Oregon. Home in 1950: 3025 SE Tacoma, Portland, Multnomah, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Foreman in Door Manufacturing. Additional household members: Ella M. Benson, age 59 (wife), Harold Benson, age 29 (son), Robert L. Sischo, age 48 (brother-in-law). |
| Find-a-Grave |
Ray Lyman Benson Birth: 29 July 1885 in Salem, Marion, Oregon. Death: 11 Mar 1964 (aged 78) San Mateo, San Mateo, California. Burial: Olivet Gardens of Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo, California. Memorial ID: 277601338
Ella May Sischo Benson Birth: 18 Oct 1890 in Neillsville, Clark, Wisconsin. Death: 30 May 1980 (aged 89) San Mateo, San Mateo, California. Burial: Olivet Gardens of Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo, California. Memorial ID: 277601415 |
