Robert H. Coshow

Job Title(s)

Secretary, Bookkeeper

Dates of Employment

c. 1889-1909

Last Name  Coshow 
First Name  Robert 
Middle Initial  Heron 
Born  Dec 1856 
Home Address 

(Around 1890) 

 North Brownsville, OR 
Died  28 Dec 1913 in Hood River, OR 
Place Buried  Idlewilde Cemetery Hood River, OR 
Wife  Emma  
Date of Marriage  1881 
Children  In 1900:  Louis O, Eva, Oliver, John M, William R. At time of death:  Mrs. C. E. Fuller, Miss Eva Coshow, Henry, John, and Fred Coshow 
Dates of Employment  By 1889 to 1909 
Job(s)  Secretary, Bookkeeper 
Story  Robert Coshow was TKWM’s first secretary or, in today’s terms, chief financial officer.  

Robert Heron Coshow was born in Harrisburg, OR to Oliver Sr. and Sarah Coshow in Dec 1856. He had two brothers and one sister. Oliver Sr. was a storekeeper in Albany by 1870 and soon after graduating from school, Robert was working there as clerk. Robert married his wife Emma in 1881. Unfortunately, we could not determine Emma’s maiden name.  

In 1886, Robert’s brother Oliver married Elizabeth Kay, the daughter of Thomas Kay. Oliver was appointed to the first Board of Directors of TKWM when it opened in February of 1890. Having been introduced to the Kay family through his brother Oliver, Robert moved to Salem to become a bookkeeper in TKWM shortly after the mill opened.  

By 1890, Robert was the secretary at the Mill and remained in that position until 1909 when he moved with his family to Hood River. He worked in Hood River for a short time before passing away from cancer in December of 1913. Robert is buried at Idlewilde Cemetery Hood River, OR.  
References 
Name  Remarks 
Census  1860Robert Coshow. B abt 1857 in Linn Cty, OR. Lives in Harrisburg. Oliver Coshow 26, Sarah Coshow 23, William 6, Sophronia 5, Robert 3, James 9/12. 

1870Robert H Coshow, 12.  B abt 1858 in Oregon. Home in Albany, OR. White, Male, at school. Father Oliver L Coshow. Mother Sarah E Coshow. Oliver L 38, Sarah E 32, William 16, Sophronia A 14, Robert H 12, James N 10, Mary 8, Oliver P 6, Sarah E 5, Ida A 3, George R H 2. 

1880Robert H Coshow, 22.  B abt 1858 in OR. Home North Brownsville, Linn, OR. Store Clerk. White, son, single. Father O P Coshow born in Indiana. Mother Elizabeth Coshow born in Missouri. O P Coshow 48, Elizabeth Coshow 43, Robert H 22, James N 20, Mary 19, Sarah 15, Ida A 13, George H 10, Kate E 9. 

1895 Marion County. R H Coshaw, b 1858 in Oregon. Res in Marion County. Protestant, bookkeeper, male, age 3 

Emma Coshow. Age 32. B in Tennessee abt 1863. Res Salem, OR, Protestant, housekeeper 

1900Robert H Coshow. B Dec 1857 in Oregon. Home, 185 Mill St, Salem, OR. Married HOH. Married 1882. Mother born in Missouri. Secretary Wool Mill. Owned home with Mortgage. Robert H Coshow, 42, Emma I Coshow 37, Louis O 17, Eva 14, Oliver H 9, John M 6, William R 4.  

1910Robert H Coshow, 51.  B abt 1859 in Oregon. Home – Second St in Hood River, OR. Married HOH. Father born in Indiana. Mother born in Missouri. Bookkeeper at a Bank. Owns home with mortgage. Years married 29. Robert H 51, Emma I 46, John M 16 Will F 14. 
City Directory (Salem unless otherwise indicated)  1889R H Coshow. Res w S Church n of Marion, Salem. Sec TKWM 

1893Robert H Coshow. Res 15th se cor Ferry. Sec TKWM 

1896Robert H Coshow, 100 Mill, Salem, Secretary, TKWM 

1905Robert H Coshow, 100 Mill, Salem, Secretary, TKWM 

1909Robert H Coshow. Res 100 Mill, Salem, OR. Secretary, TKWM. 

1909(City Directories of The Dalles, Hood River, Antelope, Dufur, and Shaniko, 1909) Robert H Coshow, Winans addm The Dalles, OR. Occ – Clothing. 

1910Tax Record. R H Coshow, Salem, OR. No residence address. 

1910(Wasco, Hood River and Sherman County, Oregon Directory, 1910 CD) Robert H Coshow, Wasco, OR. Bookkeeper, First National Bank. 
Early Oregonian Index  Robert H Coshow. B Dec 1857 in Linn Cty, OR. d 28 Dec 1913 in Hood River, OR, Idlewilde Cemetery 
Find a Grave  Robert H Coshow. B Dec 1856 in OR. D 28 Dec 1913 in Hood River, OR. Idlewilde Cemetery Hood River, OR. Father 

Oliver Perrin Coshow, Mother Sarah Elizabeth Coshow, Spouse   

Emma I Coshow, Children , John Milton Coshow 

Obit:  The Hood River Glacier, January 1, 1914, page 1.
Robert H. Coshow Passes Away
Robert H. Coshow, who was born at Brownsville in 1857, died at his home here Sunday evening. Mr. Coshow, who was one of the city’s most respected and valued citizens, has been suffering for a number of years from a cancer. He had sought relief by numerous remedies, and last year the surgeon’s knife was resorted to. Mr. Coshow bore his affliction with fortitude and philosophically.
The funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Congregational Church by the members of the local Masonic Lodge. Mr. Coshow was a member of the Salem lodge and of the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of that city. Rev. E. A. Harris preached the funeral sermon, after which the body was interred at Idlewilde cemetery.
Mr. Coshow has resided at Salem, Ore., where he has numerous relatives and friends. He leaves surviving, in addition to his wife, two daughters and three sons: Mrs. C. E. Fuller, of Willow Flat; Miss Eva Coshow, who is a teacher at the institute for the blind at Berkeley, Calif.; and Henry, John, and Fred Coshow, all of this city. 
WHC Catalog Items  M3 1966-001      Mill Records 

2007.043.0001   Records (local chapter of Native Sons of Oregon)