| Life Story
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Thomas Lister Kay was the president and superintendent of Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. He established the corporation in 1889 and held this role until his death in 1900.
The following biography is taken from his obituary, which was published in various Oregon newspapers on 28 Apr 1900.
“Thomas Kay was born at Applebridge [Eccleshill], Yorkshire, England, in June 1837. He was descended from a long line of woolen manufacturers, and he was early trained in the industry, and at the age of 9 years began systematically to learn the trade at Shipler [Shipley], where he spent two years in the spinning department and six years in learning the process and methods of weaving in every branch of worsted manufacture. In 1857 he came to America and turned his attention to the manufacture of woolen goods, finding employment at Cazenovia, New York. At the end of one year he returned to England to perfect himself in the manufacture of woolen goods, and again visited the United States in 1859. He secured a position with the Smith Woolen Manufacturing Company, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but afterward was employed at Trenton and Newark.
In 1863 the officers of the Brownsville Woolen Mill in Oregon sent for him to come and take charge of their weaving department; he accepted the offer and came to this state upon a three years’ contract. Upon the burning of the factory in 1865 he was released, when he took a position of superintended [sic] of The Dalles [Dallas-Ellendale] Woolen Mill; at the end of a year he went to the Ashland Woolen Mills, where he remained for four years as superintendent. He then came to Salem and took charge of the weaving department of the Willamette Woolen Mill, built in 1850. Upon the rebuilding of the Brownsville Mill in 1873, Mr. Kay leased the building and operated the mill for a term of two years. At the end of that time he organized the Brownsville Woolen Mill Company, purchased the mill and machinery, and continued its business; he was superintendent and was also a member of the board of directors, J.M. Moyer being president. This business was conducted very successfully until 1888, when a disagreement arose in the firm and the business was sold out.
Mr. Kay then took an extensive trip abroad, the first long vacation he had given himself in thirty years; he was accompanied by his wife and after a most pleasurable tour returned to Salem. Here the citizens offered him a cash bonus of $20,000 if he would build a $100,000 mill in the city. The proposition was accepted, and in August 1889, he began the construction of the building; he purchased four acres with a fine water power on Mill creek convenient to the railroad. Then visiting Eastern cities, he made an inspection of large factories, and bought his machinery at Lawrence, Mass., including all the latest improvements. This mill burned down in 1896, but was at once rebuilt on a larger and grander scale, and is today the leading woolen factory on the Pacific coast.
Mr. Kay organized the Waterloo Development Company, which corporation purchased the Oakland Hosiery Mill, one of the largest on the coast; this mill was removed to Waterloo, where the company owned valuable water power, and was operated in connection with the land development; it had a capacity of 200 hands, and was opened and put in operation in the summer of 1882, turning out hosiery and all kinds of knitted underwear. This, perhaps, was the greatest and most promising undertaking of Mr. Kay’s life, and one in which he had great confidence. The mill was burned a few years ago.
Deceased was married in the old Corvela [Calverley], a church near Leeds, England, in April 1857, to Miss Ann Slingsby, who with five children, survives to mourn his demise. Ten children were born to them, five of whom had preceded their father to the better land. Those surviving are: Mrs. Fanny Bishop, wife of Salem’s mayor; Thomas B. Kay, assistant manager of the Salem Woolen Mills; Mrs. Elizabeth Coshow, of Roseburg; Miss Lenora Kay and Miss Bertha Kay, of Salem. A sister, Mrs. Sarah Cordingly also resides here.
Mr. Kay was, during all of his connection with the Salem Woolen Mills, president and manager of the company, and was one of Salem’s most enterprising citizens. He served the city several times as councilman, and was highly respected, and implicitly trusted by all. He was a member of the Brownsville lodge and encampment of Odd Fellows, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Knight Templar. Deceased was a devoted member of the First Baptist church of this city.
For several years Mr. Kay has been a victim of bladder trouble. Last fall he went to California in hopes that the change would do him good, where he also received medical treatment. Obtaining no relief, he returned home, since which time his health has continued to fail, until he decided to go to the hospital in Portland and submit to an operation. But the shock was too great; his digestive system failed to recover, and has since refused to perform its functions, with the result that the patient has lost strength until death ensued.
The pall-bearers at the train were Sir Knights Geo. B. Gray. Frank Turner and Milton Meyers, of De Molay Commandry, and S. Raistrick, Thos. Allport and E. Sawyer, employees of the Woolen Mills. Funeral Director Rigdon took charge of the remains and they were laid in state at the home of the late deceased.
The funeral will take place at 2 o’clock Sunday from the First Baptist church, Rev. Ronald McKillop officiating and will be in charge of De Molay Commandery, Knights Templar. He will be laid to rest in the Rural cemetery, by the side of his deceased son, Harry G. Kay.” |
| Digital Newspapers
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Oregon Statesman 9 Mar 1890, p. 3 – Opening Day, Salem Mill
Oregon Statesman 1 Jan 1890, p. 1 – Salem Woolen Mill, biographical sketch
Eugene Guard 20 Mar 1895, p. 1 – Waterloo Mill
Capital Journal 18 Nov 1895, p. 4 – Fire at Salem Mill
Oregon Statesman 16 May 1896 p. 5, 8 – Dedication of Rebuilt Mill
Capital Journal 28 Apr 1900, p. 4 – Obituary, Thomas Kay
Oregonian, 28 Apr 1900, p. 8 – Obituary, Thomas Kay
Albany Weekly Herald 3 May 1900, p. 5 – Obituary, Thomas L. |
| Additional References |
Later Woolen Mills in Oregon, Alfred L. Lomax, Portland, Binfords & Mort, 1974, p. 103-139, p. 273-301.
The Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in Salem, Oregon, 1900-1959, Caryl Gertenrich, Master’s Thesis, 1977, p 16-18.
Thomas Lister Kay (1838-1900), Amy Vandegrift, Oregon Encyclopedia,
Thomas Lister Kay (1838-1900) (oregonencyclopedia.org)
An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon, H. K. Hines, (c) 1893, Thomas Kay biographical entry, p. 600-601 |
