(1929-1934) 

Solomon W Roberts  

2nd husband – abt 1918 

Verna M Smith was born around 1883 in Pennsylvania. At age 17, she married John H Goss with whom she had three children. John worked in stone and slate. The family moved to the Salem area around 1908 where John farmed but soon got work with the county. In August of 1912, John was killed while working on a county road when explosives he was setting ignited. Verna was left with a daughter and two sons to provide for. At some time before 1918, Verna began working at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill as a finisher.  

Before long, she met and married widower Solomon W Roberts. He owned a 2 ¼ ton truck that he drove for hire. Sol brought three children to join Verna’s three. However, soon after the wedding, while still a teenager, daughter Winnie moved to Portland and took work as a stenographer. Son Thornton 15 and Kenneth 13 (in 1920) remained. With 5 children to care for, Verna left TKWM and did not return until around 1930. Throughout their marriage Sol had trouble finding work and was employed on-and-off as far away as Portland. 

In 1930, Verna was living with her son Thornton, his wife and their two children at 1185 13th St in Salem. Twenty-three-year-old son Kenneth was working along with Verna as a weaver at TKWM. Where Sol was at the time is unknown. However, by 1932 he was back with the Verna living at 860 Shipping St in Salem. Verna alternated between burling and finishing at TKWM while Sol worked as a laborer, cook and house painter. Federal Census records for 1940 indicate Verna still worked at TWKM while Sol worked as a cannery janitor for about 20 weeks (about 4 and a half months) that year. After the end of WW2, Verna and Sol moved to Portland where Sol passed away on 19 Dec 1951. Verna lived on until 1968 and died at age 85. She is interred at Lincoln Memorial Park, Portland, Multnomah, OR. 

1910 Verna M Goss. Born about 1883 in PA. Buena Vista Rd, Salem. No occupation listed. Wife of HOH. Years Married 9. Number of children born 3, living 3. John H Goss 29 (Farmer), Verna M Goss 27, Winnie E Goss 8, Norton H Goss 5, Kenneth D Goss 3.  

 Soloman Roberts. Born about 1885 in PA. Home in 1910 Granville, NY. Wife Annie Roberts. Father’s/Mother’s birth Wales. Slate Maker for slate roofing. Rents house. Years married 2. Solomon Roberts 25, Annie Roberts 21, Benjamin Roberts 1. 

1920 Verna M Roberts. Born about 1883 in Pennsylvania. Home on Leslie St. Wife of HOH, Soloman W Roberts (father born in Wales). Father’s birth PA, Mother’s PA. Finisher, Woolen Mill. Solomon W Roberts 35 (Day Laborer), Verna M Roberts 37, Benjamin M Roberts 11 (b in NY), Beulah D Roberts 9 (b in NY), Thornton Goss 15 (Stepson to HOH, newspaper delivery, b in PA), Kenneth D Goss 13 (Stepson to HOH, newspaper delivery, b in PA) 

1930 Verna Goss Roberts. Born about 1883 in Pennsylvania. Married. Relation to HOH mother-in-law. 1185 13th St, Salem, OR. Age at first marriage 18. Father and mother born in PA. Burling Cloth, woolen mill. Thornton H Goss 25, Gladys M Goss 22, Dorothy M Goss 2, John T Goss 0, Verna Goss Roberts 47, Kenneth D Goss 23 (weaver, woolen mill). 

1940 Verna S Roberts. Born about 1883 in PA. 860 Shipping St, Salem, OR. Burler, woolen mill. High School 1 year. Worked 52 weeks. Solomon W Roberts 55 (Janitor, fruit cannery, worked 21 wks), Verna S Roberts 57.  

1917 Mrs. Verna M Goss. No Occupation. 1811 Lee St. 

1924 Verna M Roberts. No occupation. 1028 S 12th, Salem, OR. Solomon W Roberts (driver). 

1932 Verna M Roberts. Burler, TKWM. 860 Shipping, Salem, OR. Solomon W Roberts (laborer). 

1934 Verna M Roberts. Burler, TKWM. 860 Shipping, Salem, OR. Solomon W Roberts (cook). 

1935 Mrs. Verna Roberts. Finisher, TKWM. 860 Shipping, Salem, OR. (Sol W, Painter).  

1943 Portland. Sol Roberts. Empl  WI&SC. Res 1708 NW 23 Av, Portland, OR.  

1953 Portland. Verna M Roberts (wid Sol). No occupation. 5003 SE 63rd,  Portland, OR.  

John W Goss. Birth: 1880. Death: 1912 (aged 31-32). Burial: City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion, OR. Memorial ID: 49904802 

Oregon Statesman 3 Aug 1912 p 5  J W Goss Obit 

Oregon Statesman 4 Nov 1915 p 5  Anna D Roberts Obit. 

Oregon Statesman 19 Dec 1951 p 10  Solomon Roberts Obit 

0079.001.0002     Photo