210 Mission (mother’s residence) 

1351 Waller (Howe residence) 

Randolph Lester Howe (1918-1982) 

In 1852 Wava’s father, Samuel Bigger Watkins, was ten years old when he came with his parents and siblings on a wagon train bound for Oregon. His parents, William Lynch Watkins and Sarah (Smith) Watkins died from cholera on the trip. They were buried on the trail. This left Samuel and his three brothers in the care of their 17 year old sister, Mary Jane. An uncle James Hunt, sent his son’s to help bring Mary Jane and her brothers to his home in Sublimity.  

Samuel met and married Caroline Elizabeth Carey. Caroline was born in Oregon in 1852. Her parents John and Ruth (Odell) Carey were also Oregon pioneers and arrived on the Buell wagon train in 1847. Much history surrounds this family as well. 

Wava’s parents, Samuel and Caroline Watkins had four children. Georgia (1873-1949), Orin Chester (1883-1962), Ina Belle (1886-1964) and Wava, the youngest was born 31 Dec 1888 in Salem, Marion, Oregon. The year she was born her father owned a coffee house in Salem called Rocky Mountain restaurant in Salem.  

Wava attended school in Salem. In 1905 she was working as a folder at the Statesman Pub. Co and living with her mother and brother Orin at 996 Trade St. In 1906 Wava’s father passed away, she was 18. They were living on the corner of Mission and Saginaw.  

By 1907 Wava was working as a finish for TKWM Co. It appears she continued to work as a folder for the Statesman as well. This could be where she met and fell in love. Chester was also a finisher at the woolen mill. 

Wava Watkins married Chester Leonard Howe in Salem at the home of the her mother in Salem, OR on 9 Oct 1912. The young couple left immediately after the celebration for Roseburg where they made their home. The groom was a prominent businessman there. Chester worked the farm with his father and it appears he owned a shooting gallery with his brother I. Newton Howe.   

The couple lived in the Roseburg area where their first son was born, Leonard Howe in 1915. In 1917 Chester was called to quartermaster service. He was chosen to be a textile inspector for the federal government. He spent most of the following year back east, mostly in St Louis, Missouri. In 1918 the second son, Randolph Lester Howe was born in Missouri. The family returned to Oregon after that assignment. They went back to farming with Chester’s parents in Douglas County. 

In 1926 Chester and Wava moved their family to the Oregon coast where they owned and managed the Jump Off Joe Auto Camp in Nye Beach. Chester was in ownership with his uncle John Howe. Chester’s parents lived there as well. This is where the family lived for nearly 30 years. 

Chester was 65 years old when he passed away at the Osteopathic Hospital in Portland, OR in 1954. Wava outlived him by almost 30 years. She passed away at a nursing home in Bend, OR where their son Leonard resided in 1983. They share a place in the mausoleum at City View Cemetery in Salem, OR. 

1907 Watkins Wava V, finisher TKWM Co, bds 210 Mission 

1908 Watkins Wava V, finisher TKWM Co, bds 210 Mission 

1911 Watkins Wava V, folder Statesman Pub Co, bds 996 Trade 

1924 Howe, Chester L (Wava), driver West Side Gravel Co, h 1351 Waller 

1920: Chester L Howe. Age 30. Birth Place: Oregon. Address: Mill, Douglas, OR. Married, Son of HOH. Father born in Illinois. Mother born in Oregon. Occupation: Farmer. Additional household members: Matier Howe (HOH – father), Mattie E Howe (mother), Wava V Howe (daughter in law – wife of Chester), Leonard and Randolph L Howe (grandsons – sons of Chester and Wava). 

1930: James Howe (this name is wrong, it is Chester). Age 41. Birth Place: Oregon. Address: Nye Creek, Lincoln, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Partial Owners of Camp Ground. Additional household members: Wava Howe (wife H). Lenard Howe (son). Randaulph Howe (son). John R Howe (uncle) also partial owner. Motier Howe (father). Caroline Watkins (mother in law). 

1940: Chester Howe. Age 54. Birth place: Oregon. Address: 1260 Coast St, Nye Creek, Lincoln, Oregon. Married, HOH. Occupation: Proprietor Auto Court. Additional household members: Wava Howe (wife H). Randolph Howe (son) Attendant Service Station 

1950: Chester L Howe. Age 61. Birth place: Oregon. Address: State Park Service Apts, # 281, Newport, Lincoln, Oregon. Married, HOH. Occupation: State Liquor Agent. Additional household members: Wava V Howe (wife). Age 61. Birth place: Oregon. Occupation: Saleslady. 

Address: R. F. D. 7, Douglas County, Oregon. 

Physical Build: Medium. Height: Tall. Hair: Black. Eyes: Dark Blue 

Chester Leonard Howe. Birth: 7 Mar 1889 in Turner, Marion, OR. Death: 30 Mar 1954 (aged 65) in Multnomah county, Oregon. Burial: Mount Crest Abbey Mausoleum, Santiam Terrace in City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion, OR. Memorial ID: 98863824 

The News-Review (Roseburg, OR) 3 Dec 1912, p 4. Returned to their farm near Roseburg 

The News-Review (Roseburg, OR) 25 Oct 1917, p 1. Chester Howe, of Deer Creek, is called to Quartermaster Service 

The News-Review (Roseburg, OR) 25 Oct 1917, p 2. Accepts Position. 

The News-Review (Roseburg, OR) 26 Dec 1918, p 1. Returned From the East … 

Morning Register (Eugene, OR) 16 May 1926, p 22. Jump Off Joe Camp 

Corvallis Gazette-Times (Corvallis, OR) 3 Feb 1922, p 6. John R Howe Obituary (Chester’s uncle and business partner) 

Greater Oregon (Albany, OR) 10 May 1935, p 9. Finds Ambergris Near Newport 

Statesman Journal (Salem, OR) 6 Nov 1982, p 6. Wava V. Howe Obituary 

M3 1966-001 Mill Records