Don Brooks, WHC Collections 0079.001.0002

Don Brooks

Job Title(s)

Dyer, Foreman

Dates of Employment

c. 1916-1944

Last Name  Brooks 
First Name  Donald 
Middle Initial  Ralston 
Born  18 May 1887 in Linnton, OR 
Home Address

(1929-1934) 

464 S 24th St, Salem OR. 
Died  24 Oct 1944 in Marion County, OR 
Place Buried  Pioneer Cemetery, Salem, OR 
Wife  Ethel Mary Hildebrand 
Date of Marriage  12 Dec 1916 in Marion Co, OR. 
Children  Glen Vernon Brooks 
Dates of Employment  1916 – 1944 
Job(s)  Dyer, Foreman 
Story  Don Brooks worked for TKWM from about 1916 until 1944. 

Donald Ralston Brooks was born in Linnton, OR on 18 May 1877 to William M and Elizabeth Brooks(Linnton is now part of a Portland industrial district)When he was young, Don’s family moved to Alsea, OR where his father became a shingle splitterIn 1910, at age 22, Don still lived with his father and mother, working as a farm laborer. 

 Changes in the labor market brought on by the build-up to WW1 may have attracted Don to Salem because by 1916, he was working at TKWM as a dyerOn 12 Dec 1916, at age 29, Don married 21-year-old Ethel R. Hildebrand and they took up residence at 420 N 24th St in Salem. 

Ethel was born in Indiana and, in 1904, moved to Waldport, OR with her widowed mother, Alice and brother HughThe family moved to Salem shortly thereafter where, at the young age of 14, Hugh worked as a mechanic while Ethel continued in school.   Alice lived with Don and Ethel after they married. 

Don worked his way up from dyer to finisher then finishing foreman at TKWM by 1944There was no paid sick leave for TKWM employees so, just like many other days, Don went to work on 24 Oct 1944 after feeling a bit under the weather earlier in the week. He was brought home quite ill and died in a local hospital later that day. He is buried in Salem’s Pioneer Cemetery. 

Ethel made do for a few years on their savings, but eventually worked in a cannery then as a nurse’s aide and finally a housekeeper at Salem Hospital for many yearsShe passed away in April 1986 and is buried near her husband. 

   
References 
Name  Remarks 
Census  1900Donald R Brooks 13 b May 1887 in OregonHome in 1900: Linnton, Multnomah, OregonSon, singleFather William M Brooks b in Iowa Mother Elizabeth R Brooks b in Canada, EnglandAt school. William M Brooks 47, Elizabeth R Brooks 46, Archibald W Brooks 18, Blanch H Brooks 17, Myron J Brooks 15, Donald R Brooks 13, Luella J Brooks 9, Elizabeth A Brooks 7, Ivy S T Brooks 5, Bessie D F Brooks 3 

Ethel Hildebrand 5 b Feb 1895 in IndianaHome in 1900: Jefferson, Cass, IndianaDaughter, Single  Father’s Birthplace: Indiana Mother’s name: Alice B Hildebrand b in Indiana Alice B Hildebrand 36, Hugh H Hildebrand 8,  Ethel Hildebrand 5
1910Donald R Brooks  22 b abt 1888 in Oregon.   Home in 1910: Coon Hollow Road, Alsea, Lincoln, Oregon, Son, SingleFather’s name: William M Brooks b in IowaMother’s name: Elizabeth R Brooks b in CanadaOccupation: Farm LaborerWilliam M Brooks 57, Elizabeth R Brooks 56, Myron J Brooks 25, Donald R Brooks 22, Luella J Brooks 19, Elizabeth A Brooks 17, Ivy S T Brooks 15, Bessie D Brooks 13 

1920Donald Brooks 33 b abt 1887 in Oregon, 420 N 24th St SalemSpouse’s name: Ethel Brooks Father’s Birthplace: Iowa Mother’s Birthplace: Canada Occupation: Laborer, Woolen Mill Home rentedDonald Brooks 33, Ethel Brooks 24, Beula Brooks 1, Alice Hildebrand 55
1930Donald Brooks b abt 1888 in Oregon464 S 24th St, Salem OR.   Home ownedNo radio setAge at first Marriage: 28 Father’s Birthplace: Iowa Mother’s Birthplace: Canada Occupation: Finisher, Woolen millDonald Brooks 42, Ethel M Brooks 35, Beula B Brooks 11, Glen V Brooks 8, Alice Hildebrand (Mother in Law) 65 

1940Donald Brooks 52 b abt 1888 in Oregon464 20th St S.   Occupation: Cloth Finisher TKWM House Owned Highest Grade Completed: 8th gradeDonald Brooks 52, Ethel Brooks 45, Beula B Brooks 21, Glenn J Brooks 18 (empl TKWM),  Alice B Hildebrand 75 (mother-in-law) 

Salem CD  1905Hugh H Hildebrand 1546 Trade MachinistAlice and Ethel, same address. 

1911Alice (wid Jay L), Ethel M (student), Hugh H Hildebrand (boarder/machinist) all reside at 1546 Trade St. 

1917Donald Brooks 546 S 14th Salem, Oregon, Dyer TKWMSpouse: Ethel Brooks 

1924Donald R Brooks 390 S 24th Salem, OregonLaborer, TKWM.   Spouse: Ethel Brooks 

1932 Donald Brooks 464 S 24th Shearer TKWMSpouse: Ethel M Brooks 

1934Donald Brooks 464 S 24thMillworker (no employer) Spouse: Ethel Brooks 

1935Donald Brooks  464 S 24th  Finisher TKWM  Spouse: Ethel M Brooks   

1942Donald Brooks 464 S 24th Forman TKWM SpouseEthel M Brooks 

1945Ethel Brooks (Wid Donald Brooks) 464 S 24th   

1947Ethel Brooks (Wid Donald Brooks) 464 S 24th   

1953Ethel Brooks (Wid Donald Brooks) Cnry Wkr 464 S 24th 

1955Ethel M Brooks Mrs Nurses Aid 1325 Lee St 

1957-60 Ethel M Brooks Mrs Housekeeper Salem Hospital 1325 Lee St 

1975Wid Donald R Brooks  326 Lee St SE  Spouse: Ethel M Brooks  rtd 

M3 1994-016-0015  Tape interview with Bill Pero mentioning Don Brooks.   
Find a Grave  Donald R Brooks  Birth Date: 18 May 1887 in Linnton, OR  Death Date: 24 Oct 1944 in Marion County, OR  Pioneer Cemetery Father: William Milton Brooks  Mother: Elizabeth Ralston Brooks Spouse: Ethel Mary Brooks  Children: Glen Vernon Brooks   

Bio:  Son of William M Brooks and Elizabeth R MillarMarried Ethel M Hildebrand, 12 Dec 1916 in Marion Co, ORDyer at TKWM.   

 

Ethel Mary (Hildebrand) Brooks Birth Date: 21 Feb 1895  Birth Place: Indiana  Death Date: Apr 1986 in Marion County, Oregon  Cemetery: Salem Pioneer Cemetery Spouse: Donald R Brooks  Children:  Glen Vernon Brooks 

Draft Registration  WW15 Jun 1917Donald Brooks 30, Race: Caucasian (White), Marital status: MarriedBirth Date: 18 May 1887 in Linton, OR. Birthplace: OregonStreet address: 546 South 14 Salem, OregonEmply: TKWMClaims exemption because of Wife. 

5 Jun 1917Hugh Hildebrand 25, Single, Birth Date:  1 July 1891Home in Waldport, OR. 

WW2 26 Apr 1942Donald Ralston Brooks 54.   Race: White Birth Date: 18 May 1887 in Sintan, OregonResidence in 1942 464 S 24th St, Salem, Oregon, USAAppendix ScarEmply: TKWM 

Oregon Marriage Index  Name: Donald Brooks Marriage Date: 12 Dec 1916 Marriage Place: Marion, Oregon, USA 

Name: Ethel M Hildebrand Marriage Date: 12 Dec 1916 Marriage Place: Marion, Oregon, USA 

WHC Catalog Items  M3 1966-001             Mill Records 

M3 1994-016-0015    Oral History (Bill Pero) 

1979.001.0002          Photograph