| Life Story |
Albert “Jack” Browning worked at the Thomas Kay Woolen mill in several positions from 1930 through 1935. Albert’s siblings; Elizabeth, John and Ben, along with some of his Browning cousins also worked at the TKWM Co.
Albert Browning was born on 29 May 1902 in Salem, OR to parents John Abraham and Mathilda (Heardtle) Browning. He was the last of nine children born to this couple.
The 1910 census records Albert, his sister Lizzie, and brother Bennie living with their mother in Salem. Their father and the other children are not listed. Albert’s mother is noted as the head of the household, earning a living by taking in laundry to make ends meet.
In January 1911, nine-year-old Albert and his eleven-year-old brother Ben were arrested for stealing three revolvers from local stores. As a result, they were sent to reform school, though records do not indicate how long they remained there.
In 1920, Albert “Jack” worked as an assistant manager on his mother’s farm on Sauvie Island. Following his father’s passing, his mother became the head of the household, living on the farm with Albert and his brother Ben. In August of that year, Albert, Ben, and John Abraham “A.J.” Browning were sued by the Oregon Dairymen’s Cooperative League over unpaid advances for feed, milk transportation, and other expenses. Shortly after, Albert returned to the Salem area to continue farming.
Albert “Jack” met Opal Weathers, a young woman from the Salem area, and the two married on 16 Mar 1929, in Vancouver, Washington. Later that year, Albert’s sister Elizabeth and her husband, Paul Charpilloz, purchased the Fry farm in the Zena area, west of Salem. Albert and Opal moved onto the farm, living in the upper portion of the house, while Elizabeth and Paul lived downstairs.
According to the 1930 census, Albert worked as a machine operator at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. Shortly afterward, on 7 Apr 1930, he and Opal welcomed their first son, Robert Richard.
By 1931, Albert and his young family moved to Salem, settling into his childhood home at 370 N. 20th St., which had been vacant since his mother’s passing in Oct 1929. While living there, they welcomed their second son, Albert Ray.
Albert continued to work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, and on 5 Dec 1934, he and Opal became parents to a daughter, Opal Dolores.
Between 1935 and 1940, Albert moved his family back to Sauvie Island to resume dairy farming on Route 13. They lived and worked on the farm until late 1947, when Albert decided to retire from farming. On 20 Nov 1947, a farm auction was held, selling 28 head of cattle along with all remaining farm equipment and assets.
Albert and Opal moved their family to Battle Ground, Washington, settling at 10427 NE 279th St. Albert worked in construction while their three children grew into adulthood and married. Over the years, the couple welcomed eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Albert “Jack” Browning was diagnosed with colon cancer and died from cardiac arrest on 28 Sep 1989, at Vancouver Memorial Hospital. He was buried alongside his Browning family at City View Cemetery in Salem, Oregon.
Following Albert’s death, Opal moved to Albany, Oregon. She lived there until her death on 7 May 1999, at the age of 88. She was buried next to Albert at City View Cemetery in Salem. |
| Census Records |
1910: Albert Browning – Age in 1910: 9, Birth Date: 1901, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1910: Salem Ward 6, Marion, Oregon, Street: N-20th St, Race: White, Gender: Male, Relation to Head of House: Son, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Birthplace: Illinois, Mother’s Birthplace: Texas, Attended School: Y, Household members: Matilda Browning (50), Lizzie Browning (14), Bennie Browning (10), Albert Browning (9)
1920: Albert Browning – Age: 18, Birth Year: abt 1902, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1920: Sauvie Island, Multnomah, Oregon, Street: Sauvie Island, Residence Date: 1920, Race: White, Gender: Male, Relation to Head of House: Son, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Birthplace: Kansas, Mother’s Name: Matilda Browning, Mother’s Birthplace: Texas, Able to Speak English: Yes, Occupation: Asst Manager, Industry: General Farm, Employment Field: Wage or Salary, Attended School: No, Able to read: Yes, Able to Write: Yes, Household members: Matilda Browning (59), Bennie B Browning (20), Albert Browning (18)
1930: Albert Browning – Birth Year: abt 1903, Gender: Male, Race: White, Age in 1930: 27, Birthplace: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Head, Home in 1930: Spring Valley, Polk, Oregon, Street Address: Rural – Route – No. I. Salem, Home Owned or Rented: Rented, Radio Set: No, Lives on Farm: Yes, Age at First Marriage: 26, Attended School: No, Able to Read and Write: Yes, Father’s Birthplace: Illinois, Mother’s Birthplace: Texas, Able to Speak English: Yes, Occupation: Machine operator, Industry: Woolen Mill, Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker, Employment: Yes, Household members: Albert Browning (27), Opal D Browning (19)
1940: Albert Browning – Age: 37, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1903, Gender: Male, Race: White, Birthplace: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Head, Home in 1940: Sauvies Island, Multnomah, Oregon, Farm: Yes, Inferred Residence in 1935: Salem, Polk, Oregon, Resident on farm in 1935: Yes, Occupation: Dairying, Industry: Dairy Farm, House Owned or Rented: Rented, Value of Home: 70, Attended School or College: No, Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade, Class of Worker: Working on own account, Weeks Worked in 1939: 52, Income: 0, Income Other Sources: Yes, Household members: Albert Browning (37), Opal D Browning (29), Robert R Browning (10), Albert R Browning (8), Opal D Browning (5)
1950: Albert Browning – Age: 47, Birth Date: abt 1903, Gender: Male, Race: White, Birth Place: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Head, Residence Date: 1950, Home in 1950: Clark, Washington, Street Name: County Road 50, Farm: Yes, Inferred Previous Residence Place: Clark, Washington, Occupation: Farmer, Industry: Farm, Father Birth Place: USA, Mother Birth Place: USA, Occupation Category: Working, Hours Worked: 40, Worker Class: Own Business, Same House: Yes, Previously on Farm: No, School Completed: S9 Grade, Completed: Yes, School Attendance: 30 or over, Weeks Worked: None, Income: none, Other Income:1000, Supplemental Income: 102, Relative Income: 2250, Relative Other Income: 8, World War II Veteran: No, World War I Veteran: No, Veteran: No, Household members: Albert Browning (47), Opal D Browning (39), Robert R Browning (20), Albert R Browning (18), Opal Dolores Browning (15) |
| Digital Newspapers
|
Oregon Statesman (Salem, OR) 7 Jan 1911, p. 4 – Youthful Robbers Are Captured
The Capital Journal (Salem, OR) 7 Jan 1911, p. 5 – Two Boys Are Sent to the Reform School
The Oregon Daily Journal (Portland, OR) 11 Aug 1920, p. 6 – Dairymen’s League Sues Brownings for Money Alleged Due
Oregon Statesman (Salem, OR) 12 Dec 1926, p. 5 – Man Fined for Possession
The Columbian (Vancouver, WA) 18 Mar 1929, p. 6 – Marriage License
The Capital Journal (Salem, OR) 28 Oct 1929, p. 2 – Fry Farm is Sold to Portland Folks
Oregon Statesman (Salem, OR) 10 Apr 1930, p. 5 – Son to Brownings
The Capital Journal (Salem, OR) 16 Apr 1930, p. 9 – Zena (Birth notice)
Oregon Statesman (Salem, OR) 4 Sep 1931, p. 5 – Babies Born
The Capital Journal (Salem, OR) 13 Dec 1934, p. 15 – Browning (Birth notice)
The Columbian (Vancouver, WA) 18 Nov 1947, p. 10 – Farm Auction
The Columbian (Vancouver, WA) 1 Oct 1989, p. 6 – Albert Browning (Obituary)
Statesman Journal (Salem, OR) 9 May 1999, p. 22 – Opal Deverta Weathers Browning (Obituary) |
