| Life Story
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Arnold Benjamin “Arney” Browning was a dyer and carder at the Thomas Kay Woolen mill from 1909, when he was 23 years old, through 1915-and possibly longer. Arney’s brother, Fred J. and his cousins also worked at the woolen mill.
Arnold Benjamin was born on 26 Feb 1886 in Stayton, OR. He was the son of Fred Valentine Browning and Rosa Lily (Hoffner) Browning. He was the second of five children. He had an older brother, Fred J. and three younger siblings – Dora, William and Edward – who were all born in Salem.
The family moved from Stayton to Salem in 1887, when Arney was one year old. In 1901, his father bought the Home Bakery, and by 1905, Arney was a delivery driver for him.
Records show Arney working at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill by 1909, as a dyer. In 1909, Arney’s father sold the bakery and bought a merry-go-round. Fred Valentine and Rosa then founded the Browning Amusement Co. which would become a valuable family business.
In 1910, Arney was working as a carder at the woolen mill while also involved in the family amusement company.
In 1911, a young woman named Nina Opal Lynch was employed as a spooler at the woolen mill. One might wonder if Arney met Nina there. They were married 7 Jun 1911 at her parents’ home in Salem.
On 13 Nov 1912, Arney and Nina welcomed their first child, a daughter named Dorothy Marie Browning. Their second child, a son named Lester Arnold Browning, was born on 18 Sep 1915.
Arney registered for the World War I draft on 12 Sep 1918. His records describe him as being of medium height and build, with brown hair and brown eyes. At the time, he was employed as a caretaker at the Salem Bank of Commerce, located in the Guardian building.
On 8 Apr 1921, their third child, another daughter, was born in Salem, completing their little family.
In 1926, Arney’s brothers Fred J. and Ed started a second amusement company. They called it the Browning Brother’s Amusement Co. Arney was a silent partner in the venture and was listed as one of the incorporators in 1928.
Time books and payroll records from TKWM list an “A. Browning” working in the Picker House and the shop during the 1920s and 1930s. This may refer to Arney or possibly his cousin Albert “Jack.” It’s quite possible that Arney continued working at the woolen mill even after taking the janitorial job at the bank.
In 1937, Arney’s mother, Rosa, passed away. He was named executor of her estate, which was appraised at $34,595.58 with 4980 shares in the Browning Amusement Co. along with substantial real estate holdings.
Arney worked as a janitor at the Salem Bank of Commerce for 35 years. In his later years, he operated a fruit farm on Browning Road in the Liberty area. After retiring from farming, he and Nina moved to Newport, OR.
Due to declining health, they returned to Salem. Arney passed away at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem on 15 Aug 1952. His death certificate lists generalized arteriosclerosis as the cause of death. His funeral service was held at the Virgil T. Golden chapel, and he was interred at Belcrest Memorial Park.
Nina remained in Salem and was active in the Liberty Women’s Club and the Liberty Church of Christ. She passed away on 5 Jul 1960, at a nursing home in Salem. Her services were at the Virgil T. Golden Chapel, and she was laid to rest beside her husband. She was survived by their three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. |
| Census Records |
1900 Arnel B Brauning – Age: 14, Birth Date: Feb 1886, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1900: Salem Ward 4, Marion, Oregon, Race: White, Gender: Male, Relation to Head of House: Son, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Name: Fred Brauning, Father’s Birthplace: Illinois, Mother’s Name: Rosa L Brauning, Mother’s Birthplace: Illinois, Occupation: Student, Attended School: 4, Can Read: Y, Can Write: Y, Can Speak English: Y, Household members: Fred Brauning (40), Rosa L Brauning (36), John F Brauning (16), Arnel B Brauning (14), Dora M Brauning (11), William F Brauning (6), Edward Brauning (10/12).
1910 Arnold B Browning – Age in 1910: 24, Birth Date: 1886, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1910: S 21st Street, Salem Ward 4, Marion, Oregon, Race: White, Gender: Male, Relation to Head of House: Son, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Birthplace: Illinois, Mother’s Birthplace: Illinois, Native Tongue: English, Occupation: Carder, Industry: Woolen Mill, Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner, Able to read: Y, Able to Write: Y, Enumeration District Number: 0224, Out of Work: Y, Number of Weeks Out of Work: 8, Enumerated Year: 1910, Household members: Fred Browning (49), Rosa L Browning (44), Fred J Browning (26), Arnold B Browning (24), William F Browning (16), Edward A Browning (9), Pauline Browning (17).
1920 Arnold B Browning – Age: 32, Birth Year: abt 1888, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1920: 145 Lafelle St, Salem, Marion, Oregon, Residence Date: 1920, Race: White, Gender: Male, Relation to Head of House: Head, Marital Status: Married, Spouse’s Name: Nina Browning, Father’s Birthplace: Illinois, Mother’s Birthplace: Illinois, Able to Speak English: Yes, Occupation: Janitor, Industry: Public Building, Employment Field: Wage or Salary, Home Owned or Rented: Owned, Home Free or Mortgaged: Free, Able to read: Yes, Able to Write: Yes, Household members: Arnold B Browning (32), Nina Browning (26), Dorothy Browning (7), Lester A Browning (4).
1930 Arney B Browning – Birth Year: abt 1886, Gender: Male, Race: White, Age in 1930: 44, Birthplace: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Head, Home in 1930: Route 3, Liberty, Marion, Oregon, Home Owned or Rented: Owned, Radio Set: Yes, 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: Illinois, Able to Speak English: Yes, Occupation: Building Superintendent, Industry: Bank Building, Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker, Employment: Yes, Household members: Arney B Browning (44), Nina O Browning (36), Dorothy M Browning (17), Lester A Browning (15), Margaret M Browning (8).
1940 Arney B Browning – Respondent: Yes, Age: 53, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1887, Gender: Male, Race: White, Birthplace: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Head, Home in 1940: Liberty, Marion, Oregon, Farm: Yes, Inferred Residence in 1935: Liberty, Marion, Oregon, Residence in 1935: Liberty, Resident on farm in 1935: Yes, Occupation: Janitor Engineer, House Owned or Rented: Owned, Value of Home: 4500, Attended School or College: No, Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 4th grade, Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 60, Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work, Weeks Worked in 1939: 52, Income: 1680, Income Other Sources: Yes, Household members: Arney B Browning (53), Nina O Browning (46), Margaret N Browning (18).
1950 Arney B Browning – Gender: Male, Race: White, Birth Place: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Head, Residence Date: 1950, Home in 1950: Apartment Number: 405, Dwelling Number: 196, Street: N W High, Newport, Lincoln, Oregon, Farm: No, Acres: No, Occupation Category: Other, Worked Last Week: No, Seeking Work: No, Institution Name: Pine Ridge Cottage Motor Court, Institution Type: Motor, Court, Household members: Arney B Browning (64), Nina O Browning (56). |
