| Life Story
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Benjamin Browning worked at the Thomas Kay Woolen mill in various positions from 1928 through 1937. Ben’s siblings – Elizabeth, John and Albert – along with some of his Browning cousins, also worked at the mill.
Benjamin B. Browning was born on 6 May 1900 in Salem, Oregon to parents John Abraham and Mathilda (Heardtle) Browning. He was the eighth of nine children born to this couple.
The 1910 census lists Ben, his sister Lizzie, and his little brother Albert as living with their mother in Salem. The other children and their father are not included in the census. Ben’s mother is listed as head of household and takes in washing to make ends meet. In January 1911, Ben (age 11) and Albert (age 9) were arrested and charged with stealing three revolvers from local stores. The boys were sent to reform school, but there is no information on how long they remained there.
In 1918, when his World War I draft registration was recorded, Ben was farming on Sauvie Island near Portland, working on his brother Abe Browning’s farm. His mother was listed as his nearest relative and lived at 340 N 20th St in Salem. By 1920, Bennie was still farming on Sauvie Island. His father had died, and his mother, now head of the household, was living on the farm with Ben and Albert.
In his late twenties, Ben met a young lady from Scappoose named Etta Siefert, who was ten years younger than him. On 16 June 1928, they married in Vancouver, Washington. Shortly after their wedding, the couple moved back to Salem, where Ben began working at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill as a carder. He remained at the mill until 1937, holding various positions. While living in Salem, Ben and Etta had two children: their son, Irving, born on 22 Apr 1928, and daughter, Ella Marie, born on 8 Apr 1932.
By 1940, Ben & Etta had moved their family back to Sauvie Island, where they began dairy farming. Ben’s World War II draft registration lists him as being 5′ 10”, weighing 205 lbs., with light complexion, blonde hair and blue eyes. Here their last child was born on 13 Nov 1945. They named him Donald Wayne.
In 1948, the family became residents of Clark County, Washington, and in 1958, Ben and Etta moved to Vancouver. Ben passed away in Vancouver on 13 Oct 1965, and was laid to rest beside extended family members at City View Cemetery in Salem, Oregon.
Etta lived many years after Ben’s death. She died in a Vancouver hospital on 26 Sep 1993, and was buried beside Ben in Salem. At the time of her death, all three of their children were still living. Descendants also included eight grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. |
| Census Records |
1900 – Ben Brauning – Age: 1, Birth Date: May 1899, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1900: Prospect, Marion, Oregon, Race: White, Gender: Male, Relation to Head of House: Son, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Name: John Brauning, Father’s Birthplace: Illinois, Mother’s Name: Matilda Brauning, Mother’s Birthplace: Texas, Household members: John Brauning (42), Matilda Brauning (40), Lena Brauning (20), Clara Brauning (14), Abraham Brauning (12), Hattie Brauning (10), Charlie Brauning (8), Lizzie Brauning (5), Ben Brauning (1)
1910 – Bennie Browning – Age in 1910: 10, Birth Date: 1900, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1910: N 20th St, Salem Ward 6, Marion, Oregon, Race: White, Gender: Male, Relation to Head of House: Son, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Birthplace: Illinois, Mother’s Birthplace: Texas, Native Tongue: English, Attended School: Y, Able to read: Y, Able to Write: Y, Enumerated Year: 1910, Household members: Matilda Browning (50), Lizzie Browning (14), Bennie Browning (10), Albert Browning (9)
1920 – Bennie B Browning – Age: 20, Birth Year: abt 1900, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1920: Sauvie Island, Multnomah, Oregon, 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: Farmer, Industry: General Farm Employment, Field: Employer, Attended School: No, Able to read: Yes, Able to Write: Yes, Household members: Matilda Browning (59), Bennie B Browning (20), Albert Browning (18)
1930 – Benjiman Browing – Birth Year; abt 1901, Gender; Male, Race; White, Age in 1930: 29, Birthplace: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Head, Home in 1930: Marshland, Columbia, Oregon, Home Owned or Rented: Rented, Home Value: 8, Radio Set: No, Lives on Farm: Yes, Age at First Marriage: 27, Attended School: No, Able to Read and Write: Yes, Father’s Birthplace: Illinois, Mother’s Birthplace: Texas, Occupation: Laborer, Industry: Farm, Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker, Employment: Yes, Household members: Benjiman Browing (29), Etta R Browing (20), Irving L Browing (0), Paul E Charpilloz (36) (brother-in-law)
1940 – Ben B Browning – Respondent: Yes, Age: 39, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1901, 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, 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: 40, Attended School or College: No, Highest Grade Completed: High School, 2nd year, Class of Worker: Working on own account, Weeks Worked in 1939: 52, Income: 0, Income Other Sources: Yes, Household members: Ben B Browning (39), Etta Browning (29), Irving S Browning (11), Ella Marie Browning (8)
1950 – Ben B Browning – Age: 49, Birth Date: abt 1901, Gender: Male, Race: White, Birth Place: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Head, Residence Date: 1950, Home in 1950: Spring Hill North Road, Clark, Washington, Farm: Yes, Occupation: Farmer, Industry: Farm, Working Hours: Worked 14, Worker Class: Own Business, Household members: Ben B Browning (49), Etta Rea Browning (39), Irving L Browning (21), Ella Marie Browning (18), Donald W Browning (4) |
