548 S. 14th 

Charles Alfred “Carl” Donaldson was born 15 March 1877 in Sweden to Carl J (John) and Carolina Donaldson. The family immigrated to the U.S. in late summer of 1887, Carl was 10 years old. The family first settled in Stillwater, Minnesota where father John had obtained employment with Isaac Staples, an influential figure in Minnesota’s early commercial development. When a better opportunity presented itself in Oregon, the family moved west.  

The family settled in Dallas, OR. Tragedy struck in 1892 when father John passed away unexpectedly. Carl’s oldest brother George took the lead in providing for the family. By 1900, George was joined by brothers Charles and Emil, all three as day laborers. Nineteen-year-old Augusta took care of the house, youngest brothers Oscar and Hilge were still in school. Five years later in 1905, the family moved to Salem for work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, possibly encouraged by Augusta’s new husband Norman Allport. 

By 1909 Carl had moved to Eugene to work in a planing mill. While in Eugene he met Ethel Drake. They were married 5 Jun 1909. They would become the parents of three children: Evelyn, Florence, and Carl. By 1917, the family had moved to the St. Johns area near Portland for work in the shipyard during the war, then for Pendleton Woolen Mill where he would remain for 35 years in the carding department. 

On 16 Dec 1952, Carl suffered a heart attack and died in his home at 8715 Willamette Blvd. In Portland. He was buried in Skyline Memorial Gardens in the West Hills of Portland.  

1917  Donaldson Chas (Ethel) frmn Port Woolen Mills (Portland) 

1918  Donaldson Chas A (Ethel) millman h 415 E Chicago St. (Portland) 

1921  Donaldson Chas (Ethel) textileworker h 415 E Chicago (Portland) 

1930  Donaldson Chas A (Ethel) carder PWM [Pendleton Woolen Mill] h1965 Willamette blvd (Portland) 

1953  Donaldson Ethel (wid Chas) h8715 N Willamette blvd (Portland) 

1910  Charles A. Donaldson  Age: 28. Birth Date: 1882 in Sweden. Home in 1910: Maness St. Eugene Ward 4, Lane, OR. Immigration Year: 1884. Married, son-in-law to HOH. Occupation: Laborer in Planing Mill. Additional household members: Mary Drakes, age 63 (mother-in-law), Ethel C. Donaldson, age 21 (wife), Evelyn Donaldson, age 0 (daughter). 

1920  Charles A. Donaldson  Age: 41. Birth Year: abt 1879 in Sweden. Home in 1920: 415 E Chicago St. Portland, Multnomah, OR. Immigration Year: 1884. Married, HOH. Occupation: Carder in Woolen Mills. Additional household members: Ethel C. Donaldson, age 31 (wife), Evelyn E. Donaldson, age 9 (daughter), Florence M. Donaldson, age 4 (daughter), Carl A. Donaldson, age 2 (son). 

1930  Charles A. Donaldson  Age: 53. Birth Year: abt 1877 in Sweden. Home in 1930: 1965 Willamette Blvd. Portland, Multnomah, OR. Immigration Year: 1887. Married, HOH. Occupation: Carder in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Ethel C. Donaldson, age 41 (wife), Evelyn E. Donaldson, age 20 (daughter), Florence Donaldson, age 14 (daughter), Carl a. Donaldson, age 12 (son). 

1940  Charles A. Donaldson  Age: 63. Birth Year: abt 1877 in Sweden. Home in 1940: 8715 Willamette Portland, Multnomah, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Carder in Card Room. Additional household members: Ethel C. Donaldson, age 50 (wife), Earl [Carl] Donaldson, age 22 (son), Evelyn E. Kelly, age 30 (daughter). 

1950  Charles A. Donaldson  Age: 72. Birth Year: abt 1878 in Sweden. Home in 1950: 8715 Willamette Blvd. Portland, Multnomah, OR. Married, HOH. Additional household members: Ethel C. Donaldson, age 61 (wife). 

Ethel Cora Drake Donaldson  Birth: 2 Oct 1888 in Eugene, Lane County, OR. Death: 12 Jul 1970 (aged 81) in Portland, Multnomah County, OR. Burial: Skyline Memorial Gardens, Portland, Multnomah County, OR. Plot: Garden of the Apostles. Memorial ID: 94299864 

M3 1994-016-0013     Oral history (Carl Allport)