1260 Coast St, Nye Creek, Lincoln, OR 

Randolph Lester Howe (1918-1982) 

Chester was born 7 Mar 1889 in Oregon to Motier “Mote” and Martha Ellen “Mattie” (Cook) Howe. His grandparents, Leonard and Harriet (Robinson) Howe were early Oregon settlers. They came to Oregon in 1850 when Chester’s father was only three years old. They eventually settled on a donation land claim just outside of Roseburg, OR, on Deer Creek. This land stayed in the family for generations. 

Chester’s mother was born in Turner, Oregon. Her parents were Francis Marion and Mary Jane (Edgar) Cook, also Oregon pioneers. They took up a donation land claim in Turner in 1845. Chester’s parents ran the general store in Turner for many years. 

By 1905 the Howe family had moved to 1351 Waller, Salem, OR. Chester’s father was a farmer. At sixteen Lester and Chester were both working for Curtiss Lumber Co. and boarding with their parents. The twin brothers also worked at the woolen mill.  

Lester and Chester were both finisher’s at the woolen mill in 1907. As were Wava Watkins, who would become Chester’s wife and Christine Miller, who would become Lester’s wife. It’s entirely possible they all met at the mill. 

Chester Leonard Howe and Wava Watkins married in Salem at the home of the bride’s mother in Salem, OR on 9 Oct 1912. The young couple left immediately after the celebration for Roseburg where they made their home. The groom was a prominent businessman there. Chester worked the farm with his father and it appears he owned a shooting gallery with his brother I. Newton Howe.   

The couple lived in the Roseburg area where their first son was born, Leonard Howe in 1915. In 1917 Chester was called to quartermaster service. He was chosen to be a textile inspector for the federal government. He spent most of the following year back east, mostly in St Louis, Missouri. In 1918 the second son, Randolph Lester Howe was born in Missouri. The family returned to Oregon after that assignment. They went back to farming with Chester’s parents in Douglas County. 

In 1926 Chester and Wava moved their family to the Oregon coast where they owned and managed the Jump Off Joe Auto Camp in Nye Beach. Chester was in ownership with his uncle John Howe. Chester’s parents lived there as well. This is where the family lived for nearly 30 years. 

Chester was 65 years old when he passed away at the Osteopathic Hospital in Portland, OR in 1954. Wava outlived him by almost 30 years. She passed away at a nursing home in Bend, OR where their son Leonard resided in 1983. They share a place in the mausoleum at City View Cemetery in Salem, OR.  

1907 Howe Chester L, finisher TKWM Co, bds 1351 Waller (father’s res) 

1910 Howe Chester L, finisher TKWM Co,  M, bds 1351 Waller 

1911 Howe, Chester L, ydman Curtiss Lumber Co, bds 1351 Waller  

1924 Howe, Chester L (Wava), driver West Side Gravel Co, h 1351 Waller  

1910: Chester Howe. Age 21. Birth Date 1889 in Oregon. Address: Waller Street, Salem, OR. Single, Son of HOH. Father born in Illinois. Mother born in Oregon. Occupation: Finisher, Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Matier Howe (HOH – father), Mattie E Howe (mother), Hattie Schaum (sister), Lester Howe (twin brother), Mona Schaum (niece). 

1920: Chester L Howe. Age 30. Birth Place: Oregon. Address: Mill, Douglas, OR. Married, Son of HOH. Father born in Illinois. Mother born in Oregon. Occupation: Farmer. Additional household members: Matier Howe (HOH – father), Mattie E Howe (mother), Wava V Howe (daughter in law – wife of Chester), Leonard and Randolph L Howe (grandsons – sons of Chester and Wava). 

1930: James Howe (this name is wrong, it is Chester). Age 41. Birth Place: Oregon. Address: Nye Creek, Lincoln, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Partial Owners of Camp Ground. Additional household members: Wava Howe (wife H). Lenard Howe (son). Randaulph Howe (son). John R Howe (uncle) also partial owner. Motier Howe (father). Caroline Watkins (mother in law). 

1940: Chester Howe. Age 54. Birth place: Oregon. Address: 1260 Coast St, Nye Creek, Lincoln, Oregon. Married, HOH. Occupation: Proprietor Auto Court. Additional household members: Wava Howe (wife H). Randolph Howe (son) Attendant Service Station 

1950: Chester L Howe. Age 61. Birth place: Oregon. Address: State Park Service Apts, # 281, Newport, Lincoln, Oregon. Married, HOH. Occupation: State Liquor Agent. Additional household members: Wava V Howe (wife). Age 61. Birth place: Oregon. Occupation: Saleslady. 

Address: R. F. D. 7, Douglas County, Oregon. 

Physical Build: Medium. Height: Tall. Hair: Black. Eyes: Dark Blue 

Spouse: Wava Watkins 

Oregon Death Certificate 

Chester Leonard Howe. Male. White. Age 65. Birth Date: 1889. Birth Place: Turner, Oregon. Death Date: 30 Mar 1954. Death Place: Portland, Washington, Oregon. Father: Motier Howe. Mother: Martha Cooke. Spouse: Wava Howe. Certificate Number: 3409 

Wava Vivian Watkins Howe. Birth: 31 Dec 1888 in Oregon. Death: 3 Nov 1982 (aged 93) in Deschutes county, Oregon. Burial: Mount Crest Abbey Mausoleum, Santiam Terrace in City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion, OR. Memorial ID: 98863845 

The News-Review (Roseburg, OR) 3 Dec 1912, p 4. Returned to their farm near Roseburg 

The News-Review (Roseburg, OR) 25 Oct 1917, p 1. Chester Howe, of Deer Creek, is called to Quartermaster Service 

The News-Review (Roseburg, OR) 25 Oct 1917, p 2. Accepts Position. 

The News-Review (Roseburg, OR) 26 Dec 1918, p 1. Returned From the East … 

Morning Register (Eugene, OR) 16 May 1926, p 22. Jump Off Joe Camp 

Corvallis Gazette-Times (Corvallis, OR) 3 Feb 1922, p 6. John R Howe Obituary (Chester’s uncle and business partner) 

Statesman Journal (Salem, OR) 6 Nov 1982, p 6. Wava V. Howe Obituary