Edward H. Pero, WHC Collections 0079.001.0002

Edward H. Pero

Job Title(s)

Boss Finisher

Dates of Employment

c. 1912-1936

Last Name  Pero 
First Name  Edward 
Middle Initial  Herbert 
Born  5 Jul 1878 in Bennington, VT 
Home Addresses 

(1929-1934) 

 1460 D St in Salem, OR 
Died  26 Sep 1936 in Salem, OR 
Place Buried  Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, OR   
Wife  Grace Lansing 
Date of Marriage  30 April 1915 in Salem, OR 
Children  William Pero 
Dates of Employment  1913 – 1936 
Job(s)  Boss Finisher 
Story              Ed Pero worked for TKWM from 1913 to 1936 beginning as a finisher, working his way up to foreman of the finishing shop.  

            Edward Herbert Pero was born 5 Jul 1878 to Edward A and Belinda [Bell] Pero in Bennington, Vermont. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Eaton, New York where Ed and his two younger sisters grew up. Ed’s father worked in a woolen mill as a finisher. 

            In 1900, Ed was still living at home in Eaton at age 21 working alongside his dad as a finisher. Ten years later, Ed moved across the country to Hood River, OR and took work with a large logging camp and lumber mill operation. He boarded with over 70 other workers in a large labor camp. This lasted a few years until Ed tired of logging, moved to Salem, and took work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. 

            On the job at TKWM, Ed met Grace Lansing, a young napper who had moved to Salem from Iowa about 1900. The couple married 30 Apr 1915 in Salem, OR. Ed was 31 and Grace 24 years old. They had one child, William. The couple initially lived with Grace’s parents on a farm just east of the Salem Fairgrounds, then moved into town after William’s birth. In 1924, they bought a house at 1460 D St. after Ed became foreman of the finishing department at TKWM. They remained in this home for the next 12 years.  

            Ed died suddenly at the age of 58, on 26 Sep 1936. William had just turned 21. Grace remarried in Dec 1937. Her second husband was Stewart McFee, a recently divorced man who just started work at the woolen mill in Brownsville, OR. Grace passed away on 1 May 1944 and was buried next to Ed in Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem. 
   
References 
Name  Remarks 
Census  1892 (New York) Edward H Pero 14. Birth about 1878 in US. Eaton, NY. Edward A Pero 38 (Finisher), Bellenda Pero 38, Edward H Pero 14, Bertha M Pero 12, Mary Pero 4. 

1900 Edward H Pero 21. Born Jul 1878 in Vermont. Home Eaton, NY. Son Single. Father’s birth Canada, Mother’s Germany. Finisher, Woolen Mill. Edward A Pero 46 (Finisher, Woolen Mill), Belle M Pero 46, Edward H Pero 21, Bertha M Pero 20, Mary B Pero 11, Frank F Pero 8 (all bros/sists b in NY) 

Grace Lansing 14. Born Apr 1886 in Iowa. Lives at 312 Marion St, Salem, OR. Daughter to HOH. Father born in Wisconsin, Mother in Switzerland. William Lansing 54, Lettie Lansing 50, William Lansing 26, Clara Lansing 18, Grace Lansing 14, Edna R Lansing 9, Ethel A Lansing 7 

1910 Edward H Pero 31. Born about 1879 in Vermont. Home South Hood River, OR. Boarder, Single. Father born in Canada, Mother in Germany. Laborer at a Sawmill/Logging Camp. Boarded with almost 70 other workers at the camp. 

Grace Lancing 24. Born about 1886 in Iowa. Boarder N 17th St., Salem. Fathers born in Wisconsin, Mother in Switzerland. Napper in Woolen Mill. Freeda Homyer 67, Grace Lancing 24. 

1920 E H Pero 42. Born about 1878 in Vermont. Home Salem Fairgrounds – Farm. Son-in-Law to HOH. Married. Father born in Canada, Mother in Germany. Finisher, Woolen Mill. Eugene Horning 65, Fannie Horning 64, E H Pero 42, Grace Pero 32, William 4.  

1930 Edward H Pero. Born about 1880 in Vermont. Married HOH. Owns house at 1460 D St, Salem, OR. Has radio set. Age at first marriage 34. Father’s birthplace USA, Mother’s Germany. Foreman Finisher, Woolen Mill. Edward H Pero 50, Grace Pero 43, William E Pero 14. 
City Directories 

(Salem unless otherwise noted) 

 1909 Edward H Pero. Bds 432 Ferry. Helper TKWM 

1913 Edward H Pero. Bds at 411 S 16th. Finisher TKWM 

1915 Edward H (Grace E) Pero. res 1315 S 15th Finisher TKWM  

1917 Edward H (Grace E) Pero. res 1315 S 15th Finisher TKWM  

1924 Edward H (Grace E) Pero. 1460 D St  Frmn TKWM 

1928 Edward H (Grace E) Pero. 1460 D St Boss Finisher TKWM 

1930 Edward H (Grace E) Pero. 1460 D St Finisher TKWM 

1932 Edward H (Grace E) Pero. 1460 D St Finisher TKWM 

1934 Edward H (Grace E) Pero. 1460 D St Finisher TKWM 

1935 Edward H (Grace) Home 1460 D St. Finisher TKWM
Find a Grave  Edward H Pero. Birth: Jul 1878. Death: 26 Sep 1936 (aged 58) in Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 171581370 

Grace Pero McFee. Birth: 1886. Death: 1 May 1944 (aged 57–58) in Salem, Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 171530977 
WW1 Draft Card  Edward Herbert Pero. White. B 5 Jul 1878. Box 225 RFD 7, Salem, OR. Wife Grace Pero. Finisher TKWM. Dated 12 Sep 1918 
Newspapers.com  Oregon Statesman 29 Sep 1936 p 5. Edward H Pero Obituary 

Oregon Statesman 3 May 1944 p 5. Grace Pero McFee Obituary 

Oregon Statesman 23 Jul 1964 p 8. William Pero Obituary 
WHC Materials  M3 1966-001              Mill Records 

0079.001.0002           Photo 

M3 2006-008-0001     Receipt 

M3 1994-100-0008     Ad 

M3 1994-016-0015     Oral History (Bill Pero) 

M3 1994-016-0036     Oral History (Mary White) 

2015.027.0001           Oral History (Jerry Perro)Â