| Life Story |
Esther E. Earl worked at TKWM from 1905-1910 as a spooler and then in the Dye House. Father Edward, sister Mary, and brothers John and William also worked at the mill.
Esther E. Earl was born 1 Mar 1894 in South Dakota to Irish immigrant Edward G. and Frances [Quinn] Earl. She was one of six children born to the couple. The family moved to Salem in 1903 and rented a home at 695 S. 20th St. Her father worked for the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in the Dye House. Esther took work at the mill by 1905, as a spooler. She would have been 12 years old.
Esther married twice. The first time to John William Sayre on 23 Jan 1915 in Vancouver, WA. John was a plumber; it was his second marriage. By 1920 the couple had moved to Ellis St. In San Francisco. Then by 1930 had returned to Portland according to census records. They divorced in the 1940s.
Esther married a second time, to Scott Gordon Nickerson on 22 July 1945 in Vancouver, WA. No further details were recorded on the marriage certificate. Esther died 11 Apr 1947 in Portland due to chronic alcoholism. She was buried in City View Cemetery in Salem, OR with family members.
*The decision was made to standardize the family surname to Earl throughout all the TKWM biographies, though it also appears in public records with the additional letter ‘e’ at the end* |
| Salem City Directories |
1905 Earl, Esther, spooler TKWM Co, bds 695 S 20th
1907 Earl, Esther, dyer TKWM Co, bds S 21st cor Water
1910 Earl, Esther, dyer TKWM Co, bds S 21st cor Water
1913 Earl, Esther, spooler TKWM Co |
| Census Records |
1900 Esther Earl. Age: 6. Birthdate: Mar 1894 in South Dakota. Home in 1900: Logan, Sanborn, South Dakota. Single, daughter to HOH. Additional household members: Edward Earl, age 36 (father), Frances Earl, age 35 (mother), Mary Earl, age 7 (sister), John E. Earl, age 4 (brother), Louisa Earl, age 3 (sister), Birnie Earl, age 1 (sister).
1905 Marion County, OR Census. Edward Earl Family. Edward, age 40, teamster. Frances, age 37. Mary, age 14, at school. Esther, age 12, at school. John, age 10, at school. G [sic], age 8, at school. Vernia, age 6. Villa [sic], age 4.
1910 Esther E. Earl. Age: 17. Birthdate: 1893 in South Dakota. Home in 1910: S 20th St., Salem Ward 4, Marion, OR. Single, daughter to HOH. Occupation: Spooler in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Edward G. Earle, age 44 (father), Frances E. Earle, age 42 (mother), Mary P. Earl, age 18 (sister), John E. Earl, age 15 (brother), Lulu L. Earl, age 13 (sister), Vernie Earl, age 11 (sister), William Earl, age 9 (brother).
1920 Esther Sayre. Age: 26. Birth Year: abt 1894 in South Dakota. Home in 1920: Ellis St., San Francisco, CA. Married, wife to HOH. Additional household member: John W. Sayre, age 41 (husband).
1930 Esther E. Sayre. Age: 37. Birth Year: abt 1893 in South Dakota. Home in 1930: 271 ½ Grand Ave. Portland, Multnomah, OR. Married, lodger to HOH. Additional household members: William D. Miller, age 38 (home owner), Myra Miller, age 31 (wife to owner), John H. Sayre, age 52 (husband), the rest of the occupants are lodgers.
1940 Esther E. Sayre. Age: 47. Birth Year: abt 1893 in South Dakota. Home in 1940: 618 Stephens, Portland, Multnomah, OR. Married, wife to HOH. Additional household member: John W. Sayre, age 62 (husband). |
| Find-a-Grave |
Esther Earl Nickerson. Birth: 1 Mar 1894 in South Dakota. Death: 8 Mar 1947 (aged 53) in Portland, Multnomah County, OR. Burial: City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion County, OR. Plot: Space 2 S ½ Lot 2 Block 45 Sec. B. Memorial ID: 51807591.
John William Sayre. Birth: 23 Feb 1878 in Salem, Marion County, OR. Death: 5 May 1945 (aged 67) in Portland, Multnomah County, OR. Burial: Mount Crest Abbey Mausoleum, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 51807624. |
