Floyd Steward, WHC Collections 0079.001.0002

Floyd Steward

Job Title(s)

Packer, Shipping Clerk

Dates of Employment

abt 1928-1944

Last Name  Steward 
First Name  Floyd 
Middle Initial  Willis 
Born  10 Apr 1903 in Devil’s Lake, ND 
Home Addresses (1929-1934)  566 N 17th St. 

1865 Market St. 
Died  23 May 1999 in Milwaukie, OR 
Place Buried  Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, OR 
Spouse  Theresa Pfau (1908-1955), Olzetta Cobb (1911-2005) 
Date of Marriage  1st marriage: 12 Jun 1929 in Salem, OR 

2nd marriage: 28 Aug 1959 in Portland, OR 
Children  Eleanor, Marjorie, Ray, Loretta, Richard, Geneva, Barbara and Joan 
Dates of Employment  Abt 1928 – 1944 
Job(s)  Packer, Shipping Clerk 
Story  Floyd Steward initially worked for TKWM as a packer, then became a shipping clerk from 1928 through 1944. 

Floyd Willis Steward was born in Devils Lake, North Dakota on 10 Apr 1903, the fourth child of Homer and Georgetta Steward. After the family moved to Dallam County, Texas two more children were added. Floyd’s father was a lifelong farmer and in Texas farming was tough. So, by 1920, the family pulled up stakes and moved to Lane County, Oregon. 

In 1924, at age 20, Floyd left the farm and took work as a mechanic in Salem. Then by 1928, he started work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, as a packer. On 12 June 1929, he married 21-year-old Theresa Pfau, a teacher at the Oregon Deaf School, they purchased a home at 566 N. 17th St. In Salem. City directories for 1932-1934 indicate that they moved briefly to rural Silverton but then returned to Salem, this time to Market Street. The 1940 federal census records the couple with four children, and brother-in-law Joseph Pfau living with them. 1940 was not a great year for the Stewards. Floyd and Theresa declared bankruptcy and Floyd was forced to go to court to dissolve a business partnership he had entered.  

By 1944, Floyd had left TKWM after many years of service. The end of the war and the resulting loss of orders forced many employees of TKWM to reassess their career path. Floyd chose to go out on his own and start a business. He opened a variety store in West Salem and, a year later, opened a second store on Commercial. Floyd’s business was viable through at least 1948 but in 1947, Floyd was supplementing the family income by selling real estate with the firm of C. A. Reed. By the end of the 40s, Floyd and Theresa left their stores and moved north to the Portland area where Floyd found work.  

In May of 1955, Theresa passed away after battling cancer. Floyd remarried in 1959 to Olzetta Cobb and continued to work until he was 87. He died in Milwaukie, OR on 23 May 1999 at age 96. His remains were returned to Salem for burial at Belcrest Memorial Park. Olzetta died in 2005. 
References 
Name  Remarks 
Census  1910 Floyd Steward. Born about 1903 in ND. Lives in Dallam County, TX. Son of HOH. Father born in Ohio, mother in PA. Homer J Steward 37 (Farmer), Georgetta Steward 37, Lawson C Steward 16 (b in TN), Philo Steward 12 (b in TN), Lily M Steward 9 (b in ND), Floyd Steward 7, Ruby F Steward 5 (b in TX), unnamed daughter 1 month (b in TX).  

1920 Floyd W Steward. Born about 1904 in ND. Lives in Irving, Lane, OR. Son of HOH. Father born in Ohio. Mother in PA. In school. Homer J Stewart 47 (Farmer), Jennie Stewart 49, Philo J Stewart 21 (Farm laborer), Lily M Stewart 18, Floyd W Stewart 16, Ruby F Stewart 13. 

1930 Floyd Steward. Born about 1904 in Texas. Married HOH. Owns house at 566 N 17th, Salem, OR. Age at first marriage 26. Father and mother born in US. Shipping Clerk, TKWM. Floyd Steward 26, Theresa Steward 21.  

1940 Floyd W Steward. Born about 1904 in ND. Married HOH. Owns house at 2420 Lee St, Salem, OR. Home in 1935 same. Salesman TKWM. School thru 8th grade. Floyd W Steward 36, Theresa L Steward 30, Eleanor M Steward 9, Marjorie A Steward 8, Ry F Steward 7, Loretta J Steward 4, Joseph Pfau 21 (Brother-in-law, bookkeeper, cannery 
City Directories  1924 Floyd W Steward. 594 N 17th. Mechanic. 

1928 Floyd W Steward. 566 N 17th. Packer, TKWM. 

1930 Floyd W Steward (Theresa L). 566 N 17th. Shipping Clerk, TKWM. 

1932 Floyd W Steward (Theresa L). RD 2, Silverton. Shipping Clerk, TKWM. 

1934 Floyd W Steward (Theresa L). 1865 Market. Shipping Clerk, TKWM. 

1953 Floyd Stewart. 2439 E Stephens, Portland, OR. Employee, Consolidated Freightways.  
U.S. Public Records Index  1993 Floyd W Steward. B 10 Apr 1903. 7995 SE Strawberry Ln, Portland OR. 
Find a Grave  Floyd Willis Steward. Birth: 10 Apr 1903 in Devils Lake, Ramsey County, North Dakota. Death: 23 May 1999 in Milwaukie, Clackamas County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID:35260150 

Theresa Lorayn Pfau Steward. Birth: 9 Sep 1908 in Portland, Multnomah County, OR. Death: 18 Jun 1955 in Hillsboro, Washington County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 27529967  
Oregon Marriage Index  Floyd W Steward married Theresa Laurene Pfau on 12 Jun 1929 in Marion County, OR.  

 

Floyd W Steward married Olzetta Cobb on 28 Aug 1959 in Multnomah County, OR.  
WW 2 Draft Record  Floyd Willis Steward 38. HOH. B 10 Apr 1903 in Devil Lake, ND. Home Salem, OR. Employed at TKWM. NOK Jettie Steward.  
SSA Death Index  Floyd W. Steward. Birth: 10 Apr 1903. Death: 23 May 1999. Issue State: OR. Last Residence: 97267, Portland, Clackamas, OR.  
Visuals  Oregon Statesman, 16 Jun 1929 p. 9 Marriage of Theresa Pfau and Floyd W. Steward 

Oregon Statesman, 14 May 1940 p. 13 Floyd and Theresa Steward bankrupt 

Oregon Statesman, 16 Aug 1940 p. 4  Steward wins suit, dissolves partnership 

Oregon Statesman, 19 Apr 1944 p. 12  Floyd Steward opens variety store 

Capital Journal 27 Jul 1945 p. 3  Floyd Steward opens second store 

Oregon Statesman 4 May 1947 p. 15  AD – Floyd Steward with realtor C. A. Reed 

Oregon Statesman 30 Nov 1947 p. 12  Thanksgiving dinner at the Steward’s 

Capital Journal 22 Dec 1949 p. 5  Conn vs Steward – default order for foreclosure on real property. 

Oregon Statesman 20 Jul 1955 p. 14. Theresa Steward obituary 

Statesman Journal 26 May 1999 p. 5 Floyd Steward obituary 
WHC Materials  M3 1966-001        Mill Records 

0079.001.0002     PhotoÂ