163 S. 13th  

424 S. 16th St.  

119 S. 15th St.  

345 S. 15th St. 

2nd wife – Pastora Fimby 

2nd marriage – 1908 

Frank Felix Contreras was born 29 July 1871 in Marysville, Yuba, CA to Jesus Martin and Candelaria [Garcia] Contreras. Both parents were of Mexican heritage. According to census records Frank’s formal education ended after third grade. Frank and brother John found work at the Stockton Woolen Mills. Frank married Mary Hawn 19 Sep 1896 in Marysville, CA. One son was born to this union. After this marriage ended, he married Pastora Fimby in 1908, a weaver in the woolen mill where he worked. The family moved to the Portland area by 1910, with the reopening of the Portland Woolen Mills in St. Johns, OR. Frank was a loom fixer and weaver. Pastora worked in the weaving department. Additional family members came with them, Cass and Levi Fimby, Pastora’s brothers, and John Contreras, Frank’s brother. 

The Contreras brothers, Frank and John came to Salem in 1912 to work for the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. Pastora’s brother Levi and family soon followed. While in Salem the Frank and Pastora rented housing and shared with family members until they had saved enough money to build their own home at 345 S. 15th St. in 1924, just a few blocks from the Mill. No couple had no children of their own. Frank had one son from his first marriage that had remained in California. 

Both Frank and Pastora were members of the Catholic Church and involved with the Woodmen of the World organization. Frank remained at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill until retirement in 1943. They sold their home and returned to Napa to be near their family. Frank died in 1950 after suffering a stroke. Pastora died 25 July 1953 at the home of her sister Dolores, in Napa. Both she and Frank were buried in Tulocay Cemetery in Napa, CA. 

1910 Contreras Mrs. Pastora, weaver Portland Woolen Mills r 202 W Leavitt (Portland) 

1912 Contreras Frank, opr M M Mills b 644 Tacoma av (Portland) 

1912 Contreras Mrs. Pastora, opr M M Mills b 644 Tacoma av (Portland) 

1913 Contreras Frank F (Pastora), weaver T K W M Co, res 1368 Ferry 

1915 Contreras Frank F (Pastora), weaver T K W M Co, res 163 S. 13th 

1917 Contreras Frank F (Pastora), weaver T K W M Co, res 163 S 13th 

1924 Contreras Frank F (Pastora), weaver T K Woolen Mill Co, h 424 S 16th 

1928 Contreras Frank (Pastora), weaver T K Woolen Mill Co h 345 S 15th  

1930 Contreras Frank F (Pastora), weaver T K Woolen Mill Co h 345 S 15th  

1932 Contreras Frank (Pastora), weaver T K Woolen Mill Co, h 345 S. 15th 

1934 Contreras Frank F (Pastora), weaver h 345 S 15th 

1935 Contreras Frank F (Pastora), weaver h 345 S 15th 

1947 Contreras Frank (Pastora)h 1348 Seminary (Napa, CA) 

1948 Contreras Frank (Pastora)h 1348 Seminary (Napa, CA) 

1900  Frank F. Contreras. Age: 28. Birth Date: Jul 1872 in California. Home in 1900: 216 S. Market St. Stockton Ward 1, San Joaquin, CA. Both parents born in Mexico. Married, HOH. Occupation: Loom Fixer in Mills. Additional household members: Mary A. Contreras (wife), age 21. Frank I. Contreras (son), age 2. 

1910  Frank Contreras. Age: 38. Birth Date: 1872 in California. Home in 1910: 203 Revett, St. Johns Ward 1, Multnomah, OR. Both parents born in Mexico Spanish. Native tongue: English. Married, HOH. Occupation: Laborer in Woolen Mill. Additional household member: Pastora Contreras (wife), age 30. 

1920  Frank F. Contreras. Age: 48. Birth Year: abt 1872 in California. Home in 1920: 424 South 16th St. Salem, OR. Father born in USA, mother born “at sea”..” Married, HOH. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Additional household member: Pastora Contreras (wife), age 39.  .  

1930  Frank F. Contreris. Age: 58. Birth Year: abt 1872 in California. Home in 1930: 119 S. 15th St. Salem, OR. Father born in USA, mother born “at sea”..”  Married, HOH. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Additional household member: Pastora M Contreris (wife), age 49. 

1940  Frank F. Contreras. Age: 68. Birth Year: abt 1872 in California. Father born in USA, mother born “at sea”..” Married, HOH. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Education Highest Grade Completed: Elementary School, 3rd grade. Additional household member: Pastora M Contreras (wife), age 59. 

1950  Frank F. Contreras. Age: 78. Birth Year: abt 1872 in California. Home in 1950: Napa, Napa, CA. Married, HOH. Occupation: None listed. Additional household member: Pastora Contreras, age 69 (wife). 

Frank Contreras Birth: 1871. Death: 1950 (aged 78-79). Burial: Tulocay Cemetery in Napa, Napa County, California, USA. Memorial ID: 150147120 

Capital Journal 3 May 1950 p 2 – Frank Obituary 

Sacramento Bee 22 Apr 1950 p 13 – Frank Death Notice 

Napa Valley Register 25 Jul 1953, p 12 – Pastora Obituary 

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