| Life Story
|
Harry Kay was the second son of Thomas Lister Kay, founder of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. When the mill first opened he was the foreman of both the Spinning and Dye departments. At the time of his death in 1894 he was assistant superintendent of the mill.
Henry Glover Kay was born 9 Feb 1869 in Brownsville, OR to Thomas Lister and Anne [Slingsby] Kay. He was the second son born to the couple; one of ten children total. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Ashland where his father took the position of mill superintendent of the Ashland Woolen Mill. The family remained there four years before returning to the Brownsville area to resurrect the old Brownsville Mill property and manage it.
In 1889 an opportunity arose to build a woolen mill in Salem, OR. It was a family enterprise in many respects, to which each family member brought their financial resources, skills, and labor. Harry was 20 years old, and after years spent at his father’s side in the woolen industry, he had a keen understanding of the mechanics of mill machinery. Prior to the mill opening, Harry accompanied his parents on a trip East. While his father and mother visited England, Harry remained on the East Coast to visit various woolen mills and machinery manufacturers in the New England area. While there, orders were placed with American manufacturers for the latest cards, looms, spindles, and other equipment, most of which had to be manufactured to his father’s specifications.
He arrived back in Salem at the end of November 1889 along with thirty thousand pounds of machinery, and extended family members like Phoebe Deacon, a weaver, recruited to come and work at the Thomas Kay family mill. His plan was to remain in Salem long enough to set up the woolen mill machinery and train workers to use it, then return East to attend the Philadelphia Textile School. 13 March 1890, the new Thomas Kay Woolen Mill hosted a public open house. Thomas Kay, Squire Farrar, Robert Coshow and Harry were front and center as hosts, explaining machinery and the functions of each department. The local newspaper reported that Harry was acting foreman of the spinning and dyeing departments.
Harry was an active, popular young man that enjoyed outdoor pursuits like fishing, hunting, camping, and bicycling. One bicycling adventure in 1891 took Harry along with friends Chauncey Lockwood, Hal Patton, and Tommie Hogan, on a 40-mile round trip from Salem to Dallas and back in May of 1891. He belonged to Salem Camp No. 118 of Woodmen of the World. He was also a devoted member of the First Baptist Church and served as the treasurer of the Sunday School in 1892. He served full terms as a member of the volunteer fire department and of the Oregon National Guard.
Tragically, Harry’s life ended on 12 May 1894 after a month’s illness. What began as lung and throat trouble in April resulted in consumption. He died at the family residence on State and Twelfth St. All his family were present at his deathbed with the exception of his father who was in San Francisco on business. He was 25 years old. Operation ceased at the woolen mill for a day, out of respect for the former assistant superintendent and son of the owner Thomas L. Kay.
The funeral took place at the First Baptist Church, followed by internment in Salem Pioneer Cemetery. The local newspaper reported the following: LAST HONORS – a large concourse of sympathizing friends gathered at the home of sympathizing friends gathered at the home of Thomas Kay, yesterday to pay final tribute of respect to the memory of young Harry Kay, who died on Saturday evening. At 1:30 o’clock the cortege moved to the Baptist church where the Rev. Mr. Rugg read the simple and beautiful service of that church. Upon its conclusion, about sixty members of the Salem Camp, No. 118 Woodmen of the World, took the body of their friend and neighbor in charge and escorted it to Rural cemetery where the impressive ritual of the order of woodcraft was rendered, and all that was mortal of Salem’s popular young citizen was consigned to its last resting place. (OR Statesman, 15 May 1894, p.4 ) |
| Federal / County Census Records |
1880 Henery Kay [Harry G Kay]. Age: 11. Birth: abt 1869 in Oregon. Single, son to HOH. Address in 1880: North Brownsville, Linn, OR. Occupation: attending school. Additional household members: Tom L. Kay, age 41 (father). Ann Kay, age 42 (mother). Thomas B. Kay, age 16 (brother). Libbie Kay, age 14 (sister). Sarah Kay, age 13 (sister). Minnie Kay, age 3 (sister). Bertha Kay, age 7/12 months (sister) |
| Digital Newspapers
|
Oregon Statesman, 30 Nov 1889, p. 4 – Arrival from Massachusetts, with Mill Machinery
Oregon Statesman, 14 Mar 1890 p. 5 – Opening Day of Salem’s Big Woolen Mill
Capital Journal, 25 May 1891, p. 3 – Bicycle Riders
Oregon Statesman, 5 Jan 1892 p. 4 -elected Sunday School Treasurer
Oregon Statesman, 13 May 1894 p. 5 – Obituary
Oregon Statesman, 15 May 1894 p. 4 – Funeral |
| Additional References |
Later Woolen Mills in Oregon, Alfred L. Lomax, Portland, Binfords & Mort, 1974, p. 103-139, 273-301.
The Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in Salem, Oregon, 1900-1959, Caryl Gertenrich, Masters Thesis, 1977, p 16-18. |
