| Last Name |
Donaldson |
|
| First Name |
Hilge [Helge, Luke]
|
|
| Middle Initial |
Emigrant |
|
| Born |
7 Apr 1888 in Dallas, OR |
|
| Home Addresses
(1929-1934) |
240 S 23rd, Salem, OR |
|
| Died |
10 Nov 1978 in Salem, OR |
|
| Place Buried |
City View Cemetery in Salem, OR |
|
| Wife |
Emma May Shedeck |
|
| Date of Marriage |
16 Aug 1917 |
|
| Children |
Marjorie A., Dolores M. |
|
| Dates of Employment |
From abt 1905 to abt 1955 (with one break around 1928 ) |
|
| Job(s) |
Spinner |
|
| Story |
Hilge Donaldson worked at TKWM from about 1905 to about 1955.
Hilge “Luke” Emigrant Donaldson was born on 10 Nov 1888 in Dallas, OR to John and Carolina Donaldson. The family immigrated from Sweden in 1887, spent a short time in Stillwater, MN but moved to Oregon just before Hilge’s birth. He was the last child born to the family before his father’s untimely death in 1892.
Hilge’s oldest brother George J was tasked with providing an income for the family as a day laborer. By 1900, George was joined by the two next oldest brothers, Charles and Emil. They were aged 25, 23 and 21 at the time. 19-year-old sister Augusta helped around the house while 15-year-old Oscar and 12-year-old Hilge attended school.
Five years later in 1905, the family had moved to Salem. Hilge had only completed the 6th grade and at age 17, he was already working at TKWM as a spinner along with brothers Emil and George. They all continued to live with mother Carolina and sister Augusta at 548 S 14th. Brother Oscar was also working as a spinner at TKWM but lived apart from the family. He married in 1907.
Hilge was still working at TKWM as a spinner in 1917 when he married Emma May Shedeck. They had two daughters: Marjorie born in 1923 and Delores born in 1925.
Around 1928, Hilge spend a short stint working for the Salem city road department but soon returned to TKWM to continue what became a 49-year career. For most of those years, the family lived at 240 S 23rd.
Hilge and his brothers Oscar, Emil, and Charlie were very active in Wood Workers of the World and the brothers maintained a very close relationship even though Charlie had moved to Portland to work at another woolen mill. They attended regular lodge meetings and participated in song and dance musicals together. They even went to a national convention in San Francisco. Some of the brothers also served on an amateur baseball team.
Mother Carolina passed in 1935 and sadly, all of Hilge’s older siblings preceded him in by many years. They were all gone by time Hilge retired from TKWM around 1956. Hilge had a long retirement passing away on 10 Nov 1978 in Salem. He is buried at City View Cemetery. Emma passed in 1996 at age 103. She is buried near Hilge. |
|
| |
|
|
| References |
|
| Name |
Remarks |
|
| Recorded Interview |
Hilge “Luke” Donaldson M3 1994-016-0001 |
|
| Salem City Directories |
1905 Helge E Donaldson Spinner TKWM, 548 S 14th.
1911 Helge E Donaldson Spinner TKWM, 548 S 14th.
1915 Helge E Donaldson Spinner TKWM, 548 S 14th.
1917 Helge E Donaldson Spinner TKWM, rms 548 S 14th.
1924 Helge E Frmn TKWM, 1344 Marion
1928 Helge E (Emma M) City Road laborer, 240 S 23rd
1930 Helge E (Emma M) spinner TKWM, 240 S 23rd
1932 Helge E (Emma M) spinner TKWM, 240 S 23rd
1934 Helge E (Emma) spinner TKWM, 240 S 23rd
1935 Helge E (Emma E) spinner TKWM, 240 S 23rd
1955 Helge E Donaldson retired, 325 13th St NE Apt 101 |
|
| Census |
1900 Hilge Donaldson. Birth date Apr 1888 in Dallas, OR. Son of HOH. Father and Mother bborn in Sweden. In school. Carlina Donaldson 51, George J 25, Charles 23, Emil 21, Gusta 18, Oscar 15, Hilge 12.
1910 Hilge Donaldson. Birth about 1888 in Dallas, OR Son of HOH. Father and mother born in Sweden. S 14th St, Salem, OR. Spinner, woolen mill. Caroline Donaldson 61, George E 34 (scourer) , Emil 30 (dyer), Hilge 22 (spinner), Amelia Peterson 18 (boarder, weaver).
1920 Hilge E Donaldson. Birth about 1889 in Oregon. Rents home at 524 S 14th St, Salem, OR. Married HOH. Father and mother born in Sweden. Foreman, woolen mill. Hilge E Donaldson 31, Emma M Donaldson 26.
1930 Helge E Donaldson. Birth about 1888 in Oregon. Owns home at 240S 23rd St, Salem OR. Married HOH. Age at first marriage 29. Father and mother born in Sweden. Spinner, woolen mill. Helge E Donaldson 42, Emma M Donaldson 38, Marjorie A Donaldson 7, Delores M Donaldson 5.
1940 Helge E Donaldson. Birth about 1889. Owns home at 240 S 23rd St. Married HOH. Spinner, woolen mill. Highest grade completed 6th. Helge E Donaldson 51, Emma Donaldson 46, Marjorie 17, Dolores 15. |
|
| Oregon Marriage Index |
Helge Donaldson married 16 Aug 1917 in Marion County, OR |
|
| Find a Grave |
Helge Emigrant Donaldson. Birth: 7 Apr 1888 in Dallas, Polk County, OR. Death: 10 Nov 1978 in Salem, Marion County, OR. Burial: City View Cemetery in Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 55040779
Emma May Shedeck Donaldson. Birth: 5 May 1893 in Salem, Marion County, OR. Death: 29 Feb 1996 in Forest Grove, Washington County, OR. Burial: City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 55040824 |
|
| WW1 Draft Record |
Helge Emigrant Donaldson. Age 29. White. Single. B 7 Apr 1888 in Oregon. 548 S 14th, Salem, OR. Reg date 5 Jun 1917. Laborer, TKWM. Supports mother. |
|
| WW2 Draft Record |
Helge Emigrant Donaldson. Male. Age 54. B 7 Apr 1888 in Dallas, OR. Residence 240 S 23rd St, Salem, OR. Registration 1942. Draft Date 1942. HOH. NOK Emma M Donaldson, same address. Employer TKWM. |
|
| Newspapers.com |
Oregon Statesman 17 Aug 1917 p 4. Marriage Announcement
Oregon Statesman 27 Jun 1936 p 5. Donaldson Family Gathering
Statesman Journal 11 Nov 1978 p 25. Helge Donaldson Obituary |
| WHC Materials |
M3 1966-001 Mill Records
0079.001.0002 Photo
M3 1972-023-0005 Photo
M3 1974-015-0004 Photo
M3 1992-117-0005 Photo
M3 1992-100-0026 Calendar
M3 1994-016-0001 Oral History (Hilge Donaldson)
M3 1994-016-0013 Oral History (Norman Allport)
M3 1994-016-0017 Oral History (Mac Carthew)
M3 1994-016-0024 Oral History (George Hemann)
M3 1994-016-0026 Oral History (Dora Barnes) |
