| Last Name |
Goss |
| First Name |
Kenneth |
| Middle Name |
DeWitt |
| Born |
25 Sep 1906 in Hyndman, Pennsylvania |
| Home Addresses (Salem)
|
Leslie St. (1920 census)
1185 13th St. (1930 census)
330 14th St. Apt. 4 then Apt. 5 (with Florence)
3240 Abrams Ave. NE (with Florence) |
| Died |
30 May 1960 in Portland, OR |
| Place Buried |
Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, OR |
| Spouse |
Florence M. Osburn Baysinger |
| Date of Marriage |
25 Apr 1936 in Vancouver, WA (divorced 29 Apr 1941) |
| Children |
None |
| Dates of Employment |
1930-1940 |
| Job(s) at TKWM |
Weaver, Loom Fixer |
| Life Story
|
Ken Goss worked as a weaver and loom fixer at TKWM from approximately 1930 to 1940. His mother Verna Goss Roberts and wife Florence M. Baysinger also worked at the mill.
Kenneth DeWitt Goss was born 25 Sep 1906 in Hyndman, Pennsylvania to John H. and Verna M. [Smith] Goss. He was one of three children born to the couple. The family moved to the Salem area around 1908 where John farmed. In August of 1912, Father John was killed while working on a county road when explosives he was setting ignited. Ken’s mother took work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill to provide for her children.
She remarried around 1918, a man named Solomon Roberts. He brought three additional children to their marriage. Son Ken attended public schools in Salem, left high school after two years to work. He continued to live with his mother until his marriage in 1936 to widow Florence Baysinger. Both he and Florence worked at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in the weaving department. Their marriage was short-lived. They divorced in April 1941, the reason cited: cruel and inhuman treatment.
Ken continued to work at TKWM until enlistment and service in the U.S. Army from 9 May 1942 to 17 Aug 1943. He achieved the rank of private while serving at the 96th Base Headquarters. According to his military records, he was discharged in part for misconduct and pre-existing medical issues. He returned to Oregon and moved to Portland where he worked a series of mechanic/repairman jobs. He died of a heart attack 30 May 1960 in Portland, OR where he had lived for fifteen years. He was buried at Willamette National Cemetery. |
|
|
| References |
| Name |
Remarks |
| Salem City Directories (unless otherwise noted) |
1932 Goss Kenneth D weaver r860 Shipping
1934 Goss Kenneth D weaver r860 Shipping
1935 Goss Kenneth D weaver r860 Shipping
1936 Goss Kenneth D (Florence M) weaver TKWMCo h 330 S 14th apt 5
1938-39 Goss Kenneth D (Florence M) weaver TKWMCo h 330 S 14th apt 5
1940 Goss Kenneth D (Florence M) asst formn TKWMCo h 30 Abrams av
1945 Goss Kenneth mech r 1027 Oak
1953 Goss Kenneth D mech DeSemple Typewriter Co r717 SE Union av (Portland)
1956 Goss Kenneth D reprmn Shaffer Business Machs r6315 Macadam av (Portland)
1959 Goss Kenneth D (Portland) |
| Federal / County Census Records |
1910 Kenneth D. Goss. Age: 3. Birth Date: 1907 in Pennsylvania. Home in 1910: Rosedale, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH. Additional household members: John H. Goss, age 29 (father), Verna M. Goss, age 27 (mother), Winnie E. Goss, age 8 (sister), Norton H. Goss, age 5 (brother).
1920 Kenneth D. Goss. Age: 13. Birth Year: abt 1907 in Pennsylvania. Home in 1920: Leslie St. Salem Ward 4, Marion, OR. Single, stepson to HOH. Occupation: Delivery Boy (Newspaper). Additional household members: Solomon W. Roberts, age 35 (stepfather), Verna M. Roberts, age 37 (mother), Benjamin M. Roberts, age 11 (stepbrother), Beulah D. Roberts, age 9 (stepsister), Thornton H. Goss, age 15 (brother).
1930 Kenneth D. Goss. Age: 23. Birth Year: abt 1907 in Pennsylvania. Home in 1930: 1185 13th St. Salem, Marion, OR. Single, brother to HOH. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Thornton H. Goss, age 25 (brother), Gladys M. Goss, age 22 (sister-in-law), Dorothy M. Goss, age 2 (niece), John T. Goss, age 0 (nephew), Verna Goss Roberts, age 47 (mother).
1940 Kenneth D. Goss. Age: 33. Birth Year: abt 1907 in Pennsylvania. Home in 1940: Box 30 Abrams Avenue, Hayesville, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Loom Fixer in Woolen Mill. Additional household member: Florence Goss, age 35 (wife).
1950 Kenneth D. Goss. Age: 43. Birth Date: abt 1907 in Pennsylvania. Home in 1950: Portland, Multnomah, OR. Divorced, HOH. Occupation: Business Machine Operator at a Business Machine Sales and Repair. No additional household members. |
| WW2 Draft Registration |
Kenneth DeWitt Goss. Age: 34. Date of Birth: 25 Sep 1906. Place of Birth: Hyndman, Pennsylvania. Address: 30 Abrams Ave. Salem, Marion, OR. NOP: Mrs. Verna Goss Roberts (mother). Employer: Thomas Kay Woolen Mills, 260 S. 12th St. Salem, Marion, OR. Height: 5’10”. Weight: 197. Blue eyes. Brown hair. Light complexion. Date of registration: 16 Oct 1940. |
| Washington State Marriage Record |
Florence M. Baysinger – Kenneth D. Goss. Date: 25 Apr 1936 in Vancouver, Clark, WA. Groom Info: Kenneth D. Goss, resident of Salem, OR, age 29, first marriage, birthplace Pennsylvania, occupation Weaver, father John W. Goss, mother Verna Smith. Bride Info: Florence M. Baysinger, resident of Salem, OR, age 31, widowed, second marriage, birthplace Iowa, occupation Weaver, father Ernest W Osburn, mother Mable T. McNeley |
| Oregon State Divorce Record |
Florence Goss – Kenneth Goss. Date: 29 Apr 1941 in Marion County, OR. Cause: Cruel & Inhuman Treatment. No children. |
| Oregon Death Index |
Kenneth D. Goss. Death Date: 30 May 1960. Death Place: Multnomah [county]. Certificate #6718 |
| Find-a-Grave
|
Kenneth Dewit Goss Birth: 26 Sep 1906. Death: 30 May 1960 (aged 53). Burial: Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah County, OR. Plot: S, 0, 2435. Military: PVT, US ARMY, Memorial ID: 711806 |
| Digital Newspapers
|
Capital Journal 30 Apr 1936, p. 5 – Marriage Announcement (Baysinger-Goss)
Oregon Statesman 9 Apr 1941, p. 5 – Divorce Notice (Goss)
Capital Journal 2 Jun 1960, p. 24 – Obituary (Kenneth Goss) |
| WHC Materials |
M3 1966-001 Mill Records |
