Levi Fimby

Job Title(s)

Spinner

Dates of Employment

c. 1913-1924

Last Name   Fimby 
First Name  Levi 
Middle Initial   
Born  29 Aug 1882 in Red Bluff, CA  
Home Addresses (Salem) 

       

 435 S. 17th St. 

1386 Ferry 

448 S 16th 
Died  5 Dec 1979 in Camas, WA 
Place Buried  Washougal Memorial Cemetery in Washougal, WA 
Spouse  Susan Galloway 
Date of Marriage  20 Feb 1910 in St. Johns, Multnomah, OR 
Children  Mary Elizabeth  
Dates of Employment  1912 – 1924 
Job(s) at TKWM  Spinner 
Life Story  Levi Fimby was a spinner who worked at TKWM from 1912 to 1924. His sister Pastora and brother Cass also worked for the mill. 

Levi Fimby was born 29 Aug 1882 in Red Bluff, CA to George and Maria Trinidad [Garcia] Fimby. He was one of 13 children born to the couple. Both parents were descendants of California’s early Spanish and Mexican settlers, also referred to as Californios. He attended school in Napa until the 5th grade.  

His father George worked for a time as deputy marshal and later at the Napa Woolen Mills. With such a large family, it took everyone to make ends meet. The Fimby children worked at the woolen mill, a millinery shop, at a tannery and glove factory, as laborers on farms and ranches, and mama Trinidad made chicken tamales that the children delivered around town six evenings a week. Levi found work as a spool filler in the Napa Woolen Mill.  

In 1888, Father George lost both hands in a hunting accident. The community rallied around the family, holding benefit performances with Vaudeville performers.  He died a few years later, at the young age of 52 after two years of tuberculosis abscesses. At the time of his death, three of his children worked at the Napa Woolen Mill, daughter Pastora as a weaver, and Levi and Cass as spool fillers. While working at the Napa Mill Pastora met and married widower Frank Contreras, a loom fixer.  

In 1910, Frank and Pastora moved to the Portland area in Oregon to work at the newly formed Portland Woolen Mills and Levi went along. Here he met and married Susan Galloway on 20 Feb 1910. She was a housekeeper, of Canadian ancestry. The couple would have one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. 

In 1912, both couples moved to Salem where they took jobs at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. They rented a home together at 1386 Ferry St. a block away from the mill. Levi worked in the spinning department, Pastora and Frank in the weaving department. Levi registered for the WWI draft but was granted exemption because of his war-related factory work. TKWM was a leading producer of army blankets. While in Salem Levi was an active member (and officer) in the Modern Woodmen of America and took an active role in their community service projects. 

On 31 Aug 1920, daughter Mary Elizabeth was born in Salem. She was an only child. At the age of 9, in 1930 she died from meningitis. The couple divorced soon after. By 1930, Levi had moved to Washougal, WA where he took work at the Washougal Woolen Mill. Susan remarried, but Levi remained single and worked at Washougal until his retirement. Levi died 5 Dec 1979 in Camas, Clark County, WA and was buried in Washougal Memorial Cemetery. 
References  
Name  Remarks 
Salem City Directories (unless otherwise noted)  1910 Fimby Levi, laborer, Portland Woolen Mills (Portland area) 

1911 Fimby Levi, laborer, h 412 Philadelphia St. Johns (Portland area) 

1912 Fimby Levi, operator M M Mills, b 664 Tacoma av (Portland) 

1913 Fimby Levi (Susie), spinner TKWM Co, res 1386 Ferry 

1915 Fimby Levi (Susan), spinner TKWM Co, res 448 S 16th 

1917 Fimby Levi (Susan), spinner TKWM Co, res 435 S 17th 

1923 Fimby Levi (Susie) millworker r 625 Umatilla av (Portland) 

1924 Fimby Levi (Susan), laborer TK Woolen Mill Co, h 435 S 17th 
Federal / County Census Records  1900  Levi Fimby Age: 18. Birth Date: Mar 1882 in California. Home in 1900: 94 Pearl St. In Napa, Napa, CA. Single, son to HOH. Occupation: Spool Filler in Woolen Mill. (can read, can write, can speak English) Additional household members: George Fimby, age 45 (father), Trinidad Fimby, age 32 (mother), Pastora Fimby, age 20 (sister), Cass Fimby, age 14 (brother), Mary Fimby, age 12 (sister), Dionicia Fimby, age 10 (sister), Joseph Fimby, age 9 (brother), Mona Fimby, age 7 (sister), Santo Fimby, age 6 (brother). 

1910  Levi Fimby Age: 27. Birth Date: 1883 in California. Home in 1910: 605 Johnnie St., St. Johns Ward 2, Multnomah, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Rose Fimby, age 26 (wife) 

1920  Levi Flimby Age: 37. Birth Year: abt 1883 in California. Home in 1920: 435 S. 17th St. In Salem Ward 4, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Spinner in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Susan Flimby, age 36 (wife). 

1930  Levi Fimby  Age: 48. Birth Year: 1882 in California. Home in 1930: 30 Second St., Washougal, Clark, WA. Boarder, to HOH. Married, boarder to HOH. Occupation: Spinner in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Elsie E. Howard, age 77 (head), Mary I. Stone, age 50 (boarder). 

1940  Levi Fimby  Age: 58. Birth Year: abt 1882 in California. Home in 1940: Second St., Washougal, Clark, WA. Divorced, lodger to HOH. Occupation: Spinner. Additional household member: Margaret Olette, age 57 (head). 

1950  Levi Fimby  Age: 67. Birth Date: abt 1883 in California. Home in 1950: 334 Durber St. Washougal, Clark, WA. Divorced, lodger to HOH.  Occupation: Spinner. Additional household members: Margaret E. Olette, age 68 (head), Alfred F. Olette, age 48 (son to HOH). 
WW1 Draft Registration  Levi Fimby. Age: 36. Date of Birth: 29 Aug 1882. Address: 435 So. 17th St. Salem, Marion, OR. U.S. Citizen: Native born. Occupation: Spinner (wool). Employer’s Name: T.F. Kay Woollen Co. So. 12th Salem, Marion, OR. Nearest Relative: Susie Fimby, 435 So. 17th Salem, Marion, OR. Height: Short. Build: Slender. Color of Eyes: Brown. Color of Hair: Black. Date of Registration: 12 Sep 1918. 
WW2 Draft Registration  Levi Fimby. Age: 61. Date of Birth: 29 Aug 1882. Place of Birth: Red Bluff, California. Residence: Washougal, Clark, Washington. NOP: I.O.O.F. Washougal, WA. Employer’s Name: Washougal Woolen Mill. Race: White. Height: 5-5. Weight: 135. Eyes: Brown. Hair: Gray. Complexion: Dark. Other physical characteristics: first and second fingers broken on left hand. Date of Registration: 27 Apr 1942. 
County Marriage Record  Fimby-Galloway. Return of Marriage. Date: 20 Feb 1910. Place: St. Johns, Multnomah, OR. Husband: Levi Fimby. Residence: St. Johns. Color: white. Age: 27. Birthplace: Red Bluff, CA. Occupation: Laborer. No. Of Marriage: First. Father’s birthplace: Placerville, CA. Mother’s birthplace: San Francisco, CA. Wife: Susie Galloway. Residence: St. Johns. Color: white. Age: 26. Birthplace: Canada. Occupation: Housekeeper. No. Of Marriage: First. Father’s birthplace: Canada. Mother’s birthplace: Scotland. 
Oregon Death Index   Levi Fimby. Age: 87 [incorrect]. Birth Year: 1892 [incorrect]. Residence Place: Clark, WA. Death Date: 5 Dec 1979. Death Place: Clark, WA. 
Find-a-Grave 

 

 Levi Fimby.  Birth: 29 Aug 1892 in California, USA. Death: 5 Dec 1979 (aged 87) in Camas, Clark County, WA. Burial: Washougal Memorial Cemetery, Washougal, Clark County, WA. Plot: Sec 1, Blk 3, Lot 37. Memorial ID: 18128400 

Susan Galloway Cavitt. Birth: 1881. Death: 1978 (aged 96-97). Burial: Rose City Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah County, OR. Memorial ID: 194656018. 

Mary Elizabeth Fimby. Birth: 28 Aug 1920 in Oregon. Death: 4 Jun 1930 (aged 9) in Vancouver, Clark County, WA. Burial: Rose City Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah County, OR. Memorial ID: 71240253. 
Digital Newspapers 

 

 Capital Journal, 3 Dec 1915, p 2 – Modern Woodmen Elect Officers 

Napa Journal, 1 Sep 1931, p 3 – Levy Fimby Honored at Family Dinner 
WHC Materials 

 

 M3 1966-001     Mill Records