| Life Story
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Martha Anna Graber worked as a finisher at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill from 1904-1906. Most finishers were at least 20 years old. Martha was only 16.
Martha was born on 29 Jan 1888 in Beaucourt, France. Her parents were Pierre “Peter” and Anna Graber. When she was only 4 months old her parents and two older brothers, Peter and Emile, came to America. They arrived in New York on the ship named La Normandie.
From New York the family made their way west and spent a few years in Kansas before coming to Oregon in 1891. Martha’s youngest sister Leona was born in Salem, OR in 1893.
Martha’s mother died in 1901 when Martha was only 13 years old. Her father, distraught over the loss, committed suicide four years later, almost to the day. Her parents are buried at Lee Mission Cemetery in Salem, OR. This left Martha, her older brothers and younger sister orphaned. Martha was 17, her little sister only 11.
On 4 Jan 1908, Martha married Benjamin Franklin Brown at the minister’s residence in Salem. Benjamin was a plumber and the couple lived in Salem until Benjamin decided to go prospecting in Southern Oregon. His WWI draft card shows them living in Ashland, OR. Their son Kenneth was born there in 1917. Around 1919 Martha and Benjamin moved their family to Bend, OR and Benjamin opened his own plumbing business. The couple remained there the rest of their lives and raised four children.
Benjamin F Brown passed away after a short illness on 20 Oct 1940 from coronary occlusions. Martha was 52 years old when her husband passed. She lived in Bend, OR until she passed away on 9 Jan 1972. Martha was 84 years old and is buried next to her husband in the Pilot Butte Cemetery in Bend, OR. |
| Federal / County Census Records |
1895 M Graber (daughter of head), Birth Place: France, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1888, Residence Place: Salem, Marion, Oregon, Female, Age: 7. Additional household members: Peter, 54 (head), Anna, 38 (wife), Peter, 18 (son), A, 15 (son) & L, 2 (daughter)
1900 Martha Graber (daughter of head), Age 12, Birth Date: Apr 1888, Birthplace: France, Home in 1900: Englewood, Marion, Oregon, Occupation: At School. Additional household members: Peter Graber (head) 59, Day Laborer; Annie Graber (wife) 44; Emile Graber (son), 20, Day Laborer, Leona Graber(daughter) 7, At School
1910 Martha Anna Brown (wife of head), Age: 22, Birth Date: 1888, Birthplace: France, Address: Nebraska Ave, Salem Ward 6, Marion, Oregon, Spouse’s Name: Benjamin F Brown, Years Married: 3, Number of Children Born: 1, Number of Children Living: 1. Occupation: None. Additional household members: Benjamin F Brown (head) 29, Occupation General Plumbing, Bernice Maxine Brown (daughter) 1
1920 Martha A Brown (wife of head), Age: 30, Birth Year: 1890, Birthplace: France, Home in 1920: Federal St, Bend, Deschutes, Oregon, Spouse’s Name: Benjamin F Brown, Occupation: Plumber. Additional household members: Benjamin F Brown (head), 40, Maxine R Brown (daughter) 11, Clifford C Brown (son) 8, Deon M Brown (daughter) 6, Kenneth E Brown (son) 2
1930 Martha Brown (wife of head), Birth Year: 1888, Gender: Female, Race: White, Age: 42, Birthplace: France, Marital Status: Married, Home in 1930: 1015 Federal, Bend, Deschutes, Oregon. Additional household members: Benjamin Brown (Head) 60, Occupation: Plumber, Maxine Brown (daughter) 21, Clifford Brown (son) 18, Leon Brown (listed as son but it is daughter Deon) 16, Kenneth Brown (son) 12
1940 A Martha Brown (wife of head), Age: 52, Estimated Birth Year: 1888, Gender: Female, Race: White, Birthplace: France, Marital Status: Married, Home in 1940: 28 Saginaw, Bend, Deschutes, Oregon. Map of Home in 1940: Bend, Deschutes, Oregon. Additional household members: F Benjamin Brown (Head) 61, Occupation: Plumber, Own business, E Kenneth Brown (son) 22, Service man, Water Dept
1950 Martha A. Brown (widowed, head), Age: 62, Birth Date: 1888, Gender: Female, Race: White, Birth Place: France, Home in 1950: 335 Clay, Bend, Deschutes, Oregon, Occupation: keeping house, No additional household members. |
