| Life Story |
Mary Agnes Sheridan worked at the TKWM from 1905-1910 as a finisher. Her brother William, her sisters Julia and Martha were also valued employees at the mill. Her sister Cecelia also spent a brief time working at the mill when she was a teen.
Mary Agnes Sheridan was born on 30 Nov 1868 in Salem, Oregon. She was the oldest of eight children born to James Phil Sheridan and Mary Ellen (Casey) Sheridan. Mary’s father James came to Oregon around 1850 and was 53 years old when he married Mary Ellen who was only 22. Mary Agne’s siblings were Sarah, Margaret (Maggie), Ella (Nellie), Julia, Cecelia, William and Martha.
This was the third marriage for James; children came from all three marriages for a total of 24 children. James passed away in 1889 when Mary Agnes was 31 year old. She probably had a hand in raising her younger siblings.
After her father’s death Mary continued to live with her mother at 487 Marion. Her mother passed away 18 Oct 1904 but the home stayed in the family. Mary Agnes is first found working as a finisher at the TKWM in 1905, still living at her mother’s home. In 1907 she roomed at a boarding house at 162 S 12th St and continued to work as a finisher at TKWM Co. By 1909 she is back at her mother’s home at 487 Marion and by 1910 she appears back at 162 S 12th St. Mary’s nephew John Slavin is also boarding there. All the while she worked as a finisher. Mary left TKWM and became a cook at the Salem reform school by 1918.
Sometime around 1920 Mary moved to Portland. Following little articles in the newspapers it appeared Mary spent most of the rest of her life visiting and living with one or more of her sisters. The census records show her living with her sister Sarah’s family in 1930, living with her sister Nellie and sometimes her sister Martha by 1935. She did some housekeeping for private parties during this time. In 1940 she is living in Eola with her sister Nellie’s family.
Mary Agnes passed away 4 Jan 1945. Her obituary says she was living at 630 Yamhill when she died. A mass was held at St Francis Church SE 13th and Pine on 8 Jan 1945. She is buried at St Barbara’s Cemetery in Salem in the Sheridan family plot. She shares a gravestone with her sister Margaret “Maggie” Sheridan Slavin who died in 1901. Her parents are also buried there. The dates are not correct on Mary’s gravestone according to her death certificate. |
| Salem City Directories |
1891 – Sheridan Mary A, bds 487 Marion (mother’s residence)
1905 – Sheridan Mary A, finisher TKWM Co, bds 487 Marion
1907 – Sheridan Mary A, finisher TKWM Co, rms 162 S 12th
1908 – Sheridan Mary A, finisher TKWM Co.
1909 – Sheridan Mary A, finisher TKWM Co, bds 487 Marion
1910 – Sheridan Mary A, finisher TKWM Co, rms 162 S 12th |
| Census Records |
1880 – Mary A Sheridan. Age: 11, Birth Date: Abt 18769, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1880: East Salem, Marion, Oregon. Race: White, Gender: Female, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Birthplace: Ireland, Mother’s Birthplace: Ireland, Additional Household members: Mary (39) mother, Sarah (10), Ella J (8), Maggie (7), Julia (6) (Mary A’s sisters).
1900 – Mary A Sheridan. Age: 29, Birth Date: Nov 1870, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1900: 487 Marion, Salem, Oregon. Race: White, Gender: Female. Relation to HOH: Daughter. Marital Status: Single. Father’s Birthplace: Ireland. Mother’s Name: Mary E Sheridan, Mother’s Birthplace: Ireland. Additional Household members: Mary E Sheridan (55) mother, William Sheridan (20), brother, Martha Sheridan (15) sister, John Slavin (3) sister Maggie’s son.
1910 – Mary A Sheridan. Age: 40, Birth Date: 1870, Birthplace: Oregon. Home in 1910: 162 S 12th, Salem Ward 3, Marion, Oregon. Race: White, Gender: Female. Relation to HOH: Lodger. Marital Status: Single. Father’s Birthplace: Ireland, Mother’s Birthplace: Ireland. Occupation: Finisher, Industry: Woolen Mill. Additional Household members: John Slaven (14) sister Maggie’s son, many other lodgers listed.
1930 – Mary A Sheridan. Birth Year: abt 1870. Gender: Female, Race: White. Age: 60, Birthplace: Oregon. Marital Status: Single. Relation to HOH: Sister. Home in 1930: Middleton, Washington, Oregon. Father’s Birthplace: Northern Ireland, Mother’s Birthplace: Irish Free State. Additional Household members: Sarah J Olds (60) HOH (Mary’s sister), Revil E Olds (32) Sarah’s son, Maxwell F Beno (17) Sarah’s grandson, Loyd Seeley (23) boarder.
1940 – Mary A Sheredan [Sheridan]. Age: 71, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1869. Gender: Female, Race: White. Birthplace: Oregon. Marital Status: Single. Relation to HOH: Sister. Home in 1940: Salem-Dallas Road, Eola, Polk, Oregon. Residence in 1935: Rural, Multnomah, Oregon. Occupation: House-keeper, Industry: Private Home. Additional Household members: Nellie J Ferguson (67) HOH (Mary’s sister), Ralph I Ferguson (43) Nellie’s son, Maxine J Ferguson (28) Nellie’s daughter, Edward M Mitty (68) lodger, Joseph Adams (24) lodger. |
| Digital Newspapers |
Statesman Journal, 16 Oct 1904, p 5 – Sick at Portland (mother’s illness)
Statesman Journal, 22 Jun 1911, p 5 – Attends sister Martha’s nursing grad.
Daily Capital Journal, 14 Nov 1918, p 9 – Mary (cook at reform school) visits
The Capital Journal, 16 Oct 1924, p 2 – Mary of Portland winters with sister
The Capital Journal, 10 Jun 1927, p 8 – Mary of Portland visits with sister
The Capital Journal, 7 Jun 1929, p 3 – Mary of Portland visits with sisters
The Capital Journal, 24 May 1930, p 2 – Called to Sherwood (sister’s illness)
The Capital Journal, 7 Nov 1930, p 8 – Eola – Mary of Portland indefinite visit
The Oregonian, 6 Jan 1945 – Obituary – found in St Barbara’s Cemetery book |
