| Life Story |
Tillie Dunsford worked for a short time as a finisher at TKWM when it first opened in 1890 and again for a few months in 1899. Husband John T. Welch also worked at the mill.
Matilda Ann (Tillie) Dunsford was born 14 Jan 1865 in Buffalo, New York to English immigrants Benjamin and Jane Dunsford. She was one of four children born to the couple. The family emigrated to Ontario, Canada by 1881 according to census records. Matilda at age 16, worked as a tailoress. By 1889 the family, minus father Benjamin, had moved to Salem, Oregon. Tillie as she came to be known, continued to work as a tailoress according to early city directories. The family lived at 377 Chemeketa St.
A newspaper article in March 1890, about the opening of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, states that Tillie worked for the mill as a finisher, which required a skill set similar to those used in tailoring. At the age of 30, she married fellow millworker John T. Welch on 29 Dec 1898 in the home of her mother. The groom was a fireman at the mill in the Dye House. Three children were born to the couple, Ruby, Raymond and Russell. Infant Raymond died in 1902 from lung fever. John left the woolen mill in 1909 and took a job with the police department in Salem.
In 1910, the couple moved to 555 S. 19th St. Tillie’s uncle Richard H. Bone, retired farmer, came to live with the family in 1911 and had an addition built to the home. He died in November 1916 after being struck and dragged by a train as he walked to the grocery store. John was chief of police at the time. John was also a member of the Oregon National Guard and served in WWI. After his return from the war, he took security guard type work and private investigations before being rehired by the police department. Then in the early 1920s the family moved to Portland. John took a job as house detective at the Imperial Hotel, a position he would hold for 22 years.
By 1940, children grown, the couple was living apart. Tillie with her daughter Ruby in Portland and John in the Imperial Hotel. Two years later Tillie died on 7 Jan 1942 at the age of 76. John followed a year later, on 2 Jan 1943. They were buried together in Rose City Cemetery in Portland. |
| Salem City Directories
|
1889 Dunsford Miss Matilda, tailoress, bds 377 Chemeketa (her mother)
1890 Dunsford Miss Matilda, tailoress, bds 377 Chemeketa (her mother)
1891 Dunsford Miss Matilda, tailoress, bds 377 Chemeketa (her mother)
1908 Welch John T, machinist TKWM Co, bds 377 Chemeketa
1909 Welch John T, machinist TKWM Co, bds 377 Chemeketa
1910 Welch John T, engineer, res 555 S 19th
1913 Welch John T (Tillie A), police, res 555 S 19th
1917 Welsh John T (Tillie A), watchman Supreme Court bldg., res 555 S 19th |
| Federal / County Census Records |
1870 Tilly Dunsford. Age: 5. Birth Date: abt 1865 in New York. Residence in 1870: Buffalo Ward 11, Erie, New York. Single, daughter to HOH. Occupation: At School. Additional household members: Benjamin Dunsford, age 38 (father), Jane Dunsford, age 38 (mother), Fanny Dunsford, age 9 (sister), Ettie Dunsford, age 3 (sister), George Dunsford, age 2 (brother).
1881 Matilda Dunsford. Age: 16. Birth Year: 1865 in USA. Residence in 1881: Ontario. Single, daughter to HOH. Occupation: Tailoress. Nationality: English. Religion: Church of England. Additional household members: Benjamin Dunsford, age 50 (father), Jane Ann Dunsford, age 50 (mother), Etta Dunsford, age 14 (sister), George Dunsford, age 12 (brother).
1895 Marion County Census Matilda Dunsford. Born abt 1869 in New York. Height: 5’5”. Weight: 150# .Complexion: light. Occupation: housekeeper. Religion: Protestant. Gender: female. Age: 26. Additional household members: George Dunsford (brother), Jane Dunsford (mother).
1900 Tillie Welch. Age: 32. Birth Date: Jan 1868 in Canada. Residence in 1900: South Salem, Marion, OR. Married, wife to HOH. Marriage Year: 1898. Parents born in England. Additional household member: John T. Welch, age 32 (husband).
1910 Matilda Welsh [Welch]. Age: 44. Birth Date: 1866 in New York. Residence in 1910: South 19th St. Salem Ward 4, Marion, OR. Married, wife to HOH. Parents born in England. Additional household members: John T. Welsh [Welch], age 42 (husband), Ruby E. Welsh [Welch], age 9 (daughter), Russell Welsh [Welch], age 6 (son).
1920 Tillie Welsh [Welch]. Age: 53. Birth Year: abt 1867 in New York. Residence in 1920: Center Street, Salem Ward 2, Marion, OR. Married, wife to HOH. Parents born in England. Additional household members: John T. Welsh [Welch], age 51 (husband), Ruby Welsh [Welch], age 18 (daughter), Russell Welsh [Welch], age 16 (son), Esther Bailey, age 21 (boarder).
1930 Matilda A. Welsh [Welch]. Age: 65. Birth Year: abt 1865 in New York. Residence in 1930: 1192 East Harrison, Portland, Multnomah, OR. Married, wife to HOH. Parents born in England. Additional household members: John T. Welsh [Welch], age 63 (husband), Laura F. Hayes, age 8 (granddaughter).
1940 Lillie [Tillie] Welsh [Welch]. Age: 73. Birth Year: abt 1867 in New York. Residence in 1940: 4205 SE Pine, Portland, Multnomah, OR. Widowed, mother-in-law to HOH. Additional household members: Clifford E. Perry, age 57 (son-in-law), Ruby Perry, age 39 (daughter), Rauda Perry, age 18 (granddaughter). |
| Digital Newspapers |
Capital Journal 29 Dec 1898, p 1 – Marriage Announcement
OR Statesman 21 Jul 1900, p 8 – Birth of Daughter
OR Statesman 25 Dec 1902, p 8 – Death of Infant Son (Raymond)
OR Statesman 18 Jan 1910, p 1 – J.T. Welch, Street Commissioner
OR Statesman 5 Apr 1910, p 1 – J.T. Welch, Resigns as Commissioner
OR Statesman 21 Nov 1916, p 1 – Death of Uncle, Tillie’s Inheritance
Capital Journal 12 Jun 1926, p 5 – Visit of George H. Dunsfords
Capital Journal 20 Oct 1930, p 7 – Mrs. J.T. Welch visits Salem
Oregonian 8 Jan 1942, p 3 – Death Notice Matilda
Oregonian 4 Jan 1943, p 17 – Obituary John |
