| Life Story |
Nina Lynch worked for TKWM as a spooler in 1910. Sister Loureta also worked for the mill.
Nina Opal Lynch was born on 2 May 1893 in Hopewell, Yamhill, Oregon. Her parents were Isaac and Lela (Stephens) Lynch, early pioneers of Yamhill County. Her father worked as a farmer, janitor and elevator operator at Salem Bank & Trust in the Guardian building. Her mother was one of Salem’s first police matrons. Nina had three sisters.
Nina moved to Salem with her family at the age of seven. She attended school and participated in community theater. By age 16, Nina was employed as a spooler at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, where she met her future husband Arney Browning.
Nina married Arnold “Arney” Browning on 7 June 1911 at her parent’s home at 197 S 14th Street in Salem. Arney was an operator and later silent partner in his family’s carnival business. He also ran a successful fruit farming enterprise.
Nina and Arney’s first child, a daughter named Dorothy Marie, was born on 13 November 1912. Their second child, a son named Lester Arnold, was born on 18 March 1915. Their third and final child, Margaret Nina, was born 8 April 1921.
Nina was involved in the Woman’s Progressive Club of Salem, the Liberty Woman’s Club and the Liberty Church of Christ.
When Arney retired, he and Nina moved to the coast and lived in Newport for several years. When his health began to deteriorate, they moved back to Salem.
Nina and Arney lived a good life together until his death on 15 Aug 1952. Nina lived for several years after his passing. She died of cancer on 5 July 1960 at the Medical Center Nursing home in Salem, where she had been a resident for a few months.
Nina is buried alongside her husband Arnold B. Browning. They are interred at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, Oregon.
At the time of her death, Nina and Arney had seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Their three children all lived full lives. Son Lester Browning died in October 1970 and was buried at City View. Margaret “Peggy” (Browning) Knepper died 3 March 2007 and Dorothy (Browning) Seeger died 1 August 2006. Both daughters are buried at Belcrest Memorial Park. |
| Census Records |
1900 – Nina Lynch – Age: 7, Birth Date: May 1893, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1900: Willamette, Yamhill, Oregon, Race: White, Gender: Female, Relation to Head of House: Daughter, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Name: Isaac Lynch, Father’s Birthplace: Oregon, Mother’s Name: Lela Lynch, Mother’s Birthplace: Oregon, Occupation: Student, Attended School: 3, Can Write: Y, Household members: Isaac Lynch (40), Lela Lynch (34), Ila Lynch (15), Juanita Lynch (12), Nina Lynch (7), Loureta Lynch (5), Frank Switzer (32) – (Boarder).
1910 – Nina Lynch – Age in 1910: 16, Birth Date: 1894, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1910: Salem Ward 4, Marion, Oregon, Street: S 15th, Race: White, Gender: Female, Relation to Head of House: Daughter, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Birthplace: Oregon, Mother’s Birthplace: Oregon, Native Tongue: English, Occupation: Spooler, Industry: Woolen Mill, Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner, Attended School: N, Able to read: Y, Able to Write: Y, Enumeration District Number: 0224, Out of Work: Y, Number of Weeks Out of Work: 25, Enumerated Year: 1910, Household members: Isaac Lynch (51), Lela Lynch (45), Nina Lynch (16), Lourita Lynch (14).
1920 – Nina Browning – Age: 26, Birth Year: abt 1894, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1920, Salem Ward 7, Marion, Oregon, Street: Lafelle, Residence Date: 1920, Race: White, Gender: Female, Relation to Head of House: Wife, Marital Status: Married, Spouse’s Name: Arnold B Browning, Father’s Birthplace: Oregon, Mother’s Birthplace: Oregon, Able to Speak English: Yes, Able to read: Yes, Able to Write: Yes, Household members: Arnold B Browning (32), Nina Browning (26), Dorothy Browning (7), Lester A Browning (4).
1930 – Nina O Browning – Birth Year: abt 1894, Gender: Female, Race: White, Age in 1930: 36, Birthplace: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Wife, Homemaker? Yes, Home in 1930: Liberty, Marion, Oregon, Street Address: Route 3, Age at First Marriage: 18, Attended School: No, Able to Read and Write: Yes, Father’s Birthplace: Oregon, Mother’s Birthplace: Oregon, Able to Speak English: Yes, Household members: Arney B Browning (44), Nina O Browning (36), Dorothy M Browning (17), Lester A Browning (15), Margaret M Browning (8).
1940 – Nina O Browning – Age: 46, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1894, Gender: Female, Race: White, Birthplace: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Wife, Home in 1940: Liberty, Marion, Oregon, Inferred Residence in 1935: Liberty, Marion, Oregon, Residence in 1935: Liberty, Resident on farm in 1935: Yes, Attended School or College: No, Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade, Household members: Arney B Browning (53), Nina O Browning (46) Margaret N Browning (18).
1950 – Nina O Browning – Age: 56, Birth Date: abt 1894, Gender: Female, Race: White, Birth Place: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Wife, Residence Date: 1950, Home in 1950: Newport, Lincoln, Oregon, Street Name: N W High, House Number: 405, Apartment Number: 405, Dwelling Number: 196, Farm: No, Acres: No, Occupation Category: Keeping House, Worked Last Week: No, Seeking Work: No, Employment Status: No, Institution Name: Pine Ridge Cottage Motor Court, Institution Type: Motor Court, Household members: Arney B Browning (64), Nina O Browning (56). |
| Digital Newspapers |
Oregon Statesman 1 Jan 1905, pg. 5 – Residence of Isaac Lynch
Oregon Statesman 30 Mar 1905, pg. 5 – Full Cast of Characters
Oregon Statesman 8 Jan 1911, pg. 2 – Surprise Party
Statesman Journal 26 Dec 1999, pg. 71 – LOVE: Nina Lynch met her husband, Arney while working at TKWM
Oregon Statesman 8 Jun 1911, pg. 5 – Marriage Business Flourishing
Oregon Statesman 8 Jun 1911, pg. 6 – Married. Browning-Lynch
The Capital Journal 11 Feb 1915, pg. 7 – Real Estate Transfers
The Capital Journal 8 Oct 1925, pg. 5 – Woman’s Progressive Club
Oregon Statesman 18 Aug 1952, pg. 8 – Salem Obituaries; Arnold B Browning
Oregon Statesman 9 Nov 1953, pg. 7 – Club Makes Plans For Holiday
The Capital Journal 6 Jul 1960, pg. 6 – Mrs. Browning Funeral Service
The Capital Journal 6 Jul 1960, pg. 17 – Nina O. Browning Obituary
Oregon Statesman 6 Jul 1960, pg. 16 – Death Claims Mrs. Browning
Oregon Statesman 20 Oct 1970, pg. 10 – Lester A. Browning Obituary
Statesman Journal 3 Aug 2006, pg. 14 – Dorothy Seeger Obituary
Statesman Journal 9 Mar 2007, pg. 16 – Margaret ‘Peggy’ Browning Knepper Obituary |
