(1929-1934) 

Jessie Thomkins Kaiser (1921- his death in 1956) 

Orlando was born to Samuel and Susan Neelands in Trenton, Missouri on 20 Dec 1874. When he was two years old, the family moved to the Dakota Territory to farm. Then, in 1890, the family moved on to Albany, OR. Two years later, at age 18, Orlando found work in a woolen mill along with sister Louisa. 

In 1897, Orlando married Marge Miller and in 1900, according to Federal Census records, they were living in Albany with their one-year-old son Bruce. In 1905, Orlando lost his sister Louisa Snyder. The same year, Orlando moved the family to 589 Trade St in Salem and took work as a clerk and bottler at the Standard Liquor Company. He worked there until about 1913. The couple divorced in 1912. 

By 1915, Orlando had returned to weaving, as an employee of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, where he remained for 40 years. There is one reference that shows him as a weaver living at 252 E Broadway in Long Beach, CA in 1917. He may have gone there for a short time to work in a new mill supported by the Kay family. 

On 27 Aug 1921, at age 47, Orlando married Jessie (Thompkins) Kaiser. She was a widow of 2 years trying to maintain her husband’s rented farm in the Macleay area with 25- and 27-year-old sons and two farm hands. Jessie left the farm behind to live with Orlando at 1143 Oak St in Salem where they lived until Orlando retired from TKWM. They had no children of their own.  

The family lost Orlando’s father in 1930 at the ripe old age of 90 and one of Jessie’s sons in 1935. Through the depression, the couple was better off than many others with Orlando’s job at TKWM. During the buildup for WW2, wool fabric orders and the workforce at TKWM increased substantially. Then at the end of the war, orders slowed and like many other older workers, Orlando left the mill. He was 71 years old. 

We do not how the couple supported themselves for the 11 years after Orlando’s retirement until his death on 28 Mar 1956. Jessie lived three years longer, passing away in 1959. The couple are buried at City View Cemetery in Salem. 

1905 Orlando Neelands, clrk Standard Liquor Co, 589 Trade St 

1907 Orlando Neelands (Madge), brtndr Standard Liquor Co, 589 Trade St  

Mrs. Madge Neeland, dressmaker, 570 Ferry St, Salem 

1911 Orlando Neelands, clrk Standard Liquor Co, 589 Trade St 

1913 Orlando Neelands, clrk Standard Liquor Co, bds 265 N Commercial 

1915 Orlando Neeland, weaver TKWM, no address 

1917 Orlando Neeland, weaver TKWM, no address 

(also in Long Beach, CA)  Orlando Neelands, 252 E Bway  Weaver. 

1924 Orlando Neelands (Jessie)  Weaver TKWM 1143 Oak 

1930 Orlando Neelands (Jessie)  Weaver TKWM 1143 Oak 

1932 Orlando Neelands (Jessie)  Weaver TKWM 1143 Oak 

1934 Orlando Neelands (Jessie)  Weaver TKWM 1143 Oak 

1935 Orlando Neelands (Jessie K)  Weaver TKWM 1143 Oak 

1900 Giland Neelands (Arland Neelands), 25.  Born Dec 1874 in Missouri. Rents home in 1900 – 289 12th St, Price, Albany, Linn, OR. Married HOH. Married in 1897. Father’s birthplace Missouri. Mother’s birthplace Scotland. Weaver Woolen Mill. Giland Neelands 25, May A Neelands 22, Bruce L Neelands 1. 

1910 Orlando Neelands. Born about 1875 in Missouri. Rents house at 589 Trade St, Salem, OR. Married HOH. Father’s birthplace Canada. Mother’s birthplace Scotland. Bottler in a Liquor House. Years married 13. Orlando Neelands 35, Madge Neelands 32, Bruce Neelands 11. 

1920 Orlando Neelands. Born about 1875 in Pennsylvania. Rented 265 N Commercial St, Salem, OR. HOH Divorced. Father born in Missouri. Mothers born in Scotland. Weaver, woolen mill.  

Jessie Kaiser. Born about 1874 in IL. Home in 1920: a rented farm in the Macleay area, Oregon. Widowed HOH. Farmer. Jessie Kaiser 46, Fredrick H Kaiser 27 (Son), Clyde M Kaiser 25 (Son), Newt Bartholomew 62, Rufus F Cary 22, Albert Jacobs 50 (Farm workers) 

1930 Orlando Neelands. Born about 1876 in ND. Married HOH. Owns house at 1143 Oak St. Age at first marriage 22. Father born in USA. Mother born in Canada. Weaver in Woolen Mill. Orlando Neelands 54, Jessie Neelands 55. 

 Jessie Thompkins Neelands. Birth: 1875 in Illinois, USA. Death: 1960 (aged 84-85) OR. Burial: City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion, OR. Memorial ID: 59581570  

Oregon Statesman 2 Oct 1912 pg 2  Orlando and Maggie A. Neelands divorce. 

Oregon Statesman 30 Mar 1956 pg 9 Orlando Neelands Obituary 

Capital Journal 1 Feb 1960 pg 15  Jessie Neelands Obituary 

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