| Life Story
|
Pearl Flotella Rockhill worked as a weaver at TKWM from 1910 through 1918. Her sister Grace Rockhill (Herboldt) and brother Fred Rockhill were also weavers at the mill during this time.
Pearl Flotella Rockhill was born to Henry Leslie Rockhill and Anetta Alice “Nettie” (Minnich) Rockhill on 17 Sep 1890 in Coffey County, Kansas. Pearl was the sixth of eight children born to this couple, five sons and three daughters all born in Kansas.
By 1905 the family had moved from Burlington, Kansas to Salem, Oregon. Pearl’s father was a carpenter. By 1910 Pearl was a weaver at the woolen mill along with her sister Grace who was two years older. By 1913 Pearl, her sister Grace and brother Fred were all weavers at the TKWM Co.
Pearl married Frank G. H. Green when she was 22 years old. They were married at the home of the officiating clergyman, Rev. Woodcock on Saturday, 16 Nov 1912. The young couple made their home with her parents in Salem. Pearl continued to work as a weaver for TKWM Co. The marriage lasted less than 3 years. On 27 Sep 1915 Pearl brought suit to secure a divorce, alleging cruel and inhuman treatment. She was granted the divorce and the right to resume the use of her maiden name. No children came from this marriage.
Pearl’s father passed away at the family home, 1334 Ferry Street on Wednesday, 23 Feb 1916 at age 64. Pearl continued to live with her mother and two younger siblings Fred and Myrtle. Fred worked as a weaver at TKWM Co until he went to war in 1917. Pearl worked there until the family moved to Eugene in 1918. After the family moved, Pearl and her sister Myrtle worked as weavers for the Eugene Woolen Mill.
On 26 Oct 1919 Pearl married for a second time to Ralph Paine Schindler. This marriage took place at her family’s home in Eugene. Ralph was born and raised in Salem, he worked for Hauser Bros Sporting Goods store. When Hauser opened a new store in Corvallis, Ralph moved there to manage the store. Corvallis is where the couple made their home.
Shortly after this happy event, sadness again found Pearl when her mother passed away on 2 Dec 1919 at brother Fred’s home in Eugene. Anetta was a member of the First Methodist Church of Salem so she was brought to Salem for her funeral. She was buried next to Henry at the Lee Mission cemetery in Salem, OR.
Pearl’s second marriage to Ralph Schindler was a happy one. Between 1934 and 1948 Ralph was the Corvallis Municipal Judge and City Recorder. Ralph was elected Benton County Clerk in 1948 and served until his retirement in 1970. Pearl and Ralph had no children but she was active in the community. Pearl worked as a salesperson at a department store in Corvallis at times during her life there. She was a member of St. Mary’s Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, and Lady Elks of Corvallis. Surely Ralph’s occupation kept Pearl involved as well.
Pearl and Ralph remained in Corvallis until she passed away on 23 Nov 1960 at their home from coronary thrombosis. Pearl’s funeral service was at the McHenry Funeral Home chapel. She was buried at the Oak Lawn Memorial Park cemetery in Corvallis. Her husband Ralph, her brothers Fred and Harry, and her sister Myrtle survived her.
Ralph remarried to Hazel (Barker) Hall on 21 Feb 1962, less than two years after Pearl’s death. Ralph passed away unexpectedly on 11 Sep 1976 at the Good Samaritan Hospital. He was buried next to Pearl at Oak Lawn Memorial Park in Corvallis. |
| Census Records |
1900 Pearl Rockhill – Age: 9, Birth Date: Sep 1890, Birthplace: Kansas,
Home in 1900: Pleasant, Coffey, Kansas, Race: White, Gender: Female,
Relation to HOH: Daughter, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Name: H Leslie Rockhill, Father’s Birthplace: Ohio, Mother’s Name: Nettie Rockhill, Mother’s Birthplace: Ohio, Attended School: 5 yr. Other household members: H Leslie Rockhill (48), Nettie Rockhill (44), Clarence A Rockhill (24), Joseph Rockhill (18), Grace Rockhill (11), Freddie E Rockhill (6), Myrtle A Rockhill (6/12)
1910 Pearl Rockhill – Age: 19, Birth Date: 1891, Birthplace: Kansas, Home in 1910: South 19th Street, Salem Ward 4, Marion, Oregon, Race: White, Gender: Female, Relation to HOH: Daughter, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Name: Henry L Rockhill, Father’s Birthplace: Ohio
Mother’s Name: Annetta Rockhill, Mother’s Birthplace: Ohio
Native Tongue: English, Occupation: Weaver, Industry: Woolen Mill. Other household members: Henry L Rockhill (56), Annetta Rockhill (55),
Grace Herbolt (21), Fred Rockhill (16), Myrtle Rockhill (10), Walter Herbolt (3), Arthur Herbolt (2), Alpha Herbolt (1)
1920 Pearl Schindler – Age: 28, Birth Year: abt 1892, Birthplace: Kansas, Home in 1920: 429 South 13, Corvallis, Benton, Oregon, Race: White, Gender: Female, Relation to HOH: Wife, Marital Status: Married, Spouse’s Name: Ralph P Schindler, Father’s Birthplace: Ohio, Mother’s Birthplace: Ohio, Other household members: Ralph P Schindler (26)
1930 Pearl F Schindler – Birth Year: abt 1892, Gender: Female, Race: White, Age: 38, Birthplace: Kansas, Marital Status: Married, Relation to HOH: Wife, Homemaker? Yes, Home in 1930: 430 North 6th Street, Corvallis, Benton, Oregon, Age at First Marriage: 28, Father’s Birthplace: Ohio, Mother’s Birthplace: Ohio, Occupation: Saleswoman, Industry: Department Store. Other household members: Ralph P Schindler (36).
1940 Pearl Schindler – Age: 47, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1893, Gender: Female, Race: White, Birthplace: Kansas, Marital Status: Married, Relation to HOH: Wife, Home in 1940: 430 North 6th Street, Corvallis, Benton, Oregon, Inferred Residence in 1935: Corvallis, Benton, Oregon. Additional household members: Ralph Schandler (45).
1950 Pearl Schindler – Age (57), Birth Date: abt 1893, Gender: Female, Race: White, Birth Place: Kansas, Marital Status: Married, Relation to HOH: Wife, Home in 1950: 430 N 7n 6, Corvallis, Benton, Oregon. Occupation: Saleslady, Industry: Retail Clothing. Additional household members: Ralph Schindler (55). |
| Digital Newspapers
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Statesman Journal – Sun, 17 Nov 1912, p. 7 – Married Greene-Rockhill.
The Capital Journal – Mon, 27 Sep 1915, p. 6 – Divorce Suit
Statesman Journal – Tue, 28 Sep 1915, p. 5 – Alleges Husband Cruel
The Weekly Gazette-Times – Thu, 30 Oct 1919, p. 5 – Business Man …
Corvallis Gazette-Times – Mon, 3 Nov 1919, p. 4 – Schindlers Get Back
Statesman Journal – Thu, 24 Nov 1960, p. 2 – Former Salem Resident Die
Corvallis Gazette-Times – Fri, 25 Nov 1960, p. 14 – Schindler Services …
Statesman Journal – Mon, 13 Sep 1976, p. 9 – Former Benton Official Dies
Corvallis Gazette-Times – Mon, 13 Sep 1976, p. 10 – Schindler Dies … |
