| Life Story
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Sylvia Viesko was a finisher at TKWM for at least seven years. According to city directories, Sylvia was working as a finisher at TKWM by 1905 and continued to work there through 1911, possibly until she married in 1912. She may have been back after that, but no proof has turned up.
Sylvia was born to Martin Hess Viesko and Bertha Amelia Dras Schultz on the 4th of July in Silverton, Marion, Oregon. Her mother came from Germany when she was 7 years old, and her father was born in Wisconsin. They married in Silverton, OR in 1885. Sylvia was the oldest of eight children. By the age of 10, Sylvia’s family had moved from Silverton to Salem. Her father had a cement business. He held the contract for the Portland Hotel during its construction.
At the age of 26, Sylvia married Frank Richter at the home of her parents on South High St in Salem. Frank was a carpenter and Sylvia worked whenever she could. The couple’s first child, a son named Louis was born a little over a year later. Their daughter Bertha Rose was born three years later. In 1919 Sylvia was pregnant with twins when the unthinkable happened. Their son, Louis, was playing on the lawn at the northeast corner of Washington and Commercial St. The boy started across the street and was struck by a motorcycle and died from the accident. This tragedy happened in March; the twins, Frank and Jeannine were born later that year on December 25th.
Frank owned and ran Richter’s Furniture Store at 377 Court St. He evidently was not a good provider for his family. The 1930 census does not have him living with his family. Sylvia has taken on housework to make ends meet.
Sylvia filed for divorce in April of 1931. She charged that he had an ungovernable temper, easily flew into fits of rage, that he used profane language, and beat her and their small daughter. She said he did not support her and the children and that she was forced to work whenever she could and that he deserted them on several occasions. Sylvia was granted that divorce 2 Jun 1931. She is listed as a saleswoman in the 1935 city directory, a cannery worker in 1947.
Sylvia passed away in a nursing home shortly after her 85th birthday. She died on 7 July 1970 and was survived by her two daughters and son. She also had 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. She was a member of the Golden Age, the Degree of Honor Lodge and the Christian Church.
Sylvia is buried at City View Cemetery in Salem, OR. She is next to her son Louis and her son Frank Dean Richter. Her ex-husband Frank is also buried there. |
| Salem City Directories |
1905 – Viesko Sylvia, finisher TKWM Co, bds 1143 S Liberty (parents res)
1907 – Viesko Sylvia, finisher TKWM Co, bds 1143 S Liberty
1909 – Viesko Sylvia, finisher TKWM Co, bds 1143 S Liberty
1910 – Viesko Sylvia, finisher TKWM Co, bds 1143 S Liberty
1911 – Viesko Sylvia, finisher TKWM Co, bds 1143 S Liberty
1913 – Richter Frank F (Sylvia), dlk E L Stiff & Son, res Judson nr S High
1915 – Richter Frank F (Sylvia), clerk, res ns Judson 2 e S High
1917 – Richter Frank F (Sylvia), clerk E L Stiff & Son, res n s Judson e S High
1921 – Richter Frank F (Sylvia), sln W W Moore, h 255 E Washington
1924 – Richter Frank F (Sylvia), slsn Giese-Powers Furn Co, h 255 Washington
1926-27 – Richter Frank F (Sylvia), slsmn Giese-Powers Furn Co, h 405 Kearney
1928-29 – Richter Frank F (Sylvia), slsmn, h 1080 Electric
1930-31 – Richter Sylvia Mrs, h 255 E Leffelle
1932 – Richter Sylvia (wid Frank), h 1193 S Liberty
1934 – Richter Sylvia Mrs, h 1193 S Liberty
1935 – Richter Sylvia Mrs, slswn, h 910 Howard
1936-37 – Richter Sylvia Mrs, h 1590 S Liberty
1938-39 – Richter Sylvia Mrs, h 1590 S Liberty
1940-41 – Richter Sylvia Mrs, h 856 S 12th
1942 – Richter Sylvia Mrs, h 856 S 12th
1945 – Richter Sylvia (wid Frank), h 856 S 12th
1947 – Richter Sylvia Mrs, cnrywkr, h 856 S 12th
1949 – Richter Sylvia (wid Frank), h 856 S 12
1968 – Richter Sylvia (wid Frank), retd, r 2245 Mill St SE |
| Federal / County Census Records |
1900 – Sylva Vieska: Age: 14, Birth Date: Jul 1885, Birthplace: Oregon, USA, Home in 1900: Yew Park, Marion, Oregon, Race: White, Gender: Female, Relation to HOH: Daughter, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Name: Martin Vieska, Father’s Birthplace: Minnesota, USA, Mother’s Name: Bertha Vieska, Mother’s Birthplace: Germany, Occupation: School
1910 – Sylvia Viesko: Age: 24, Birth Date: 1886, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1910: Salem Ward 7, Marion, Oregon, USA, Street: Liberty St, Race: White, Gender: Female, Relation to HOH: Daughter, Marital Status: Single, Father’s Name: Martin H Viesko, Father’s Birthplace: Minnesota, Mother’s Name: Bertha Viesko, Mother’s Birthplace: Germany, Native Tongue: English, Occupation: Packer, Industry: Fruit Packing
1920 – Sylvia Richter: Age: 34, Birth Year: 1886, Birthplace: Oregon, Home in 1920: Salem Ward 7, Marion, Oregon, Street: Washington St, Residence Date: 1920, Race: White, Gender: Female, Relation to HOH: Wife, Marital Status: Married, Spouse’s Name: Frank Richter
1930 – Sylvia Richter: Birth Year: abt 1888, Gender: Female, Race: White, Age: 42, Birthplace: Oregon, Marital Status: Married, Relation to HOH: Head, Homemaker?: Yes, Home in 1930: Salem, Marion, Oregon, USA, Street Address: Lefelle Street, Ward of City: 7, Part of House Number: 235, Home Owned or Rented: Rented, Father’s Birthplace: Minnesota, Mother’s Birthplace: Germany, Occupation: House-work, Industry: By the day
1940 – Sylvia Richter: Respondent: Yes, Age: 53, Estimated Birth Year: 1887, Gender: Female, Race: White, Birthplace: Oregon, Marital Status: Widowed, Relation to HOH: Head, Home in 1940: Salem, Marion, Oregon, Street Address: 856 S 12th Street, rented.
1950 – Sylvia Richter: Age: 64, Birth Date: 1886, Gender: Female, Race: White, Birth Place: Oregon, Marital Status: Divorced, Relation to HOH: Mother, Home in 1950: Salem, Marion, Oregon, USA |
