Walter Reid, WHC Collections 0079.001.0002

Walter M. Reid

Job Title(s)

Dyer, Master Dyer

Dates of Employment

c. 1928-1954

Last Name  Reid 
First Name  Walter 
Middle Initial  Munro 
Born  3 Nov 1878 in Moundsville, West Virginia 
Home Addresses  

(1929-1934) 

RD 5 Box 4 (Pringle, Marion, OR) 
Died  7 Mar 1964 in Salem, OR 
Place Buried  Belcrest Memorial Park 
Wife  Willie Josephine Mercer 
Date of Marriage  16 Apr 1904 in Dresden, Ohio 

31 Aug 1929 in Salem, OR (remarriage) 

Children  Edward Allison, Martha Margaret, John Mercer, Frances Jessie, and William Brice Reid 
Dates of Employment  1928-1954 
Job(s)  Dyer, Master Dyer 
Story  Walter M Reid worked as a dyer for TKWM from 1928 to 1954. 

Walter Munro Reid was born 3 Nov 1878 in Moundsville, West Virginia to John W and Caroline [Munro] Reid. He married Willie Josephine Mercer twice. The first time 16 Apr 1904 in Dresden, OH where he worked for the Dresden Woolen Mill. They were the parents of five children. In 1910 the family lived in Hanover, IL where Walter worked as the Boss Dyer in the Hanover Woolen Mill. In 1917 he registered for the draft, though would not serve in WWI due to his employment in a critical war industry. His draft registration card gives the following personal details: tall, medium build, blue eyes, and red hair.  

Walter moved his family to Salem, OR in 1927 when he accepted a job at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill as head of the Dye Department or Boss Dyer. He held this position until his retirement in 1954. In December 1928 Walter and Willie divorced, citing desertion as the cause. They reconciled after the tragic death of 16-year-old daughter Margaret from acute encephalitis in March 1929. The couple remarried 31 Aug 1929. They lived in the Pringle area of Salem until the mid-1940s when they moved to 392 S High St. Walter’s wife Willie died 8 Oct 1944 in the family home. Walter died 7 Mar 1964 in Salem Hospital. Both Walter and Willie are buried in Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem. 

References 
Name  Remarks 
City Directories  1928  Reid, Walter M (Willie J) foreman T K Woolen Mill Co h S 12th RD5 box 25B 

1930  Reid Walter M (Willie J) dyer T K Woolen Mill Co h S 12th RD5 box 25B  

1932  Reid Walter M (Willie J) dyer T K Woolen Mill RD5 box 25B 

1934  Reid Walter M (Willie J) dyer TKWMCo h RD5 box 4 

1935  Reid Walter M (Willie J) head dyer TKWM RD5 box 4 

1936  Reid Walter M (Willie J) frmn TKWM RD5 box 4 

1938  Reid Walter M (Willie J) frmn TKWM RD5 box 4 

1940  Reid Walter M (Willie J) dyer TKWM RD4 box 375 

1942  Reid Walter M (Willie) frmn TKWM RD4 Box 8 

1945  Reid Walter M frmn TKWM 392 S High 

Census  1910  Walter M Reid. Age 31. Birth Date: 1879. Birthplace: West Virginia. Home in 1910: Monroe St., Hanover, Illinois. Married, HOH. Father born in Pennsylvania. Mother born in Ohio. Occupation: Boss Dyer in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Willie J Reid, 24. Edward A Reid, 5. 

1920  Walter Reid. Age 40. Birth Year: abt 1880. Birthplace: Ohio. Home in 1920: N. Latrobe Ave. Chicago Ward 33, Cook (Chicago), IL. Married, HOH. Father born in Pennsylvania. Mother born in USA. Occupation: Traveling Salesman in the Dye Industry. Additional household members: Wilma Reid, 33. Edward Reid, 15. Margaret Reid, 7. John Reid, 4. 

1930  Walter M Reid. Age 51. Birth Year: abt 1879. Birthplace: West Virginia. Married, HOH. Home in 1930: Valley St. In Pringle, Marion, OR. Father born in Pennsylvania. Mother born in Ohio. Occupation: Overseer in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Willie J Reid, 43. Edward A Reid, 25. John M Reid, 14. Francis J Reid, 9. William B Reid, 6. 

1940  Walter Reid. Age 61. Birth Year: abt 1879. Birthplace: Virginia. Married, HOH. Home in 1940: Pringle, Marion, OR. Occupation: Dyer in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Willie Reid, 54. Francis Reid, 19. William Reid, 16. 

Marriage Return  REMARRIAGE Walter M Reid-Willie J Reid. 31 Aug 1929 in Salem, Marion, OR. Husband Info. Residence: Salem Rt 5 Box 25B. Age: 50. Birthplace: W. Virginia. Occupation: Dyer. Second Marriage. Wife Info. Residence: Salem Rt 5 Box 25 B. Age: 42. Birthplace: Ohio. Occupation: Housewife. Second Marriage. 
WWI Draft Registration  Walter Munro Reid. Age: 39. Birth Date: 3 Nov 1878. Residence: Jo Daviess County, Illinois. Occupation: Foreman in Hanover Woolen Mill. Nearest Relative: Mrs. Willie M Reid. Height: Tall. Physical Build: Medium. Eye Color: Blue. Hair Color: Red. Registration Date: 12 Sep 1918. 
WW2 Draft Registration  Walter Munro Reid. Age 63. Birth Date: 3 Nov 1878. Birthplace: Moundsville, West Virginia. Residence: R #4 Box 8 Salem, OR. NOP: Mrs. Willie Josephine Reid. Employer Name: Thos Kay Woolen Mill Salem, OR. Height: 5’11 ½”. Weight: 295. Eyes: Gray. Hair: Gray. Complexion: Ruddy. Large scar on right foot. Registration date: 26 Apr 1942. 
Social Security Death Index  Walter Reid. Birth Date: 3 Nov 1878. Issue Year: Before 1951. Issue State: Oregon. Death Date: Mar 1964. 
Oregon Death Index  Walter M Reid. Age 85. Birth Date: abt 1879. Death Date: 7 Mar 1964. Death Place: Marion. Certificate: 3707. 
Find a Grave  Walter Munro Reid. Birth: 3 Nov 1878 Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia. Death: 7 Mar 1964 (aged 85) Salem, Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 69719288 

Willie Josephine Mercer Reid. Birth: 10 Jul 1886 Batesville, Ohio. Death: 8 Oct 1944 (aged 58) Salem, Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 69718939. 

Newspapers.com  Times Recorder (Zanesville, OH) 18 Apr 1904 p 8. Willie J Mercer-Walter M Reed Wedding 

Oregon Statesman 1 Jan 1929 p 2. Walter – Willie Reid Divorce 

Oregon Statesman 19 Mar 1929 p 5. Martha Reid (daughter) Death 

Oregon Statesman 10 Oct 1944 p 5. Willie Reid Death Notice 

Oregon Statesman 21 Jun 1961 p 5. Walter Reid Hip Broken 

Oregon Statesman 9 Mar 1964 p 11. Walter M Reid Obituary 

WHC Materials 

M3 1966-001               Mill Records 

M3 1992-117-0003     Photo 

0079.001.0002             Photo 

M3 1984-010                Six Books related Wool Dyeing