| Last Name |
Berry |
| First Name |
Wilbur |
| Middle Name |
French |
| Born |
22 Feb 1893 in Waterville, Maine |
| Home Addresses (Salem)
|
1740 S Winter
1760 Fairmount Ave
475 N Summer |
| Died |
14 Jan 1984 in Wakefield, Rhode Island |
| Place Buried |
Riverside Cemetery in Wakefield, Rhode Island |
| Spouse |
Isadore Browning |
| Date of Marriage |
19 Mar 1923 in Maine |
| Children |
Edith (stepdaughter), June |
| Dates of Employment |
1937-1942 |
| Job(s) at TKWM |
Superintendent |
| Life Story
|
Wilbur F. Berry was hired as superintendent at TKWM in 1937 and worked for a period of five years. Berry succeeded Chester A. Page. He had 22 years of experience in woolen and worsted mills in New England. He was a graduate of the Lowell Textile Institute.
Wilbur French Berry was born 22 Feb 1893 in Waterville, Maine, a son of Reverend Doctor Wilbur F. Berry and Lavonia [French] Berry. He was a graduate of Colby College in 1913 and the Lowell Textile Institute in 1917. He enlisted in the Army and served for two years in France with the 26th Division, 102 Regiment of Field Artillery. He was promoted to first lieutenant and decorated with the Crois-de-Guerre and two palms for gallantry.
After the war he continued in the textile business in New England. In March 1923 he married Isidore E. Browning, a divorced mother of five-year-old Edith. They lived in Providence, Rhode Island and had a child of their own, June, born in 1927.
In 1937, Wilbur was hired by the Kay family to be the superintendent and manager of their Salem woolen mill. The family moved to Salem, Oregon and rented a home at 1760 Fairmount.
In 1942, the family returned to New England. Then in 1945 he returned to the Salem area and Berry purchased interest in the Paris Woolen Mills in Stayton, OR. They remained for two years then sold their interest in the mill and returned to Rhode Island.
In 1951, he and Isadore established a real estate firm. Then they moved to South Kingstown in 1956. He worked as a real estate broker for 18 years before retiring. His obituary stated that he was a member of Orpheus Lodge F & AM, a charter member of the Wakefield Rotary Club, a charter member of the Wakefield Elks, a member of the American Legion, a former member of the Dunes Club, and a member of the Peace Dale Congregational Church.
His daughter June died 7 July 1975 in their home, at the age of 48. No cause of death was listed in the newspaper. She was buried in Riverside Cemetery in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. His wife Isadore died in August 1981. Wilbur died 14 Jan 1984 in Wakefield, Rhode Island. He was buried with his wife and daughter in Riverside Cemetery. |
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| Salem City Directories |
1938 Berry Wilbur F (Isadore B), superintendent, Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Co, h 1740 S. Winter
1940-41 Berry Wilbur F (Isadore B), superintendent, TKWM Co, h 1760 Fairmount
1942 Berry Wilbur F (Isadore B), vice-president, superintendent, Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Co, h 1760 Fairmount Ave
1947 Berry Wilbur F (Isadore B) president, Paris Woolen Mills Inc, h 475 N Summer |
| Census Records |
1900 Wilber F. Berry. Age: 7. Birth Date: Feb 1893 in Maine. Home in 1900: Pearl St., Waterville, Kennebec, Maine. Single, son to HOH. Additional household members: Wilber F. Berry, age 48 (father), Lavonia Berry, age 46 (mother), Josephine M. Berry, age 20 (sister), Lillian E. Berry, age 18 (sister), Mary E. Berry, age 16 (sister), Emma L. Berry, age 14 (sister), Nicholas L. Berry, age 9 (brother).
1910 Wilber F. Berry. Age: 17. Birth Date: 1893 in Maine. Home in 1910: Burleigh St., Waterville Ward 5, Kennebec, Maine. Single, son to HOH. Additional household members: Wilber F. Berry, age 58 (father), Sarah L. Berry, age 56 (mother), Mary Berry, age 26 (sister), Lillian Berry, age 28 (sister), Emma L. Berry, age 23 (sister), Nicholas N. Berry, age 19 (brother).
1920 Unable to locate
1930 Wilbur F. Berry. Age: 37. Birth Year: abt 1893 in Maine. Home in 1930: Buyon Ave., Providence, Providence, Rhode Island. Married, HOH. Occupation: Manufacturer, Woolens. Additional household members: Isadore B. Berry, age 33 (wife), Edith Berry, age 11 (daughter), Jennie Berry, age 3 (daughter), Lena Jackson, age 21 (maid).
1940 Wilbur F. Berry. Age: 47. Birth Year: abt 1893 in Maine. Home in 1940: 1760 Fairmont, Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Woolen Mills Superintendent. Additional household members: Isadore B. Berry, age 43 (wife), June Berry, age 13 (daughter).
1950 Wilber F. Berry. Age: 56. Birth Date: abt 1894 in Maine. Home in 1950: Kingstown Rd. Narragansett Pier, Washington, Rhode Island. Occupation: None listed. Additional household members: Isidore B. Berry, age 53 (wife), June Berry, age 21 (daughter). |
| WW1 Maine Military Index |
Wilbur F. Berry. Birth Date: 22 Feb 1893 in Waterville, Maine. Rank: First Lieutenant. Residence: Waterville. Enlistment Date: 1 Apr 1917. Served overseas. Honorable Discharge: 17 Mar 1919. |
| WW2 Draft Registration |
Wilbur F. Berry Jr. Residence: 1760 Fairmount St. Salem, Marion, OR. Age: 49. DOB: 22 Feb 1893. Place of Birth: Waterville, Maine. NOP: Mrs. Wilbur F. Berry Jr. Employer: Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, 260 S. 12th St. Salem, OR. Physical Description: Height: 6’. Weight” 200 lbs. Complexion: Light. Eyes: Blue. Hair: Gray. Other obvious physical characteristics: appendix scar. Date of Registration: 26 Apr 1942 in Salem, OR. |
| Marriage Index, Maine |
Wilbur F. Berry Jr. – Isadore B. Eldred. Marriage Date: 19 Mar 1923. Marriage Place: Maine. Residence of both: Peace Dale, Rhode Island |
| Social Security Death Index |
Wilbur Berry. Birth Date: 22 Feb 1893. Issue Year: Before 1951. Issue State: Connecticut. Last Residence: 02883, Peace Dale, Washington, Rhode Island. Death Date: Jan 1984. |
| Find-a-Grave |
Wilbur French Berry. Birth: 1893. Death: 1984 (aged 90-91). Burial: Riverside Cemetery, South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island. Plot: B 0020. Memorial ID: 90376182
Isadore B. Berry. Birth: 1896. Death: 1981 (aged 84-85). Burial: Riverside Cemetery, South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island. Plot: B 0020. Memorial ID: 90376479 |
| Digital Newspapers
|
Oregon Statesman 16 Mar 1937, p. 2 – New Woolen Mill Official Arrives [Berry]
Oregon Statesman 20 Sep 1938, p. 6 – Mrs. Berry to be Honored at Tea [entertained by Mrs. Ercel W. Kay]
Oregon Statesman 23 Feb 1939, p. 5 – Berry in Hospital
Oregon Statesman 7 Feb 1940, p. 1 – Silhouette Cutting Hobby [Berry]
Capital Journal 1 Mar 1941, p. 5 – Bundles for Britain [Mrs. Berry helps with the War Effort]
Oregon Statesman 26 Apr 1947, p. 1 – Berry Buys Share in Woolen Mills [Paris Woolen Mills in Stayton]
Oregon Statesman 30 Oct 1947, p. 8 – Berrys are Welcomed [Return of the Berrys from Narragansett, R.I.]
Oregon Statesman 11 May 1948, p. 9 – Stayton Woolen Mill Installs Much New Equipment for Work [Wilbur Berry, plant manager]
Capital Journal 22 Apr 1949, p. 9 – Stayton Mills’ Interest Sold [Berry sells to Etzels]
Providence Journal (Providence, Rhode Island) 5 Feb 1951, p. 20 – Incorporation of Real Estate Company, Wilbur F. Berry Co.
Evening Bulletin (Providence, Rhode Island) 23 Mar 1973, p. 3 – 50th Anniversary
Providence Journal (Providence, Rhode Island) 8 July 1975, p. 51 – Obituary, daughter June
The Evening Bulletin (Providence, Rhode Island) 12 Aug 1981, p. 11 – Obituary, Isadore
Providence Journal (Providence, Rhode Island) 16 Jan 1984, p. 4 – Obituary, Wilbur |
| WHC Materials
|
M3 1966-001 Mill Records
M3 1975-017-0001 Minute Book, TKWM Co.
M3 1994-016-0010 Oral History Interview (John Reid)
M3 1994-016-0022 Oral History Interview (Lon Barrett)
M3 1994-016-0027 Oral History Interview (James Hackett)
M3 1994-016-0030 Oral History Interview (Ed Antrican)
M3 1994-016-0043 Oral History Interview (Virgil and Bessie Shipman)
M3 1994-016-0049 Oral History Interview (Eleanor Kay) |
