Henry Clifford Alder's cremated remains were not initially taken after death and were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2021 a relative received the ashes. (Anna's were also claimed)
His parents, Toivo Peter Alder and Anna Kanniainen, were immigrants from Finland which at the time was a part of Russia. The family's surname was actually Leppanen, but some time after 1922 it was changed it to Alder. Henry's father was born in 1885, came to the US in 1904, and applied for US citizenship in 1922. Henry's mother arrived in the US in 1910. The couple was married about 1913. Their 8 children, all born in Washington, were: Oiva "Edward" (born in 1913), Sylvia (in 1914), Leslie Leo (in 1918), twins Toivo "Oren" and Anna Eileen (on 11/19/1921), Carl Wilbert (in 1924), Henry (in 1928) and Everett (about 1932).
In the 1920 census, taken long before Henry was born, his parents and three oldest siblings were living in Centerville, Klickitat County, Washington where Toivo was farming. Although the family's primary language was Finnish, Toivo spoke English, but Henry's mother did not.
Henry was born in the mid-to-late 1920s in Washington, despite his death certificate saying he was born in Oregon. He had hydrocephalus which was also known as "water on the brain." This is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid causing intracranial pressure, brain atrophy, seizures and mental disability as well as feeding/swallowing problems.
At the time of the 1930 census, Henry was 3 years old, living with his family in Deep River, Wahkiakum County, Washington where Henry's father was a logger. By 1935 the Alders had moved to Oregon. During the 1940 census, they were living in Quincy, Columbia County in northwestern Oregon where Henry's father was a repair man in a lumber mill. Toivo Alder died on 6/18/1948. He was buried at Murray Hill Cemetery in Clatskanie, Columbia County.
Three weeks before his father's death Henry's 20 year old sister, Anna was institutionalized. She was admitted to the Oregon Fairview Home in Salem, Oregon. Originally called "Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded," the facility was a quasi-educational institution charged with educating the developmentally disabled. In 1933 the facility was renamed Oregon Fairview Home and it was closed in 2000.
On 11/6/1948, about four months after Henry's dad died, Henry was admitted to the Oregon Fairview Home where his sister was a patient. Three and a half years after arriving, Henry died on 4/12/1952 after aspirating vomit. He was about 25 years old. He also had skin cancer. It is likely he had xeroderma pigmentosa, like his older sister Anna. This condition impairs the skins ability to repair damage from ultraviolet light. Anna died of aspiration pneumonia on 11/17/1961 at Fairview 13 years after being admitted. She was 2 days away from her 40th birthday.
After Henry and Anna each died and their remains were not initially claimed, their bodies were transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where they were cremated and where their ashes were being held.
Henry and Anna were survived by their mother and siblings. Henry's mother died in 1967. She was buried with her husband. Brother Oren died in 1965. Brother Leslie died in 1971 and Carl died in 1983. Oren, Leslie and Carl were all buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Brother Edward died in 1966 and is buried in Columbia County. Sister Sylvia (Alder) Leinonen died in 2005.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
His parents, Toivo Peter Alder and Anna Kanniainen, were immigrants from Finland which at the time was a part of Russia. The family's surname was actually Leppanen, but some time after 1922 it was changed it to Alder. Henry's father was born in 1885, came to the US in 1904, and applied for US citizenship in 1922. Henry's mother arrived in the US in 1910. The couple was married about 1913. Their 8 children, all born in Washington, were: Oiva "Edward" (born in 1913), Sylvia (in 1914), Leslie Leo (in 1918), twins Toivo "Oren" and Anna Eileen (on 11/19/1921), Carl Wilbert (in 1924), Henry (in 1928) and Everett (about 1932).
In the 1920 census, taken long before Henry was born, his parents and three oldest siblings were living in Centerville, Klickitat County, Washington where Toivo was farming. Although the family's primary language was Finnish, Toivo spoke English, but Henry's mother did not.
Henry was born in the mid-to-late 1920s in Washington, despite his death certificate saying he was born in Oregon. He had hydrocephalus which was also known as "water on the brain." This is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid causing intracranial pressure, brain atrophy, seizures and mental disability as well as feeding/swallowing problems.
At the time of the 1930 census, Henry was 3 years old, living with his family in Deep River, Wahkiakum County, Washington where Henry's father was a logger. By 1935 the Alders had moved to Oregon. During the 1940 census, they were living in Quincy, Columbia County in northwestern Oregon where Henry's father was a repair man in a lumber mill. Toivo Alder died on 6/18/1948. He was buried at Murray Hill Cemetery in Clatskanie, Columbia County.
Three weeks before his father's death Henry's 20 year old sister, Anna was institutionalized. She was admitted to the Oregon Fairview Home in Salem, Oregon. Originally called "Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded," the facility was a quasi-educational institution charged with educating the developmentally disabled. In 1933 the facility was renamed Oregon Fairview Home and it was closed in 2000.
On 11/6/1948, about four months after Henry's dad died, Henry was admitted to the Oregon Fairview Home where his sister was a patient. Three and a half years after arriving, Henry died on 4/12/1952 after aspirating vomit. He was about 25 years old. He also had skin cancer. It is likely he had xeroderma pigmentosa, like his older sister Anna. This condition impairs the skins ability to repair damage from ultraviolet light. Anna died of aspiration pneumonia on 11/17/1961 at Fairview 13 years after being admitted. She was 2 days away from her 40th birthday.
After Henry and Anna each died and their remains were not initially claimed, their bodies were transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where they were cremated and where their ashes were being held.
Henry and Anna were survived by their mother and siblings. Henry's mother died in 1967. She was buried with her husband. Brother Oren died in 1965. Brother Leslie died in 1971 and Carl died in 1983. Oren, Leslie and Carl were all buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Brother Edward died in 1966 and is buried in Columbia County. Sister Sylvia (Alder) Leinonen died in 2005.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Henry Clifford Alder's cremated remains were not initially taken after death and were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2021 a relative received the ashes. (Anna's were also claimed)
His parents, Toivo Peter Alder and Anna Kanniainen, were immigrants from Finland which at the time was a part of Russia. The family's surname was actually Leppanen, but some time after 1922 it was changed it to Alder. Henry's father was born in 1885, came to the US in 1904, and applied for US citizenship in 1922. Henry's mother arrived in the US in 1910. The couple was married about 1913. Their 8 children, all born in Washington, were: Oiva "Edward" (born in 1913), Sylvia (in 1914), Leslie Leo (in 1918), twins Toivo "Oren" and Anna Eileen (on 11/19/1921), Carl Wilbert (in 1924), Henry (in 1928) and Everett (about 1932).
In the 1920 census, taken long before Henry was born, his parents and three oldest siblings were living in Centerville, Klickitat County, Washington where Toivo was farming. Although the family's primary language was Finnish, Toivo spoke English, but Henry's mother did not.
Henry was born in the mid-to-late 1920s in Washington, despite his death certificate saying he was born in Oregon. He had hydrocephalus which was also known as "water on the brain." This is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid causing intracranial pressure, brain atrophy, seizures and mental disability as well as feeding/swallowing problems.
At the time of the 1930 census, Henry was 3 years old, living with his family in Deep River, Wahkiakum County, Washington where Henry's father was a logger. By 1935 the Alders had moved to Oregon. During the 1940 census, they were living in Quincy, Columbia County in northwestern Oregon where Henry's father was a repair man in a lumber mill. Toivo Alder died on 6/18/1948. He was buried at Murray Hill Cemetery in Clatskanie, Columbia County.
Three weeks before his father's death Henry's 20 year old sister, Anna was institutionalized. She was admitted to the Oregon Fairview Home in Salem, Oregon. Originally called "Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded," the facility was a quasi-educational institution charged with educating the developmentally disabled. In 1933 the facility was renamed Oregon Fairview Home and it was closed in 2000.
On 11/6/1948, about four months after Henry's dad died, Henry was admitted to the Oregon Fairview Home where his sister was a patient. Three and a half years after arriving, Henry died on 4/12/1952 after aspirating vomit. He was about 25 years old. He also had skin cancer. It is likely he had xeroderma pigmentosa, like his older sister Anna. This condition impairs the skins ability to repair damage from ultraviolet light. Anna died of aspiration pneumonia on 11/17/1961 at Fairview 13 years after being admitted. She was 2 days away from her 40th birthday.
After Henry and Anna each died and their remains were not initially claimed, their bodies were transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where they were cremated and where their ashes were being held.
Henry and Anna were survived by their mother and siblings. Henry's mother died in 1967. She was buried with her husband. Brother Oren died in 1965. Brother Leslie died in 1971 and Carl died in 1983. Oren, Leslie and Carl were all buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Brother Edward died in 1966 and is buried in Columbia County. Sister Sylvia (Alder) Leinonen died in 2005.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
His parents, Toivo Peter Alder and Anna Kanniainen, were immigrants from Finland which at the time was a part of Russia. The family's surname was actually Leppanen, but some time after 1922 it was changed it to Alder. Henry's father was born in 1885, came to the US in 1904, and applied for US citizenship in 1922. Henry's mother arrived in the US in 1910. The couple was married about 1913. Their 8 children, all born in Washington, were: Oiva "Edward" (born in 1913), Sylvia (in 1914), Leslie Leo (in 1918), twins Toivo "Oren" and Anna Eileen (on 11/19/1921), Carl Wilbert (in 1924), Henry (in 1928) and Everett (about 1932).
In the 1920 census, taken long before Henry was born, his parents and three oldest siblings were living in Centerville, Klickitat County, Washington where Toivo was farming. Although the family's primary language was Finnish, Toivo spoke English, but Henry's mother did not.
Henry was born in the mid-to-late 1920s in Washington, despite his death certificate saying he was born in Oregon. He had hydrocephalus which was also known as "water on the brain." This is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid causing intracranial pressure, brain atrophy, seizures and mental disability as well as feeding/swallowing problems.
At the time of the 1930 census, Henry was 3 years old, living with his family in Deep River, Wahkiakum County, Washington where Henry's father was a logger. By 1935 the Alders had moved to Oregon. During the 1940 census, they were living in Quincy, Columbia County in northwestern Oregon where Henry's father was a repair man in a lumber mill. Toivo Alder died on 6/18/1948. He was buried at Murray Hill Cemetery in Clatskanie, Columbia County.
Three weeks before his father's death Henry's 20 year old sister, Anna was institutionalized. She was admitted to the Oregon Fairview Home in Salem, Oregon. Originally called "Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded," the facility was a quasi-educational institution charged with educating the developmentally disabled. In 1933 the facility was renamed Oregon Fairview Home and it was closed in 2000.
On 11/6/1948, about four months after Henry's dad died, Henry was admitted to the Oregon Fairview Home where his sister was a patient. Three and a half years after arriving, Henry died on 4/12/1952 after aspirating vomit. He was about 25 years old. He also had skin cancer. It is likely he had xeroderma pigmentosa, like his older sister Anna. This condition impairs the skins ability to repair damage from ultraviolet light. Anna died of aspiration pneumonia on 11/17/1961 at Fairview 13 years after being admitted. She was 2 days away from her 40th birthday.
After Henry and Anna each died and their remains were not initially claimed, their bodies were transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where they were cremated and where their ashes were being held.
Henry and Anna were survived by their mother and siblings. Henry's mother died in 1967. She was buried with her husband. Brother Oren died in 1965. Brother Leslie died in 1971 and Carl died in 1983. Oren, Leslie and Carl were all buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Brother Edward died in 1966 and is buried in Columbia County. Sister Sylvia (Alder) Leinonen died in 2005.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
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