Ora June Bertschinger'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.
Ora was born in Oregon on 6/4/1882. Her father, Alexander Slater, was born in Ohio in 1838 and her mother, Adeline Rebecca Boleyn, was born in April 1855 in Iowa. Ora was the youngest of her mother's 3 children. Ora's only siblings were Nora Ann Slater who was born in Iowa in October 1875 and George Arthur Slater who was born in Oregon in 1879.
At the time of the 1880 census (before Ora was born), her parents and siblings were living in Polk County, Oregon where her father was farming. When Ora was 9 years old her father died on 4/20/1892 and was buried in Portland, Oregon.
During the 1900 census, Ora was 17, single, and living with her siblings and widowed mother in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood of Portland where they were renting a home. While Ora was in school, Nora was a day laborer, and George was a mill worker. Both her siblings were single their entire lives.
At the age of 22 in 1905, Ora married Harry M. Durston in Multnomah County. He was born in Illinois about 1877. They never had children. At the time of the 1910 census they were living on Salmon Street in Portland. He was a clerk for the phone company. In the 1910 census Ora's mother, brother and sister were also living in Portland where Nora was a bookkeeper and George was a teamster. At least by 1918 he was a driver for the Standard Oil Gas Company. Ora and Harry divorced in 1914 in Clackamas County, Oregon. She returned to using the name Slater.
On 10/18/1916 Ora married Adolf Bertschinger in Seattle, Washington. At the time, she had been living in Deer Lodge, Montana and he was living in Portland. Adolf was an immigrant, born in Baden, Switzerland in 1875. He entered the US in 1882 when he was about 7. He was a chiropractic / naturopathic physician who practiced in Portland for 31 years. He was first married in 1912 to Marie M. Stutyke. Adolph & Marie divorced in 1915 after what was described in the newspaper as a "sensational trial." She alleged non-support and he alleged cruelty.
Ora and Adolf were married shortly after his divorce. They never had children. At the time of the 1920 & 1930 censuses, Ora was listed in Portland with Adolf. Before and during their marriage Adolf had been in court and under investigation on several occasions related to malpractice in Oregon and Wisconsin. Twice he was on trial for manslaughter. One suit was dismissed and he won the other one. In 1927 the Governor of Oregon appointed him to be the president of the Naturopathic Board of Examiners. Additionally he was the owner of the Beaver State Fur Farm and was interested in mining in Galice in southern Oregon.
In the 1930 census, her mother and siblings were living in a home they owned at 1010 Glenn Avenue in Portland. George was supporting them as a chauffeur for a gas company. Her mother died in Portland on 12/15/1931.
Ora's first husband, Harry Durston, had became the Northwest Superintendent of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. He died on 12/17/1933 leaving two young children, Jessie May and Audrey Durston as well as his wife Bess who he had married in October 1917.
Ora and her second husband, Adolf Bertschinger divorced between 1930 and 1933. By 1933 he was married to a woman named Frances. Meanwhile Ora was living in an apartment on N 21st in Portland.
On 5/3/1938 Adolph was convicted of performing a surgical operation without a license. He was fined $250 and paroled from a six-month county jail sentence. He was given a stay pending an appeal. Two weeks after that, on 5/16/1938, Adolph went missing. Three weeks later, on 6/6/1938 his body was found by three boys who were swimming in the Santiam River. He had drowned after falling into the river while fishing.
That same year Ora was living with her siblings at 4736 NE 32nd Place in Portland. From that home on 9/5/1938, Ora was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility for the treatment of people with mental illness. In the 1940 census she was listed as a patient at the state hospital.
During the 1940 census, her siblings were in their 60s, living at their home on 32nd Place in Portland. George was a driver for the gas company. Ora's sister Nora died on 1/11/1956. Her brother George died on 8/13/1957. They and their parents were buried at the Multnomah Park Cemetery in Portland.
On 7/1/1965, after having lived at the mental institution for over 26 years Ora died there of pneumonia complicated by arteriosclerosis. She was 83 years old. An autopsy was performed and she was cremated a week later. She had outlived everyone in her birth family which is probably why her remains were never claimed,
Since neither Ora nor either of her siblings had children, her nearest living relatives are descendants of her aunts and uncles - offspring of Ora's cousins.
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.
Ora was born in Oregon on 6/4/1882. Her father, Alexander Slater, was born in Ohio in 1838 and her mother, Adeline Rebecca Boleyn, was born in April 1855 in Iowa. Ora was the youngest of her mother's 3 children. Ora's only siblings were Nora Ann Slater who was born in Iowa in October 1875 and George Arthur Slater who was born in Oregon in 1879.
At the time of the 1880 census (before Ora was born), her parents and siblings were living in Polk County, Oregon where her father was farming. When Ora was 9 years old her father died on 4/20/1892 and was buried in Portland, Oregon.
During the 1900 census, Ora was 17, single, and living with her siblings and widowed mother in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood of Portland where they were renting a home. While Ora was in school, Nora was a day laborer, and George was a mill worker. Both her siblings were single their entire lives.
At the age of 22 in 1905, Ora married Harry M. Durston in Multnomah County. He was born in Illinois about 1877. They never had children. At the time of the 1910 census they were living on Salmon Street in Portland. He was a clerk for the phone company. In the 1910 census Ora's mother, brother and sister were also living in Portland where Nora was a bookkeeper and George was a teamster. At least by 1918 he was a driver for the Standard Oil Gas Company. Ora and Harry divorced in 1914 in Clackamas County, Oregon. She returned to using the name Slater.
On 10/18/1916 Ora married Adolf Bertschinger in Seattle, Washington. At the time, she had been living in Deer Lodge, Montana and he was living in Portland. Adolf was an immigrant, born in Baden, Switzerland in 1875. He entered the US in 1882 when he was about 7. He was a chiropractic / naturopathic physician who practiced in Portland for 31 years. He was first married in 1912 to Marie M. Stutyke. Adolph & Marie divorced in 1915 after what was described in the newspaper as a "sensational trial." She alleged non-support and he alleged cruelty.
Ora and Adolf were married shortly after his divorce. They never had children. At the time of the 1920 & 1930 censuses, Ora was listed in Portland with Adolf. Before and during their marriage Adolf had been in court and under investigation on several occasions related to malpractice in Oregon and Wisconsin. Twice he was on trial for manslaughter. One suit was dismissed and he won the other one. In 1927 the Governor of Oregon appointed him to be the president of the Naturopathic Board of Examiners. Additionally he was the owner of the Beaver State Fur Farm and was interested in mining in Galice in southern Oregon.
In the 1930 census, her mother and siblings were living in a home they owned at 1010 Glenn Avenue in Portland. George was supporting them as a chauffeur for a gas company. Her mother died in Portland on 12/15/1931.
Ora's first husband, Harry Durston, had became the Northwest Superintendent of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. He died on 12/17/1933 leaving two young children, Jessie May and Audrey Durston as well as his wife Bess who he had married in October 1917.
Ora and her second husband, Adolf Bertschinger divorced between 1930 and 1933. By 1933 he was married to a woman named Frances. Meanwhile Ora was living in an apartment on N 21st in Portland.
On 5/3/1938 Adolph was convicted of performing a surgical operation without a license. He was fined $250 and paroled from a six-month county jail sentence. He was given a stay pending an appeal. Two weeks after that, on 5/16/1938, Adolph went missing. Three weeks later, on 6/6/1938 his body was found by three boys who were swimming in the Santiam River. He had drowned after falling into the river while fishing.
That same year Ora was living with her siblings at 4736 NE 32nd Place in Portland. From that home on 9/5/1938, Ora was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility for the treatment of people with mental illness. In the 1940 census she was listed as a patient at the state hospital.
During the 1940 census, her siblings were in their 60s, living at their home on 32nd Place in Portland. George was a driver for the gas company. Ora's sister Nora died on 1/11/1956. Her brother George died on 8/13/1957. They and their parents were buried at the Multnomah Park Cemetery in Portland.
On 7/1/1965, after having lived at the mental institution for over 26 years Ora died there of pneumonia complicated by arteriosclerosis. She was 83 years old. An autopsy was performed and she was cremated a week later. She had outlived everyone in her birth family which is probably why her remains were never claimed,
Since neither Ora nor either of her siblings had children, her nearest living relatives are descendants of her aunts and uncles - offspring of Ora's cousins.
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.
Ora June Bertschinger'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.
Ora was born in Oregon on 6/4/1882. Her father, Alexander Slater, was born in Ohio in 1838 and her mother, Adeline Rebecca Boleyn, was born in April 1855 in Iowa. Ora was the youngest of her mother's 3 children. Ora's only siblings were Nora Ann Slater who was born in Iowa in October 1875 and George Arthur Slater who was born in Oregon in 1879.
At the time of the 1880 census (before Ora was born), her parents and siblings were living in Polk County, Oregon where her father was farming. When Ora was 9 years old her father died on 4/20/1892 and was buried in Portland, Oregon.
During the 1900 census, Ora was 17, single, and living with her siblings and widowed mother in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood of Portland where they were renting a home. While Ora was in school, Nora was a day laborer, and George was a mill worker. Both her siblings were single their entire lives.
At the age of 22 in 1905, Ora married Harry M. Durston in Multnomah County. He was born in Illinois about 1877. They never had children. At the time of the 1910 census they were living on Salmon Street in Portland. He was a clerk for the phone company. In the 1910 census Ora's mother, brother and sister were also living in Portland where Nora was a bookkeeper and George was a teamster. At least by 1918 he was a driver for the Standard Oil Gas Company. Ora and Harry divorced in 1914 in Clackamas County, Oregon. She returned to using the name Slater.
On 10/18/1916 Ora married Adolf Bertschinger in Seattle, Washington. At the time, she had been living in Deer Lodge, Montana and he was living in Portland. Adolf was an immigrant, born in Baden, Switzerland in 1875. He entered the US in 1882 when he was about 7. He was a chiropractic / naturopathic physician who practiced in Portland for 31 years. He was first married in 1912 to Marie M. Stutyke. Adolph & Marie divorced in 1915 after what was described in the newspaper as a "sensational trial." She alleged non-support and he alleged cruelty.
Ora and Adolf were married shortly after his divorce. They never had children. At the time of the 1920 & 1930 censuses, Ora was listed in Portland with Adolf. Before and during their marriage Adolf had been in court and under investigation on several occasions related to malpractice in Oregon and Wisconsin. Twice he was on trial for manslaughter. One suit was dismissed and he won the other one. In 1927 the Governor of Oregon appointed him to be the president of the Naturopathic Board of Examiners. Additionally he was the owner of the Beaver State Fur Farm and was interested in mining in Galice in southern Oregon.
In the 1930 census, her mother and siblings were living in a home they owned at 1010 Glenn Avenue in Portland. George was supporting them as a chauffeur for a gas company. Her mother died in Portland on 12/15/1931.
Ora's first husband, Harry Durston, had became the Northwest Superintendent of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. He died on 12/17/1933 leaving two young children, Jessie May and Audrey Durston as well as his wife Bess who he had married in October 1917.
Ora and her second husband, Adolf Bertschinger divorced between 1930 and 1933. By 1933 he was married to a woman named Frances. Meanwhile Ora was living in an apartment on N 21st in Portland.
On 5/3/1938 Adolph was convicted of performing a surgical operation without a license. He was fined $250 and paroled from a six-month county jail sentence. He was given a stay pending an appeal. Two weeks after that, on 5/16/1938, Adolph went missing. Three weeks later, on 6/6/1938 his body was found by three boys who were swimming in the Santiam River. He had drowned after falling into the river while fishing.
That same year Ora was living with her siblings at 4736 NE 32nd Place in Portland. From that home on 9/5/1938, Ora was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility for the treatment of people with mental illness. In the 1940 census she was listed as a patient at the state hospital.
During the 1940 census, her siblings were in their 60s, living at their home on 32nd Place in Portland. George was a driver for the gas company. Ora's sister Nora died on 1/11/1956. Her brother George died on 8/13/1957. They and their parents were buried at the Multnomah Park Cemetery in Portland.
On 7/1/1965, after having lived at the mental institution for over 26 years Ora died there of pneumonia complicated by arteriosclerosis. She was 83 years old. An autopsy was performed and she was cremated a week later. She had outlived everyone in her birth family which is probably why her remains were never claimed,
Since neither Ora nor either of her siblings had children, her nearest living relatives are descendants of her aunts and uncles - offspring of Ora's cousins.
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.
Ora was born in Oregon on 6/4/1882. Her father, Alexander Slater, was born in Ohio in 1838 and her mother, Adeline Rebecca Boleyn, was born in April 1855 in Iowa. Ora was the youngest of her mother's 3 children. Ora's only siblings were Nora Ann Slater who was born in Iowa in October 1875 and George Arthur Slater who was born in Oregon in 1879.
At the time of the 1880 census (before Ora was born), her parents and siblings were living in Polk County, Oregon where her father was farming. When Ora was 9 years old her father died on 4/20/1892 and was buried in Portland, Oregon.
During the 1900 census, Ora was 17, single, and living with her siblings and widowed mother in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood of Portland where they were renting a home. While Ora was in school, Nora was a day laborer, and George was a mill worker. Both her siblings were single their entire lives.
At the age of 22 in 1905, Ora married Harry M. Durston in Multnomah County. He was born in Illinois about 1877. They never had children. At the time of the 1910 census they were living on Salmon Street in Portland. He was a clerk for the phone company. In the 1910 census Ora's mother, brother and sister were also living in Portland where Nora was a bookkeeper and George was a teamster. At least by 1918 he was a driver for the Standard Oil Gas Company. Ora and Harry divorced in 1914 in Clackamas County, Oregon. She returned to using the name Slater.
On 10/18/1916 Ora married Adolf Bertschinger in Seattle, Washington. At the time, she had been living in Deer Lodge, Montana and he was living in Portland. Adolf was an immigrant, born in Baden, Switzerland in 1875. He entered the US in 1882 when he was about 7. He was a chiropractic / naturopathic physician who practiced in Portland for 31 years. He was first married in 1912 to Marie M. Stutyke. Adolph & Marie divorced in 1915 after what was described in the newspaper as a "sensational trial." She alleged non-support and he alleged cruelty.
Ora and Adolf were married shortly after his divorce. They never had children. At the time of the 1920 & 1930 censuses, Ora was listed in Portland with Adolf. Before and during their marriage Adolf had been in court and under investigation on several occasions related to malpractice in Oregon and Wisconsin. Twice he was on trial for manslaughter. One suit was dismissed and he won the other one. In 1927 the Governor of Oregon appointed him to be the president of the Naturopathic Board of Examiners. Additionally he was the owner of the Beaver State Fur Farm and was interested in mining in Galice in southern Oregon.
In the 1930 census, her mother and siblings were living in a home they owned at 1010 Glenn Avenue in Portland. George was supporting them as a chauffeur for a gas company. Her mother died in Portland on 12/15/1931.
Ora's first husband, Harry Durston, had became the Northwest Superintendent of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. He died on 12/17/1933 leaving two young children, Jessie May and Audrey Durston as well as his wife Bess who he had married in October 1917.
Ora and her second husband, Adolf Bertschinger divorced between 1930 and 1933. By 1933 he was married to a woman named Frances. Meanwhile Ora was living in an apartment on N 21st in Portland.
On 5/3/1938 Adolph was convicted of performing a surgical operation without a license. He was fined $250 and paroled from a six-month county jail sentence. He was given a stay pending an appeal. Two weeks after that, on 5/16/1938, Adolph went missing. Three weeks later, on 6/6/1938 his body was found by three boys who were swimming in the Santiam River. He had drowned after falling into the river while fishing.
That same year Ora was living with her siblings at 4736 NE 32nd Place in Portland. From that home on 9/5/1938, Ora was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility for the treatment of people with mental illness. In the 1940 census she was listed as a patient at the state hospital.
During the 1940 census, her siblings were in their 60s, living at their home on 32nd Place in Portland. George was a driver for the gas company. Ora's sister Nora died on 1/11/1956. Her brother George died on 8/13/1957. They and their parents were buried at the Multnomah Park Cemetery in Portland.
On 7/1/1965, after having lived at the mental institution for over 26 years Ora died there of pneumonia complicated by arteriosclerosis. She was 83 years old. An autopsy was performed and she was cremated a week later. She had outlived everyone in her birth family which is probably why her remains were never claimed,
Since neither Ora nor either of her siblings had children, her nearest living relatives are descendants of her aunts and uncles - offspring of Ora's cousins.
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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