Cynthia Robison'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.
She was born in Napa County, California in 1865 and her given name was Cynthia Jane Rockwell in honor of her maternal grandmother. Her father, Seth Rockwell, was born about 1828 in Ohio and her mother, Rachel Harry, was born about 1850 in Iowa. They were married when Seth about 37 and Rachel was about 15.
Her mother had 10 children with 9 being alive in 1900. Cynthia was their first child. Among her siblings were: George William (born in 1868), John Franklin (1870), Charles Henry (1872), Louisa Angeline (about 1874), Albert (1878), Harriet Ivy (1881), brother Alva (1884 ), and Sarah (1885). The children born before 1873 were born in California and those born after that were native of Oregon.
In Providence Cemetery in Scio, Oregon where Cynthia's parents and most of her siblings are buried, there is a headstone for a Rockwell "Baby." This is very likely Cynthia's sibling who died in childhood. No name or dates are engraved on the headstone, but given the gap between the children one would suspect the baby was born and died about 1876.
In the August 1870 census, Cynthia was 4 years old, living with her parents and 2 younger brothers in Napa City, California where her father was farming. About 1873 the Rockwell family moved to Oregon. During the 1880 census, Cynthia was 14. She and her family were listed in Franklin Butte, Linn County, Oregon.
About 1895 Cynthia married James K. Robison, a farm laborer, when she was 29. He was born in California about 1857. Their children (all born in Oregon) were Lester (born in October 1898), William "Arthur" (December 1899), and Myrtle N. (about 1914). Because Cynthia would have been about 49 when Myrtle was born, it is possible that she may have been adopted. Or if Myrtle was indeed a late-in-life baby, that might explain her apparent developmental disability. (More about that later).
On censuses Cynthia inconsistently reported her birth year. Sometimes it was reported that she could read and other times it was said she couldn't. She consistently indicate she was born in California, but she did not know where her parents were born.
Her father died in Oregon in 1898. Her mother and siblings were living in South Scio, Linn County, Oregon during the 1900 census. At the time of that census Cynthia was living with her husband and sons Lester and Arthur in Tillamook County, on the northern Oregon coast. Also in the home were James' divorced brother Newton as well as James' nephew and niece, Herbert and Lillian. James was able to read, but could not write. Within a short while the family moved to Ashland, Jackson County in southern Oregon. On 11/11/1903 Cynthia's son Lester died in Jackson County. In 1905 Cynthia's mother died in Linn County, Oregon.
During the 1910 census Cynthia, James and Arthur were living on A Street in Ashland where they were fruit venders on the streets of Ashland. Ten year old Arthur was attending school and could read. In April 1910 Cynthia's brother Charles sued James Robison over a land partition issue. In 1915 an Ashland newspaper reported that Cynthia and James had discontinued their retail fruit business and "gone back to the soil" by relocating to a ranch near Hillsboro. The move was reportedly made for the benefit of James' health.
In 1917 on the World War I draft form, Arthur (age 18) reported he living with his parents near Portland, Oregon in Forest Grove, Washington County. He was a farm hand. Cynthia was his emergency contact person. In the 1920 census Cynthia, James, Arthur and 6 year old Myrtle were listed in Forest Grove. James & Arthur were farm laborers. Between 1920 and 1930 Cynthia's husband James died or left the family.
At age 27 on 6/8/1927, Arthur married 16 year old Evelyn May Laferty in Clark County, Washington. She was born in Hood River, Oregon in 1911. They had 4 children. In the 1930 census Arthur was listed twice - once in his mother's home and once in his own home with his wife Evelyn and their infant daughter in Yamhill County, Oregon where he was a farm laborer and truck driver.
In the 1930 census, Cynthia was listed in Forest Grove with Myrtle and Arthur. Cynthia did laundry for a living. By the age of 17, Myrtle, who never received any level of schooling, could not read or write but she was verbal.
In 1940 Cynthia (age 74) and Myrtle (age 26) were living in Washington County. Neither was employed. On the census it was indicated the Myrtle was unable to work. Meanwhile in the 1940 census Arthur, Evelyn and their 4 children (ages 4 - 11) were living in rural Washington County, Oregon.
On 12/2/1944 from Hillsboro, Cynthia was sent to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. She was a patient for 2 years and 9 months before she died of "senile exhaustion" and dementia at the age of 81 on 9/4/1947.
Later in his life Arthur tended to use his actual first name William. On 7/24/1954 in Hillsboro William and Evelyn divorced. She alleged cruel and inhuman treatment, a common phrase in divorce suits. Arthur did not contest it. Evelyn then worked as a cook and married Hugh Hensley, a lineman, in November 1958. She died in 1970.
William/Arthur died in McMinnville, Oregon on 2/11/1980 and was buried in the Kalama IOOF Cemtery in Cowlitz County, Washington. The headstone inscription said "Our Dad. Oregon Pioneer." He was survived by 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren.
Cynthia's daughter Myrtle died on 8/23/1965 in Wasco County, Oregon. It is possible Myrtle was institutionalized at the same time her mother was. If so, it is likely due to her disability Myrtle was first placed at Fairview Home in Salem, then later transferred to The Dalles in Wasco County where she was a resident at the Mid Columbia Home. That was a residential facility that was eventually devoted exclusively to chronically ill and geriatric adults with developmental disabilities who "would not benefit from the education or other special services at the Oregon Fairview Home." The facility was opened in 1959 and closed in 1977. Currently this is just a hunch, but Myrtle's death certificate would solve this mystery.
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.
She was born in Napa County, California in 1865 and her given name was Cynthia Jane Rockwell in honor of her maternal grandmother. Her father, Seth Rockwell, was born about 1828 in Ohio and her mother, Rachel Harry, was born about 1850 in Iowa. They were married when Seth about 37 and Rachel was about 15.
Her mother had 10 children with 9 being alive in 1900. Cynthia was their first child. Among her siblings were: George William (born in 1868), John Franklin (1870), Charles Henry (1872), Louisa Angeline (about 1874), Albert (1878), Harriet Ivy (1881), brother Alva (1884 ), and Sarah (1885). The children born before 1873 were born in California and those born after that were native of Oregon.
In Providence Cemetery in Scio, Oregon where Cynthia's parents and most of her siblings are buried, there is a headstone for a Rockwell "Baby." This is very likely Cynthia's sibling who died in childhood. No name or dates are engraved on the headstone, but given the gap between the children one would suspect the baby was born and died about 1876.
In the August 1870 census, Cynthia was 4 years old, living with her parents and 2 younger brothers in Napa City, California where her father was farming. About 1873 the Rockwell family moved to Oregon. During the 1880 census, Cynthia was 14. She and her family were listed in Franklin Butte, Linn County, Oregon.
About 1895 Cynthia married James K. Robison, a farm laborer, when she was 29. He was born in California about 1857. Their children (all born in Oregon) were Lester (born in October 1898), William "Arthur" (December 1899), and Myrtle N. (about 1914). Because Cynthia would have been about 49 when Myrtle was born, it is possible that she may have been adopted. Or if Myrtle was indeed a late-in-life baby, that might explain her apparent developmental disability. (More about that later).
On censuses Cynthia inconsistently reported her birth year. Sometimes it was reported that she could read and other times it was said she couldn't. She consistently indicate she was born in California, but she did not know where her parents were born.
Her father died in Oregon in 1898. Her mother and siblings were living in South Scio, Linn County, Oregon during the 1900 census. At the time of that census Cynthia was living with her husband and sons Lester and Arthur in Tillamook County, on the northern Oregon coast. Also in the home were James' divorced brother Newton as well as James' nephew and niece, Herbert and Lillian. James was able to read, but could not write. Within a short while the family moved to Ashland, Jackson County in southern Oregon. On 11/11/1903 Cynthia's son Lester died in Jackson County. In 1905 Cynthia's mother died in Linn County, Oregon.
During the 1910 census Cynthia, James and Arthur were living on A Street in Ashland where they were fruit venders on the streets of Ashland. Ten year old Arthur was attending school and could read. In April 1910 Cynthia's brother Charles sued James Robison over a land partition issue. In 1915 an Ashland newspaper reported that Cynthia and James had discontinued their retail fruit business and "gone back to the soil" by relocating to a ranch near Hillsboro. The move was reportedly made for the benefit of James' health.
In 1917 on the World War I draft form, Arthur (age 18) reported he living with his parents near Portland, Oregon in Forest Grove, Washington County. He was a farm hand. Cynthia was his emergency contact person. In the 1920 census Cynthia, James, Arthur and 6 year old Myrtle were listed in Forest Grove. James & Arthur were farm laborers. Between 1920 and 1930 Cynthia's husband James died or left the family.
At age 27 on 6/8/1927, Arthur married 16 year old Evelyn May Laferty in Clark County, Washington. She was born in Hood River, Oregon in 1911. They had 4 children. In the 1930 census Arthur was listed twice - once in his mother's home and once in his own home with his wife Evelyn and their infant daughter in Yamhill County, Oregon where he was a farm laborer and truck driver.
In the 1930 census, Cynthia was listed in Forest Grove with Myrtle and Arthur. Cynthia did laundry for a living. By the age of 17, Myrtle, who never received any level of schooling, could not read or write but she was verbal.
In 1940 Cynthia (age 74) and Myrtle (age 26) were living in Washington County. Neither was employed. On the census it was indicated the Myrtle was unable to work. Meanwhile in the 1940 census Arthur, Evelyn and their 4 children (ages 4 - 11) were living in rural Washington County, Oregon.
On 12/2/1944 from Hillsboro, Cynthia was sent to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. She was a patient for 2 years and 9 months before she died of "senile exhaustion" and dementia at the age of 81 on 9/4/1947.
Later in his life Arthur tended to use his actual first name William. On 7/24/1954 in Hillsboro William and Evelyn divorced. She alleged cruel and inhuman treatment, a common phrase in divorce suits. Arthur did not contest it. Evelyn then worked as a cook and married Hugh Hensley, a lineman, in November 1958. She died in 1970.
William/Arthur died in McMinnville, Oregon on 2/11/1980 and was buried in the Kalama IOOF Cemtery in Cowlitz County, Washington. The headstone inscription said "Our Dad. Oregon Pioneer." He was survived by 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren.
Cynthia's daughter Myrtle died on 8/23/1965 in Wasco County, Oregon. It is possible Myrtle was institutionalized at the same time her mother was. If so, it is likely due to her disability Myrtle was first placed at Fairview Home in Salem, then later transferred to The Dalles in Wasco County where she was a resident at the Mid Columbia Home. That was a residential facility that was eventually devoted exclusively to chronically ill and geriatric adults with developmental disabilities who "would not benefit from the education or other special services at the Oregon Fairview Home." The facility was opened in 1959 and closed in 1977. Currently this is just a hunch, but Myrtle's death certificate would solve this mystery.
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.
Cynthia Robison'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.
She was born in Napa County, California in 1865 and her given name was Cynthia Jane Rockwell in honor of her maternal grandmother. Her father, Seth Rockwell, was born about 1828 in Ohio and her mother, Rachel Harry, was born about 1850 in Iowa. They were married when Seth about 37 and Rachel was about 15.
Her mother had 10 children with 9 being alive in 1900. Cynthia was their first child. Among her siblings were: George William (born in 1868), John Franklin (1870), Charles Henry (1872), Louisa Angeline (about 1874), Albert (1878), Harriet Ivy (1881), brother Alva (1884 ), and Sarah (1885). The children born before 1873 were born in California and those born after that were native of Oregon.
In Providence Cemetery in Scio, Oregon where Cynthia's parents and most of her siblings are buried, there is a headstone for a Rockwell "Baby." This is very likely Cynthia's sibling who died in childhood. No name or dates are engraved on the headstone, but given the gap between the children one would suspect the baby was born and died about 1876.
In the August 1870 census, Cynthia was 4 years old, living with her parents and 2 younger brothers in Napa City, California where her father was farming. About 1873 the Rockwell family moved to Oregon. During the 1880 census, Cynthia was 14. She and her family were listed in Franklin Butte, Linn County, Oregon.
About 1895 Cynthia married James K. Robison, a farm laborer, when she was 29. He was born in California about 1857. Their children (all born in Oregon) were Lester (born in October 1898), William "Arthur" (December 1899), and Myrtle N. (about 1914). Because Cynthia would have been about 49 when Myrtle was born, it is possible that she may have been adopted. Or if Myrtle was indeed a late-in-life baby, that might explain her apparent developmental disability. (More about that later).
On censuses Cynthia inconsistently reported her birth year. Sometimes it was reported that she could read and other times it was said she couldn't. She consistently indicate she was born in California, but she did not know where her parents were born.
Her father died in Oregon in 1898. Her mother and siblings were living in South Scio, Linn County, Oregon during the 1900 census. At the time of that census Cynthia was living with her husband and sons Lester and Arthur in Tillamook County, on the northern Oregon coast. Also in the home were James' divorced brother Newton as well as James' nephew and niece, Herbert and Lillian. James was able to read, but could not write. Within a short while the family moved to Ashland, Jackson County in southern Oregon. On 11/11/1903 Cynthia's son Lester died in Jackson County. In 1905 Cynthia's mother died in Linn County, Oregon.
During the 1910 census Cynthia, James and Arthur were living on A Street in Ashland where they were fruit venders on the streets of Ashland. Ten year old Arthur was attending school and could read. In April 1910 Cynthia's brother Charles sued James Robison over a land partition issue. In 1915 an Ashland newspaper reported that Cynthia and James had discontinued their retail fruit business and "gone back to the soil" by relocating to a ranch near Hillsboro. The move was reportedly made for the benefit of James' health.
In 1917 on the World War I draft form, Arthur (age 18) reported he living with his parents near Portland, Oregon in Forest Grove, Washington County. He was a farm hand. Cynthia was his emergency contact person. In the 1920 census Cynthia, James, Arthur and 6 year old Myrtle were listed in Forest Grove. James & Arthur were farm laborers. Between 1920 and 1930 Cynthia's husband James died or left the family.
At age 27 on 6/8/1927, Arthur married 16 year old Evelyn May Laferty in Clark County, Washington. She was born in Hood River, Oregon in 1911. They had 4 children. In the 1930 census Arthur was listed twice - once in his mother's home and once in his own home with his wife Evelyn and their infant daughter in Yamhill County, Oregon where he was a farm laborer and truck driver.
In the 1930 census, Cynthia was listed in Forest Grove with Myrtle and Arthur. Cynthia did laundry for a living. By the age of 17, Myrtle, who never received any level of schooling, could not read or write but she was verbal.
In 1940 Cynthia (age 74) and Myrtle (age 26) were living in Washington County. Neither was employed. On the census it was indicated the Myrtle was unable to work. Meanwhile in the 1940 census Arthur, Evelyn and their 4 children (ages 4 - 11) were living in rural Washington County, Oregon.
On 12/2/1944 from Hillsboro, Cynthia was sent to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. She was a patient for 2 years and 9 months before she died of "senile exhaustion" and dementia at the age of 81 on 9/4/1947.
Later in his life Arthur tended to use his actual first name William. On 7/24/1954 in Hillsboro William and Evelyn divorced. She alleged cruel and inhuman treatment, a common phrase in divorce suits. Arthur did not contest it. Evelyn then worked as a cook and married Hugh Hensley, a lineman, in November 1958. She died in 1970.
William/Arthur died in McMinnville, Oregon on 2/11/1980 and was buried in the Kalama IOOF Cemtery in Cowlitz County, Washington. The headstone inscription said "Our Dad. Oregon Pioneer." He was survived by 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren.
Cynthia's daughter Myrtle died on 8/23/1965 in Wasco County, Oregon. It is possible Myrtle was institutionalized at the same time her mother was. If so, it is likely due to her disability Myrtle was first placed at Fairview Home in Salem, then later transferred to The Dalles in Wasco County where she was a resident at the Mid Columbia Home. That was a residential facility that was eventually devoted exclusively to chronically ill and geriatric adults with developmental disabilities who "would not benefit from the education or other special services at the Oregon Fairview Home." The facility was opened in 1959 and closed in 1977. Currently this is just a hunch, but Myrtle's death certificate would solve this mystery.
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.
She was born in Napa County, California in 1865 and her given name was Cynthia Jane Rockwell in honor of her maternal grandmother. Her father, Seth Rockwell, was born about 1828 in Ohio and her mother, Rachel Harry, was born about 1850 in Iowa. They were married when Seth about 37 and Rachel was about 15.
Her mother had 10 children with 9 being alive in 1900. Cynthia was their first child. Among her siblings were: George William (born in 1868), John Franklin (1870), Charles Henry (1872), Louisa Angeline (about 1874), Albert (1878), Harriet Ivy (1881), brother Alva (1884 ), and Sarah (1885). The children born before 1873 were born in California and those born after that were native of Oregon.
In Providence Cemetery in Scio, Oregon where Cynthia's parents and most of her siblings are buried, there is a headstone for a Rockwell "Baby." This is very likely Cynthia's sibling who died in childhood. No name or dates are engraved on the headstone, but given the gap between the children one would suspect the baby was born and died about 1876.
In the August 1870 census, Cynthia was 4 years old, living with her parents and 2 younger brothers in Napa City, California where her father was farming. About 1873 the Rockwell family moved to Oregon. During the 1880 census, Cynthia was 14. She and her family were listed in Franklin Butte, Linn County, Oregon.
About 1895 Cynthia married James K. Robison, a farm laborer, when she was 29. He was born in California about 1857. Their children (all born in Oregon) were Lester (born in October 1898), William "Arthur" (December 1899), and Myrtle N. (about 1914). Because Cynthia would have been about 49 when Myrtle was born, it is possible that she may have been adopted. Or if Myrtle was indeed a late-in-life baby, that might explain her apparent developmental disability. (More about that later).
On censuses Cynthia inconsistently reported her birth year. Sometimes it was reported that she could read and other times it was said she couldn't. She consistently indicate she was born in California, but she did not know where her parents were born.
Her father died in Oregon in 1898. Her mother and siblings were living in South Scio, Linn County, Oregon during the 1900 census. At the time of that census Cynthia was living with her husband and sons Lester and Arthur in Tillamook County, on the northern Oregon coast. Also in the home were James' divorced brother Newton as well as James' nephew and niece, Herbert and Lillian. James was able to read, but could not write. Within a short while the family moved to Ashland, Jackson County in southern Oregon. On 11/11/1903 Cynthia's son Lester died in Jackson County. In 1905 Cynthia's mother died in Linn County, Oregon.
During the 1910 census Cynthia, James and Arthur were living on A Street in Ashland where they were fruit venders on the streets of Ashland. Ten year old Arthur was attending school and could read. In April 1910 Cynthia's brother Charles sued James Robison over a land partition issue. In 1915 an Ashland newspaper reported that Cynthia and James had discontinued their retail fruit business and "gone back to the soil" by relocating to a ranch near Hillsboro. The move was reportedly made for the benefit of James' health.
In 1917 on the World War I draft form, Arthur (age 18) reported he living with his parents near Portland, Oregon in Forest Grove, Washington County. He was a farm hand. Cynthia was his emergency contact person. In the 1920 census Cynthia, James, Arthur and 6 year old Myrtle were listed in Forest Grove. James & Arthur were farm laborers. Between 1920 and 1930 Cynthia's husband James died or left the family.
At age 27 on 6/8/1927, Arthur married 16 year old Evelyn May Laferty in Clark County, Washington. She was born in Hood River, Oregon in 1911. They had 4 children. In the 1930 census Arthur was listed twice - once in his mother's home and once in his own home with his wife Evelyn and their infant daughter in Yamhill County, Oregon where he was a farm laborer and truck driver.
In the 1930 census, Cynthia was listed in Forest Grove with Myrtle and Arthur. Cynthia did laundry for a living. By the age of 17, Myrtle, who never received any level of schooling, could not read or write but she was verbal.
In 1940 Cynthia (age 74) and Myrtle (age 26) were living in Washington County. Neither was employed. On the census it was indicated the Myrtle was unable to work. Meanwhile in the 1940 census Arthur, Evelyn and their 4 children (ages 4 - 11) were living in rural Washington County, Oregon.
On 12/2/1944 from Hillsboro, Cynthia was sent to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. She was a patient for 2 years and 9 months before she died of "senile exhaustion" and dementia at the age of 81 on 9/4/1947.
Later in his life Arthur tended to use his actual first name William. On 7/24/1954 in Hillsboro William and Evelyn divorced. She alleged cruel and inhuman treatment, a common phrase in divorce suits. Arthur did not contest it. Evelyn then worked as a cook and married Hugh Hensley, a lineman, in November 1958. She died in 1970.
William/Arthur died in McMinnville, Oregon on 2/11/1980 and was buried in the Kalama IOOF Cemtery in Cowlitz County, Washington. The headstone inscription said "Our Dad. Oregon Pioneer." He was survived by 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren.
Cynthia's daughter Myrtle died on 8/23/1965 in Wasco County, Oregon. It is possible Myrtle was institutionalized at the same time her mother was. If so, it is likely due to her disability Myrtle was first placed at Fairview Home in Salem, then later transferred to The Dalles in Wasco County where she was a resident at the Mid Columbia Home. That was a residential facility that was eventually devoted exclusively to chronically ill and geriatric adults with developmental disabilities who "would not benefit from the education or other special services at the Oregon Fairview Home." The facility was opened in 1959 and closed in 1977. Currently this is just a hunch, but Myrtle's death certificate would solve this mystery.
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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