Re: Obit Lookup William J. Bentley
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In reply to:
Re: Obit Lookup William J. Bentley
Donna Pitts 2/03/04
I didn't find an obituary, funeral or death notice for William J. Bentley. I searched The Oregonian newspaper from 30 Jan through 11 Feb 1938. I used the Oregon Death Index to verify the date of death as 29 Jan 1938 and found he died in Portland. The death certificate was number 331.
The only thing I found for Mrs. Eva Bentley was her funeral notice. It was in The Oregonian, section 1, page 12, col. 7, Friday, July 13, 1934 and reads as follows:
"BENTLEY--Funeral services for Mrs Eva Bentley, wife of W. J. Bentley, will be held Saturday, July 14, at 2 P. M. at the St Johns Funeral Home. Interment Columbian cemetery." The Oregon Death Index listed the death certificate as #1909.
I called the St. Johns Funeral Home and asked if they handled the Funeral for William J. Bentley, and gave them the date of death. They had no record of him in their book. I also called the sexton for the Columbian cemetery, regarding William. They didn't have any record of William's burial, just the burial of Eva Bentley. I checked with Willamette National, the cemetery for military burials, and they didn't have any record of William's burial.
The 1920 Oregon Census, E.D. 190, Sheet 2, starting on line 90 showed the following for BENTLY, whom I believe to be your two people: They were living in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, at the address of 515 Polk.
BENTLY, William J., white, age 61, born in Kentucky, both parents were born in Kentucky, and he was a grader in a sawmill.
BENTLY, Eva E., wife, white, age 47, born in Pennsylvania, both parents born in Pennsylvania, no occupation listed.
The 1930 Oregon Census, E.D. 26-475, sheet 6B, starting on line 89 showed the following for BENTLEY. They were living in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, at the address of 515 Polk.
BENTLEY, William J., Head, owns his home with value of $3500, male, white, male, age 68, married 39 years, born in Kentucky, both parents were born in Kentucky, the occupation was listed as teams., and the industry was general hauling, class of worker was "owner."
BENTLEY, Eva E., wife, white, female, age 64, married 29 years, born in Pennsylvania, both parents born in United States.
Note that the number of years married for William was listed as 39 years and the number of years for Eva was 29 years.
The 1910 Oregon Census, Multnomah County, E.D. 111, Sheet 2, starting with line 74, showed a W. J. Bentley living in St. Johns, which is now a district, west of Portland.
BENTLEY, W. J., white, age 49, married 19 years, born in Kentucky, both parents born in Kentucky, occupation was engineer.
BENTLEY, Cora, wife, age 44, married 19 years, born in Pennsylvania, both parents born in Scotland. There were no children listed as born to Cora nor living at the time of the census.
Note, that the wife's name on the 1910 Oregon Census actually looked like Cora and not Eva.
In some of the Polk's Portland City Directories, from 1904 thru 1936, there were entries regarding a W. J. Bentley and Wm J. Bentley. In 1904, Wm J. Bentley lived at 565 Raleigh, was a teamster for the Star Sand Co., and no spouse was listed. In 1906, a Wm J. Bentley lived at 749 Dawson and his occupation was listed as Mach., but no spouse was listed. In 1912, there was a W. J. Bentley living at 263 E. 31st, working at Bentley Construction Co., and a Wm J. Bentley living at 515 E Polk, in St. Johns, listed as a laborer. In 1917, a Wm J. Bentley was listed as living on E. Polk, in St Johns and his wife was listed as Emma. In 1927, Wm J. Bentley's wife was also listed as Emma E,, living on E. Polk. There was another Emma Bentley, sometimes listed as Emma A. Bentley, and from 1925 on, she is listed as the widow of Wm L Bentley.
During the period of 1912-1934, there was a Wm J. Bentley, listed as living on Polk and having the occupations as: laborer, teamster, contractor, driver, hauling contractor, excavating contractor and in 1936 he was living on N. Tioga and had the occupation of jointerman.
Note that the city of Portland renumbered the house numbers in the early 1930's. The address of 515 E Polk was changed to 9044 N. Polk Av, and Wm J. Bentley was living at the 9044 N. Polk address in 1934. In 1936, Wm J. Bentley was listed as living at 9035 N. Tioga Av. (Note": There was a Wm B. Staines living at this 9035 N. Tioga Av address in 1934.)