My Family in the Pacific Northwest 1931 -- 1940

To keep the school doors open, school districts issued warrants to teachers, to be redeemed at a future date. The few that could saved their warrants, waiting for the day they would be redeemed at full value with interest. Those needing money would exchange the warrant, at a discount, for goods at a local store.

Under the current conditions, Eva Keatley was hired to teach grammar school in Quincy in the early 1930's. And she exchanged her warrants when they were issued. Eva did not have any children at that time; child care was not an issue.

Farm Help on the Keatley Ranch
During the depression it was common for young, single men to offer to work on a farm for room and board only, no salary. There were many men looking for such work, so the fortunate workers were sure to put in a good days work, seven days a week. Robert Keatley took on such 'hired hands.' The young men were treated like a member of the family, eating at the same kitchen table, and living in the same house.

Dairy cows required milking twice a day, every day, so there was always work to do. Cows did not take holidays or week ends off. Since Robert was such an avid fisherman, it is most likely the two men enjoyed some afternoons fishing from the bank of the Columbia River close to the farm. They would return to the farm in time for the Finnish afternoon coffee then get on with the milking.

Martha Poysky Marries
Oct. 7, 1932. Martha Susan Poysky married Henry Bennett “Benny” Crowder in Clatsop County OR. The wedding was probably held in the bride's family home in Astoria. Benny had a shingle mill in Berkenfeld, OR., the location of their first home.

Edward Poysky Graduates
1932. Edward Poysky graduated from Oregon State Agricultural College with a degree in Commerce. He had played on the champion inter-departmental basketball teams for 2 years, was an officer and member of the Hesperian Club and the Prokyon Club. Upon returning to Astoria, Edward accepted a sales position with a salmon cannery. One lady remarked Ed must have a very important position “because he wears a suit to work”.

June Poysky Graduates
June Poysky graduated in mid term from Astoria High School in 1933. “None but herself could be her” described her in the High School year book. She was a six term member of the Torch Honor, had played baseball and volleyball. She had also participated in Deba Dram, Home Economics, the senior play, Girls League and Astor Post. She was a 5 feet 6 inches tall, slender, and a beautiful young woman. With her outgoing personality she had many friends.

Upon graduation, June's parents borrowed money so she could enter a hospital RN training program. June chose the University of California Nursing School two year programs. Like most ambitious young women, she would have preferred the opportunity to earn both a BS in Nursing as well as the RN. But given the serious financial effects of the depression, she was most appreciative of her parents sacrifice to pay for the two year program. Usually nursing school fees were less than for a college campus program because the nursing students spent so much time helping with the care of hospital patients, in addition to their class room work.

UC Nursing School protocol mandated students wear the official uniform consisting of a heavily starched long white pinafore dress worn over a blue and white striped blouse. Upon graduation, students were awarded the UC Nurses Cap, a white mortarboard hat. It was heavily starched. Nursing Schools were distinguished by their unique cap style.

Following graduation, June joined the Visiting Nurse's Association (VNA) in San Francisco. VNA nurses made house calls on clients needing nursing advice and help. This author remembers June talking about visiting a woman who lived in a very small home and had several children less than 5 years of age, including at least one set of twins. June said she just listened to the woman's laments and observed the routine of child care before daring to offer any suggestion. A single young woman was not the most experienced person to be advising young mothers on care of many children.

June stayed with the VNA all of her professional career. When she was promoted to a supervisory position, she was the only VNA RN that did not also have a BS degree.

When June's mother became ill with cancer in 1935, June returned home to care for her until her death. While there, June also helped run the boarding house, and stayed on to assist with the boarding house until a permanent manager was in place. In 1939, when her brother George Poysky was ill with cancer, June again took a leave of absence from the VNA and moved to the Poysky farm in Quincy, staying as long as her nursing skills were needed.

Oregon State Agricultural College Changes Name
Oregon Agricultural College formally changed its name to Oregon State College. It had informally been called Oregon State College for several years; but this change made the new name official. Years later the name was change again, this time to Oregon State University.

John Poysky, 70, of 1371 Franklin Ave, well known for many years as a hotel keeper in Astoria, and prominent in civic affairs of the city in its early days, died this morning after a long illness. He was born in Finland on Sept 27, 1860.

He is survived by his wife Mrs. Sofia Poysky; four daughters Mrs. Tyne Harris of San Francisco, Mrs. Eva Keatley of Quincy and Misses Martha and June Poysky of Astoria; and three sons, George of 'Quency' and Edward and Wayne of Astoria.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon from the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church at Ninth Street and Irving with Rev Carl Ojaia of Pendleton, formerly of Astoria, officiating. Burial will be made in the Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Karlson and Melvin Mortuary.” Cause of death chronic myocarditis and chronic nephritis.”

The death certificate listed John's Father as Karl. There was no entry for his mother's name. The death certificate was completed by John's wife Sofia Matta Poysky. This author has not found any other written reference to Karl Poysky.

November 6, 1934 Peter Poysky
Peter Poysky, a retired fisherman, died in the Columbia Hospital. Mr. Poysky was born in Finland; his parents were not listed on his death certificate. He was a cousin of John Poysky. He was 72 years age and divorced. The cause of death was age and inebriety. He was buried in the River View Cemetery, in Astoria on November 8, 1934. The death certificate informant was M. Pentilla of Astoria, OR.

August 23, 1936 Sophia Poysky
Sophia Poysky died in Clatsop County Oregon. She was born Oct 10, 1869, Kuusamo Finland; and was the widow of John Poysky. She was a boarding house proprietor. Her father was Andrew Matta (b. Finland) and Mother Elsa Hukkila (b. Finland). Burial was in the family plot in Greenwood Cemetery. The information was provided by June Poysky. Elsewhere, Sophia's mother's family name was Heikkinen. It may have been misspelled on the death certificate, or had more than one spelling. Finnish last names were rather fluid in the late 1800's, due to the custom of adopting the last place name of residence as the personal last name as well.

January 1, 1940 George Jacob Poysky
Clatskanie Chief January 5, 1940: Poysky Gets Call Beyond. Prominent Resident Laid to Rest Yesterday in Maplewood Cemetery. Death came with the New Year and claimed one of the best known and most highly respected members of the community George Poysky, who had resided in the Quincy area for the past 16 years. Death was not unexpected. Mr. Poysky has been ill for several months. The funeral was one of the most largely attended held here. Many men of prominence from outside this community as well as locally were present to pay their last respects to a friend they loved.”

Feb 9, 1937. A notation was added to the map saying all improvements had been made. The improvements were for flood control.

August 31, 1939 The CPA Accounting firm of Haskins & Sells, Portland, OR., issued a five year and two month examination of the Beaver Drainage District. It was noted the District was organized on August 4, 1915 for the purpose of reclaiming 5,700 acres of land and making the tract available for cultivation. The District purchased, from the Columbia Agricultural Company, for $75,000, the rights of way for the planned reclamation.

This construction of levees, pumping plant, dikes and levees were funded by District issued bonds totaling $153,191.60. A bond lien was attached to every acre of land sold. The Plan was to construct levees, drainage ditches, and a steam pumping plant using wood as fuel. The pump was converted to oil in 1929 and in 1939 to electricity.

It was the life long goal of John and Sofia Poysky that all their children earn a college degree. The parents had not had the opportunity to attend university in Finland, and they did not want that fate to befall their children. Uneducated persons were relegated to a much lower social status in Finland. The emigrants brought this concept with them.

In the 1900's and 1910's, the boarding house provided a generous living for the Poysky Family. The boarding house attracted Finnish fisherman, some cannery workers, loggers and rail road men. The family was affluent, owning one of the first automobiles in Astoria, living in their fine home on Grand Avenue. But Astoria's economy began to falter in the 1920's; just at the time the older children were beginning college.

Manual labor jobs became more difficult to find, boarders began to fall behind in their board and room fees. Knowing their joblessness was not the fault of the boarder, the Poysky's did not turn the non-paying men out. They lived room and board free.

The number of Columbia River salmon harvested annually had dwindled severely due to over-fishing. Logging camps had moved away because the trees had been cut, and the new growth was not of sufficient size to be logged. This generosity of giving free board and room did not provide the Poysky's sufficient money to pay their bills and to maintain the family. The solution to the money shortfall was to borrow money from friends and to take out a mortgage on the Grand Ave. home. At the time the estate was probated the country was in the depth of the depression.

The following is abstracted from the Johan and Sophia Poysky estate probate records.

September 30, 1936: George J. Poysky appointed executor of the estates of John Poysky and Sophia Matta Poysky. “Charges upon the estates have been intermingled after the death of Johan Poysky and that the entire estate will be charged with indebtedness, for the purpose of avoiding expense account with report and petition.”

First account of the condition of said estate was filed and indebtedness of the estate was:

• Taxes, Clatsop and Columbia Counties, Oregon: $2,340.55
• Funeral and Burial expense of Sophia Poysky: $372.25
• Secured mortgage indebtedness (The Grand Ave. home): $400.00
• General Claims of Indebtedness with interest only to September 30, 1936: $7,887.36
• Expense of Administration, advanced: $50.00
• Total obligations: $11,050.16

An inventory of all property was duly made and appraised by men appointed by the court. Forty-five acres of farm property in the Beaver District, Columbia County, OR was appraised at $2,000.00. The two properties situated in Clatsop County (Astoria) were appraised at $2,854.19. The appraised value of all property was $4,854.19


October 20, 1936
The Court appointed Waino Kropsu, John Suti and Chas. Wirkkala to inventory and appraise the estate.

The Boarding House appraisal included all furniture and rugs, including 41 sheets, 21 blankets, 20 quilts; 38 teaspoons, 47 tablespoons, 23 knives, 36 plates, 9 sugar bowls, 2 small coffee pots and 1 large coffee pot. The total value of all the furnishing in the Boarding House was $50.00. The estimated value of all the furnishing in the small house behind the boarding house, which included 2 beds, 3 dressers, a library table, a desk, a stove, and a rug, was $20.00

The accounts receivable for board and lodging for Ruppel ($90), Lindberg ($90.00) and Lorenstson ($201.00) declared a value of Nil.

April 14, 1937
George Poysky filed first semi-annual account of the Executor.

Receipts:
Hannah Kropsu and June Poysky accrued boarding house rent of $150.00.
Union Savings & Loan final dividend on certificate was $444.55
Finnish Meat Market proceeds from stock were $105.00
Boarding house monthly rent from A Malin, Sept 1936 to April 16, 1937 $308.75
Other rentals, refunds on insurances for a total receipt of $1,410.17

Payments:
Astoria Granite Works grave stone marker $40.00
Hughes Mortuary, burial deceased $332.25
Crowder Shingle Co for shingles and repairing boarding house roof $51.00
Property taxes Columbia and Clatsop County $529.97
Other payments included Attorney fee ($30.00), personal property taxes, repair materials for Boarding House, etc.
Total disbursements $1,411.51

Listings of Claims Filed April 14, 1937
April 1, 1925: Waino Kropsu, on behalf of the estate of John Jantti, deceased, had loaned the Poysky's $2,500.00 at 5% interest per annum. Some of the accrued interest had been paid by 1937.

August 1, 1925: Mr. and Mrs. Waino Kropsu of Franklin Ave., loaned John and Sophia Poysky $2,000.00 at 5% per annum.

April 13, 1928: Simo and Maria Nokala granted an initial personal loan of $1,000.00 with interest at 3%. $600.00 on the principal, and some of the interest had been paid by April 14, 1937.

December 24, 1928: Lars and Margaret Kaukua of Roseberg, WA. loaned John Poysky, by Martha Poysky $400.00 at 4% interest per annum

January 16, 1934: John Suti, of 29th Street, loaned Sophia Poysky and Edward Poysky $200.00 at 5% interest per annum.

August 4, 1934: Eino Mynttinen had an outstanding loan of $106.00 at 4% interest given to Mrs. Sophia Poysky. The Mynttinen's lived on Grand Ave.

August 22, 1935: Wayne Poysky loaned his Mother, Mrs. John Poysky, $900.00 at 6% interest.

December 24 1929 thru December 24, 1935: Unpaid account for products from the Finnish Meat Market, Astoria, was $578.20.

April 14, 1937: Petition for an Order to Sell the Real Property of the Johan and Sofia Poysky was presented to the court.

The court determined the average income from renting the two apartments in the Grand Ave Home was $15.00 per month. The average income from the boarding house, including the barber shop within the boarding house, was $57.50 per month. The boarding house was in a state of disrepair and required betterment before it would yield more income. The income, in the present condition of the boarding house, would never cover the costs of operation, plus pay off the creditors. The Executor petitioned for permission to pay the secured mortgage on the Grand Ave. home. Then permission to sell the three parcels (the farm land in Columbia County and the two parcels in Astoria), separately. The buyer would have to assume payment for the taxes from 1931 to 1934. Other creditors would be satisfied with as much of a payment as the estate could render after the sale.

May 3, 1937: The court ordered all the real estate in the Poysky Estate be sold at auction. Executor George Poysky was authorized to conduct the sales without bond.

June 7, 1937: An offer to sell the 45 acres of Columbia County farm land (in the Beaver Drainage District) at public auction, to be held at the front door of the St. Helens County Court House, was published in the Clatskanie Chief. In addition three public notices of the pending sale were posted. One on the telephone pole in front of and facing the entrance to the United States Post Office in Clatskanie, one on the front door on the County Court House in St. Helens, and one in the General Store in Quincy.

At the sale, George R. VanVolkinberg and his wife Susie offered $3,000.00 for the land. Their bid was accepted, and payment was made according to the terms of the sale.

November 27, 1939: At the third Account and Report by George J. Poysky, Executor, a 30% payment was made to the unsecured claimants, plus $125.00 attorney fees and $237.50 statutory compensation for G. J. Poysky. In addition miscellaneous necessary repairs at the boarding house including paper for walls, shades for windows, labor and materials for window repairs totaling $110.00 was authorized Improvement was necessary to keep the building rented.

$148.94 street improvements for a bulkhead along the Boarding House Columbia River property line, mandated by the City of Astoria, were paid. And property insurance of $60.70 was also paid.

Rent owed by C.W. Hoy and wife of $60.00 was declared uncollectible.

December 4, 1939: George J. Poysky petitioned the court to appoint Eva Poysky Keatley as joint Administer of the estate, due to his poor health.

January 1, 1940: George J. Poysky died. Eva Poysky Keatley assumed sole responsibility for the continuing probate of the estates of Johan and Sophia Poysky.

March 13, 1940: The Real Property (boarding house) situated in Clatsop County was listed as sold for $3,000.00 to Mr. and Mrs. Victor Malin.

March 25, 1940: Edward and Wanda Poysky deposited with the court 10% of their bid ($70.50) to purchase the home on Grand Ave. Balance of $634.50 was paid in accordance to the terms of the sale. The Edward Poysky's paid $700.00 for the Grand Avenue three story home including all its furnishings.

March 28, 1940: The Court ruled the boarding house had been sold, to the Malins, under terms of credit not authorized by the court. Nor were they within the terms advertised in the notices of sale. The Court authorized and directed a new sale of the parcel.

May 14, 1940: H.B. and Martha Crowder paid 20% ($620.00) of their bid price for the boarding house.

June 6, 1940: H.B. and Martha Crowder paid the balance of their bid for the boarding house ($2,480.00). The Crowder's had successfully purchased the boarding house, furnishing and the small house and furnishings for $3,100.00.

June 15, 1940: Administratrix Eva Poysky Keatley of the Johan and Sophia Poysky estate filed her final report to the Court. All taxes, mortgage indebtedness on the Grand Ave home, funeral expenses, expenses of administration were paid in full. The unpreferred claims, including interest accumulated up to the time of opening the probate proceedings, were paid 53.594% of their debt. Adding the 30% payment they had received on December 29, 1938, the claimants received 83.594% of their loans and interest owed.

November 6, 1940: Eva Poysky Keatley, having fully performed and discharged the duties of her trust, was discharged from further duty and liability in the administration of the estates of Johan and Sophia Poysky.

back to the Welcome Page

My Family in the Pacific Northwest, 1921 -- 1930

My Family in the Pacific Northwest, 1941 -- 1950

Home History of Finland My Maternal Family in Finland 1600s-1886 My Family in the Pacific NW Since 1886, Page 1 Maternal Family Photos, Page 1 Historical and Modern Photos of Astoria, Oregon Historical Maps of Cowlitz County and Washington State Historical Maps of Clatsop County and Oregon State Surnames and Locations Found on this Site Links and Web Rings Search this Site and Site Map Email Me

Buy.com Electronics Deals