Ada Agnes Iler's cremated remains were not initially taken after her death and were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2022 a relative received her ashes.
Ada was born in Kansas on 6/11/1884. Her mother, Ida Iler (maiden name unknown), was born in Minnesota about 1862 and lived for some time in Michigan before moving to Kansas.
Ada's father, James William Iler, was born in Nebraska in 1859 and later moved to Kansas. It is unknown whether or not Ada had full siblings. It appears unlikely.
At the time of the 1885 census taken in March when Ada was 10 months old, she was living with her parents in Walnut, Phillips County, Kansas where her father was farming. At some point Ada's parents divorced and in 1890 her father married Mary O. Herbst Merritt, a divorced woman with three children. Mary, born in Wisconsin in 1850, was 8 years older than James.
The Ilers moved to Valesco, Texas where their daughter Eula (Ada's half-sister) was born on 12/10/1894. Within a year the family moved to Oklahoma where they farmed in Mound, Oklahoma along with James' older brother Ira Lee Iler. They were in Mound during the 1900 census.
Ada was not living with her father in 1900 although she was only 16 years old. It also appears she was not living with her mother. During the 1900 census a married woman named Ida Iler who was born in 1862 in Minnesota was a patient at the Napa (California) State Hospital for the Insane. She perfectly fits the description of Ada's mother. Ida has not been found in documents after 1900.
In 1904 James, Mary, Eula, and 2 children from Mary's previous marriage moved from Oklahoma to Brownsboro, Jackson County in southern Oregon. Ada's step-mother, Mary, died there of breast cancer in 1904.
During the 1910 census, James and Eula (age 11) were living in Canyonville, Douglas County, Oregon. James was a day laborer and Elua was attending school.
Meanwhile during the census of 1910, Ada Iler was 26, single, reportedly unable to read, and living at the Children's Home on Corbett Street in Portland, Oregon. The facility was an "orphanage" for children who had lost one or both parents or whose parents were unable to take care of them. Except for one 15 year old, all the other 58 "inmates" in the home were between 3 and 10 years old.
On 10/14/1911 Ada was transferred to the newly established Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded, a residential, quasi-educational institution in Salem, Oregon charged with educating people with developmental disabilities. It was later called Oregon Fairview Home and was closed in 2000. Ada was listed among the patients at the state institution in the census of 1920 which said she was able to read and write unlike most patients at Fairview. The census also indicated she was given the job of "kitchen help" which was also uncommon among the patients. Assuming she was literate and able to work, it is likely her disability was not severe. About 1921 she developed chronic heart problems. After being a patient at the institution for over 15 years, she died there of aortic insufficiency and valvular disease on 2/3/1927. She was 42 years old. No autopsy was performed.
Because her remains were not claimed her body was transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where she was cremated and where her ashes are still being held. Ada was survived by her father and half-sister, Eula.
Her father was living with Eula and her growing family in Canyonville in 1920. By 1930 he was living alone in nearby Riddle, Oregon. In 1933 James (age 74) died of chronic kidney and heart problems at Eula's home in Tiller. Eula signed as the informant on the death certificate. James was buried at the Rondeau Cemetery in Tiller, Oregon.
In 1914 Ada's half-sister Eula Iler (age 19) first married 34 year old Joseph Lee "Joe" Rainville. He had been previously married and had children from that marriage before he and his first wife divorced. Joe was a stock farmer who was born in 1876 in the Washington Territory (or Umatilla County, Oregon). In the 1930s he identified himself as 1/4 Native American with the Calapooia Tribe. Joe & Eula had 5 children: Della Ruth, James, Mae Belle, Winnifred, and Garland. Eula was a social and civic leader in the Tiller community. She was very actively involved in supporting the local school. Her husband, Joe, died of an apparent heart attack in 1947. In 1950 Eula married Deb Jennings. The marriage failed quickly. In 1952 she returned to using the name Rainville. She and Mr. Jennings divorced in 1953. Eula died on 12/10/1984. She was buried at the Rondeau Cemetery with her father and her husband.
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.
Ada was born in Kansas on 6/11/1884. Her mother, Ida Iler (maiden name unknown), was born in Minnesota about 1862 and lived for some time in Michigan before moving to Kansas.
Ada's father, James William Iler, was born in Nebraska in 1859 and later moved to Kansas. It is unknown whether or not Ada had full siblings. It appears unlikely.
At the time of the 1885 census taken in March when Ada was 10 months old, she was living with her parents in Walnut, Phillips County, Kansas where her father was farming. At some point Ada's parents divorced and in 1890 her father married Mary O. Herbst Merritt, a divorced woman with three children. Mary, born in Wisconsin in 1850, was 8 years older than James.
The Ilers moved to Valesco, Texas where their daughter Eula (Ada's half-sister) was born on 12/10/1894. Within a year the family moved to Oklahoma where they farmed in Mound, Oklahoma along with James' older brother Ira Lee Iler. They were in Mound during the 1900 census.
Ada was not living with her father in 1900 although she was only 16 years old. It also appears she was not living with her mother. During the 1900 census a married woman named Ida Iler who was born in 1862 in Minnesota was a patient at the Napa (California) State Hospital for the Insane. She perfectly fits the description of Ada's mother. Ida has not been found in documents after 1900.
In 1904 James, Mary, Eula, and 2 children from Mary's previous marriage moved from Oklahoma to Brownsboro, Jackson County in southern Oregon. Ada's step-mother, Mary, died there of breast cancer in 1904.
During the 1910 census, James and Eula (age 11) were living in Canyonville, Douglas County, Oregon. James was a day laborer and Elua was attending school.
Meanwhile during the census of 1910, Ada Iler was 26, single, reportedly unable to read, and living at the Children's Home on Corbett Street in Portland, Oregon. The facility was an "orphanage" for children who had lost one or both parents or whose parents were unable to take care of them. Except for one 15 year old, all the other 58 "inmates" in the home were between 3 and 10 years old.
On 10/14/1911 Ada was transferred to the newly established Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded, a residential, quasi-educational institution in Salem, Oregon charged with educating people with developmental disabilities. It was later called Oregon Fairview Home and was closed in 2000. Ada was listed among the patients at the state institution in the census of 1920 which said she was able to read and write unlike most patients at Fairview. The census also indicated she was given the job of "kitchen help" which was also uncommon among the patients. Assuming she was literate and able to work, it is likely her disability was not severe. About 1921 she developed chronic heart problems. After being a patient at the institution for over 15 years, she died there of aortic insufficiency and valvular disease on 2/3/1927. She was 42 years old. No autopsy was performed.
Because her remains were not claimed her body was transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where she was cremated and where her ashes are still being held. Ada was survived by her father and half-sister, Eula.
Her father was living with Eula and her growing family in Canyonville in 1920. By 1930 he was living alone in nearby Riddle, Oregon. In 1933 James (age 74) died of chronic kidney and heart problems at Eula's home in Tiller. Eula signed as the informant on the death certificate. James was buried at the Rondeau Cemetery in Tiller, Oregon.
In 1914 Ada's half-sister Eula Iler (age 19) first married 34 year old Joseph Lee "Joe" Rainville. He had been previously married and had children from that marriage before he and his first wife divorced. Joe was a stock farmer who was born in 1876 in the Washington Territory (or Umatilla County, Oregon). In the 1930s he identified himself as 1/4 Native American with the Calapooia Tribe. Joe & Eula had 5 children: Della Ruth, James, Mae Belle, Winnifred, and Garland. Eula was a social and civic leader in the Tiller community. She was very actively involved in supporting the local school. Her husband, Joe, died of an apparent heart attack in 1947. In 1950 Eula married Deb Jennings. The marriage failed quickly. In 1952 she returned to using the name Rainville. She and Mr. Jennings divorced in 1953. Eula died on 12/10/1984. She was buried at the Rondeau Cemetery with her father and her husband.
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.
Ada Agnes Iler's cremated remains were not initially taken after her death and were available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. In 2022 a relative received her ashes.
Ada was born in Kansas on 6/11/1884. Her mother, Ida Iler (maiden name unknown), was born in Minnesota about 1862 and lived for some time in Michigan before moving to Kansas.
Ada's father, James William Iler, was born in Nebraska in 1859 and later moved to Kansas. It is unknown whether or not Ada had full siblings. It appears unlikely.
At the time of the 1885 census taken in March when Ada was 10 months old, she was living with her parents in Walnut, Phillips County, Kansas where her father was farming. At some point Ada's parents divorced and in 1890 her father married Mary O. Herbst Merritt, a divorced woman with three children. Mary, born in Wisconsin in 1850, was 8 years older than James.
The Ilers moved to Valesco, Texas where their daughter Eula (Ada's half-sister) was born on 12/10/1894. Within a year the family moved to Oklahoma where they farmed in Mound, Oklahoma along with James' older brother Ira Lee Iler. They were in Mound during the 1900 census.
Ada was not living with her father in 1900 although she was only 16 years old. It also appears she was not living with her mother. During the 1900 census a married woman named Ida Iler who was born in 1862 in Minnesota was a patient at the Napa (California) State Hospital for the Insane. She perfectly fits the description of Ada's mother. Ida has not been found in documents after 1900.
In 1904 James, Mary, Eula, and 2 children from Mary's previous marriage moved from Oklahoma to Brownsboro, Jackson County in southern Oregon. Ada's step-mother, Mary, died there of breast cancer in 1904.
During the 1910 census, James and Eula (age 11) were living in Canyonville, Douglas County, Oregon. James was a day laborer and Elua was attending school.
Meanwhile during the census of 1910, Ada Iler was 26, single, reportedly unable to read, and living at the Children's Home on Corbett Street in Portland, Oregon. The facility was an "orphanage" for children who had lost one or both parents or whose parents were unable to take care of them. Except for one 15 year old, all the other 58 "inmates" in the home were between 3 and 10 years old.
On 10/14/1911 Ada was transferred to the newly established Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded, a residential, quasi-educational institution in Salem, Oregon charged with educating people with developmental disabilities. It was later called Oregon Fairview Home and was closed in 2000. Ada was listed among the patients at the state institution in the census of 1920 which said she was able to read and write unlike most patients at Fairview. The census also indicated she was given the job of "kitchen help" which was also uncommon among the patients. Assuming she was literate and able to work, it is likely her disability was not severe. About 1921 she developed chronic heart problems. After being a patient at the institution for over 15 years, she died there of aortic insufficiency and valvular disease on 2/3/1927. She was 42 years old. No autopsy was performed.
Because her remains were not claimed her body was transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where she was cremated and where her ashes are still being held. Ada was survived by her father and half-sister, Eula.
Her father was living with Eula and her growing family in Canyonville in 1920. By 1930 he was living alone in nearby Riddle, Oregon. In 1933 James (age 74) died of chronic kidney and heart problems at Eula's home in Tiller. Eula signed as the informant on the death certificate. James was buried at the Rondeau Cemetery in Tiller, Oregon.
In 1914 Ada's half-sister Eula Iler (age 19) first married 34 year old Joseph Lee "Joe" Rainville. He had been previously married and had children from that marriage before he and his first wife divorced. Joe was a stock farmer who was born in 1876 in the Washington Territory (or Umatilla County, Oregon). In the 1930s he identified himself as 1/4 Native American with the Calapooia Tribe. Joe & Eula had 5 children: Della Ruth, James, Mae Belle, Winnifred, and Garland. Eula was a social and civic leader in the Tiller community. She was very actively involved in supporting the local school. Her husband, Joe, died of an apparent heart attack in 1947. In 1950 Eula married Deb Jennings. The marriage failed quickly. In 1952 she returned to using the name Rainville. She and Mr. Jennings divorced in 1953. Eula died on 12/10/1984. She was buried at the Rondeau Cemetery with her father and her husband.
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.
Ada was born in Kansas on 6/11/1884. Her mother, Ida Iler (maiden name unknown), was born in Minnesota about 1862 and lived for some time in Michigan before moving to Kansas.
Ada's father, James William Iler, was born in Nebraska in 1859 and later moved to Kansas. It is unknown whether or not Ada had full siblings. It appears unlikely.
At the time of the 1885 census taken in March when Ada was 10 months old, she was living with her parents in Walnut, Phillips County, Kansas where her father was farming. At some point Ada's parents divorced and in 1890 her father married Mary O. Herbst Merritt, a divorced woman with three children. Mary, born in Wisconsin in 1850, was 8 years older than James.
The Ilers moved to Valesco, Texas where their daughter Eula (Ada's half-sister) was born on 12/10/1894. Within a year the family moved to Oklahoma where they farmed in Mound, Oklahoma along with James' older brother Ira Lee Iler. They were in Mound during the 1900 census.
Ada was not living with her father in 1900 although she was only 16 years old. It also appears she was not living with her mother. During the 1900 census a married woman named Ida Iler who was born in 1862 in Minnesota was a patient at the Napa (California) State Hospital for the Insane. She perfectly fits the description of Ada's mother. Ida has not been found in documents after 1900.
In 1904 James, Mary, Eula, and 2 children from Mary's previous marriage moved from Oklahoma to Brownsboro, Jackson County in southern Oregon. Ada's step-mother, Mary, died there of breast cancer in 1904.
During the 1910 census, James and Eula (age 11) were living in Canyonville, Douglas County, Oregon. James was a day laborer and Elua was attending school.
Meanwhile during the census of 1910, Ada Iler was 26, single, reportedly unable to read, and living at the Children's Home on Corbett Street in Portland, Oregon. The facility was an "orphanage" for children who had lost one or both parents or whose parents were unable to take care of them. Except for one 15 year old, all the other 58 "inmates" in the home were between 3 and 10 years old.
On 10/14/1911 Ada was transferred to the newly established Oregon State Institution for the Feeble-Minded, a residential, quasi-educational institution in Salem, Oregon charged with educating people with developmental disabilities. It was later called Oregon Fairview Home and was closed in 2000. Ada was listed among the patients at the state institution in the census of 1920 which said she was able to read and write unlike most patients at Fairview. The census also indicated she was given the job of "kitchen help" which was also uncommon among the patients. Assuming she was literate and able to work, it is likely her disability was not severe. About 1921 she developed chronic heart problems. After being a patient at the institution for over 15 years, she died there of aortic insufficiency and valvular disease on 2/3/1927. She was 42 years old. No autopsy was performed.
Because her remains were not claimed her body was transported to the nearby Oregon State (Psychiatric) Hospital where she was cremated and where her ashes are still being held. Ada was survived by her father and half-sister, Eula.
Her father was living with Eula and her growing family in Canyonville in 1920. By 1930 he was living alone in nearby Riddle, Oregon. In 1933 James (age 74) died of chronic kidney and heart problems at Eula's home in Tiller. Eula signed as the informant on the death certificate. James was buried at the Rondeau Cemetery in Tiller, Oregon.
In 1914 Ada's half-sister Eula Iler (age 19) first married 34 year old Joseph Lee "Joe" Rainville. He had been previously married and had children from that marriage before he and his first wife divorced. Joe was a stock farmer who was born in 1876 in the Washington Territory (or Umatilla County, Oregon). In the 1930s he identified himself as 1/4 Native American with the Calapooia Tribe. Joe & Eula had 5 children: Della Ruth, James, Mae Belle, Winnifred, and Garland. Eula was a social and civic leader in the Tiller community. She was very actively involved in supporting the local school. Her husband, Joe, died of an apparent heart attack in 1947. In 1950 Eula married Deb Jennings. The marriage failed quickly. In 1952 she returned to using the name Rainville. She and Mr. Jennings divorced in 1953. Eula died on 12/10/1984. She was buried at the Rondeau Cemetery with her father and her husband.
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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