THE VOLGA GERMANS IN PORTLAND
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People > Pioneers > Adam and Catharina Elisabeth Bauer

Adam and Catharina Elisabeth Bauer

Adam Bauer was born in Norka, Russia on October 6, 1856, the son of Johann Georg Bauer (born 1825) and Anna Catharina Bartel (born 1825). 

Adam married Catharina Elisabeth Kneiss (Kniss) in Norka on February 9, 1882. Their first child, Margaretha, was born on July 24, 1884 and died a few weeks later on August 17, 1884. A second child, Magdalena, was born on December 10, 1885 in Norka.

Adam, Catharina Elisabeth and Magdalena obtained their Russian passport in December 1886 and immigrated to the United States arriving on February 14, 1887.
Adam Bauer family passport
Inside cover and front page of the Adam Bauer family Russian passport. The note pasted on the inside cover states: ""This note is to make the holder of this document aware that, if going abroad through Prussia, he is required to receive a visa for this international travel passport from one of the German consuls in Russia. Without such a visa, he will not be allowed into Germany. December 15, 1886. {Signature by] Head of the Saratov Governor's Chancellery." Translation provided by Tanja Schell. Passport courtesy of Peter Michael Bauer.
Adam Bauer Passport 1887
A visa dated January 24, 1887 from the German Consulate in Kovno, Lithuania (then part of the Russian empire) providing approval for Adam, Catharina and Magdalena Bauer to travel through Germany. The visa was included in the Bauer's Russian passport. Courtesy of Peter Michael Bauer.
Upon arrival, the family initially settled in Kansas. A daughter, Paulina (known as Pearl) was born in May 1888.

By 1889, the Bauer's had migrated to Portland and settled in the Albina area with a growing group of Volga German families. In 1890, their residence is listed in the Albina City Directory as the south-side of San Diego (now Brazee), four lots east of Margaretta Avenue (later Union Avenue and now Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd). In 1891, the family appears to be sharing a house with Adam's paternal first cousin, John Bauer, and his wife Maria Catharina on the south-side of San Diego, 5 lots east of Margaretta Avenue.
Adam Bauer 1890 Albina
Listing in the 1890 Albina City Directory for the Adam Bauer household.
Two sons, Johannes (1896) and William (1898) were born in Portland.

By 1900, the family is living at 793 Union Avenue (now 3739 NE MLK Blvd.) and Adam is working as watchman at a sash (door and window frame) factory. Catharina Elisabeth's mother (Margaretha Kneiss, born 1825) is living with them.

In 1920, the entire family was living together along with the wives of Johannes (John) and William.

Adam's younger brother, Johannes (born 1863), also lived in Portland. He was married to Elisabeth Sterkel (born 1866 in Norka).

The family continued living at the same location on Union Avenue up to the time of Catharina Elisabeth's death on December 20, 1930. She was buried at the Rose City Cemetery.

Adam died on January 26, 1938 and was buried with his wife.

Sources

Peter Michael Bauer, 2nd great grandson of Adam and Catharina Elisabeth Bauer.
​
Passenger lists; 1890 and 1891 Albina City Directories; Portland City Directories; 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 U.S. Censuses - Ancestry.com

​Norka database.
Last updated November 25, 2017.
Copyright © 1998-2023 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
    • About This Website
    • Reviews
  • History
    • Historical Timeline
    • Migration to Russia
    • Emigration from Russia
    • Settlement in America
    • Migration to Portland
    • Little Russia
    • A Short History of Albina
    • World War I
    • The Volga Relief Society >
      • Portland Volga Relief Society Subscribers 1921
    • World War II
    • Assimilation and Dispersion
  • Beliefs
    • Churches >
      • Albina Seventh-day Adventist Church
      • First United Mennonite Baptist Church
      • Ebenezer German Congregational Church
      • Free Evangelical Brethren Church >
        • German Evangelical Congregational Brethren Church
      • Second German Baptist Church
      • St. Pauls Evangelical and Reformed Church
      • Second German Congregational Church >
        • Evangelical Congregational Church
      • Zion German Congregational Church >
        • Rivercrest Community Church
    • Pastors
    • The Brethren
    • Denominations >
      • German Reformed Church
      • German Evangelical Synod of North America
      • Evangelical and Reformed Church
      • German Congregational Church
      • Seventh-day Adventists
      • United Church of Christ
  • People
    • Our People
    • Notables
    • Pioneers 1881-1892
    • Stories
    • Photographs
    • Help Identify These People
  • Community
    • Characteristics
    • Businesses >
      • Bakeries Retailers and Services
      • Garbage Haulers
      • Grocery and Meat Markets
      • Restaurants >
        • Helsers on Alberta
        • McCormick & Schmicks
        • Wildwood
      • Saloons and Taverns
      • Suppliers and Manufacturers
    • Employers
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Maps
    • Documentary
  • Traditions
    • Foods
    • Folk Medicine
    • Expressions
    • Weddings
    • Holidays
    • Folk Music
    • Funerals and Burial Sites
  • Resources
    • Family Research
    • Books and Video
    • Works Cited