Conrad and Anna Maria Schnell
Johann Conrad Schnell was born on June 9, 1838, in Norka, Russia, the son of Ludwig Schnell (born 1812) and Catharina Jörg (born 1813).
Conrad first married Katharina Magdalena Huck (born 1838) in Norka on January 29, 1857. After giving birth to six children, Katharina Magdalena died on April 17, 1868. One of those children, Johannes (born December 9, 1860), would immigrate to the United States and settle in Portland.
On November 23, 1869, Conrad married Anna Maria Müller, who was born in Norka on May 13, 1836, the daughter of Ludwig Müller (born 1798) and Anna Maria Heuser (born 1800). Anna Maria was the widow of Johannes Lehl. Johannes, a son from her first marriage, was also among the pioneers in Albina.
Conrad and Anna Maria (Emma) became the parents of three children born in Norka: Peter (born October 18, 1870), Johann Heinrich (Henry), born June 21, 1873, and Magdalena (born December 8, 1875).
The Schnells immigrated to the United States with several other families from Norka, departing from Hamburg, Germany, on July 4, 1877, aboard the steamship Suevia.
In 1880, the family was farming in Clay County, Nebraska, along with Conrad's brother, Johannes (John), who was born on August 8, 1853, in Norka.
By 1888, the Conrad Schnell family was living together in Albina on the north side of San Rafael, two lots east of Rodney Avenue. Both Conrad and his son John were working as laborers.
In 1891, Conrad and Emma were living on the south side of Russell, two lots east of Margaretta Avenue (now MLK Blvd.). Sons Peter and Henry were living at the same address. All three of the adult men are working as laborers.
One of Conrad's sons, Peter, married Anna Maria (Emma) Miller, the daughter of John O. and Anna Elisabeth Miller, on February 19, 1891. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Hartung of the nearby German Methodist Church since no Volga German churches had yet been established in Albina. The Schnells hosted the Miller family when they first arrived in Portland. Peter and Emma started a grocery store at the corner of Union Avenue and Fremont Street and lived in the back of the store. Emma's family also lived at the store until their home was completed in May 1891. Later, John O. Miller and his son-in-law, Peter, ran the store. The profits were too small for two families, and Peter bought another store across the street, which he kept for three years.
Emma died on November 30, 1906. Konrad died on September 15, 1909. Both are buried at the Historic Columbian Cemetery in Portland.
Conrad first married Katharina Magdalena Huck (born 1838) in Norka on January 29, 1857. After giving birth to six children, Katharina Magdalena died on April 17, 1868. One of those children, Johannes (born December 9, 1860), would immigrate to the United States and settle in Portland.
On November 23, 1869, Conrad married Anna Maria Müller, who was born in Norka on May 13, 1836, the daughter of Ludwig Müller (born 1798) and Anna Maria Heuser (born 1800). Anna Maria was the widow of Johannes Lehl. Johannes, a son from her first marriage, was also among the pioneers in Albina.
Conrad and Anna Maria (Emma) became the parents of three children born in Norka: Peter (born October 18, 1870), Johann Heinrich (Henry), born June 21, 1873, and Magdalena (born December 8, 1875).
The Schnells immigrated to the United States with several other families from Norka, departing from Hamburg, Germany, on July 4, 1877, aboard the steamship Suevia.
In 1880, the family was farming in Clay County, Nebraska, along with Conrad's brother, Johannes (John), who was born on August 8, 1853, in Norka.
By 1888, the Conrad Schnell family was living together in Albina on the north side of San Rafael, two lots east of Rodney Avenue. Both Conrad and his son John were working as laborers.
In 1891, Conrad and Emma were living on the south side of Russell, two lots east of Margaretta Avenue (now MLK Blvd.). Sons Peter and Henry were living at the same address. All three of the adult men are working as laborers.
One of Conrad's sons, Peter, married Anna Maria (Emma) Miller, the daughter of John O. and Anna Elisabeth Miller, on February 19, 1891. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Hartung of the nearby German Methodist Church since no Volga German churches had yet been established in Albina. The Schnells hosted the Miller family when they first arrived in Portland. Peter and Emma started a grocery store at the corner of Union Avenue and Fremont Street and lived in the back of the store. Emma's family also lived at the store until their home was completed in May 1891. Later, John O. Miller and his son-in-law, Peter, ran the store. The profits were too small for two families, and Peter bought another store across the street, which he kept for three years.
Emma died on November 30, 1906. Konrad died on September 15, 1909. Both are buried at the Historic Columbian Cemetery in Portland.
Photograph courtesy of Steve Schreiber.
Sources
Haynes, Emma S. My Mother's People. N.p.: 1959. Print.
Ship manifest, 1888 Portland City Directory, 1900 U.S. Census, death records - Ancestry.com
Norka database
Ship manifest, 1888 Portland City Directory, 1900 U.S. Census, death records - Ancestry.com
Norka database
Last updated October 8, 2025