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George and Christina Frueauf
Johann George Freauff (Frueauf) was born on January 12, 1883 in Norka, Saratov, Russia. He was the son of Carl Jacob Frueauf (1851-1936) and Elisabeth Schmer (1854-1926). Elisabeth Schmer was a descendant of an original German colonist of the Volga region, Johann Georg Schmer (1749-1817).
Christina Kaiser was born November 11, 1884, in Norka. She was the daughter of Heinrich Kaiser (1844- ) and Christina Schmer (1848-1891). Christina Kaiser was a descendant of an original German colonist of the Volga region, Johann Georg Schmer (1749-1817).
George and Christina were married on March 30, 1904, in Norka. Two sons were born there: Wilhelm (1905-2005) and Johann Henry (1908-2005).
Christina Kaiser was born November 11, 1884, in Norka. She was the daughter of Heinrich Kaiser (1844- ) and Christina Schmer (1848-1891). Christina Kaiser was a descendant of an original German colonist of the Volga region, Johann Georg Schmer (1749-1817).
George and Christina were married on March 30, 1904, in Norka. Two sons were born there: Wilhelm (1905-2005) and Johann Henry (1908-2005).
Christina and George Frueauf. Courtesy of Georgia Conway.
George and Christina knew their future was at risk under Russian rule and chose to leave Russia and immigrate to the United States, where other relatives had come before them. They departed from Bremen, Germany, aboard the steamship Bremen, on May 30, 1908, and arrived in New York on June 8, 1908. Their sons Wilhelm and Johann Henry were with them, George's father Carl Jacob and mother Elisabeth, George's brother Conrad and sister Amalia. Their destination was Loveland, Colorado.
From 1908 until about 1930, George farmed in Larimer and Weld counties, raised sugar beets, and worked on the railroad. It took George over seven years to repay the debt to the relative who sponsored their passage to America. Four more children were born in Colorado: Lydia Elizabeth (1910-2001), Conrad Donald (1912-1985), Leona Mae (1915-1994), and Walter Emanuel (1918-2003). Christina worked as hard as George. She cared for the children, tended the family garden, cooked, canned, washed, cleaned the house, and helped spade the beet fields.
Between 1930 and 1935, the family moved to Portland, Oregon, where George's brothers Conrad and William lived. By 1940, George and Christina moved to a farm in Boring, Clackamas, Oregon. It was too wet and cold for farming, so in the mid-1940s, they moved to Yakima, Washington, where George and daughter Lydia bought a small meat and grocery store, the Freauff Market. George cut the meat and made German sausage. It was located on Fair Avenue across from the Yakima Fairgrounds (now called The SunDome). George and Christina owned three lots behind the market. Lydia's house was behind the market. My grandparent's house was on the third lot behind Lydia's. When I visited my grandparents as a child, I slept in two overstuffed chairs put together for a perfect cozy bed, and my delight was getting a popsicle every day from Grandpa from the store. Their last move was to Sunnyside, Washington, with daughter Lydia and sons Walter and Conrad and their wives living close by to take of them in their old age.
Christina passed June 1, 1973, and George passed October 3,1977. Both are buried in the Lower Memorial Garden, Sunnyside, Yakima, Washington.
From 1908 until about 1930, George farmed in Larimer and Weld counties, raised sugar beets, and worked on the railroad. It took George over seven years to repay the debt to the relative who sponsored their passage to America. Four more children were born in Colorado: Lydia Elizabeth (1910-2001), Conrad Donald (1912-1985), Leona Mae (1915-1994), and Walter Emanuel (1918-2003). Christina worked as hard as George. She cared for the children, tended the family garden, cooked, canned, washed, cleaned the house, and helped spade the beet fields.
Between 1930 and 1935, the family moved to Portland, Oregon, where George's brothers Conrad and William lived. By 1940, George and Christina moved to a farm in Boring, Clackamas, Oregon. It was too wet and cold for farming, so in the mid-1940s, they moved to Yakima, Washington, where George and daughter Lydia bought a small meat and grocery store, the Freauff Market. George cut the meat and made German sausage. It was located on Fair Avenue across from the Yakima Fairgrounds (now called The SunDome). George and Christina owned three lots behind the market. Lydia's house was behind the market. My grandparent's house was on the third lot behind Lydia's. When I visited my grandparents as a child, I slept in two overstuffed chairs put together for a perfect cozy bed, and my delight was getting a popsicle every day from Grandpa from the store. Their last move was to Sunnyside, Washington, with daughter Lydia and sons Walter and Conrad and their wives living close by to take of them in their old age.
Christina passed June 1, 1973, and George passed October 3,1977. Both are buried in the Lower Memorial Garden, Sunnyside, Yakima, Washington.
Sources
Article written by and photograph courtesy of Georgia Conway.
Last updated October 26, 2023