George and Mary Blum
Georg Adam Blum was born on October 11, 1854, in Russia, probably in Frank or Norka.
In 1875, Georg Adam decided to immigrate to the United States. He arrived in New York on December 6, 1875, aboard the "City of Berlin," which sailed from Liverpool. Several other Volga German families were aboard this ship. He first settled in Ohio and, shortly thereafter, moved to Nebraska.
Georg Adam (known as George) married Anna Maria (known as Mary) Heitzenrader in Sutton, Nebraska, in January 1879. She was born on August 12, 1859, in the colony of Frank, Russia, the daughter of Johann Peter Heitzenreder and Catharina Margaretha Weitzel. A son, John Henry, was born in Hastings on October 16, 1879.
According to the 1880 U.S. Census, George, Mary, and their son John resided in Hastings. George's occupation is listed as a shoemaker. They lived adjacent to John and Sophia Brill and George and Anna Betz. It is likely they traveled to Portland with these families around 1883. Another son, Isaac, was born in 1880 but died in infancy. A third son, Joseph, was born in Nebraska in 1882.
By 1883, the Blums were living in Portland, where a daughter, Katherine, was born on February 10, 1884.
In 1875, Georg Adam decided to immigrate to the United States. He arrived in New York on December 6, 1875, aboard the "City of Berlin," which sailed from Liverpool. Several other Volga German families were aboard this ship. He first settled in Ohio and, shortly thereafter, moved to Nebraska.
Georg Adam (known as George) married Anna Maria (known as Mary) Heitzenrader in Sutton, Nebraska, in January 1879. She was born on August 12, 1859, in the colony of Frank, Russia, the daughter of Johann Peter Heitzenreder and Catharina Margaretha Weitzel. A son, John Henry, was born in Hastings on October 16, 1879.
According to the 1880 U.S. Census, George, Mary, and their son John resided in Hastings. George's occupation is listed as a shoemaker. They lived adjacent to John and Sophia Brill and George and Anna Betz. It is likely they traveled to Portland with these families around 1883. Another son, Isaac, was born in 1880 but died in infancy. A third son, Joseph, was born in Nebraska in 1882.
By 1883, the Blums were living in Portland, where a daughter, Katherine, was born on February 10, 1884.
Photograph of the George and Mary Blum family, believed to have been taken in Portland in late 1884. The children from left to right are: Joseph, John Henry, and Kate (baby). Courtesy of the Anderson Family Photo Collection.
The 1886 Portland City Directory lists George as a shoemaker, and his shop was located at the southwest corner of 4th and H in East Portland (now SE MLK and Ash St.). He resided at the southwest corner of Q and 9th in East Portland (now SE 9th and Taylor). East Portland was a separate city from Portland at that time.
The Blums were likely members of the Albina Seventh-day Adventist Church, founded by Friedrich Jörg. The obituary for their daughter, Katherine Blum-Anderson, states that she was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from an early age.
By 1887, the family had returned to Nebraska, where a son, George Edward, was born in August. Six more children were born in Nebraska: Benjamin (1895), Lydia (1898), Hanna (1900), Laura (1901), David (1904), and Marie (1906).
In 1900, the family lived in Logan at the time of the U.S. Census, and George worked as a farmer.
George died on July 6, 1925, in Hastings, Nebraska, and was buried at the Parkview Cemetery.
Mary died on December 22, 1942, in Hastings and was buried alongside George.
The Blums were likely members of the Albina Seventh-day Adventist Church, founded by Friedrich Jörg. The obituary for their daughter, Katherine Blum-Anderson, states that she was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from an early age.
By 1887, the family had returned to Nebraska, where a son, George Edward, was born in August. Six more children were born in Nebraska: Benjamin (1895), Lydia (1898), Hanna (1900), Laura (1901), David (1904), and Marie (1906).
In 1900, the family lived in Logan at the time of the U.S. Census, and George worked as a farmer.
George died on July 6, 1925, in Hastings, Nebraska, and was buried at the Parkview Cemetery.
Mary died on December 22, 1942, in Hastings and was buried alongside George.
Sources
Ship manifest, Portland City Directories, U.S. Censuses, Oregon birth records - Ancestry.com
Find-A-Grave.com
"Obituary for Mrs. Gustav Anderson," Albion Weekly News, April 17, 1947, Page 6. Accessed on Newspapers.com.
Tucker, Stephen. "Bake 3 Pies. Worst Blizzard. Baby Born." Published 2025. Based on the diary of Katie Blum-Anderson.
Find-A-Grave.com
"Obituary for Mrs. Gustav Anderson," Albion Weekly News, April 17, 1947, Page 6. Accessed on Newspapers.com.
Tucker, Stephen. "Bake 3 Pies. Worst Blizzard. Baby Born." Published 2025. Based on the diary of Katie Blum-Anderson.
Last updated November 23, 2025