Heinrich and Katharina Maria Kniss
Heinrich Kniss (also Kneiss) was born on April 25, 1859, in Norka, Russia. His parents were Philipp Kniss (born 1839) and Margaretha Anna Catharina Schnell (born 1837).
Heinrich married Katharina Maria Schmer in Norka on January 20, 1880. Heinrich and Katharina Maria were confirmed in the Norka church in 1875 and 1874, respectively. Their wedding ceremony was performed by Rev. Stärkel. Katharina Maria was born on December 6, 1858, in Norka, the daughter of Adam Schmer (born 1826) and Elisabeth Grün (born 1829).
A daughter, Elisabeth, was born on July 12, 1882. She died on 11 May 1890. A son, Jacob, was born February 13, 1886.
Heinrich (Henry), Katharina Maria (Kate), and Jacob (Jake) immigrated to the United States, where they arrived in New York on November 21, 1890, aboard the steamship Fulda. It appears that they traveled directly to Portland.
In 1891, the family lived on the south side of San Antonio Street (now Graham Street), six lots east of Margareta (now MLK Boulevard), with the William and Mary (née Schmer) Lind family, who were also early Volga German settlers in Portland. In 1900, the two families continued to live together at 416 Brazee Street. Katharine Kniss and Mary Lind were sisters. Henry worked as a laborer for the Union Pacific Railroad.
The family expanded with the birth of a daughter, Maria Elisabeth (Mary), on October 28, 1891. Another daughter, Christina Katharina (Christine), was born on July 20, 1895.
Henry and Kate were founding members of the Ebenezer German Congregational Church in 1892.
Henry died on January 1, 1904, and was buried at the Lone Fir Cemetery.
In 1910, Kate lived as a widow with Jacob and Christina at 754 E. 6th St. N and worked as a laundress for private families.
The 1920 U.S. Census shows Kate living at 760 E. 6th Street N. with Jake, Christina, and her son-in-law, Theodore Rayburn. By 1930, Kate and Jake were living alone in the same house on 6th Street.
Kate died on February 15, 1952, and was buried at the Rose City Cemetery.
Heinrich married Katharina Maria Schmer in Norka on January 20, 1880. Heinrich and Katharina Maria were confirmed in the Norka church in 1875 and 1874, respectively. Their wedding ceremony was performed by Rev. Stärkel. Katharina Maria was born on December 6, 1858, in Norka, the daughter of Adam Schmer (born 1826) and Elisabeth Grün (born 1829).
A daughter, Elisabeth, was born on July 12, 1882. She died on 11 May 1890. A son, Jacob, was born February 13, 1886.
Heinrich (Henry), Katharina Maria (Kate), and Jacob (Jake) immigrated to the United States, where they arrived in New York on November 21, 1890, aboard the steamship Fulda. It appears that they traveled directly to Portland.
In 1891, the family lived on the south side of San Antonio Street (now Graham Street), six lots east of Margareta (now MLK Boulevard), with the William and Mary (née Schmer) Lind family, who were also early Volga German settlers in Portland. In 1900, the two families continued to live together at 416 Brazee Street. Katharine Kniss and Mary Lind were sisters. Henry worked as a laborer for the Union Pacific Railroad.
The family expanded with the birth of a daughter, Maria Elisabeth (Mary), on October 28, 1891. Another daughter, Christina Katharina (Christine), was born on July 20, 1895.
Henry and Kate were founding members of the Ebenezer German Congregational Church in 1892.
Henry died on January 1, 1904, and was buried at the Lone Fir Cemetery.
In 1910, Kate lived as a widow with Jacob and Christina at 754 E. 6th St. N and worked as a laundress for private families.
The 1920 U.S. Census shows Kate living at 760 E. 6th Street N. with Jake, Christina, and her son-in-law, Theodore Rayburn. By 1930, Kate and Jake were living alone in the same house on 6th Street.
Kate died on February 15, 1952, and was buried at the Rose City Cemetery.
Sources
1891 Albina City Directory, U.S. Censuses, Passenger Ship List - Ancestry.com
Krieger, Joanne, trans. Ebenezer Congregational Church, Portland, Oregon 1892-1908. Portland, OR: n.p., 1999. 50. Print.
Norka database.
Krieger, Joanne, trans. Ebenezer Congregational Church, Portland, Oregon 1892-1908. Portland, OR: n.p., 1999. 50. Print.
Norka database.
Last updated October 8, 2025