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Jacob and Amalie Erdman
Georg Jacob Erdman was born on March 17, 1882, in Grimm, Russia. He served with distinction in the Russian military and received a certificate of recognition from the government (see image below). He married Amalia Velte, and they immigrated to the United States in 1913, settling in Portland, Oregon.
Georg Jacob (now known as Jacob) found work as a boiler maker in the Albina railroad shops. By the 1940s, Jacob worked as a watchmaker for Lipman Wolfe & Co. in downtown Portland. For many years they lived at 3917 NE 8th Avenue.
Jacob and Amalie (Mollie) had two children born in Russia: Emma and Alexander. Six more children were born in Oregon: Amalie, August, Mary, Emily, Jacob, and Walter.
Jacob was a leading member of the St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church, serving as the Church Chairman for 25 years or more. On December 24, 1938, a mural canvas painting, 6 ft. high and 12 ft. wide, created by a well-known Portland artist, Colista Dowling, was presented and dedicated by the eight children of Jacob and Amalia Erdman as a lasting tribute to their parents.
Jacob Erdman died on November 17, 1964.
Georg Jacob (now known as Jacob) found work as a boiler maker in the Albina railroad shops. By the 1940s, Jacob worked as a watchmaker for Lipman Wolfe & Co. in downtown Portland. For many years they lived at 3917 NE 8th Avenue.
Jacob and Amalie (Mollie) had two children born in Russia: Emma and Alexander. Six more children were born in Oregon: Amalie, August, Mary, Emily, Jacob, and Walter.
Jacob was a leading member of the St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church, serving as the Church Chairman for 25 years or more. On December 24, 1938, a mural canvas painting, 6 ft. high and 12 ft. wide, created by a well-known Portland artist, Colista Dowling, was presented and dedicated by the eight children of Jacob and Amalia Erdman as a lasting tribute to their parents.
Jacob Erdman died on November 17, 1964.
Portrait of Jacob Erdman in his Russian military uniform. Courtesy of Valerie Miller.
This is an official document given to Georgiy Erdman (German spelling of the name would be Georg Erdmann) to attest that during his four years of military service as a "noncombatant private" he exhibited "excellent behavior and performed his duties in good faith (aka diligently)".
The document was issued on April 4, 1907, by a Lieutenant Colonel (name starts with a D) who was the director/supervisor of the Artillery Office of the St. Petersburg artillery storage facility." Source: Valerie Miller. Translation: Tanja Schell.
From left to right: August Erdman, Jacob Erdman, Alexander Erdman, Emma Erdman, Amelia (Molly) Erdman, Amelia (Grandma) Erdman, baby Mary Erdman. Photograph courtesy of Russ Erdman, the grandson of Jacob Erdman.
Jacob Erdman and his eight grandchildren at the St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church. Photograph courtesy of Russ Erdman.
Sources
Valerie Miller
1920 and 1930 U.S. Census - Ancestry.com
World War II Registration Card - Ancestry.com
1920 and 1930 U.S. Census - Ancestry.com
World War II Registration Card - Ancestry.com
Last updated October 26, 2023