Johann Wilhelm and Maria Katharina Schwabauer
Johann Wilhelm (William) Schwabauer was born on September 22, 1855, in Balzer, Russia, the son of Johann Wilhelm Schwabauer and Susann Elisabeth Bauer. He married Maria Katharina (Mary) Robertus on December 29, 1875, in Balzer. She was born in Balzer on October 20, 1857, the daughter of Johannes Robertus and Anna Catharina Schwabauer. A son, Jacob Alexander, was born in Balzer in January 1876. Shortly thereafter, the Schwabauers migrated to the United States, departing from Bremen, Germany, and arriving on November 24, 1876, aboard the steamship "Neckar".
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The family first settled in Red Oak, Iowa, where a son, John, was born in 1878 (he died in 1881). They soon moved to Saline County, Nebraska, where a daughter, Amalia Marie, was born in 1880. In 1882, the family lived in rural Lodi, California, with many other Volga German immigrants.
Their stay in Lodi was short. By 1883, the family had relocated to Park Place in Clackamas County, Oregon (near Oregon City). A son, John, was born in April of that year. Two more children followed: William (1885) and Anna (1887). William Sr. became a naturalized citizen in May 1886 and applied for a passport, which was issued in July 1886.
During the spring of 1890, the entire family returned to Balzer and stayed several months before returning to Oregon. A daughter, Amelia Lorena, was born at sea on the return voyage in June 1890. Two more daughters were born in Oregon: Emma Elvira (1892 in Hubbard) and Hattie (1894). It appears that Williams' brother, Johann (John), came to Oregon about the same time as their return from Russia, possibly accompanying them.
William applied for and received a U.S. passport in June 1892, perhaps planning to return to Russia again.
On the advice of a fortune teller, William went to Alaska from about August 1897 to August 1898 to mine for gold.
Mary died on June 1, 1908, in Macksburg, Clackamas County, Oregon, and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City. It seems that William moved to Portland shortly after her death.
In 1910, William Sr. and two of his daughters, Anna and Emma, were living in Portland on Cedar Street. He later moved to 1641 E. 11th. William worked as a foreman for the Portland Railway, Light, and Power Company until 1915.
William Sr. died on January 11, 1935, in Oregon City and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery.
Their stay in Lodi was short. By 1883, the family had relocated to Park Place in Clackamas County, Oregon (near Oregon City). A son, John, was born in April of that year. Two more children followed: William (1885) and Anna (1887). William Sr. became a naturalized citizen in May 1886 and applied for a passport, which was issued in July 1886.
During the spring of 1890, the entire family returned to Balzer and stayed several months before returning to Oregon. A daughter, Amelia Lorena, was born at sea on the return voyage in June 1890. Two more daughters were born in Oregon: Emma Elvira (1892 in Hubbard) and Hattie (1894). It appears that Williams' brother, Johann (John), came to Oregon about the same time as their return from Russia, possibly accompanying them.
William applied for and received a U.S. passport in June 1892, perhaps planning to return to Russia again.
On the advice of a fortune teller, William went to Alaska from about August 1897 to August 1898 to mine for gold.
Mary died on June 1, 1908, in Macksburg, Clackamas County, Oregon, and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City. It seems that William moved to Portland shortly after her death.
In 1910, William Sr. and two of his daughters, Anna and Emma, were living in Portland on Cedar Street. He later moved to 1641 E. 11th. William worked as a foreman for the Portland Railway, Light, and Power Company until 1915.
William Sr. died on January 11, 1935, in Oregon City and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery.
Sources
Passenger lists, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 U.S. Censuses, Portland City Directories, U.S. Passport Applications - Ancestry.com
David Clarks' Peck Family Tree on Ancestry.com (accessed 26 April 2026)
David Clarks' Peck Family Tree on Ancestry.com (accessed 26 April 2026)
Last updated April 26, 2026