THE VOLGA GERMANS IN PORTLAND
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People > Pioneers > Johannes and Anna Maria Schnell

Johannes and Anna Maria Schnell

Johannes Schnell was born on September 14, 1855 in Norka, Russia, the son of Heinrich Schnell (born 1833 in Norka) and Anna Elisabeth Sauer (born 1833 in Norka).

Johannes's father, Heinrich, died in September 1858 and his mother married Heinrich Peter Scheidemann on April 24, 1861.

Johannes married Anna Maria Dick on October 24, 1876 in Norka. Anna Maria was born in Norka on October 27, 1858, the daughter of Johannes Dick (born 1832) and Margaretha Köhler (born 1830).

Shortly after their wedding, Johannes and Anna Maria decided to begin a new life in America. They immigrated to the United States with several other families from Norka departing from Hamburg, Germany and arriving in New York on December 8, 1876 aboard the steamship Frisia.  

Johannes (now known as John) and Anna Maria (now Anna or Mary) first settled in Ohio where a son, Heinrich (Henry) was born in December 1877. The Schnell's soon moved to Nebraska where their second son, Johannes (John), was born on September 9, 1880. A daughter, Elisabeth (Lizzie), was born about 1881 (probably in Nebraska, but one source states that she was born in Oregon). In 1880, the Schnell's were living next to the Schreiber's who also migrated to Portland.

By 1882, the Schnell's were among the first Volga German families to settle in Oregon. John Schnell is one of the first Volga Germans listed in the Albina City Directory in 1883. John and Anna were residing on Woods Street near Page Street (now approximately N. Albina Avenue and N. Page Street). John was working as a laborer. A third son, Alexander, was born in September of 1883.

A fourth son, George, was born July 21, 1886 and a fifth son, Joseph, was born in June 1891. At the time of Joseph's birth the family was living on the north side of Tusculum, six lots east of Margaretta (later Union Avenue and now MLK Blvd.).

John's half-sister, Magdalena Sauer (née Scheidemann) arrived in Albina with her husband Ludwig Sauer in April of 1889. John's mother, Anna Elisabeth Sauer and step-father, Heinrich Peter Scheidemann arrived in Portland in 1890.

By 1894, the family was living at 429 Tillamook Street (now 623 NE Tillamook) and John was working as a day laborer at a local iron works. Anna Maria's sister, Louisa Dick, was living with the family in 1900.

At age 65, John appears to have retired by 1920. John and Anna's son Alexander was living with them at the house on Tillamook Street.

In 1930, John and Mary were living at 412 Eugene Street (now 528 NE Thompson Street) and Alexander continued to live with and care for his parents. At age 75, John had returned to work as a machinist at an auto shop. 

John Schnell died on August 7, 1931 and was buried at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.

​Anna Maria Schnell (née Dick) died on October 17, 1932 and was buried next to John. 
John Schnell headstone
John Schnell headstone at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland. Courtesy of Find-A-Grave.com.
Anna Schnell headstone
Anna Maria Schnell headstone at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland. Courtesy of Find-A-Grave.com.

Sources

Passenger ship manifest, Albina City Directories, U.S. Censuses, death records - Ancestry.com

​Norka database.
Last updated January 7, 2023
Copyright © 1998-2023 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
    • About This Website
    • Reviews
  • History
    • Historical Timeline
    • Migration to Russia
    • Emigration from Russia
    • Settlement in America
    • Migration to Portland
    • Little Russia
    • A Short History of Albina
    • World War I
    • The Volga Relief Society >
      • Portland Volga Relief Society Subscribers 1921
    • World War II
    • Assimilation and Dispersion
  • Beliefs
    • Churches >
      • Albina Seventh-day Adventist Church
      • First United Mennonite Baptist Church
      • Ebenezer German Congregational Church
      • Free Evangelical Brethren Church >
        • German Evangelical Congregational Brethren Church
      • Second German Baptist Church
      • St. Pauls Evangelical and Reformed Church
      • Second German Congregational Church >
        • Evangelical Congregational Church
      • Zion German Congregational Church >
        • Rivercrest Community Church
    • Pastors
    • The Brethren
    • Denominations >
      • German Reformed Church
      • German Evangelical Synod of North America
      • Evangelical and Reformed Church
      • German Congregational Church
      • Seventh-day Adventists
      • United Church of Christ
  • People
    • Our People
    • Notables
    • Pioneers 1881-1892
    • Stories
    • Photographs
    • Help Identify These People
  • Community
    • Characteristics
    • Businesses >
      • Bakeries Retailers and Services
      • Garbage Haulers
      • Grocery and Meat Markets
      • Restaurants >
        • Helsers on Alberta
        • McCormick & Schmicks
        • Wildwood
      • Saloons and Taverns
      • Suppliers and Manufacturers
    • Employers
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Maps
    • Documentary
  • Traditions
    • Foods
    • Folk Medicine
    • Expressions
    • Weddings
    • Holidays
    • Folk Music
    • Funerals and Burial Sites
  • Resources
    • Family Research
    • Books and Video
    • Works Cited