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 aboard the steamship Frisia on December 8, 1876.
Johannes (now known as John) and Anna Maria (now known as Anna or Mary) first settled in Ohio, where their son, Heinrich (later known as Henry), was born in December 1877. The Schnells 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 Schnells lived next to the Schreibers, who also migrated to Portland.
By 1882, the Schnells were among the first Volga German families to settle in Oregon. John Schnell is one of the first Volga Germans listed in the 1883 Albina City Directory. 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 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 1889. John's mother, Anna Elisabeth Sauer, and stepfather, Heinrich Peter Scheidemann, came to Portland in 1890.
By 1894, the family lived at 429 Tillamook Street (now 623 NE Tillamook), and John was working as a day laborer at a local ironworks. Anna Maria's sister, Louisa Dick, lived with the family in 1900.
At age 65, John appears to have retired by 1920. John and Anna's son, Alexander, lived with them at the house on Tillamook Street.
In 1930, John and Mary lived at 412 Eugene Street (now 528 NE Thompson Street), and Alexander continued to live with and care for his parents. At age 75, John 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.
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 aboard the steamship Frisia on December 8, 1876.
Johannes (now known as John) and Anna Maria (now known as Anna or Mary) first settled in Ohio, where their son, Heinrich (later known as Henry), was born in December 1877. The Schnells 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 Schnells lived next to the Schreibers, who also migrated to Portland.
By 1882, the Schnells were among the first Volga German families to settle in Oregon. John Schnell is one of the first Volga Germans listed in the 1883 Albina City Directory. 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 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 1889. John's mother, Anna Elisabeth Sauer, and stepfather, Heinrich Peter Scheidemann, came to Portland in 1890.
By 1894, the family lived at 429 Tillamook Street (now 623 NE Tillamook), and John was working as a day laborer at a local ironworks. Anna Maria's sister, Louisa Dick, lived with the family in 1900.
At age 65, John appears to have retired by 1920. John and Anna's son, Alexander, lived with them at the house on Tillamook Street.
In 1930, John and Mary lived at 412 Eugene Street (now 528 NE Thompson Street), and Alexander continued to live with and care for his parents. At age 75, John 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 at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland. Courtesy of Find-A-Grave.com.
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Anna Maria Schnell headstone at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland. Courtesy of Find-A-Grave.com.
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Sources
Passenger ship manifest, Albina City Directories, U.S. Censuses, death records - Ancestry.com
Norka database.
Norka database.
Last updated October 6, 2025