People > Our People > Nicklous and Matilda Schnell
Nicklous and Matilda Schnell
Nicklous Schnell was born on January 18, 1877 in Norka, Russia, the son of Conrad Schnell (born 1836) and Catharina Spahn (born 1838).
Nicklous immigrated to the United States in 1901. He departed from Hamburg, Germany and arrived in New York on February 17th aboard the steamship Pretoria.
Shortly after his arrival Nicklous settled in Culbertson, Nebraska. There he married Elisabeth (Lizzie) Hohnstein on May 26, 1901. Lizzie was the daughter of Peter Hohnstein (born 1851) and Amalia Müller (born 1853) from Norka.
Nicklous and Lizzie adopted Marie Caroline Wacker after her mother, Caroline Urbauer, died in childbirth on April 12, 1907. Nicklous was a friend of Marie's father, Georg Conrad Wacker, and he agreed to help his friend who could not raise a daughter alone.
In 1910, Nicklous. Lizzie and Marie were living in Culbertson and operating a farm. Sadly, Lizzie died on April 12, 1914 in McCook, Nebraska. On April 14, Nicklous obtained permission to travel to Portland with Lizzie's corpse. Lizzie's parents lived in Portland at the time. After a funeral service held at the Free Evangelical Brethren Church, Lizzie was buried at the Rose City Cemetery. Portland became the new home of Nicklous and Marie.
Nicklous married Lydia Matilda Neitsch on August 5, 1914 in Magnolia Township, Harrison County, Iowa. Mathilda's family was from the German settlements in Volhynia (then part of the Russian Empire, now part of Ukraine). She was a Baptist. The wedding record shows that Nick was in the liquor business. The 1915 Portland City Directory shows that Nick and Matilda operated a saloon at 700 Union Avenue (now 3256 NE Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard) and resided at 679 Union Avenue (now 3233 NE Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard).
Nick and Matilda purchased a farm in east Gresham where they raised cows and chickens. The 1920 U.S. Census shows the Schnell family and two laborers (Henry Yeager and George Reisbich) living on the property.
By 1930, Nick and Matilda owned and operated the U.S. Sanitary Market at 745 Union Avenue (n0w 3513 NE Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard). At the time, the Schnell's were living with Matilda's mother, Amalia Neitsch, at E 22nd St. N. in Portland.
Nicklous immigrated to the United States in 1901. He departed from Hamburg, Germany and arrived in New York on February 17th aboard the steamship Pretoria.
Shortly after his arrival Nicklous settled in Culbertson, Nebraska. There he married Elisabeth (Lizzie) Hohnstein on May 26, 1901. Lizzie was the daughter of Peter Hohnstein (born 1851) and Amalia Müller (born 1853) from Norka.
Nicklous and Lizzie adopted Marie Caroline Wacker after her mother, Caroline Urbauer, died in childbirth on April 12, 1907. Nicklous was a friend of Marie's father, Georg Conrad Wacker, and he agreed to help his friend who could not raise a daughter alone.
In 1910, Nicklous. Lizzie and Marie were living in Culbertson and operating a farm. Sadly, Lizzie died on April 12, 1914 in McCook, Nebraska. On April 14, Nicklous obtained permission to travel to Portland with Lizzie's corpse. Lizzie's parents lived in Portland at the time. After a funeral service held at the Free Evangelical Brethren Church, Lizzie was buried at the Rose City Cemetery. Portland became the new home of Nicklous and Marie.
Nicklous married Lydia Matilda Neitsch on August 5, 1914 in Magnolia Township, Harrison County, Iowa. Mathilda's family was from the German settlements in Volhynia (then part of the Russian Empire, now part of Ukraine). She was a Baptist. The wedding record shows that Nick was in the liquor business. The 1915 Portland City Directory shows that Nick and Matilda operated a saloon at 700 Union Avenue (now 3256 NE Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard) and resided at 679 Union Avenue (now 3233 NE Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard).
Nick and Matilda purchased a farm in east Gresham where they raised cows and chickens. The 1920 U.S. Census shows the Schnell family and two laborers (Henry Yeager and George Reisbich) living on the property.
By 1930, Nick and Matilda owned and operated the U.S. Sanitary Market at 745 Union Avenue (n0w 3513 NE Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard). At the time, the Schnell's were living with Matilda's mother, Amalia Neitsch, at E 22nd St. N. in Portland.
Nicolaus and Mathilda Schnell pose with their delivery truck. Source: Posted by Pamela Gleitsman on Ancestry.com.
As early as 1934, Nick and Matilda were managing a "Baptist Home for the Aged" at 823 NE 82nd Avenue (now Milepost 5). There were about 50 residents at this facility, including Amalia Hohnstein (née Müller) the 88 year-old mother of Nicklous' first wife, Elizabeth. Several other Volga German residents were living at this facility. The facility was founded by the German Baptist Old People’s Home Society which included members of the local Second German Baptist Church.
In 1950, the Schnell's were in the cabin rental business at Rockaway Beach on the Oregon Coast. Rockaway was a favorite vacation spot for Volga German families living in the Portland area.
Matilda died on November 12, 1964 at Rockaway Beach. She was interred at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Nicklous died on April 25, 1971 in Portland and was interred with Matilda at Rose City Cemetery.
In 1950, the Schnell's were in the cabin rental business at Rockaway Beach on the Oregon Coast. Rockaway was a favorite vacation spot for Volga German families living in the Portland area.
Matilda died on November 12, 1964 at Rockaway Beach. She was interred at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Nicklous died on April 25, 1971 in Portland and was interred with Matilda at Rose City Cemetery.
Sources
U.S. Censuses, City Directories, Vital Records - Ancestry.com
Norka Database
Sanders, Patricia. "A Montavilla Landmark: the German Baptist Retirement Home". Village Portland website accessed 22 Apr 2023.
Norka Database
Sanders, Patricia. "A Montavilla Landmark: the German Baptist Retirement Home". Village Portland website accessed 22 Apr 2023.
Last updated April 22, 2023