Recollections of Ellen Johnson Bauer
Written by Randy Bauer
In the mid-1700's rule in Germany was very militaristic. Life was unpleasant, taxes high and living conditions terrible. Great numbers of people weren't satisfied. This caused a lot of people, especially the lower classes, to move and colonize in Russia where things were better.
My great great grandfather was among these who settled in Norka, Russia where he lived under much better conditions until the assassination of Alexander II in 1881. My great grandfather was born and married in Norka.
One of the requirements to live in Russia was to serve in the army. My great grandfather John was serving his time in the army when his request to visit the U.S. was granted. He legally had permission to leave for six months, but he and his wife feared they might be stopped for some reason. Because of this they sort of snuck out of the country.
They left Germany in 1890 on the steamship Munchen. Their destination was Portland, Oregon where his older brother was living. In order to pay for their passage he shoveled coal. After many days at sea they arrived at Ellis Island, N.Y. Once the Germans from Russia reached the U.S. many settled in Lincoln, Nebraska or Portland, Oregon.
When they headed for Nebraska they had to cross the Great Lakes and again he shoveled coal. Then on the train west he did the same shoveling on the train. They settled down eventually in the home at 4048 NE Mallory Ave, in an area called Little Russia because this is where many of the immigrants from Norka and other colonies congregated.
When he got to Portland his older brother set him up with a job in the railroad yards. In 1905 he invested in a couple of horses and a wagon. He used this to haul garbage from the World's Fair to the dump. From this he earned enough to pay for a $1,500.00 house in one year and still live fairly comfortably. After the Fair he went to work for Nicholi-Neppic Lumber yard piling lumber until he retired. Every Saturday when he came home with his pay check, he first paid the grocery bill. He then gave each of his boys 5 cents and bought himself a bucket of beer. The rest went to my great grandmother.
After grammar school the boys had to get jobs and the money they earned was also turned over to my great grandmother. She saved all of this and every other loose penny she could get a hold of.
The boys weren't allowed to speak English around the house until they got older and finally rebelled. My great grandfather didn't want my great grandmother to learn any English for fear that she would change her ways. As time past she learned a little.
My great grandmother was great at saving money. In addition, she washed clothes for other people until the boys all had jobs. With the money she had saved she set all of her boys up in businesses. One day my grandfather, Harry, wanted to go into the trucking business and she lent him $8,000 cash that day. He had to pay it back with about 10 percent interest. Even though my great grandparents came to America with nothing, they were able to make good and saw to it that all of her sons would be successful too.
My great great grandfather was among these who settled in Norka, Russia where he lived under much better conditions until the assassination of Alexander II in 1881. My great grandfather was born and married in Norka.
One of the requirements to live in Russia was to serve in the army. My great grandfather John was serving his time in the army when his request to visit the U.S. was granted. He legally had permission to leave for six months, but he and his wife feared they might be stopped for some reason. Because of this they sort of snuck out of the country.
They left Germany in 1890 on the steamship Munchen. Their destination was Portland, Oregon where his older brother was living. In order to pay for their passage he shoveled coal. After many days at sea they arrived at Ellis Island, N.Y. Once the Germans from Russia reached the U.S. many settled in Lincoln, Nebraska or Portland, Oregon.
When they headed for Nebraska they had to cross the Great Lakes and again he shoveled coal. Then on the train west he did the same shoveling on the train. They settled down eventually in the home at 4048 NE Mallory Ave, in an area called Little Russia because this is where many of the immigrants from Norka and other colonies congregated.
When he got to Portland his older brother set him up with a job in the railroad yards. In 1905 he invested in a couple of horses and a wagon. He used this to haul garbage from the World's Fair to the dump. From this he earned enough to pay for a $1,500.00 house in one year and still live fairly comfortably. After the Fair he went to work for Nicholi-Neppic Lumber yard piling lumber until he retired. Every Saturday when he came home with his pay check, he first paid the grocery bill. He then gave each of his boys 5 cents and bought himself a bucket of beer. The rest went to my great grandmother.
After grammar school the boys had to get jobs and the money they earned was also turned over to my great grandmother. She saved all of this and every other loose penny she could get a hold of.
The boys weren't allowed to speak English around the house until they got older and finally rebelled. My great grandfather didn't want my great grandmother to learn any English for fear that she would change her ways. As time past she learned a little.
My great grandmother was great at saving money. In addition, she washed clothes for other people until the boys all had jobs. With the money she had saved she set all of her boys up in businesses. One day my grandfather, Harry, wanted to go into the trucking business and she lent him $8,000 cash that day. He had to pay it back with about 10 percent interest. Even though my great grandparents came to America with nothing, they were able to make good and saw to it that all of her sons would be successful too.
Source
This story was written by Randy Bauer based on an interview with his grandmother, Ellen Johnson Bauer. The story was contributed by Howard Bauer.
Last updated August 22, 2021.