Wilhelm and Anna Maria Lind
Wilhelm (William) Lind (Lindt) was born on December 7, 1866 in Dönhof, Russia, the son of Johann Jakob Lind and Eva Katherine Altergott.
William married Anna Maria (Mary) Schmer on November 3, 1886. She was born May 1862 in Norka, Russia, the daughter Adam Schmer and Elisabeth Grün.
The Lind's arrived in New York harbor on December 7, 1886 aboard the North German Lloyd steamship EMS which had sailed from Bremerhaven, Germany.
William and Mary traveled directly to Portland and likely arrived in late December of 1886.
The Lind's started a family shortly after their arrival in Albina. Their first child, William Jennings, was born in October 19, 1887, Samuel was born May 22, 1889, and John was born December 18, 1890.
In 1891, the family lived on the south side of San Diego St. (now Brazee St.) 6 lots east of Margareta (later Union Avenue and now MLK Blvd.) with the Henry and Katharine Kniss (née Schmer) family who were also early Volga German settlers in Portland. In 1900, the family continued to live at 416 Brazee Street with the Kniss family. Katharine Kniss and Mary Lind (née Kniss) were sisters.
The Lind family became members of the Ebenezer German Congregational Church.
William and Mary's family continued to grow. Philipp was born May 17, 1892, Katherine Elizabeth was born October 25, 1893, George was born May 15, 1896, Anna Marie was born January 20, 1895, George was born May 15, 1896, Daniel was born March 28, 1898, Wilbert Frederick was born November 1, 1899, Jennie Marie was born December 5, 1901, William was born August 1, 1903 and Frederick was born on February 24, 1905. Anna Marie and Wilbert Frederick died as young children are buried at the Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery in Portland.
William worked as a general contractor. One of his notable projects was building the concrete sewer system in Montavilla (1915-1916), the largest system in Portland at that time, employing 150 men. The $160,000 project was not without controversy as Lind was investigated for alleged defects in the system. He was eventually cleared of all charges.
William married Anna Maria (Mary) Schmer on November 3, 1886. She was born May 1862 in Norka, Russia, the daughter Adam Schmer and Elisabeth Grün.
The Lind's arrived in New York harbor on December 7, 1886 aboard the North German Lloyd steamship EMS which had sailed from Bremerhaven, Germany.
William and Mary traveled directly to Portland and likely arrived in late December of 1886.
The Lind's started a family shortly after their arrival in Albina. Their first child, William Jennings, was born in October 19, 1887, Samuel was born May 22, 1889, and John was born December 18, 1890.
In 1891, the family lived on the south side of San Diego St. (now Brazee St.) 6 lots east of Margareta (later Union Avenue and now MLK Blvd.) with the Henry and Katharine Kniss (née Schmer) family who were also early Volga German settlers in Portland. In 1900, the family continued to live at 416 Brazee Street with the Kniss family. Katharine Kniss and Mary Lind (née Kniss) were sisters.
The Lind family became members of the Ebenezer German Congregational Church.
William and Mary's family continued to grow. Philipp was born May 17, 1892, Katherine Elizabeth was born October 25, 1893, George was born May 15, 1896, Anna Marie was born January 20, 1895, George was born May 15, 1896, Daniel was born March 28, 1898, Wilbert Frederick was born November 1, 1899, Jennie Marie was born December 5, 1901, William was born August 1, 1903 and Frederick was born on February 24, 1905. Anna Marie and Wilbert Frederick died as young children are buried at the Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery in Portland.
William worked as a general contractor. One of his notable projects was building the concrete sewer system in Montavilla (1915-1916), the largest system in Portland at that time, employing 150 men. The $160,000 project was not without controversy as Lind was investigated for alleged defects in the system. He was eventually cleared of all charges.
Photograph of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Montavilla sewer system in April 1915. William Lind is shown a the far left in both photos. Source: "The Sunday Oregonian", April 25, 1915. Source: Oregon Historical Newspapers.
William died in September 18, 1919 and was buried at the Rose City Cemetery. Mary died May 1, 1960 and was buried next to William.
Read more about the life of William Lind in an article titled "The Montavilla sewer kerfuffle" by Patricia Sanders.
Sources
1891 Albina City Directory, 1900 U.S. Census - Ancestry.com
Krieger, Joanne, trans. Ebenezer Congregational Church, Portland, Oregon 1892-1908. Portland, OR: n.p., 1999. 50. Print.
Sanders, Patricia. "The Montavilla sewer kerfuffle", Montavilla Memories. November 24, 2019.
Schlager, Lee Ann. Vital records from Russia for William Lind.
"Sewer Work Begun". The Sunday Oregonian, April 25, 1915. Page 13.
Krieger, Joanne, trans. Ebenezer Congregational Church, Portland, Oregon 1892-1908. Portland, OR: n.p., 1999. 50. Print.
Sanders, Patricia. "The Montavilla sewer kerfuffle", Montavilla Memories. November 24, 2019.
Schlager, Lee Ann. Vital records from Russia for William Lind.
"Sewer Work Begun". The Sunday Oregonian, April 25, 1915. Page 13.
Last updated November 24, 2019.