NORKA
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People > Personal Histories > John and Katrinka Sauer

John and Katrinka Sauer

John and Katrinka (Deering) Sauer were both born in Norka, a German settlement near the Volga River in Russia.  Getting married in these German settlements was a real occasion. Thirty-six couples, including John and Katrinka, were married on one day in February.  If the couples had any money they celebrated for a week following the wedding.  As John didn’t have any money, they didn’t celebrate.

John and Katrinka left Russia to immigrate to America in 1910.  Their son, Pete, had been born by now.  They landed in Port Huron on the St. Lawrence River.  From there, they boarded the train to go on to Portland, Oregon.

John found a job in the sawmills in Portland.  It rained everyday while he worked.  He soon borrowed money from a friend in Tiffany, Colorado, to move there.  By this time they had a daughter, Elizabeth.  John worked for several years for the farmers around Tiffany, but he soon decided he wanted to work for himself.  By renting a lot of land and everybody worked, he was soon able to buy two medium-sized farms.  He lived on the one until he died of a heart attack in the 1960s.

John and Katrinka raised seven children; Pete, Elizabeth, Katie, Henry, Annie, John and George.  Elizabeth, John and George are still living.

A Christmas tradition from Russia was observed for many years at the Sauer home. Kris Kringle (Santa Claus) came on Christmas Eve dressed like a ghost. He carried a long black whip which he sometimes used on the children before he passed out the gifts. (webmaster note: this was likely the Christmas tradition of the Pelznickel)

John soon started to get his naturalization papers to become a citizen of the United States.  As soon as he received his papers, in 1923, he became very involved with the Republican Party.  He was Committee Chairman for many years and worked hard for the party until he died.

Katrinka did not receive her citizenship for many years after John did, in 1943. He had never taught her to read and write in English.  She had to memorize all the questions and answers that were asked in the hearing, but she came through with flying colors.

Several years after John died, Katrinka sold the farm and bought a home in Durango where she lived until she died.

Source

This story was written by Elizabeth (Sauer) Riggin on March 30, 1988 and is used courtesy of Lindy (Sauer) Harris.

If you have additional information or questions about this family, please Contact Us.
Last updated April 30, 2019.
Copyright © 2002-2023 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
    • About
    • Reviews
    • Contact
  • People
    • Founders
    • Personal Histories
    • Notable Norkans
    • Stories
    • Photo Identification
    • Photo Gallery
  • Community
    • Village Life
    • Entertainment
    • Agriculture
    • Climate
    • Homesites
    • Geographical Description
    • Government
    • Social Structure
    • Health
    • Education
    • A Land of Ethnic Diversity
    • Cottage Industries >
      • Sarpinka
      • Mills
    • Language
    • Population
    • Military Service
    • Crime and Punishment
  • History
    • Timeline
    • Origins of the Colonists
    • Catherine's Manifesto 1763
    • Why go to Russia?
    • Recruitment 1766
    • Planning 1764-1766
    • Marriages Prior To Emigration 1766
    • Voyage to Russia 1766 >
      • Ship Transport 1766
    • Journey 1766-1767
    • Founding of Norka 1767
    • Early Years 1767-1769
    • Norka 1769
    • Pallas Report 1773
    • Pugachev Raid 1774
    • Norka 1775
    • Norka 1798
    • Norka 1811
    • Napoleons Soldiers
    • Norka 1834
    • Daughter Colonies 1850s >
      • Neu-Norka
      • Oberdorf
      • Brunnental
      • Rosenfeld (am Jeruslan)
      • Neu Hussenbach (Gaschon)
    • Privileges Lost 1871-1874
    • Immigration 1875-1924 >
      • To the United States >
        • Colorado
        • Ft Collins Colorado
        • Globeville Colorado
        • Mason City, Iowa
        • Culbertson, Nebraska
        • Lincoln, Nebraska
        • Sutton, Nebraska
        • Burlington, Oklahoma
        • Weatherford, Oklahoma
        • Canby, Oregon
        • Portland, Oregon
      • To Canada >
        • Duffield, Alberta
        • Ponoka, Alberta
        • Spruce Grove, Alberta
        • Stony Plain, Alberta
        • Vegreville, Alberta
        • Arcola, Saskatchewan
      • To Germany
      • To South America
    • Famine 1891-1892
    • Norka 1898
    • War & Turnoil 1904-1906
    • World War 1914-1918
    • Revolution & War 1917-1922
    • Soviet Rule 1918-1941
    • Famine 1921-1924
    • Famine 1932-1933
    • The Great Terror 1936-1938
    • Deportation 1941
    • Repression 1941-1956
    • Cultural Loss 1957-2006
    • A Culture in Peril
    • Recent Times
  • Traditions
    • Food and Drink
    • Clothing
    • Holidays >
      • New Year
      • Fastnacht
      • Lent
      • Easter
      • Ascension Day
      • Pentecost
      • Founder's Day
      • Harvest Festival
      • Jahrmarkt
      • Christmas
      • Anniversaries & Birthdays
    • Crafts
    • Games
    • Folk Medicine
    • Superstitions
    • Nicknames
    • Folk Music
    • Church Music
    • Prayers
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Communion
    • Weddings
    • Funerals and Burials
  • Religion
    • Planning and History >
      • Norka Reformed Church 1767-1864
      • 1909 Norka Parish Report
    • Pastors >
      • Johann Heinrich Fuchs
      • Johann Georg Herwig
      • Johannes Baptista Cattaneo
      • Lukas Cattaneo
      • Emanuel Grunauer
      • Friedrich Börner
      • Christian Gottlieb Hegele
      • Christoph H Bonwetsch
      • Gottlieb N Bonwetsch
      • Wilhelm Staerkel
      • Woldemar Sibbul
      • David Weigum
      • Friedrich Alexander Wacker
      • Emil Pfeiffer
    • Church Practices >
      • Parochial Certificates
    • Church Buildings
    • Church Organs
    • Bell Tower
    • Brethren Movement
  • Resources
    • Family Research
    • Research Resources >
      • Arrival Records 1766
      • Descendant Charts
      • German EWZ Records
      • Soviet Gulag Records
    • Maps
    • Glossary
    • Bibliography
    • Periodicals >
      • Die Welt-Post Letters
    • Related Links