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1870 U.S. Census, Baltimore City, Maryland
2nd Ward, written page 273, enumerated 18 August 1870
Dwelling No. 1462, Family No. 2383
Strelein, Charles, 43, carter, $300 personal estate, born in Bavaria
Strelein, Susanna, 36, keeping house, born in Baden
Strelein, Wilhelmina, 8, born in Maryland, in school within the year
Strelein, Charles, 6, born in Maryland
Strelein, George, 2, born in Maryland

Although the family Bible lists a marriage date of 9 March 1881, the City of Baltimore records provide the following: Charles Kopp married Minnie Strohline, both of Baltimore, on 9 October 1881. Both were single and white; he was 24 and she was 20. His occupation was cooper. The license was issued on 3 October 1881, and was filed on 5 November 1881. The minister was L. D. Maier. [Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland Bk 61 Fr 1869-82, Folio 286.]

On 21 May 1884, a white female child was born at 184 S. Dallas Street, Baltimore, Maryland, to Minnie Kopp, maiden name Ströhlein, born in Baltimore, and Charles Kopp, a laborer, born in Maryland. This was their second child. Medical attendant was Mrs. Louise Kraft of 61 Penna Ave. [Baltimore City, Maryland, Return of a Birth 71719.]

On 10 April 1889, a white female child was born at 823 S. Burke Street, Baltimore, Maryland, to Minnie Kopp, maiden name Stroehlein, born in Baltimore, and Charles Kopp, a laborer, born in Baltimore. This was their fourth child. The medical attendant was Mrs. Louise Kraft of 405 S. Washington Street. [Baltimore City, Maryland, Return of a Birth A11554.]

On 11 March 1894, a white male child was born at 823 S. Montford Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland, to Mina Kopp, maiden name Stroehlein, born in Baltimore, and Charles Kopp, a laborer, born in Baltimore. This was their sixth child. The medical attendant was Mrs. Deisenhofer of 2225 Gough Street. [Baltimore City, Maryland, Return of a Birth 55128.]

On 31 May 1895, a female white child was born at 823 S. Montford Avenue, Baltimore City, Maryland, to Maggie [sic] Kopp, maiden name Stroehlein, born in Baltimore, and Charles Kopp, a laborer, born in Baltimore. This was their ninth [sic] child. Medical attendant was Mrs. Deisenhofer of 2225 Gough Street. [Baltimore City, Maryland, Return of a Birth 65633.]

On 13 July 1896, Charles and Minnie Kopp mortgaged two pieces of property, one on the east side of Burke Street near Lancaster Street, and the other on the west side of Hare Street (now Decker Street) near Elliott Street, to the Abbott Loan Saving and Building Association:
This Mortgage made this thirteenth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety six between Charles Kopp and Minnie Kopp his wife of the City of Baltimore in the State of Maryland Mortgagors and the Abbott Loan Saving and Building Association Number One of Baltimore City a body corporate duly incorporated Mortgagee Where as the said Mortgagors being members of the said body corporate have received therefore an advance of Nine hundred dollars on nine shares of its stock the due execution of this Mortgage having been an condition precedent tot he granting of said advance Now Therefore this Mortgage Witnesseth that in consideration of the premises and of one dollar the said Charles Kopp and Minnie Kopp his wife do grant unto the said Abbott Loan Saving and Building Association No 1 of Baltimore City its successors and its assigns all those two lots of ground situate and lying in the said City of Baltimore and described as follows Beginning for the first thereof on the east side of Burke Street one hundred and forth one feet and five inches south from Lancaster Street running thence south on Burke Street twelve feet and six inches with a rectangular depth easterly of seventy four feet and one inch to the west side of a ten foot alley Being the same lot of ground which by a Deed bearing date the 28th day of July 1893 and recorded among the Land Records of Baltimore City in Liber J B No 1457 folio 522&c was assigned by Robert L Gill to the said Mortgagors subject to an annual rent of Thirty seven dollars and fifty cents and in which Deed said lot is more particularly described And Beginning for the second thereof on the west side of Hare Street eighty five feet south from Elliott Street runs thence south on the west side of Hare Street thirteen feet with a rectangular depth westerly of sixty five feet to the east side of a ten foot alley Being the same lot of ground which by a Deed bearing even date herewith and recorded simultaneously with these presents was assigned by John Gluth to the said Mortgagors in which Deed said lot is more particularly described Together with the improvements thereon and the rights or appurtenances thereto belonging or appertaining To Have and to Hold the said lot of ground and premises unto the said Abbott Loan Saving and Building Association No 1 of Baltimore City its successors and its assigns during the residue of the term of years yet to come and unexpired therein with the right and benefit of renewal of said term forever subject to the payment of the year rent of $37.50 on the lot firstly described and an annual rent of $26.00 on the lot secondly described If however the said Mortgagors shall make the payments and perform the covenants on their part contained then this Mortgage shall be void And the said Charles Kopp and Minnie Kopp his wife for themselves their heirs executors administrators and assigns covenant with the said Abbott Loan Saving and Building Association No 1 of Baltimore City its successors and its assigns to pay and perform as follows that is to say to pay the Mortgagee or its assigns at its place of business in Baltimore City on every Thursday evening the weekly sum of Three dollars and thirty three cents that is to say the sum of Two dollars and twenty five cents as dues and the sum of One dollar and eight cents as interest until the said advance of $900 shall be repaid in weekly dues provided that for every One hundred dollars of said advance when repaid in dues as aforesaid Twelve cents of the weekly interest shall abate from the time when such $100 are fully paid also to pay all ground rent and taxes for which the property hereby mortgaged may become liable when payable also to pay all fines that may be imposed may become liable when payable also the pay all fine that may be imposed on them by the said Mortgagee in accordance with its constitution and by laws and its act of incorporation and to keep the improvements on the said ground fully insured from loss by fire for the use of the Mortgagee in some company acceptable to the said Mortgagee And it is agreed that until default is made the Mortgagors or their assigns may retain possession of the mortgaged property And the Mortgagors consent that a decree may be passed for the sale of said property by any Court of competent jurisdiction (the sale to take place after a default in any of the conditions of this Mortgage shall have continued for eight weeks) under the provisions of the sections 692 to 704 inclusive of Article 4 of the Maryland Code of public local laws or any supplement thereto or this Mortgage may be foreclosed under any law or laws of said State of Maryland intended to facilitate the regular or extra judicial proceedings on Mortgages as fully and in the same manner as if special assent and powers were hereby given and granted Witness the hands and seals of the said Mortgagors
Charles Kopp
Minnie Kopp
Test Wm S Gorton
State of Maryland Baltimore City SS
On this 13 day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety six before me a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for the City aforesaid personally appeared Charles Kopp and Minnie Kopp his wife the Mortgagors named in the foregoing Mortgage and severally acknowledged the aforegoing Mortgage to be their respective act at the same time also appeared Henry Schneider the President of and acting for the Abbott Loan Saving and Building Association No 1 of Baltimore City the corporation aforesaid and made oath in due form of law that the consideration set forth in said Mortgage is true and bona fide as therein set for and also made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that he has not required nor has the Mortgagee required the Mortgagors their Agent or Attorney or any person for the said Mortgagors to pay the tax levied upon the interest covenanted to be paid in advance now will he or the Mortgagee require the same to be paid by the Mortgagors or any person for them during the existence of this Mortgage
Wm S Gorton JP
Recd for record July 14th 1896 at 11oclk A M same day recorded and exd
per Robt Ogle Clk
[Baltimore City Superior Court, (Land Records), 1896-1896, RO 1629, p. 548, MSA CE 168-1637.]

1900 U.S. Census for Baltimore City, Maryland:
Vol. 11, E.D. 76, Sheet 4, Line 86
Montford Avenue, Baltimore, house number 823
Charles Kopp, white, born June 1857, age 42, born in Maryland. Day laborer. Both parents born in Germany. He owned his house, which was mortgaged. Married 18 years
Minnie Kopp, wife, born June 1862 in Maryland, age 37. She had had 10 children, of whom 5 were living. Both parents born in Germany
William Kopp, son, born December 1881 in Maryland, age 18, boiler maker
Charles Kopp, son, born July 1886 in Maryland, age 13, at school
May Kopp, daughter, born October 1891 in Maryland, age 8, at school
Julia Kopp, daughter, born May 1895 in Maryland, age 5
John R. W. Kopp, son, born December 1897 in Maryland, age 2
All could read and write.

1910 U.S. Census, Baltimore City, Maryland:
Enumeration District 8, Ward 1, page 2B
2705 Eastern Avenue, Dwelling No. 30, Family No. 35
Donaldson, Robert C [sic], head, male, white, age 46, married twice, number of years of present marriage: 7, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland, speaks English, occupation traveling salesman, merchant tailor, wage earner, not out of work in 1909 or 1910, can read and write, owns house free of mortgage
Donaldson, Minnie, wife, female, white, age 48, married once [sic], number of years of present marriage: 7, mother of 10 children, 7 children living, born in Maryland, both parents born in Germany, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write
Kopp, Charles, step son, male, white, age 24, single, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write, in school since 1 September 1909
Kopp, Julia, step daughter, female, white, age 15, single, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write, in school since 1 September 1909
Kopp, John, step son, male, white, age 13, single, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write, in school since 1 September 1909
Kopp, Frank, step son, male, white, age 10, single, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write, in school since 1 September 1909
Donaldson, Cecilia, daughter, female, white, age 6, single, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland, no occupation

1920 U.S. Census, Baltimore City, Maryland
E.D. 9, Sheet 1, enumerated on 2 January 1920
Dwelling No. 17, Family No. 19
2705 Eastern Avenue
Donaldson, Robert L., head, owned, 55, born in Maryland, both parents born in Scotland, clerk at railroad, wage worker
Donaldson, Minnie, wife, 58, born in Maryland, born parents born in Germany, no trade
Donaldson, Martha C., daughter, 15, born in Maryland, no trade
Kopp, Frank C., step-son, 19, born in Maryland, electrician in chemical mfg., wage worker

1930 U.S. Census, Baltimore City, Maryland
First Ward, Block 63, Enumeration District 4-16, Supervisor’s District 4, Sheet 1A
Enumerated on 2 April 1930
2705 Eastern Avenue
Dwelling 3, Household 4
Donaldson, Robert L., head, owner, $5,200 in real value, no radio set, not on farm, male, white, age 65, married (no age stated for first marriage), not in school, can read and write, born in Maryland, both parents born in Germany, speaks English, occupation railway-clerk for railroad, wage worker, at work previous day, not a veteran
Donaldson, Minnie, wife, female, white, age 67, married (no age stated for first marriage), not in school, can read and write, born in Maryland, both parents born in Germany, speaks English, no occupation
Household 5
Korte, George F., head, renting for $20, no radio set, not on farm, male, white, age 32, married, first married at age 22, not in school, can read and write, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland, speaks English, occupation book-keeper for advertising company, wage worker, at work previous day, not a veteran
Korte, Cecilia M., wife, female, white, age 26, married, first married at age 16, not in school, can read and write, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland, speaks English, no occupation
Korte, Muriel M., daughter, female, white, age 6, single, in school, (read and write is blank), born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland, (speaks English is blank), no occupation

The last will and testament of Minnie Donaldson was dated 3 February 1938. I, Minnie Donaldson, of the City of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament. After just debts and funeral charges, I give to my step son William H. Donaldson $25, and to my step son Robert L. Donaldson $25. All the rest of my real and personal estate to be divided equally among my children, Sylvester DeKeen, Charles M. Kopp, Mary L. Young, Julia H. Davis, John R. Kopp, Frank C. Kopp, Cecilia G. Korte, and John R. Kopp. John R. Kopp to be sole Executor. Dated 3 February 1938. Signed Minnie Donaldson. Witnesses: George F. Korte, Robt. H. Simpson. On 5 August 1938 came Charles S. Simpson, stating that he kept the will until filed. That Minnie Donaldson died 13 July 1938. Proved on 5 August 1938 by George F. Korte and Robt. H. Simpson, witnesses thereto. Ordered to record on 5 August 1938. [Baltimore City, Maryland, Wills, J.H.B. 193, pages 277–279.]

On 20 July 1938, Wilhelmina Donaldson died at University Hospital in Baltimore Maryland. She was female, white, widowed, wife of Robert L. Donaldson, born 27 June 1862, age 76 years 27 days, residence 2705 Eastern Avenue. Trade: home. Father was Charles Stroehlein, born in Germany; mother not named but born in Germany. Information was Mrs. George Korte of 2705 Eastern Avenue. Buried at Loudon Park on 23 July 1938. Physician visited as result of injury, fracture of the left hip, 3 days. Accident on 18 July 1938, at home, fell off chair. Primary cause of death bronchial pneumonia, six hours. [Baltimore City, Maryland, Certificate of Death F48709.]

A death notice reads [paper unknown, no date]: DONALDSON.—On July 20, 1938 WILHELMINA (nee Kopp-Stroehlein), beloved wife of the late Robert Donaldson. ¶Funeral from her home, 2705 Eastern avenue, on Saturday at 10:30 A.M. Services at Calvary Methodist Protestant Church, East avenue and Fleet street, at 11 A.M. Interment in Loudon Park Cemetery.

On 14 September 1938, John R. Kopp, executor, submitted an inventory of the real estate of Minnie Donaldson. The inventory included two lots, nos. 98 and 99, Section 1, Graceland Park, deeded from The Eastern Development Company to R. L. and Minnie Donaldson, his wife, dated August 17, 1917 and recorded among land records of Baltimore County Liber W.P.C. No 485, Folio 202 unimproved, valued at $100.00. The inventory also included a lot in Baltimore City, South side of Eastern Avenue, about thirty-two feet six inches east of Patapsco Street, a brick house known as 2705 Eastern Avenue, referenced in Liber R.O. No. 1747 Folio 517 Liber S.C.L. Block 1790, owned In Fee, valued at $300.00. Balance due of $86.40 on Mortgage (original mortgage $300.00 from Patapsco Building and Loan Assn. The inventory was approved on 11 March 1939. [Baltimore City, Maryland, Inventories, J.H.B. 279, pages 409–410.]

On 11 March 1939, John R. Kopp submitted an inventory of the personal estate of Minnie Donaldson. It included two shares of Pennsylvania Railroad stock valued at $38.00, cash in house at $206.73, cash in Canton National Bank at $2,268.58, and cash in Linwood Building and Loan Association at $1,153.37, for a total valuation of $3,666.68. The inventory was approved the same day. [Baltimore City, Maryland, Inventories, J.H.B. 277, page 238.]

On 1 July 1939, the administration of the estate of Minnie Donaldson by John R. Kopp, executor, was settled. The estate’s total valuation was $7,605.90, including $2,475.31 in cash and $3,600.00 from the sale of real estate. Two legacies were paid out at $25 each to William H. Donaldson and Robert L. Donaldson. The remaining portion was divided, one seventh to each of Sylvester Dekeen, Charles M. Kopp, Mary L. Young, Julia H. Davis, John R. Kopp, Frank C. Kopp, and Cecelia G. Korte (who owed rent to the estate). [Baltimore City, Maryland, Administration Accounts J.H.B. No. 358, pages 91–93.]