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Conrad and Mary Brill
Conrad Brill was born on November 14, 1885, in Norka, Russia, the son of Georg Brill (born 1850) and Elisabeth Dörr (born 1855). He was named after his paternal uncle, Conrad Brill (born 1856). Conrad was one of nine children and the brother of a younger Conrad Brill (born 1895). The younger Conrad was named in honor of his maternal uncle, Conrad Dörr. The younger Conrad was known as Konretja to keep the two boys separate. In later life, his memoirs titled "Memories of Norka" were published. In the following excerpt, he describes the circumstances that brought his older brother Conrad and sister Lena to America.
In 1912, my brother George and his wife Louisa Schnell Brill, sent home two fares from Portland, Oregon, for me and my sister Lena to come join them and our sister Elizabeth (Brill) Schleining and her husband Jacob. I had just discovered girls, so used the excuse that I didn't want to leave our parents, so didn't want to go. My brother Conrad, eight years older than I, had been going with an Urbach girl in Norka, whose family sent her and her brother over here earlier, with relatives going to Portland, so my brother Conrad decided he would come in my place. They left Norka and got to Oregon and he then married his old girlfriend and my sister Lena met and married John Leichner in Ritzville, Washington, later moving to Portland too.
As Konretja described, his older brother Conrad departed from Norka in the spring of 1912 with his sister Lena. They traveled west by train to the seaport of Libau, Russia (now Liepaja, Latvia). At Libau, they boarded the steamship Laurentic, which sailed for Portland, Maine, arriving on April 22nd. From there, they traveled by train to Portland, Oregon.
Conrad did reunite with his girlfriend, Katharina Maria Elisabeth (Mary) Urbach, in Portland. They were married on October 11, 1913, at the Free Evangelical Brethren Church.
Mary was born on October 8, 1887, in Norka, the daughter of Johannes Urbach (born 1854) and Sophia Augusta Brill (born 1858). Mary came to the United States in 1913. They arrived on April 14th in Halifax, Canada, aboard the steamship Czar, which sailed from Libau. They traveled via the Grand Trunk Railway to the United States border at Port Huron, Michigan. From there, they continued by train to Portland.
Conrad and Mary soon began a family, becoming parents to four children: Elizabeth, born August 6, 1914; Georg, born November 28, 1915; John, born April 1, 1917; and Esther Marie, born November 25, 1918.
Conrad did reunite with his girlfriend, Katharina Maria Elisabeth (Mary) Urbach, in Portland. They were married on October 11, 1913, at the Free Evangelical Brethren Church.
Mary was born on October 8, 1887, in Norka, the daughter of Johannes Urbach (born 1854) and Sophia Augusta Brill (born 1858). Mary came to the United States in 1913. They arrived on April 14th in Halifax, Canada, aboard the steamship Czar, which sailed from Libau. They traveled via the Grand Trunk Railway to the United States border at Port Huron, Michigan. From there, they continued by train to Portland.
Conrad and Mary soon began a family, becoming parents to four children: Elizabeth, born August 6, 1914; Georg, born November 28, 1915; John, born April 1, 1917; and Esther Marie, born November 25, 1918.
Portrait of the Mary and Conrad Brill family about 1920 in Portland. From left to right: Mary, John, Elizabeth, George, Esther Marie, and Conrad. Courtesy of Barbara Brill Hoffer.
Conrad and Mary were members of the Free Evangelical Brethren Church for many years.
In 1918, Conrad worked as a boilermaker helper for Albina Engine and Machine Works.
In 1920, the Brill family lived at 837 Garfield in Portland, and Conrad worked as a car repairman for the railroads.
In 1930, the family resided at 861 E. 7th St. N., and Conrad was a millhand at a furniture company.
Conrad died on July 30, 1930, and was buried at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Mary filed her Declaration of Intention to become a U.S. citizen in May 1939.
In 1940, Mary lived with three children (Elizabeth, John, and Esther Marie) at 4023 NE 7th.
Mary died on April 11, 1976, and was buried at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
In 1918, Conrad worked as a boilermaker helper for Albina Engine and Machine Works.
In 1920, the Brill family lived at 837 Garfield in Portland, and Conrad worked as a car repairman for the railroads.
In 1930, the family resided at 861 E. 7th St. N., and Conrad was a millhand at a furniture company.
Conrad died on July 30, 1930, and was buried at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Mary filed her Declaration of Intention to become a U.S. citizen in May 1939.
In 1940, Mary lived with three children (Elizabeth, John, and Esther Marie) at 4023 NE 7th.
Mary died on April 11, 1976, and was buried at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Sources
Information and photograph courtesy of Barbara Brill Hoffer.
Krieger, Joanne, Willis Krieger, and Marie Krieger, trans. Free Evangelical Brethren Church Records, Portland, Oregon, 1900-1922. Portland: n.p., n.d. Print.
Ancestry.com
Norka database.
Krieger, Joanne, Willis Krieger, and Marie Krieger, trans. Free Evangelical Brethren Church Records, Portland, Oregon, 1900-1922. Portland: n.p., n.d. Print.
Ancestry.com
Norka database.
Last updated October 26, 2023