Friedrich and Christina Jörg
Friedrich Jörg was born on December 3, 1838, in Norka, Russia, the eldest son of Johannes Jörg (born October 7, 1817) and Catharina Reuscher (born August 3, 1817). He was confirmed in 1854.
Friedrich married Christina Bauer on February 5, 1857, in Norka. Christina was born in Norka on March 28, 1837, the daughter of Philipp Bauer (born December 7, 1802) and Catharina Nolde (born August 18, 1807).
Four daughters were born in Norka: Anna Elisabeth (Alice), born on April 24, 1858; Catharina, born on July 24, 1860; Louisa, born in 1862; and Christina, born about 1866. Three sons followed: Henry (born in 1868), John Frederick (1870), and Peter (1871).
Freidrich's mother, Catharina, died in 1875, and he and his father decided to immigrate to America.
The Jörg family arrived in the United States on June 28, 1875, on the steamship City of Brussels, which sailed from Liverpool, England. Also aboard this ship was the Heinrich and Elizabeth Schreiber family. These families were among the first Volga Germans to arrive in the United States.
Friedrich married Christina Bauer on February 5, 1857, in Norka. Christina was born in Norka on March 28, 1837, the daughter of Philipp Bauer (born December 7, 1802) and Catharina Nolde (born August 18, 1807).
Four daughters were born in Norka: Anna Elisabeth (Alice), born on April 24, 1858; Catharina, born on July 24, 1860; Louisa, born in 1862; and Christina, born about 1866. Three sons followed: Henry (born in 1868), John Frederick (1870), and Peter (1871).
Freidrich's mother, Catharina, died in 1875, and he and his father decided to immigrate to America.
The Jörg family arrived in the United States on June 28, 1875, on the steamship City of Brussels, which sailed from Liverpool, England. Also aboard this ship was the Heinrich and Elizabeth Schreiber family. These families were among the first Volga Germans to arrive in the United States.
Steamship "City of Brussels"
The Jörg family first went to Sandusky, Ohio. Two and one-half years later, they moved to Sutton and Franklin County, Nebraska.
Friedrich Jörg (Anglicized to Frederick Jorg) and Christina had three more sons: Emanuel (born July 1875 in Ohio), Joseph (born September 1877 in Ohio), and Frederick (born January 1880 in Nebraska). Son Peter is not listed in the 1880 U.S. Census, and it is presumed that he died before that time.
Daughter Alice married Ludwig Spady on January 8, 1879, in Franklin, Nebraska. The Jorg family is listed as living next to the Ludwig and Alice Spady household in the 1880 U.S. Census for Franklin, Nebraska. Daughter Louisa married Heinrich Reuscher in Nebraska in February 1881.
In 1883, Frederick transitioned from the Reformed faith of his birthplace and began his journey as a member, missionary, and elder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. At the time, the German movement within the church was in its infancy. In April 1886, Frederick was leading a congregation in Culbertson, Nebraska. He visited the Portland area in 1887 and began to organize congregations in Albina and West Union. He returned to the Midwest to attend his daughter Christina's wedding to Paul Renger in June 1888. He participated in the Nebraska Conference in September of that year, where he was listed as a minister in Sutton, Nebraska.
Frederick and his family moved to Portland between September 1888 and early 1889, settling in the growing Volga German community in Albina.
In May of 1889, Frederick wrote a short article that was published in the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald:
Friedrich Jörg (Anglicized to Frederick Jorg) and Christina had three more sons: Emanuel (born July 1875 in Ohio), Joseph (born September 1877 in Ohio), and Frederick (born January 1880 in Nebraska). Son Peter is not listed in the 1880 U.S. Census, and it is presumed that he died before that time.
Daughter Alice married Ludwig Spady on January 8, 1879, in Franklin, Nebraska. The Jorg family is listed as living next to the Ludwig and Alice Spady household in the 1880 U.S. Census for Franklin, Nebraska. Daughter Louisa married Heinrich Reuscher in Nebraska in February 1881.
In 1883, Frederick transitioned from the Reformed faith of his birthplace and began his journey as a member, missionary, and elder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. At the time, the German movement within the church was in its infancy. In April 1886, Frederick was leading a congregation in Culbertson, Nebraska. He visited the Portland area in 1887 and began to organize congregations in Albina and West Union. He returned to the Midwest to attend his daughter Christina's wedding to Paul Renger in June 1888. He participated in the Nebraska Conference in September of that year, where he was listed as a minister in Sutton, Nebraska.
Frederick and his family moved to Portland between September 1888 and early 1889, settling in the growing Volga German community in Albina.
In May of 1889, Frederick wrote a short article that was published in the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald:
I thought perhaps it would interest the brethren to hear something from this State. I have been here for some time, and tried to labor for the Lord. A short time ago I organized a German church in West Union. This little company consists now of ten persons. When I was here on a visit two years ago, some began to keep the Sabbath. As I could not stay then, I organized a Sabbath-school, and they kept it up till Bro. Sheiper came. I have also organized a Sabbath-school in Albina, with a membership of thirty-one, consisting mostly of brethren immigrating from Kansas and Nebraska. May the Lord bless the German work here.
F. Joerg
By June 1889, Frederick served as the resident pastor for the churches in Albina and West Union.
The 1891 City Directory lists him as Rev. Frederick Jorg, pastor of the Albina Seventh-day Adventist Church, and his business address (presumably the church) is located on the southwest corner of Vancouver and Cedar (now Failing). Established in 1889, this church was the first church organized by a Volga German in Albina. Frederick, his family, and his father, Johannes, lived at 852 Vancouver (now 4004 N Vancouver Avenue). Frederick would live in the same house until the end of his life.
Frederick was an active participant and conducted services in German at the North Pacific Conference, held from May 12 to 21 in East Portland. Frederick's colleague, Gottfried F. Haffner (born June 27, 1867, in Shcherbakovka, Russia), established German Adventist churches in Walla Walla, Washington, and in the Palouse colony of Volga Germans near Endicott, Washington, in 1893. Haffner died in Walla Walla in October 1920.
The 1891 City Directory lists him as Rev. Frederick Jorg, pastor of the Albina Seventh-day Adventist Church, and his business address (presumably the church) is located on the southwest corner of Vancouver and Cedar (now Failing). Established in 1889, this church was the first church organized by a Volga German in Albina. Frederick, his family, and his father, Johannes, lived at 852 Vancouver (now 4004 N Vancouver Avenue). Frederick would live in the same house until the end of his life.
Frederick was an active participant and conducted services in German at the North Pacific Conference, held from May 12 to 21 in East Portland. Frederick's colleague, Gottfried F. Haffner (born June 27, 1867, in Shcherbakovka, Russia), established German Adventist churches in Walla Walla, Washington, and in the Palouse colony of Volga Germans near Endicott, Washington, in 1893. Haffner died in Walla Walla in October 1920.
At left, Christina Jörg (née Bauer) with daughter Alice in Portland. Courtesy of Karen Gilbert.
The 1901 Portland City Directory lists Rev. Frederick Jorg as pastor of the Albina Seventh-day Adventist Church (German) at 585 Union Avenue (now 2801 MLK Blvd.). Although he was often listed as "Reverend" in various publications, sources differ as to whether he was serving as an ordained minister or an elder of the church.
Frederick was a leader in the construction of a new Seventh-day Adventist church, which was built at 202 NE Skidmore at Mallory about 1904. The structure remains standing as of September 2025.
According to his obituary, published in The Oregonian, Frederick retired from the leadership of the church around 1910 due to his advanced age.
On September 29, 1912, Frederick died unexpectedly at the age of 73. He was survived by his wife, five sons, and three daughters. H.W. Cottrell of the Western Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Churches spoke at his well-attended funeral, held at the Seventh-day Adventist church on NE Skidmore and Mallory. He was laid to rest at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Frederick's wife, Christina, died August 3, 1917, in Portland and was buried alongside her husband at the Rose City Cemetery.
Frederick was a leader in the construction of a new Seventh-day Adventist church, which was built at 202 NE Skidmore at Mallory about 1904. The structure remains standing as of September 2025.
According to his obituary, published in The Oregonian, Frederick retired from the leadership of the church around 1910 due to his advanced age.
On September 29, 1912, Frederick died unexpectedly at the age of 73. He was survived by his wife, five sons, and three daughters. H.W. Cottrell of the Western Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Churches spoke at his well-attended funeral, held at the Seventh-day Adventist church on NE Skidmore and Mallory. He was laid to rest at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Frederick's wife, Christina, died August 3, 1917, in Portland and was buried alongside her husband at the Rose City Cemetery.
Sources
Norka Church Registers 1834-1845, 1846-1860
Ship manifest, Albina City Directories, Portland City Directories, U.S. Census Lists - Ancestry.com
Obituary for Fred George from The Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald, a Seventh-day Adventist publication dated November 7, 1912 - Ancestry.com
"Nebraska." The Advent and Sabbath Review Herald 63.15 (1886): 236. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 7 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH18860413-V63-15.pdf>.
"Pacific Coast Camp Meetings." The Signs of the Times, 15.23 (1889): 360. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 7 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/ST/ST18890617-V15-23.pdf>.
"North Pacific Conference Proceedings." The Advent and Sabbath Review Herald 67.26 (1890): 413. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH18900701-V67-26.pdf>.
Johnson, Doug. "German and Scandinavian Influences." North Pacific Union Conference Gleaner 86.13 (1991): 6. Seventh-day Adventist Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/NPG/NPG19910715-V86-13.pdf>.
Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook 1889. Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1889. 6. Seventh-day Adventist Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Yearbooks/YB1889.pdf>.
"Rev. Frederick Jeorge's [sic] Funeral Held." The Morning Oregonian [Portland], October 2, 1912, page 11.
"Obituaries - Eld. Fred George". North Pacific Union Gleaner, October 31. 1912, page 6. Web access on 20 Sept. 2025. <https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/NPG/NPG19121031-V07-26.pdf>
Jan Copple, Hastings, Nebraska Museum.
Walla Walla University Research Central
Center for Adventist Research
Pacific Union College Libraries Seventh-day Adventist Research Resources
Ship manifest, Albina City Directories, Portland City Directories, U.S. Census Lists - Ancestry.com
Obituary for Fred George from The Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald, a Seventh-day Adventist publication dated November 7, 1912 - Ancestry.com
"Nebraska." The Advent and Sabbath Review Herald 63.15 (1886): 236. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 7 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH18860413-V63-15.pdf>.
"Pacific Coast Camp Meetings." The Signs of the Times, 15.23 (1889): 360. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 7 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/ST/ST18890617-V15-23.pdf>.
"North Pacific Conference Proceedings." The Advent and Sabbath Review Herald 67.26 (1890): 413. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH18900701-V67-26.pdf>.
Johnson, Doug. "German and Scandinavian Influences." North Pacific Union Conference Gleaner 86.13 (1991): 6. Seventh-day Adventist Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/NPG/NPG19910715-V86-13.pdf>.
Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook 1889. Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1889. 6. Seventh-day Adventist Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Yearbooks/YB1889.pdf>.
"Rev. Frederick Jeorge's [sic] Funeral Held." The Morning Oregonian [Portland], October 2, 1912, page 11.
"Obituaries - Eld. Fred George". North Pacific Union Gleaner, October 31. 1912, page 6. Web access on 20 Sept. 2025. <https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/NPG/NPG19121031-V07-26.pdf>
Jan Copple, Hastings, Nebraska Museum.
Walla Walla University Research Central
Center for Adventist Research
Pacific Union College Libraries Seventh-day Adventist Research Resources
Last updated October 8, 2025