People > Our People > Georg Christian Dick and Elisabeth Hohnstein
Georg Christian Dick and Elisabeth Hohnstein
Georg Christian Dick was born on January 14, 1885 in Norka, Russia. He was the son of Johannes Dick, born in 1847 in Norka, Russia, and who died there. His mother was Christina Schwindt, born in 1844 in Norka, Russia, and died in Russia.
Elisabeth Hohnstein was born June 12, 1893, in Norka, Russia. She was the daughter of Conrad Hohnstein, born 1850 in Norka, Russia, who died there before 1913. Her mother was Elisabeth Hinkel, born 1850 in Norka, Russia, and died January 7,1914 in Portland, Oregon. Elisabeth Hinkel was brought to the United States by her son Heinrich Hohnstein (brother to Elisabeth Hohnstein) and lived less than a year in her new country.
Georg Christian Dick and Elisabeth Hohnstein married on February 7, 1912 in Norka. Their first child Johannes (John) Dick, was born on May 5, 1912 in Norka.
In 1912, they decided to make the long journey from Russia to the United States to seek a new life away from the Russian oppression threatening their way of life. They departed from Bremen, Germany, aboard the steamship Breslau in late August of 1912 and arrived on September 14, 1912 at Galveston, Texas. Their final destination was Scott's Bluff, Nebraska, the home of Elisabeth's sister, Anna Catharina Hohnstein Schreiner, and her husband, Jacob Schreiner.
At some point after 1912, Christian and Elisabeth moved from Nebraska to Portland, Oregon, as did Anna Catharina Hohnstein Schreiner and her husband Jacob Schreiner. By 1913, the sisters' brother Heinrich Hohnstein arrived from Russia with his family and was living in Portland. Their choice of moving to Portland was likely to find better work opportunities and to live once again in a German-Russian community.
According to the 1920 census, Christian and Elisabeth lived at 792 NE 12th, where Christian had his own truck and worked as a scavenger. They also had a new member of the family, a daughter, Delores Lavern, who was born December 7, 1918, in Portland. Their son John and daughter Delores received confirmation at the Zion German Congregational Church. In 1930, they lived at the same address. In 1940, they lived at 3736 NE 12th.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Hohnstein (brother-in-law Heinrich) and Dick as "Scavengers" in business together. Interestingly, the 1943 Portland City Directory changed the occupation heading to "Refuse Collectors." Many German Russians in my family became scavengers because they only had to have a horse and wagon to start the business. The growing city of Portland certainly needed garbage service. Later on, they were able to buy trucks. A picture of the Hohnstein & Dick truck is shown below.
Georg Christian Dick died February 21,1943, and is buried in Rose City Cemetery. Elisabeth Hohnstein Dick died on August 19, 1955, and is buried in Rose City Cemetery.
Elisabeth Hohnstein was born June 12, 1893, in Norka, Russia. She was the daughter of Conrad Hohnstein, born 1850 in Norka, Russia, who died there before 1913. Her mother was Elisabeth Hinkel, born 1850 in Norka, Russia, and died January 7,1914 in Portland, Oregon. Elisabeth Hinkel was brought to the United States by her son Heinrich Hohnstein (brother to Elisabeth Hohnstein) and lived less than a year in her new country.
Georg Christian Dick and Elisabeth Hohnstein married on February 7, 1912 in Norka. Their first child Johannes (John) Dick, was born on May 5, 1912 in Norka.
In 1912, they decided to make the long journey from Russia to the United States to seek a new life away from the Russian oppression threatening their way of life. They departed from Bremen, Germany, aboard the steamship Breslau in late August of 1912 and arrived on September 14, 1912 at Galveston, Texas. Their final destination was Scott's Bluff, Nebraska, the home of Elisabeth's sister, Anna Catharina Hohnstein Schreiner, and her husband, Jacob Schreiner.
At some point after 1912, Christian and Elisabeth moved from Nebraska to Portland, Oregon, as did Anna Catharina Hohnstein Schreiner and her husband Jacob Schreiner. By 1913, the sisters' brother Heinrich Hohnstein arrived from Russia with his family and was living in Portland. Their choice of moving to Portland was likely to find better work opportunities and to live once again in a German-Russian community.
According to the 1920 census, Christian and Elisabeth lived at 792 NE 12th, where Christian had his own truck and worked as a scavenger. They also had a new member of the family, a daughter, Delores Lavern, who was born December 7, 1918, in Portland. Their son John and daughter Delores received confirmation at the Zion German Congregational Church. In 1930, they lived at the same address. In 1940, they lived at 3736 NE 12th.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Hohnstein (brother-in-law Heinrich) and Dick as "Scavengers" in business together. Interestingly, the 1943 Portland City Directory changed the occupation heading to "Refuse Collectors." Many German Russians in my family became scavengers because they only had to have a horse and wagon to start the business. The growing city of Portland certainly needed garbage service. Later on, they were able to buy trucks. A picture of the Hohnstein & Dick truck is shown below.
Georg Christian Dick died February 21,1943, and is buried in Rose City Cemetery. Elisabeth Hohnstein Dick died on August 19, 1955, and is buried in Rose City Cemetery.
A line of Volga German garbage haulers in Portland. The companies represented include John Walker and Son, Deines and Son and Henry Hohnstein & Christian Dick. Photograph courtesy of Marie Krieger. Caption information provided by Georgia Conway.
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Article written by Georgia Conway and published on this website with her permission.
Last updated October 26, 2023