People > Our People > Georg Christian Dick and Elisabeth Hohnstein
Georg Christian Dick and Elisabeth Hohnstein
Georg Christian Dick was born January 14,1885 in Norka, Russia. He was the son of Johannes Dick born 1847 in Norka, Russia and who died there. His mother was Christina Schwindt born 1844 in Norka, Russia and who also 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 February 7,1912 in Norka. Their first child Johannes (John) Dick was born 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 that was threatening their way of life. They departed from Bremen, Germany aboard the steamship Breslau in late August of 1912 and arrived 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 husband Jacob Schreiner.
At some point after 1912, Christian and Elisabeth moved from Nebraska to Portland, Oregon as did Anna Catharina Hohnstein Schreiner and 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. Both 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. Its interesting to note that 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 and 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 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 February 7,1912 in Norka. Their first child Johannes (John) Dick was born 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 that was threatening their way of life. They departed from Bremen, Germany aboard the steamship Breslau in late August of 1912 and arrived 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 husband Jacob Schreiner.
At some point after 1912, Christian and Elisabeth moved from Nebraska to Portland, Oregon as did Anna Catharina Hohnstein Schreiner and 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. Both 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. Its interesting to note that 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 and 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 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.
Sources
Article written by Georgia Conway.
Last updated August 3, 2021.