Georg Heinrich and Christina Grün
Georg Heinrich and Christina Grün along with their ten children were among the first group of Volga Germans to settle in Portland in 1881.
Georg Heinrich (George) was born in Norka, Russia on October 2, 1836, the son of Johann Heinrich Grün (born 1797) and Elisabeth Bauer (born 1804). George married Christina Hamburger on January 24, 1856. Christina was also born in Norka, ten days after George, on October 12. 1836. George and Christina had three children who were born in Norka: Heinrich (1856), Anna Maria (1858) and Phillip Heinrich (June 29, 1859). Sometime after Phillip Heinrich's birth the family moved to Rosenfeld, Russia, a daughter colony of Norka. Other branches of the Green family had settled in Rosenfeld beginning in 1852, In Rosenfeld, George and Christina had six more children: Johannes (1863), Heinrich Peter (1864), Anna Catherine (1867), Conrad (1870), Jacob (1872), and Joseph (1874).
In late 1875, George and Christina Green, along with their nine children, departed from Rosenfeld, Russia with other Volga Germans bound for the United States. The family sailed first to Liverpool England where they boarded the steamship City of Montreal. After crossing the Atlantic they arrived in New York on January 6th, 1876. The Green family initially settled near Otis, Kansas on land provided under the Homestead Act. George and Christina's tenth and last child, Maria, was born in March 1877 in Otis.
Georg Heinrich (George) was born in Norka, Russia on October 2, 1836, the son of Johann Heinrich Grün (born 1797) and Elisabeth Bauer (born 1804). George married Christina Hamburger on January 24, 1856. Christina was also born in Norka, ten days after George, on October 12. 1836. George and Christina had three children who were born in Norka: Heinrich (1856), Anna Maria (1858) and Phillip Heinrich (June 29, 1859). Sometime after Phillip Heinrich's birth the family moved to Rosenfeld, Russia, a daughter colony of Norka. Other branches of the Green family had settled in Rosenfeld beginning in 1852, In Rosenfeld, George and Christina had six more children: Johannes (1863), Heinrich Peter (1864), Anna Catherine (1867), Conrad (1870), Jacob (1872), and Joseph (1874).
In late 1875, George and Christina Green, along with their nine children, departed from Rosenfeld, Russia with other Volga Germans bound for the United States. The family sailed first to Liverpool England where they boarded the steamship City of Montreal. After crossing the Atlantic they arrived in New York on January 6th, 1876. The Green family initially settled near Otis, Kansas on land provided under the Homestead Act. George and Christina's tenth and last child, Maria, was born in March 1877 in Otis.
Steamship "City of Montreal"
In 1880, most of the family was living in La Crosse township, Kansas and George is listed in the U.S. census as a general store keeper. Son, Phillip and his wife Ann (Rothe) and their two children were living on a farm in nearby Pioneer, Kansas.
After fulfilling their five year obligation to cultivate the land in Kansas, the Green family decided to move west with a group of Volga Germans who traveled to San Francisco on the Union Pacific Railroad and then sailed north to Portland by steamship, arriving in late 1881.
Part of the Kansas group decided to pursue farming opportunities in Eastern Washington at the urging of Henry Villard's Oregon Improvement Company. George's son Phillip Heinrich (Henry) was one of two scouts who went to the Palouse country to determine if the land was suitable for farming. Phillip Henry returned with favorable reports. As a result, part of the Kansas group, including Phillip Henry, his wife Anna (née Rothe) and their children, drove overland by mule team to Endicott, Washington in the fall of 1882, There they established a homestead.
After fulfilling their five year obligation to cultivate the land in Kansas, the Green family decided to move west with a group of Volga Germans who traveled to San Francisco on the Union Pacific Railroad and then sailed north to Portland by steamship, arriving in late 1881.
Part of the Kansas group decided to pursue farming opportunities in Eastern Washington at the urging of Henry Villard's Oregon Improvement Company. George's son Phillip Heinrich (Henry) was one of two scouts who went to the Palouse country to determine if the land was suitable for farming. Phillip Henry returned with favorable reports. As a result, part of the Kansas group, including Phillip Henry, his wife Anna (née Rothe) and their children, drove overland by mule team to Endicott, Washington in the fall of 1882, There they established a homestead.
The Phillip Henry and Anna (née Rothe) Green family courtesy of Barbara Kelley. Barbara's grandfather, Henry Phillip Green, is the third person from the left in the back row.
For a time, George and Christina moved south of Portland where they purchased 100 acres about 6 miles west of Silverton. George established a store and named it Green's Station. He later changed the name to Switzerland (aka Howell Prairie), perhaps in recognition of the Swiss-Germans living in the area. Their son's were called upon to farm their acreage.
By 1889, George, Christina and part of their family had moved back to Portland. They were residing at 803 4th Street (now 3819 NE MLK Blvd). George was operating a grocery store located at 75 Union Avenue (now the corner of NE Everett and MLK Blvd.), with help from his sons Conrad, Jacob and John.
Conrad and his wife Catherine (née Brunner) were married in 1890 and he began work as a tailor.
Christina died on January 27, 1894 from liver cancer and was buried at the Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland.
Heinrich (Henry) Green and his family settled near Jefferson in Marion County where he farmed according to the 1900 and 1910 censuses. He died in May 1912 in Salem, Oregon.
Joseph died in Portland on March 25, 1901 and was buried at the Lone Fir Cemetery near his mother.
Anna Maria (Marie) and Heinrich Peter (Peter) were both single and living as lodgers in Colfax, Washington in 1900. Peter worked as a restaurant keeper and Marie as a waitress.
In 1900, George was living at his grocery store at 75 Union Avenue North.
George died on April 29, 1902 in a fire at his store and was buried at the Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland next to his wife and son, Joseph.
Peter Green died on March 31, 1908 in Colfax, Washington and was buried in Endicott, Washington.
Johannes (John) died in 1909 and is buried at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Marie appears to have never married and died on July 6, 1932 in Seattle, Washington.
Phillip died on August 18, 1914 in Endicott, Washington and was buried there. His obituary was published in The Otis Reporter.
Conrad died on April 3, 1915 and was buried and Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland.
Maria died in 1931 in Seattle, Washington.
Jacob died in November 1943 in Detroit, Oregon.
Conrad and his wife Catherine (née Brunner) were married in 1890 and he began work as a tailor.
Christina died on January 27, 1894 from liver cancer and was buried at the Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland.
Heinrich (Henry) Green and his family settled near Jefferson in Marion County where he farmed according to the 1900 and 1910 censuses. He died in May 1912 in Salem, Oregon.
Joseph died in Portland on March 25, 1901 and was buried at the Lone Fir Cemetery near his mother.
Anna Maria (Marie) and Heinrich Peter (Peter) were both single and living as lodgers in Colfax, Washington in 1900. Peter worked as a restaurant keeper and Marie as a waitress.
In 1900, George was living at his grocery store at 75 Union Avenue North.
George died on April 29, 1902 in a fire at his store and was buried at the Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland next to his wife and son, Joseph.
Peter Green died on March 31, 1908 in Colfax, Washington and was buried in Endicott, Washington.
Johannes (John) died in 1909 and is buried at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Marie appears to have never married and died on July 6, 1932 in Seattle, Washington.
Phillip died on August 18, 1914 in Endicott, Washington and was buried there. His obituary was published in The Otis Reporter.
Conrad died on April 3, 1915 and was buried and Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland.
Maria died in 1931 in Seattle, Washington.
Jacob died in November 1943 in Detroit, Oregon.
1891 Albina City Directory showing George H. Green and his sons Conrad, Jacob and John.
Sources
Passenger lists, 1891 Albina City Directory, 1901 Portland City Directories, 1900 and 1910 U.S. Census - Ancestry.com
Lone Fir Cemetery website (Oct 2019).
Barbara Kelley, great-granddaughter of Phillip Henry Grün and Anna Rothe.
Obituary for Phillip Green, The Otis Reporter, Otis, Rush County, Kansas, Friday, August 28, 1914, Volume 3, Number 13, Page 1.
Lone Fir Cemetery website (Oct 2019).
Barbara Kelley, great-granddaughter of Phillip Henry Grün and Anna Rothe.
Obituary for Phillip Green, The Otis Reporter, Otis, Rush County, Kansas, Friday, August 28, 1914, Volume 3, Number 13, Page 1.
Last updated May 7, 2023