Georg Heinrich and Christina Grün
Georg Heinrich and Christina Grün, along with their children, were among the first 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 two children born in Norka: Heinrich (October 7, 1856) and Anna Maria (November 2, 1858). In 1859, 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 seven more children: Phillip Heinrich (June 29, 1859), Johannes (1863), Heinrich Peter (1864), Anna Catherine (1867), Conrad (1870), Jacob (1872), and Joseph (1874).
In late 1875, George, Christina, and their children departed from Rosenfeld, Russia, with other Volga Germans bound for the United States. The family first traveled to Liverpool, England, boarding the steamship City of Montreal. After crossing the Atlantic, they arrived in New York on January 6th, 1876. The Green family settled near Otis, Kansas, on land provided under the Homestead Act. George and Christina's 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 two children born in Norka: Heinrich (October 7, 1856) and Anna Maria (November 2, 1858). In 1859, 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 seven more children: Phillip Heinrich (June 29, 1859), Johannes (1863), Heinrich Peter (1864), Anna Catherine (1867), Conrad (1870), Jacob (1872), and Joseph (1874).
In late 1875, George, Christina, and their children departed from Rosenfeld, Russia, with other Volga Germans bound for the United States. The family first traveled to Liverpool, England, boarding the steamship City of Montreal. After crossing the Atlantic, they arrived in New York on January 6th, 1876. The Green family settled near Otis, Kansas, on land provided under the Homestead Act. George and Christina's last child, Maria, was born in March 1877 in Otis.
Steamship "City of Montreal"
In 1880, most of the family lived in La Crosse township, Kansas, and George was listed in the U.S. census as a general storekeeper. Son, Phillip, his wife Ann (Rothe), and their two children lived 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. Near Endicott, 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. Near Endicott, 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 there. Their sons 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 operated 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 from liver cancer on January 27, 1894, 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 near his mother at the Lone Fir Cemetery.
Anna Maria (Marie) and Heinrich Peter (Peter) were single and living as lodgers in Colfax, Washington, in 1900. Peter worked as a restaurant keeper and Marie as a waitress.
In 1900, George lived at his 75 Union Avenue North grocery store.
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 at 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 from liver cancer on January 27, 1894, 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 near his mother at the Lone Fir Cemetery.
Anna Maria (Marie) and Heinrich Peter (Peter) were single and living as lodgers in Colfax, Washington, in 1900. Peter worked as a restaurant keeper and Marie as a waitress.
In 1900, George lived at his 75 Union Avenue North grocery store.
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 at 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.
Norka Family Register 1846-1860, Household 335.
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.
Norka Family Register 1846-1860, Household 335.
Last updated August 11. 2024