People > Our People > George and Elisabeth Hohnstein
George and Elisabeth Hohnstein
Georg Conrad Hohnstein was born on April 23, 1886, in Norka, Russia, the son of Johannes Hohnstein and Christina Pauly. Johannes Johnstein died in 1891, and Christina married a second time to Heinrich Jorg.
Georg and his two brothers, Ludwig (Louis) and Johannes (John), decided to emigrate. They departed from Norka on January 28, 1907, and traveled to Saratov, where they boarded a train bound for Libau (now Liepāja, Latvia). From there, they sailed to Hull, England, boarded a train to Liverpool, and then sailed from Liverpool to Boston. From Boston, they traveled by train to Portland, arriving on March 23, 1907.
Georg (now known as George John) met Elisabeth Hahn in Portland, and they married on September 29, 1908. Elisabeth was born in Norka on January 19, 1886, the daughter of Conrad Hahn and Anna Maria Krieger. They became parents to eight children.
George and Elisabeth became members of the Free Evangelical Brethren Church. In 1913, he was one of the church members who approached Rev. Heinrich Hagelganz about forming a new church, which later became the Second German Congregational Church. George served the new church as Superintendent of the Sunday School.
George established a garbage collection business and continued in the line of work for many years.
Georg and his two brothers, Ludwig (Louis) and Johannes (John), decided to emigrate. They departed from Norka on January 28, 1907, and traveled to Saratov, where they boarded a train bound for Libau (now Liepāja, Latvia). From there, they sailed to Hull, England, boarded a train to Liverpool, and then sailed from Liverpool to Boston. From Boston, they traveled by train to Portland, arriving on March 23, 1907.
Georg (now known as George John) met Elisabeth Hahn in Portland, and they married on September 29, 1908. Elisabeth was born in Norka on January 19, 1886, the daughter of Conrad Hahn and Anna Maria Krieger. They became parents to eight children.
George and Elisabeth became members of the Free Evangelical Brethren Church. In 1913, he was one of the church members who approached Rev. Heinrich Hagelganz about forming a new church, which later became the Second German Congregational Church. George served the new church as Superintendent of the Sunday School.
George established a garbage collection business and continued in the line of work for many years.
George Hohnstein with his horses and wagon on his collection route. Source: Shared by A2vento88 on Ancestry.com on 17 April 2014.
George died on October 5, 1967, and was buried at the Rose City Cemetery.
Elisabeth died on November 23, 1982, and was buried beside George. She was a member of the Rivercrest Community Church at this time.
Elisabeth died on November 23, 1982, and was buried beside George. She was a member of the Rivercrest Community Church at this time.
Sources
Krieger, Joanne, Willis Krieger, and Marie Krieger, trans. Free Evangelical Brethren Church Records, Portland, Oregon, 1900-1922. Portland: n.p., n.d. Print.
Krieger, Joanne, Robert Beall, Marie Krieger, and Willis Krieger, trans. Second German Congregational Church, Portland, Oregon, 1913-1969. Portland: n.p., 2001. Print.
George J. Hohnstein Obituary. The Christian Fellowship Messenger, Winnipeg, Canada, February 21, 1968. Written by Rev. J. N. Sauer. Accessed on Ancestry.com on October 6, 2025.
Elizabeth Hohnstein Obituary. The Oregonian, November 23, 1982. Accessed on Ancestry.com on October 6, 2025.
U.S. Federal Censuses, Ship departure and arrival manifest, Oregon birth, marriage, and death records = accessed on Ancestry.com
Find-a-grave.com
Norka Database
Krieger, Joanne, Robert Beall, Marie Krieger, and Willis Krieger, trans. Second German Congregational Church, Portland, Oregon, 1913-1969. Portland: n.p., 2001. Print.
George J. Hohnstein Obituary. The Christian Fellowship Messenger, Winnipeg, Canada, February 21, 1968. Written by Rev. J. N. Sauer. Accessed on Ancestry.com on October 6, 2025.
Elizabeth Hohnstein Obituary. The Oregonian, November 23, 1982. Accessed on Ancestry.com on October 6, 2025.
U.S. Federal Censuses, Ship departure and arrival manifest, Oregon birth, marriage, and death records = accessed on Ancestry.com
Find-a-grave.com
Norka Database
Last updated October 7, 2025