Heinrich and Sophia Schreiber
Heinrich (Henry) L. Schreiber was born in Norka, Russia, on October 15, 1858, the son of Heinrich (Henry) Schreiber (born 1826) and Elizabeth Spady (born 1829).
In 1875, Heinrich and his parents, along with his siblings George and Peter, emigrated from Russia. The Schreibers had no doubt heard the positive reports from two scouts from Norka, Johannes Krieger and Johannes Nolde, who had visited the United States in 1874.
Sailing from Liverpool, the family arrived in New York aboard the City of Brussels on June 28, 1875. The Schreibers were part of a small group from Norka that included seven families, among the first Volga Germans to settle in the United States.
The Schreibers and other group members initially settled in Bluffton, Ohio.
Sailing from Liverpool, the family arrived in New York aboard the City of Brussels on June 28, 1875. The Schreibers were part of a small group from Norka that included seven families, among the first Volga Germans to settle in the United States.
The Schreibers and other group members initially settled in Bluffton, Ohio.
The Schreiber family arrived in Bluffton, Ohio in 1875 and it is likely that they disembarked at this station which served the community until 1899. The old structure remained across the tracks from the newer station which was built in 1899. The photo shows the old station not long before it was torn down. Courtesy of the Ohio Railroad Stations Past & Present website.
The family relocated to North Franklin Township, Nebraska, prior to 1878.
On January 8, 1879, Henry married Sophia (Sophie) Krieger in Franklin County, Nebraska. Sophie was born on November 9, 1857, in Norka, the daughter of Johannes Krieger (born 1828) and Anna Elisabeth Bäcker (born 1832). A son, Joseph, was born on March 28, 1880, and a daughter, Lydia, was born in November 1881.
Sometime after 1880, Henry's parents and brothers traveled to Oregon. His parents and brother, George, settled in North Plains (near Hillsboro), and his brother, Peter, settled in Portland.
Henry and Sophie decided to move to Kansas. Two sons were born there: Isaac (March 1886) and Aaron (May 1888).
By November 1890, Henry and Sophie had moved to Oregon, where a daughter, Elizabeth (Lizzie), was born that month. Another son, Louis, was born in February 1892.
In 1891, Henry was living in Albina, on the south side of California Avenue, one block east of Margareta Avenue (later Union Avenue and now MLK Boulevard), near his brother Peter and many other early Volga German pioneers. Henry was working as a laborer.
Henry's father died in Washington County, Oregon, on March 16, 1891.
By 1900, Henry and Sophie, along with all their children, lived in Harper Precinct, Whitman County, Washington, and Henry had returned to farming.
Henry's mother, Elizabeth, died in Portland on April 14, 1904, and was buried at the Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland.
By 1910, Henry, Sophie, Lizzie, and Louis lived near Fresno, California, and operated a grain ranch. By 1920, Henry and Sophie were living in Barstow, Fresno County, California, and were operating a fruit ranch.
Henry died on November 17, 1922, in Fresno.
Sophie died on May 18, 1933, in Fresno.
On January 8, 1879, Henry married Sophia (Sophie) Krieger in Franklin County, Nebraska. Sophie was born on November 9, 1857, in Norka, the daughter of Johannes Krieger (born 1828) and Anna Elisabeth Bäcker (born 1832). A son, Joseph, was born on March 28, 1880, and a daughter, Lydia, was born in November 1881.
Sometime after 1880, Henry's parents and brothers traveled to Oregon. His parents and brother, George, settled in North Plains (near Hillsboro), and his brother, Peter, settled in Portland.
Henry and Sophie decided to move to Kansas. Two sons were born there: Isaac (March 1886) and Aaron (May 1888).
By November 1890, Henry and Sophie had moved to Oregon, where a daughter, Elizabeth (Lizzie), was born that month. Another son, Louis, was born in February 1892.
In 1891, Henry was living in Albina, on the south side of California Avenue, one block east of Margareta Avenue (later Union Avenue and now MLK Boulevard), near his brother Peter and many other early Volga German pioneers. Henry was working as a laborer.
Henry's father died in Washington County, Oregon, on March 16, 1891.
By 1900, Henry and Sophie, along with all their children, lived in Harper Precinct, Whitman County, Washington, and Henry had returned to farming.
Henry's mother, Elizabeth, died in Portland on April 14, 1904, and was buried at the Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland.
By 1910, Henry, Sophie, Lizzie, and Louis lived near Fresno, California, and operated a grain ranch. By 1920, Henry and Sophie were living in Barstow, Fresno County, California, and were operating a fruit ranch.
Henry died on November 17, 1922, in Fresno.
Sophie died on May 18, 1933, in Fresno.
Sources
Information about the George Schreiber family contributed by Tracey Saucy.
Haynes, Emma S. "Passenger List." Journal of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (Spring 1979): 68. Print.
Williams, Hattie Plum. The Czar's Germans: With Particular Reference to the Volga Germans. Ed. Emma S. Haynes, Phillip B. Legler, and Gerda Stroh. Walker. Lincoln, Neb.: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1975. Print.
Passenger lists, U.S. Census lists and City Directories - Ancestry.com
1857 Census of Norka, Russia documenting the birth of Sophia Krieger.
Nebraska, Marriages, 1855-1995 www.familysearch.org
Haynes, Emma S. "Passenger List." Journal of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (Spring 1979): 68. Print.
Williams, Hattie Plum. The Czar's Germans: With Particular Reference to the Volga Germans. Ed. Emma S. Haynes, Phillip B. Legler, and Gerda Stroh. Walker. Lincoln, Neb.: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1975. Print.
Passenger lists, U.S. Census lists and City Directories - Ancestry.com
1857 Census of Norka, Russia documenting the birth of Sophia Krieger.
Nebraska, Marriages, 1855-1995 www.familysearch.org
Last updated October 8, 2025