People > Our People > Henry and Alice Hohnstein
Henry and Alice Hohnstein
Heinrich (Henry) Hohnstein was born on May 21, 1884 in Norka, Russia, the son of Conrad Hohnstein and Elisabeth Hinkel. Heinrich's father, Conrad Hohnstein, was born on October 24, 1850, in Norka and died there before 1913. Heinrich's mother, Elisabeth (Lisbeth) Hinkel, was born on December 17, 1850, in Norka and died on January 7, 1914 in Portland, Oregon.
Catharina Margaretha (Alice) Söder (Seder) was born July 12, 1883, in Norka, Russia, the daughter of Wilhelm Seder, who was born on August 23, 1838 in Norka, and Magdalena Köhler who was born in Norka on May 8, 1842.
Henry and Alice were married in Norka on January 21, 1903.
Catharina Margaretha (Alice) Söder (Seder) was born July 12, 1883, in Norka, Russia, the daughter of Wilhelm Seder, who was born on August 23, 1838 in Norka, and Magdalena Köhler who was born in Norka on May 8, 1842.
Henry and Alice were married in Norka on January 21, 1903.
Portrait of Alice and Henry Hohnstein. Courtesy of Georgia Hohnstein Conway.
Henry and Alice said goodbye to their family and friends in Norka in early 1913. They were on their way to America. The Hohnstein's traveled by train to Western Europe with their daughter Amalia, age 5; son Heinrich, age 3; son Johannes, age 1; and Heinrich's widowed mother, Lisbeth, age 58. The steamship Canada departed from the port of Liverpool, England, on March 8, 1913, and arrived in Portland, Maine on March 19, 1913. The family's stated destination was 842 E. 8th Portland, Oregon (now 3964 NE 8th Avenue). This was the home of Heinrich's sister, Anna Catharina Hohnstein, who was married to Jacob Schreiner.
Henry and Alice lived at various homes in Portland, and Henry worked a variety of jobs: (1916) 758 NE 13th (now 3602 NE 13th Avenue) Henry worked as a car cleaner; (1917) 758 NE 13th Henry worked as a laborer; (1918-1820) 532 Beech (now 1136 NE Beech Street) Henry worked as a ship worker; (1929); 842 E 12th (now 3968 NE 12th Avenue) Henry worked as a scavenger; (1930) 3968 NE 12th, Henry worked as a scavenger and at this time established his own garbage collection business along with Christian George Dick who was married to Heinrich Hohnstein's other sister, Elisabeth Hohnstein. As “scavengers” they found items thrown away by richer folks that could be reused. It was called “skibby”. Alice would sew quilts and children's clothing made from discarded men’s wool suits in their early days in Portland.
Henry and Alice lived at various homes in Portland, and Henry worked a variety of jobs: (1916) 758 NE 13th (now 3602 NE 13th Avenue) Henry worked as a car cleaner; (1917) 758 NE 13th Henry worked as a laborer; (1918-1820) 532 Beech (now 1136 NE Beech Street) Henry worked as a ship worker; (1929); 842 E 12th (now 3968 NE 12th Avenue) Henry worked as a scavenger; (1930) 3968 NE 12th, Henry worked as a scavenger and at this time established his own garbage collection business along with Christian George Dick who was married to Heinrich Hohnstein's other sister, Elisabeth Hohnstein. As “scavengers” they found items thrown away by richer folks that could be reused. It was called “skibby”. Alice would sew quilts and children's clothing made from discarded men’s wool suits in their early days in Portland.
Photograph of a new "Federal" garbage truck that was owned by Henry Hohnstein taken on NE 12th Street along Holladay Park. A family story recalls that Henry lifted the box of truck while he drove in a parade on Broadway Street and was subsequently unable to get it back down. The photo was taken by A.J. Baker, 929 Sandy Blvd. in Portland and was contributed courtesy of Georgia Hohnstein Conway.
Henry and Alice's children were Amalia "Mollie" (1905-2004), Heinrich (1908-1913), Johannes (1910-1910), John Henry (1911-1977), George Jack (1913-1985), Lena Elizabeth "Marie", (1915-1984), Clarence Ray (1918-1998), Genevieve Laverne (1921-2000), and Kenneth Henry (1925-2012).
Henry and Alice were charter members of the Zion Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon, established in 1914, and all of their children received confirmation there.
Henry is a descendant of Johann Adam Hohnstein and Anna Margaretha Kraft, original colonists who settled in Norka in the summer of 1767. Alice is the descendant of Heinrich Peter Söder and Fredericka Rothau, who were also among the first settlers in Norka.
Henry died on September 18, 1956, and Alice died on January 14, 1976. Both were buried at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Henry and Alice were charter members of the Zion Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon, established in 1914, and all of their children received confirmation there.
Henry is a descendant of Johann Adam Hohnstein and Anna Margaretha Kraft, original colonists who settled in Norka in the summer of 1767. Alice is the descendant of Heinrich Peter Söder and Fredericka Rothau, who were also among the first settlers in Norka.
Henry died on September 18, 1956, and Alice died on January 14, 1976. Both were buried at the Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Sources
This article and photograph were contributed by Georgia Hohnstein Conway.
The Volga Germans website - Hohnstein Origin
Krieger, Joanne, et al., translators. Zion Congregational Church, Portland, Oregon, 1914-1967. 2001.
Norka database.
The Volga Germans website - Hohnstein Origin
Krieger, Joanne, et al., translators. Zion Congregational Church, Portland, Oregon, 1914-1967. 2001.
Norka database.
Last updated October 26, 2023