Friedrich and Catharina Maria Jörg
Johann Friedrich Jörg was born in Norka, Russia, on August 31, 1870, the son of Friedrich and Christina Jörg.
In 1875, Friedrich's parents and grandfather, Johannes Jörg, decided to immigrate to America and were among the first Volga Germans to arrive in the United States. The Jörg family arrived in New York on June 28, 1875, aboard the steamship City of Brussels, which sailed from Liverpool, England.
In 1875, Friedrich's parents and grandfather, Johannes Jörg, decided to immigrate to America and were among the first Volga Germans to arrive in the United States. The Jörg family arrived in New York on June 28, 1875, aboard the steamship City of Brussels, which sailed from Liverpool, England.
Steamship "City of Brussels"
The Jörg family first settled in Sandusky, Ohio. Two and one-half years later, they moved to Sutton and Franklin County, Nebraska.
Johann Friedrich's father became a member and missionary of the Seventh-day Adventist German Reformed Church in 1883 when the German movement within the church was in its infancy. In April 1886, he was leading a congregation in Culbertson, Nebraska. Frederick visited the Portland area in 1887 and began to organize congregations in Albina and West Union. He participated in the Nebraska Conference in September 1888 and was listed as a minister in Sutton, Nebraska, that year.
The entire Jörg family decided to move to Portland between September 1888 and early 1889.
Johann Friedrich's father became a member and missionary of the Seventh-day Adventist German Reformed Church in 1883 when the German movement within the church was in its infancy. In April 1886, he was leading a congregation in Culbertson, Nebraska. Frederick visited the Portland area in 1887 and began to organize congregations in Albina and West Union. He participated in the Nebraska Conference in September 1888 and was listed as a minister in Sutton, Nebraska, that year.
The entire Jörg family decided to move to Portland between September 1888 and early 1889.
By June 1889, the senior Frederick led churches in Albina and West Union, Oregon.
In 1891, the Jörg family lived in Albina at the southeast corner of Vancouver Avenue and Cedar (now Failing Street). The Rev. F. Jorg is listed in the Albina City Directory as the Pastor of the Albina Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at the same address. Established in 1889, this church was the first Volga German church organized by a Volga German in Albina.
Johann Friedrich, Jr. (now known as John or John Frederick) married Catharina Maria (Katie) Krieger in 1893. She was born in Norka on September 13, 1867, the daughter of Nicholas Krieger and Katharine Maria Schneider. The Krieger family arrived in the United States in 1890.
John and Catharina (Kate) were blessed with six children: Alice Elizabeth (1893), Adam Lewis (1895), William John (1898), Roy Edward (1901), Theodore (1904), and Florence (1908).
In 1900, John and Katie lived at 1022 Hendricks Street (now in the 8300 block on N. Hendricks). John was working as a day laborer.
Adam Lewis joined the U.S. Army during World War I and served in France. At home, Adam raised pigeons as a hobby. He used this skill in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the war, working with carrier pigeons.
In 1920, the family lived at 1489 Atlantic Street (now 7037 N. Atlantic). John was working for the City of Portland in the street cleaning bureau.
In 1930, the family lived at the same location, and John continued his work for the city.
Katie died on November 7, 1933, and was buried at the River View Cemetery.
John Frederick Jorg died in Portland on November 5, 1939, and was buried next to Kate on November 8th.
In 1891, the Jörg family lived in Albina at the southeast corner of Vancouver Avenue and Cedar (now Failing Street). The Rev. F. Jorg is listed in the Albina City Directory as the Pastor of the Albina Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at the same address. Established in 1889, this church was the first Volga German church organized by a Volga German in Albina.
Johann Friedrich, Jr. (now known as John or John Frederick) married Catharina Maria (Katie) Krieger in 1893. She was born in Norka on September 13, 1867, the daughter of Nicholas Krieger and Katharine Maria Schneider. The Krieger family arrived in the United States in 1890.
John and Catharina (Kate) were blessed with six children: Alice Elizabeth (1893), Adam Lewis (1895), William John (1898), Roy Edward (1901), Theodore (1904), and Florence (1908).
In 1900, John and Katie lived at 1022 Hendricks Street (now in the 8300 block on N. Hendricks). John was working as a day laborer.
Adam Lewis joined the U.S. Army during World War I and served in France. At home, Adam raised pigeons as a hobby. He used this skill in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the war, working with carrier pigeons.
In 1920, the family lived at 1489 Atlantic Street (now 7037 N. Atlantic). John was working for the City of Portland in the street cleaning bureau.
In 1930, the family lived at the same location, and John continued his work for the city.
Katie died on November 7, 1933, and was buried at the River View Cemetery.
John Frederick Jorg died in Portland on November 5, 1939, and was buried next to Kate on November 8th.
Johann Friedrich (John) Jorg is standing third from the left. One of his sisters stands second from the left. The other two people (far left and far right) are unknown, They are possibly other siblings. Courtesy of Mary Ann Kennedy.
Another photograph of the Jorg family courtesy of Mary Ann Kennedy.
Male members of the Jorg family. Courtesy of Mary Ann Kennedy.
The sons, daughter-in-laws and grandchildren of Johann Friedrich (John) Jorg. Courtesy of Mary Ann Kennedy.
Sources
Kennedy, Mary Ann. Great-granddaughter of Johann Friedrich and Katharina Maria Jörg. Please contact Mary Ann if you have information about any of the people shown in the photos above.
Thomsen, Robert. Great-grandson of Johann Friedrich and Katharina Maria Jörg.
History of Jorg family by Adam Lewis Jorg, Portland, Oregon. Contributed by Ruth Ann Plue.
Passenger lists, Portland City Directories, U.S. Censuses - Ancestry.com
Obituary for Fred George from The Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald, a Seventh-day Adventist publication dated November 7, 1912 - Ancestry.com
"Nebraska." The Advent and Sabbath Review Herald 63.15 (1886): 236. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 7 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH18860413-V63-15.pdf>.
"Pacific Coast Camp Meetings." The Signs of the Times, 15.23 (1889): 360. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 7 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/ST/ST18890617-V15-23.pdf>.
"North Pacific Conference Proceedings." The Advent and Sabbath Review Herald 67.26 (1890): 413. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH18900701-V67-26.pdf>.
Johnson, Doug. "German and Scandinavian Influences." North Pacific Union Conference Gleaner 86.13 (1991): 6. Seventh-day Adventist Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/NPG/NPG19910715-V86-13.pdf>.
Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook 1889. Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1889. 6. Seventh-day Adventist Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Yearbooks/YB1889.pdf>.
Thomsen, Robert. Great-grandson of Johann Friedrich and Katharina Maria Jörg.
History of Jorg family by Adam Lewis Jorg, Portland, Oregon. Contributed by Ruth Ann Plue.
Passenger lists, Portland City Directories, U.S. Censuses - Ancestry.com
Obituary for Fred George from The Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald, a Seventh-day Adventist publication dated November 7, 1912 - Ancestry.com
"Nebraska." The Advent and Sabbath Review Herald 63.15 (1886): 236. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 7 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH18860413-V63-15.pdf>.
"Pacific Coast Camp Meetings." The Signs of the Times, 15.23 (1889): 360. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 7 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/ST/ST18890617-V15-23.pdf>.
"North Pacific Conference Proceedings." The Advent and Sabbath Review Herald 67.26 (1890): 413. Seventh-day Adventist Church Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH18900701-V67-26.pdf>.
Johnson, Doug. "German and Scandinavian Influences." North Pacific Union Conference Gleaner 86.13 (1991): 6. Seventh-day Adventist Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/NPG/NPG19910715-V86-13.pdf>.
Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook 1889. Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1889. 6. Seventh-day Adventist Online Archives. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Yearbooks/YB1889.pdf>.
Last updated September 20. 2025