Johannes and Sophia Brill
Johannes Brill was born on May 10, 1854, in Norka, Russia, the son of Adam Brill (born 1826) and Elisabeth Seder (born 1827).
Johannes married Sophia Bauer, who was born April 6, 1855, in Norka, the daughter of Heinrich Bauer (born 1831) and Anna Katharina Lehr (born 1829).
Johannes and Sophia married in Russia and immigrated to the United States in 1877, arriving in New York on December 13th aboard the steamship Gellert from Hamburg, Germany.
The 1880 U.S. Census shows the Brills living in Hastings, Nebraska, with their daughter, Lydia, who was born on May 16, 1878.
Johannes (John) and Sophia (Sophie) were among the first Volga Germans to settle in Portland. They probably arrived in March 1883 with Sophia's sister, Anna, and her husband, George Betz, who had also traveled from Nebraska.
The 1885 and 1887 Albina City Directories indicate that the Brills resided on the north side of Santa Barbara, two lots east of 4th Street. Sophie's siblings, Heinrich, Elizabeth, and Katharina, were also among the early Volga German settlers in Portland.
By 1900, the Brill family had grown to 8 children. John worked as a butcher, and they lived on Henderson Avenue.
Daughter Lydia married George Spady, born in Russia on November 12, 1874.
By 1910, the Brills lived on E 9th Street, and John was working "odd jobs". In 1920, John and Sophie continued residing at 897 E 9th Street with their son, George. John was working for a pickle company.
Sophie died in Portland on August 17, 1926.
John died in Clark County, Washington, on April 12, 1929.
Johannes married Sophia Bauer, who was born April 6, 1855, in Norka, the daughter of Heinrich Bauer (born 1831) and Anna Katharina Lehr (born 1829).
Johannes and Sophia married in Russia and immigrated to the United States in 1877, arriving in New York on December 13th aboard the steamship Gellert from Hamburg, Germany.
The 1880 U.S. Census shows the Brills living in Hastings, Nebraska, with their daughter, Lydia, who was born on May 16, 1878.
Johannes (John) and Sophia (Sophie) were among the first Volga Germans to settle in Portland. They probably arrived in March 1883 with Sophia's sister, Anna, and her husband, George Betz, who had also traveled from Nebraska.
The 1885 and 1887 Albina City Directories indicate that the Brills resided on the north side of Santa Barbara, two lots east of 4th Street. Sophie's siblings, Heinrich, Elizabeth, and Katharina, were also among the early Volga German settlers in Portland.
By 1900, the Brill family had grown to 8 children. John worked as a butcher, and they lived on Henderson Avenue.
Daughter Lydia married George Spady, born in Russia on November 12, 1874.
By 1910, the Brills lived on E 9th Street, and John was working "odd jobs". In 1920, John and Sophie continued residing at 897 E 9th Street with their son, George. John was working for a pickle company.
Sophie died in Portland on August 17, 1926.
John died in Clark County, Washington, on April 12, 1929.
Sources
AHSGR Workpaper No, 14, page 55.
1885, 1887 Albina City Directories, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 U.S. Censuses, death records - Ancestry.com
Norka database.
1885, 1887 Albina City Directories, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 U.S. Censuses, death records - Ancestry.com
Norka database.
Last updated October 8, 2025