THE VOLGA GERMANS IN PORTLAND
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People > Pioneers > Johannes and Sophia Brill

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 Brill's living in Hastings, Nebraska with their daughter, Lydia who was born 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 show that the Brill's were living on the north side of Santa Barbara, two lots east of 4th. 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 was working as a butcher and they lived on Henderson Avenue.

Daughter Lydia married George Spady who was born in Russia on November 12, 1874.

By 1910 the Brill's were living on E 9th Street and John was working "odd jobs". In 1920, John and Sophie continued living at 897 E 9th Street along 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.
Last updated February 9, 2018.
Copyright © 1998-2023 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
    • About This Website
    • Reviews
  • History
    • Historical Timeline
    • Migration to Russia
    • Emigration from Russia
    • Settlement in America
    • Migration to Portland
    • Little Russia
    • A Short History of Albina
    • World War I
    • The Volga Relief Society >
      • Portland Volga Relief Society Subscribers 1921
    • World War II
    • Assimilation and Dispersion
  • Beliefs
    • Churches >
      • Albina Seventh-day Adventist Church
      • First United Mennonite Baptist Church
      • Ebenezer German Congregational Church
      • Free Evangelical Brethren Church >
        • German Evangelical Congregational Brethren Church
      • Second German Baptist Church
      • St. Pauls Evangelical and Reformed Church
      • Second German Congregational Church >
        • Evangelical Congregational Church
      • Zion German Congregational Church >
        • Rivercrest Community Church
    • Pastors
    • The Brethren
    • Denominations >
      • German Reformed Church
      • German Evangelical Synod of North America
      • Evangelical and Reformed Church
      • German Congregational Church
      • Seventh-day Adventists
      • United Church of Christ
  • People
    • Our People
    • Notables
    • Pioneers 1881-1892
    • Stories
    • Photographs
    • Help Identify These People
  • Community
    • Characteristics
    • Businesses >
      • Bakeries Retailers and Services
      • Garbage Haulers
      • Grocery and Meat Markets
      • Restaurants >
        • Helsers on Alberta
        • McCormick & Schmicks
        • Wildwood
      • Saloons and Taverns
      • Suppliers and Manufacturers
    • Employers
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Maps
    • Documentary
  • Traditions
    • Foods
    • Folk Medicine
    • Expressions
    • Weddings
    • Holidays
    • Folk Music
    • Funerals and Burial Sites
  • Resources
    • Family Research
    • Books and Video
    • Works Cited