Johannes Jörg
Johannes Jörg was born on October 7, 1817, in Norka, Russia, the son of Peter Jörg (born 1786) and Anna Margaretha Müller (born 1786).
Johannes married Katharina Reuscher in Norka on December 29, 1836. Katharina was born on August 3, 1817, the daughter of Johann Adam Reuscher (1773) and Anna Elisabeth Schlitt (1791).
Johannes and Katharina had at least seven children, all born in Norka. Their first child, Friedrich, was born in 1838, followed by Elisabeth in 1840, Johannes in 1842, Louisa in 1845, Elisabeth in 1850, Katharina in 1853, and Peter in 1856.
Johannes married Katharina Reuscher in Norka on December 29, 1836. Katharina was born on August 3, 1817, the daughter of Johann Adam Reuscher (1773) and Anna Elisabeth Schlitt (1791).
Johannes and Katharina had at least seven children, all born in Norka. Their first child, Friedrich, was born in 1838, followed by Elisabeth in 1840, Johannes in 1842, Louisa in 1845, Elisabeth in 1850, Katharina in 1853, and Peter in 1856.
Photograph of Johannes Jorg taken in Albina, Oregon. Courtesy of Ruth Ann Plue.
Katharina died in 1875. Shortly after that, Johannes decided to immigrate to the United States with his son Friedrich, Friedrich's wife, Christina Bauer, and their six children. The Jörg family sailed from Liverpool, England, and arrived in New York on June 28, 1875, aboard the steamship City of Brussels. This ship carried some of the first Volga Germans to arrive in America.
Steamship "City of Brussels"
The family first settled on a 320-acre railroad land grant near Sandusky, Ohio, and later migrated to Sutton, Nebraska, in 1880.
Johannes's granddaughter, Anna Elizabeth, married Ludwig Spady on January 8, 1879, in Franklin, Nebraska.
Johannes, Friedrich, and Christina, along with Anna Elizabeth and Ludwig Spady, decided to move from Nebraska to Oregon in 1887 or 1888.
In 1891, Johannes (now John Jorg) lived in Albina, Oregon, on Vancouver Avenue at the southeast corner of Cedar (now Failing Street) with his son, now the Reverend Frederick Jorg, pastor of the Albina Seventh-day Adventist German Reformed Church.
Johannes died on Sunday, May 8, 1898, in Portland. He was buried at the Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery in Portland (Block 11, Lot 79, Burial Space 3S) on Tuesday, May 10, 1898.
Johannes's granddaughter, Anna Elizabeth, married Ludwig Spady on January 8, 1879, in Franklin, Nebraska.
Johannes, Friedrich, and Christina, along with Anna Elizabeth and Ludwig Spady, decided to move from Nebraska to Oregon in 1887 or 1888.
In 1891, Johannes (now John Jorg) lived in Albina, Oregon, on Vancouver Avenue at the southeast corner of Cedar (now Failing Street) with his son, now the Reverend Frederick Jorg, pastor of the Albina Seventh-day Adventist German Reformed Church.
Johannes died on Sunday, May 8, 1898, in Portland. He was buried at the Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery in Portland (Block 11, Lot 79, Burial Space 3S) on Tuesday, May 10, 1898.
Johannes Jörg and his family were true pioneers amongst the Volga Germans, leading the way to America and the settlement in Portland.
Sources
Passenger lists, 1891 Albina City Directory, 1901 Portland City Directories, 1900 and 1910 U.S. Census - Ancestry.com
History of Jorg family by Adam Lewis Jorg, Portland, Oregon. Contributed by Ruth Ann Plue.
Lone Fir Cemetery website (May 2017).
Norka Church Family Lists 1834-1845.
History of Jorg family by Adam Lewis Jorg, Portland, Oregon. Contributed by Ruth Ann Plue.
Lone Fir Cemetery website (May 2017).
Norka Church Family Lists 1834-1845.
Last updated October 24, 2023