Peter Yost
Peter Jost (Yost) led the Free Evangelical Brethren Church from its organization in December 1900 until he died in 1927. According to the church records, Elder Brother Yost was chosen to lead the congregation by casting lots to make a fair selection. After his selection, there was a laying on of hands, a symbolic and formal method of invoking the Holy Spirit during an ordination of church leaders.
A second Elder, Brother Heinrich Hagelganz, was elected and joined Brother Yost in a co-pastorship in 1907. Neither Heinrich Hagelganz nor Peter Yost were ordained ministers at this time.
Peter Yost (Jost) was born in Norka, Russia, on July 4, 1850, the son of Heinrich and Christina (Sauer) Yost. He was confirmed in 1865 by Pastor Bonwetsch in Norka.
On February 11, 1874, Peter married Elizabeth Nolde, born March 30, 1852 in Norka. Three children were born in Norka: Ludwig (March 11, 1876), Heinrich Peter (October 14, 1878) and Heinrich (March 5, 1883).
Yost was an adherent of the Brethren movement in Russia, which was particularly strong in Norka due to the support from Rev. Wilhelm Stärkel.
Peter Yost arrived in the United States on December 12, 1889, with his wife Elizabeth (Lizzie) and sons. A daughter, Katharina (Katie), was born on June 22, 1890, shortly after they arrived in Sutton, Nebraska.
Peter and Lizzie soon moved to Portland, where they arrived on September 29, 1890. In 1891, they were listed in the Albina City Directory at the same address as Peter and Mollie Wolf, who were also from Norka.
The Yosts became charter members of the Ebenezer German Congregational Church in 1892. They remained part of this congregation for many years until resigning to form the Free Evangelical Brethren Church in 1900.
Peter and his brother Conrad Yost, who also lived in Portland, were among the ministers and delegates who organized The Pacific Conference of German Congregational Churches. The Conference, covering the states of Oregon and Washington, was founded on March 5, 1897, at the Ebenezer German Congregational Church in Portland. Also attending from Portland were Rev. Johannes Koch and John Krieger.
The Yost family lived at 827 Union Avenue from 1900 through his death in 1927. Peter is shown as a day laborer in 1900 and a shoemaker in 1910. In 1910, Peter's daughter Katharina (Catherine) married Gottfried Geist, and they lived with Peter and Lizzie. Peter's son, Peter A. Yost (a butcher), is married and living with his wife, Nellie, on Michigan Avenue. By 1920, Peter was no longer employed at age 69.
Peter Yost died in his home on Union Avenue on June 4, 1927. A funeral service was held at the Ebenezer German Congregational Church on June 6th. Peter is buried with his wife, Elizabeth, at the Rose City Cemetery.
Peter Yost (Jost) was born in Norka, Russia, on July 4, 1850, the son of Heinrich and Christina (Sauer) Yost. He was confirmed in 1865 by Pastor Bonwetsch in Norka.
On February 11, 1874, Peter married Elizabeth Nolde, born March 30, 1852 in Norka. Three children were born in Norka: Ludwig (March 11, 1876), Heinrich Peter (October 14, 1878) and Heinrich (March 5, 1883).
Yost was an adherent of the Brethren movement in Russia, which was particularly strong in Norka due to the support from Rev. Wilhelm Stärkel.
Peter Yost arrived in the United States on December 12, 1889, with his wife Elizabeth (Lizzie) and sons. A daughter, Katharina (Katie), was born on June 22, 1890, shortly after they arrived in Sutton, Nebraska.
Peter and Lizzie soon moved to Portland, where they arrived on September 29, 1890. In 1891, they were listed in the Albina City Directory at the same address as Peter and Mollie Wolf, who were also from Norka.
The Yosts became charter members of the Ebenezer German Congregational Church in 1892. They remained part of this congregation for many years until resigning to form the Free Evangelical Brethren Church in 1900.
Peter and his brother Conrad Yost, who also lived in Portland, were among the ministers and delegates who organized The Pacific Conference of German Congregational Churches. The Conference, covering the states of Oregon and Washington, was founded on March 5, 1897, at the Ebenezer German Congregational Church in Portland. Also attending from Portland were Rev. Johannes Koch and John Krieger.
The Yost family lived at 827 Union Avenue from 1900 through his death in 1927. Peter is shown as a day laborer in 1900 and a shoemaker in 1910. In 1910, Peter's daughter Katharina (Catherine) married Gottfried Geist, and they lived with Peter and Lizzie. Peter's son, Peter A. Yost (a butcher), is married and living with his wife, Nellie, on Michigan Avenue. By 1920, Peter was no longer employed at age 69.
Peter Yost died in his home on Union Avenue on June 4, 1927. A funeral service was held at the Ebenezer German Congregational Church on June 6th. Peter is buried with his wife, Elizabeth, at the Rose City Cemetery.
Sources
Kniss, Conrad. "History of the Free Evangelical Brethren Church." Free Evangelical Brethren Church Records 1900-1922. Portland, OR: 341-42. Print.
Krieger, Joanne, trans. Ebenezer Congregational Church, Portland, Oregon 1892-1908. Portland, OR: n.p., 1999. 18. Print.
"Brief History of The Brethren Congregational Church." Evangelical Congregational Brethren Church. Trans. Joanne Krieger. Portland, OR: n.p., 2000. 1-6. Print.
Churches along the Oregon Trail: A History of Churches Identified with the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ. Portland, Or.: Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ, 1976. Print.
"Funeral Notices - Yost." The Oregonian [Portland], June 5, 1927, pg. 3.
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Krieger, Joanne, trans. Ebenezer Congregational Church, Portland, Oregon 1892-1908. Portland, OR: n.p., 1999. 18. Print.
"Brief History of The Brethren Congregational Church." Evangelical Congregational Brethren Church. Trans. Joanne Krieger. Portland, OR: n.p., 2000. 1-6. Print.
Churches along the Oregon Trail: A History of Churches Identified with the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ. Portland, Or.: Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ, 1976. Print.
"Funeral Notices - Yost." The Oregonian [Portland], June 5, 1927, pg. 3.
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Last updated October 23, 2023