The Volga Germans in Portland, Oregon

Reich Family

Reich family 1911   Reich family

Photo at left of the Reich Family. Estimated Date: March or April, 1911 Probably at their home on Mallory Ave., Portland OR. Dora (Dorothy) Bertram-Reich and John F. Reich with four of their five daughters. John F. Reich (b. Sep 11, 1876, d. November 1941 in Portland OR) and Dora (Dorothy) Bertram-Reich (b. Aug 21, 1880 in Galka, Russia, d. Jun 9, 1960 in Portland OR). Standing next to John F. Reich is Marie Reich. Marie was born February 08, 1906 in Galka, Russia and died December 29, 1999 in Long Beach CA. Standing next to Dora (Dorothy) Reich is Amalia (Mollie) Reich, b. June 24, 1902 in Galka, Russia, d. March 13, 1998 in Portland OR. Standing in front of John F. Reich is Anna (Annie) Reich, b. September 08, 1909 in Galka, Russia and d. March 06, 2001 in Portland OR. Sitting on Dora (Dorothy) Reich is Lydia (Lillie) Reich, b. October 04, 1911 in Portland OR and d. August 11, 1989 in Portland OR.

Photo at right of the Reich Family. Estimated Date: July or August, 1916. Probably at their home on Mallory Ave., Portland, OR. Dora (Dorothy) Bertram-Reich & John F. Reich with their five daughters. Left to Right: Standing next to her mother, Dora (Dorothy) Reich, is Anna (Annie) Reich. In between Dora & John is Lydia (Lillie) Reich and behind her is Amalia (Mollie) Reich. Standing in front of her father, John F. Reich, is Emelia (Meil) Reich. Emelia was the youngest of the five daughters and was born August 05, 1914 in Portland OR and died May 01, 1998 in Portland OR. And not least by any means, standing next to her father, is Marie Reich.

 

The BIG journey:

With their four children, John & Dorothy emigrated from Galka, Russia to Halifax, Nova Scotia – Canada in 1909 and traveled to the Milwaukee, WI – USA and stayed with Grandpa’s sister. The family then traveled to and located in Portland, OR where Dorothy’s younger brother William (Bill) Bertram and his wife, Lydia, had located earlier.

I recall my Aunt Mollie (Amalia) the eldest daughter and my God Mother, telling me shortly before her passing about some of her recollections of their trip aboard the ship from Europe to Halifax, Nova Scotia. She explained; everyone in the family was sea sick, and laid low, except for Marie who must have been only about 3+ years old at the time.

Marie traipsed or wandered all over the ship, and was giving the family reports on what was happening. Imagine that today; a little 3 year old girl, alone, allowed to wander all over a ship in transit by herself - NOT in my lifetime! ;o)

For more information about John F. Reich and Dora (Dorothy) Bertram-Reich and their extended family members, See the Reich Family Chronicles at: http://users.olynet.com/hildy


David Hildermann
Hoquiam, WA