Ellis Island

The United States is certainly the melting pot of the world, but a more appropriate word to use would be "assimilation." Webster’s dictionary defines "assimilation" as "to make similar or to absorb into the cultural traditions of a population or group." When all our forefathers came to America they had a tendency of migrating to the same towns and cities. Once there, they also ended up living in the same ethnic neighborhoods. This was done because of language barriers and of course, in numbers there is safety. Many new immigrants weren't always welcomed with open arms. The immigrants looked different, dressed different, talked different and in some cases even ate certain ethnic foods that could only be obtained in certain neighborhoods. At this point of time, assimilation with other ethnic groups was unthinkable. All the early ethnic groups started their own social clubs so that they could fraternize and associate with their own people. Even the churches that were built during the late 1800's or early 1900's leaned toward a certain ethnic group. In the Slovak or Slav ethnic group you had Polish, Slovak, Rusyn, Russian and Ukrainian churches being constructed. Each ethnic group wanted their very own churches.

When you think of assimilation, one might think of it as something that happened in more recent times. Assimilation had transpired, hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago not by choice but by conquest. Of course, forced assimilation didn't always work and this is very obvious in the country of Slovakia. In the area of the present day Slovak Republic you had native people living there before Christ was born, but of which not too much is known. From the first century to the fifth century, the Celts occupied the southwestern part of what is now Slovakia. They lived in the area that now encompasses the capital city of Slovakia, Bratislava, and they even minted their own coins. When the Romans started their conquests and moved north into the land, which the Celts had occupied, the Celts emigrated from the area. Some migrated completely out of Eastern Europe while some just went north into the little Carpathian mountain range and in time assimilated with the people who lived there. Around the fifth century, three Slav tribes who lived on the East Side of the Carpathian mountain range started their westward migration. Also, several tribes of people known as Ruthenians and who are known today as Carpatho-Rusyns, also emigrated into what is now Eastern Slovakia.

In the early days, Slovakia had a huge wealth of various minerals. At that time all of Europe depended on copper and brass from what is now Slovakia. Gold and silver were also in great demand. There also were huge tracts of fertile soil that was ideal for farming and planting grape vineyards. This area was the crossroads for many of the countries throughout Europe, and was the gate way to Turkey, the Balkans, all the Arab lands to the south and to the Asian lands towards the East. During the early years, Turks, Mongols, Germans, Austrians and the Ottoman Empire tried to control the people of Slovakia through conquest, or some form of oppression. Also, through certain agreements between various ruling Emperors and large landowners many different outside influences were introduced. In time the ruling party of Hungary invited Germans to locate to the Spis area of Slovakia to control the natives that lived in that area and to teach them certain crafts. They also set up and maintained trade routes for protection against hostile groups that wanted control.

Many of these Germans that came to this area in the 1200's assimilated with the Slav people. This was a natural progression of assimilation. Hungary tried for a 1,000 years to force assimilation on the Slav people and Magyarize them. Hungary even went as far as to rename all the towns and cities with Hungarian names. Hungarian had to be spoken and taught in the schools. Try as they would, forced assimilation just didn't work. In recent times, Germany as well as Russia failed in their attempts to assimilate or control the people of that area. As time progressed, all these outside ethnic groups either left or were forced out of the lands that now encompass Slovakia. As of this writing, about 85 percent of the population is of Slovak decent. As we research our past, we read how certain countries absorbed other countries through conquests and ethnic cleansing. "Ethnic Cleansing" is nothing new to Eastern Europe. The main problem with this course of action is that the population, which is left, does not forget the past. There is always that part of society that wants to get their country to revert back to the way it was in the past. Unfortunately, these ideas never bring lasting peace. A good example of this is present day Yugoslavia and the multitude of tangled problems that have fallen upon that region.

It certainly is good to remember one's heritage and to be proud of it. But assimilation is something that has to be done on a voluntary basis and not forced. In America, most of the second and third generations of our early immigrants marry through their heart and not through heritage. This voluntary assimilation of all the various ethnic groups is good for any country's future. In the United States it is making an entire new ethnic group, which are called "Americans." This makes for a better physical as well as a better mental stability among its people. There is one down side to this though and that is, as the older generation fades away some of our past heritages and cultures are being lost forever. It is sad because knowing who we were and where we came from is just as important as to where we are headed.

During the 1800's individuals of Slavic heritage decided to vacate their homes and find life in new countries. Those of Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Slovak, Ukrainian, Ruthenian and Russian heritages among others left their small villages and towns for Canada. As in America, tracking exactly what ethnic heritage they were can be complex. Since during this time the land they came from was referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Russian Imperial Empire or Galicia they were classified as Hungarians, Austrians, Russians or the all-encompassing phrase "German" for Austro-Hungarian Empire, and German Imperial Empire citizens. The Austro-Hungarian Empire saw many political upheavals and Hungary itself was striving for its own independence. In 1848 a revolution occurred in Hungary which would stir many (among other factors) to finally decide that immigration to a more stable country and government was a good decision. It is thought at times that most people from Eastern Europe tended to travel to America. While a high number of individuals did take this route, many also saw the benefits of re-settlement in Canada. During the 1848 period and beyond the rate of immigration was so low it was hardly noticed. This would change dramatically during the later period of the 1880's when thousands began to leave their homelands for various ports in Canada.

As people received correspondence from family and friends in new countries, they too would take the journey. Male members of families tended to come first to work, save funds, travel back, secure their families and then, journey again to Canada. This was common for many immigrants during this time frame. It was also an excellent way to obtain the finances necessary to pay the passage costs for an entire family, or, for relatives. Constant travel also had another benefit which is not thought of at times and that is, experience. After having traveled on a ship and using the same shipping company, an immigrant knew what to expect and how to rectify unforeseen circumstances. It also gave others who traveled with him (or her) a sense of security. Many immigrants would turn to a frequent traveler to ask how to operate a facet handle on board ship, how to maneuver around a ship, what the rules were and so-forth. Travel was filled with anxiety for the immigrant who came from a small town or, an even smaller village. To have someone on board ship who spoke your language and could explain things to you had a calming effect for many. If a family had made the final decision for total immigration, they would embark together, or in groups, until all had arrived at the final destination. Shipping companies during this period in Canada were the Allan (also know as the Montreal Ocean Steamship Line) and the Inman Line with others being the Dempster and Dominion Lines. These ships generally made many trips and there were other lines that did sail to Canadian ports also. A main route was to leave Liverpool, England, then to Quebec and finally stopping at the Port of New York in America. Others sailed to various ports in America such as Baltimore. If the immigrant was already in America, getting to Canadian ports such as Quebec, Montreal, Saint John, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, etc., was not that difficult from American Ports. Many also traveled via rail to Detroit or Chicago and then crossed the boarder. Others made use of the extensive rail system in New York State in America, which helped many, who resided on the East Coast of America get a train, which would take them to areas close to the Canadian boarder.

Travel during this period could be very difficult. Ships were the only way for a person who wished to immigrate to North America for travel and the voyage was long and could even be fatal. It is common to see from the shipping manifests a notation next to a name "died on board." The reasons for this could be varied but many times, it was due to medical problems, or, since they traveled in close quarters the contraction of various diseases. One such disease was conjunctivitis, which was very common and easy to catch. Many times, an immigrant could leave the port of departure in relatively good health but, upon arrival, could become ill from the journey, their diet, or again, disease. The shipping companies during the early periods of 1880 to 1900 that sailed to Canada from England and also the Canadian shipping lines, did conform with the 1828 Passenger Act which had rules and regulations for proper food and water (50 gallons of water for every person, per day, a supply of Bread, Biscuits, Oatmeal and other bread products of fifty pounds of weight for every passenger), rules prohibiting the discharge of passengers in any other port than the one they had originally contracted their ticket for, regulations in regard to women and children, but, it was still problematic especially due to the social class consciousness prejudices of that period in history.

Not only did immigrants to Canada face the trials of a journey by ocean but also, their own governments enacted laws and implemented procedures to stop them. These rules hoped to dissuade the massive numbers which were withdrawing from their empire boarders. During 1881 the Hungarian government passed a new law, which effectively stopped all immigration agencies within Hungary. This law lasted until the latter part of 1900. It was hoped that by issuing this law, individuals would be halted from the thought of leaving Hungarian territories. Even with this law in effect, immigration numbers continued to climb as more and more individuals sent for their families and as word spread of employment and land opportunities. When males of military service age began to leave in high numbers, the Hungarian government passed another law in 1903 to strictly check those wishing to leave its boarders. These practices really had little hope from the beginning of any form of success. Hungary could not watch every inch of ground that made up her territories and it was very easy to utilize the rail lines or horse and wagon to the nearest boarder area and simply walk over into Austrian territory. From there, booking passage upon the rail lines to a German or English port for departure was relatively easy if an individuals papers were in order. It was of little consequence what the various empires of Europe tried to stop the tide of those wishing to leave. Many individuals left their hometowns and villages legally and, illegally if necessary.

Differing Slavic heritages arrived in Canada during the 1880's. Many moved to other points upon arrival with a good percentage arriving in Manitoba. From Manitoba, others moved further west into Saskatchewan. It is also noted that many of those who did arrive in Canada had first settled in the cities and steel regions of the United States. There are accounts, which tell how immigrants disliked the mill and mine regions of America and the horrid conditions that prevailed in the mines and steel mills. Some left and since they had friends or family who did originally immigrate to Canada, they followed this course. Not only were they told of Canada by friends and family but via many other ways as well.

Documentation shows that Paul Oscar Esterhazy, a Hungarian, acted as an immigration agent for the Canadian government and had the job to recruit settlers to the Saskatchewan regions. As more and more individuals arrived, places such as Otthon, which is south of Yorkton and Saint Luke, Saskatchewan, were begun. Romanian settlers immigrated to Canada and some settled in Szekelyfold, Saskatchewan. During the later 1860's many Czechs also started to immigrate to Canada with having first settled in the Chicago regions of America. Many decided to proceed towards Canada for various reasons and this passage was not long due to Chicago’s close proximity to the Canadian boarder.

Czechs and Slovaks arrived in Canada and traveled west via the Canadian Pacific Railway. These immigrants settled at the town of Kolin, which is part of the Saskatchewan province today. Paul Oscar Esterhazy again had an influence bringing these settlers coming to Canada and he did not stop at those in Europe. He recruited many Czechs and Slovaks from America and in 1885, secured a good number of individuals from Hazelton, Pennsylvania who were unhappy with their life in the mines there. This group journeyed to "Huns Valley," Manitoba to re-settle and begin a new life. There were other settlements of Czechs and Slovaks in Canada which were Lethbridge, Star, Manitoba, Crows Nest Camp, British Columbia, Derby, British Columbia, Bellevue and Frank, which was located in the then named North-West Territories. It is difficult to research these individuals upon the basis of heritage at times. Many Czechs and Slovaks as mentioned were referred to as Hungarians or by other titles, which were not correct. Data does survive which identifies the heritage of immigrants to Canada but some of the early data is incorrect as to the proper identifier of these heritages.

Two heritages, which saw high numbers of individuals arrive in Canada, were the Ukrainians and Ruthenians. Many records of immigration to Canada are confusing, as they tend to group those from Ukrainian territory by a host of different names. Some Ukrainians and Ruthenians came from the Galicia regions (which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), others departed from the Kiev regions including numerous other places in present day Ukraine. The immigration records for these individuals identified them as Austrians, Galicians, Bukowinians, Ruthenians and even, Little Russians. It would not be until later in time that the proper term of Ukrainian was used to identify those of this heritage. Since these individuals came from such a confused geographic region, it is well understood that the paperwork they held contained many errors as to heritage and area of origins. There were Ukrainian settlers in Canada as late as 1893 but the time of high immigration for Ukrainians and Ruthenians would come during 1896 through 1900. The early immigrants from Ukraine in 1892 originated mostly from the town of Nebyliw and they settled in Edna, Alberta. Finding the territory of Canada to be a great reminder of their homeland, thousands came to settle. Ukrainians and Ruthenians eventually moved further and settled in various areas of Canada. Some of the places of settlement were Manitoba, Dauphin, Shoal Lake, Stuartburn, Whitemouth, Cooks Creek, Inter Lake, St. Norbert and Winnipeg. In other regions such as Saskatchewan they settled in Prince Albert, Fish Creek and Yorktown. Most had farms, which could range from a few small acres to as much as 200 acres. There were a small portion of these immigrants that did stay in the industrialized city areas but most went on to continue their lives as farmers.

During these years it was now the Austrian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to try and stem the tide of those leaving from Galitcia. Austria was not pleased with the exodus of Ukrainians and Ruthenians from their boarders and even went so far as to gather a committee to view this situation. A resolution was placed before the Galician Diet asking that large measures be taken to stop the mass migration using any means necessary. As with the Hungarians, Czechs and Slovaks, this did very little to stop those of Ruthenian and Ukrainian heritage from leaving their homelands for Canada. The Canadian government also wished to insure that these immigrants were not being taken advantage when immigrating to Canada. In 1897 an Immigration Agent of the Canadian government complained that the immigrants from Galicia were being charged very high prices for supplies, which the immigrants purchased upon their arrival in Canada. The Canadian government, along with her neighbor country, America, wished to also stem the tide of penniless immigrants from coming to their countries and thereby, possibly becoming a burden upon the limited social resources of that time frame. Various immigration rules and regulations were enacted to keep this situation within control.

By the year 1899 Canadian government statistics offer that over 10,000 immigrants of Ukrainian heritage had come to Canada. By the year of 1915, the total reached well over 150,000. A very telling window into the Ukrainians voyage to Canada can be read in relationship to the ship they sailed on, the SS Arcadia in 1897. Hundreds of Ukrainians boarded this ship as it sailed from Hamburg for its final destination of Quebec. The voyage lasted 21 days with a stop at the port of Antwerp, Belgium (no immigrant was permitted to leave the ship during the entire time of being at the dock.) It was a nightmare crossing with storms, immigrants becoming ill from the rough sea and two people dying during the voyage. The ship also was encased in ice, as this was early spring when it neared Canada. Due to the ice, most of the baggage that was held in the cargo area was destroyed. Many of the Ukrainian immigrants lost all they had in worldly possessions. Finally, the ship arrived in Quebec and 633 Ukrainians were moved to the railroad line for their final destination in the Canadian west territories. These Ukrainians were true heroes as to go though all of the above to arrive in Canada to start a new life took a strong will, and even stronger faith in their God, and in themselves to survive.

For those who immigrated to America and beyond during the years of 1880 to 1914 the ports of Hamburg and Bremen in the former German Empire cannot be discounted. A high number of those from central and central-eastern Europe departed these ports for the express purpose of immigrating to new homes. The records kept at these German ports are of vital importance to any researcher. The German Confederation constitution of 1815 gave citizens of all the German states the right of movement which also included immigration. Since those who chose to immigrate had to fill out paperwork this practice assisted officials in checking to see if those who did wish to leave were doing so legally. The officials never thought they would be providing those compiling genealogy data a wealth of information on their ancestors. The ports of Bremen and Hamburg had to keep records of all passengers who wished to board ships for distant ports. The final outcome of these requirements were records that offer a broad amount of vital information that is not available anywhere else. Some of these records are available via microfilm at the LDS Family History Libraries. For records that are not available, contacting one of the archive addresses below will produce an answer if the particular archive in Germany may have what the researcher needs.

HAMBURG

Hamburg is one of Germany’s largest ports. More than 11,000 ships leave its docks each year. From the nineteenth to twentieth century, Hamburg berthed ships that traveled all the oceans in the world. Since this port was such a magnet for Europe’s shipping trade, it was only natural that the immigration of those seeking a better life in other countries would develop. Viewing the present day webpage of the City of Hamburg gives an excellent idea of this city and also offers information on immigration from the port of Hamburg.  http://www.hamburg.de/  Once the immigrant traffic turned into massive numbers, the authorities had to keep clear and accurate records. Before 1845 Hamburg local rules forbid shipping companies from advertising for those wishing to immigrate to points outside of Germany. After 1855 the numbers were rising and it was decided to keep two types of immigrant passenger listings. There were one for immigrants sailing to other European ports for travel on another ship and another for those sailing to their final destination to another country.

Passport application records are available for the years 1851 to 1929. These records are very intriguing in that they offer a glimpse of what the immigrant had to explain in order to travel. Those who were male had to prove they had either served, or were exempt from any form of military service. Passport applications had to be filled out and in proper order to process the immigrant. Without this clearance, the traveler would be detained until their case was resolved one way or the other. Most immigrants arrived at Hamburg with their passage ticket. These tickets were obtained in various areas where the shipping companies had local offices. Many times these offices were housed by an agreement between the shipping company and local government. Others arrived with no ticket and if they were financially destitute, would stay in Hamburg for a few weeks to work as a laborer or housekeeper to pay the cost of a ticket. The problem with working in Hamburg could be complicated as the immigrant would have to register with the local police during their stay. Passport records indicated the travelers place of birth, birth date, name and trade (i.e. occupation). There are many records on file with Hamburg in relationship to the immigrants. Not only are passport applications available but also residence, citizenship, and passenger lists. If a researcher knows the ship and date that their ancestor traveled it is a good suggestion to try and write to the archives to see if they hold any form of information that maybe invaluable for research.

For research of the Hamburg records, the address is:

Staatsarchiv Hamburg (Hamburg state archives)

ABC Strasse 19A

20354 Hamburg, Germany

BREMEN

Bremen was a counter port to Hamburg in many ways. Both were originally founded in the ninth century and served as an embarkation point for high numbers of immigrants. The one point where they differ is that Bremen held the largest number of immigrants sailing to new countries. It has been concluded by research that during the past two centuries, over seven million individuals departed from the ports of Bremen/Bremerhaven with approximately ninety percent heading for ports in the United States. The passenger lists for these ports are informative. The laws of 1832 for Bremen ordered that shipping companies file a list of all passengers with this city’s governmental immigration department. These lists had information such as the immigrant's name, age, place of birth and trade (i.e. occupation). Unfortunately the lists for the period of 1910 to 1920 were destroyed during the Second World War. The period of 1921 to 1939 are fully available but are not indexed. The archive's staff will make a search for information if requested. The archives for Bremen have other areas that can fill the gaps for the records of 1910 to 1920 that were destroyed. They do have copies of some passenger lists but the researcher would have to write to the archives to see if they have the ship that you require.

Other information that is available are the actual shipping logs of the various vessels, photos and the building plans of many German ships. Birth and death records are also maintained if this event took place on board ship. These records also offer information such as the place of origin of a child’s parents, or the place of origin of an individual who died while on board ship. Information can also be found for those who worked their way over as a laborer on a ship and basic information on the ships crew.

Addresses for various archives in Bremen/Bremerhaven:

Staatsarchiv der freien Hansestadt Bremen (The Bremen State Archives)

Am Staatsarchiv 1

28203 Bremen, Germany

For passenger list records from 1921 to 1939 write to:

Handelskammer Archiv

Haus Schutting, Am Markt 13

28195 Bremen, Germany

For research of the ships actual log write to:

Hans-Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum

Scharoun-Platz 1

27568 Bremen, Germany

For research on ancestors who may have worked in Bremerhaven before departure, or had to reside there for a period of time before leaving, the address is:

Bremerhaven Stadtarchiv (The Bremerhaven City Archives)

Postfach 21 03 60

27524, Bremerhaven, Germany

Immigrants who came to the United States were aware of various epidemics. This threat visited them in the old, and in their new countries of residence. Since the practice of medicine was limited and the availability of modern drugs unknown this aided these epidemics to spread. Few families could boast of never losing a member to one of the many types of epidemics that occurred. In this essay the 1918-1919 Spanish Influenza Epidemic will be reviewed. This epidemic visited such hardship upon the immigrant population in America that any student genealogy will at some time encounter it. It is a common occurrence to find death certificates with the cause of death for these years listed as influenza or pneumonia due to influenza. Pneumonia was a secondary complication of this disease and without modern antibiotics, over 60% of those who developed this died. There were many epidemics that the immigrants were aware of during former times. Diseases such as scarlet fever, cholera, pneumonia, rheumatic fever, whooping cough, diphtheria and tuberculosis were well known but this would be different.

What made this epidemic so massive was the fact that not only was it a global pandemic but the speed in which it killed. Here in the United States most immigrants resided in concentrated areas with others of their heritage, religion and language. The close living quarters did nothing to stop this epidemic but increased an individuals chances of acquiring it. Many immigrants had no contact with any form of medical care, worked in unsanitary conditions and came home to a dwelling that at times was less than acceptable. It is noted that the rich as well as the poor died of this disease but their chances were lessened due to higher living standards. Most tenement buildings had one bathroom for five to six families or more, had little ventilation or light, and were generally unheated in winter and stifling in summer. Add to this a virus that was so powerful and deadly that without modern antibiotics the result was disaster. The hallmark of the great 1918-1919 Spanish influenza was the virus’s capability to kill healthy young adults and older children. The immigrants who lived in congested areas were hit the hardest. This strain of influenza was so strong that many did not even know they were indeed gravely ill. In the days before paid medical leave, if an individual did not report for work they were not paid. Newspapers of the era printed stories of how workers would collapse right at their work stations only thinking they had a minor cold.

By October, 1918 the epidemic was in full force and people were at a loss how to protect themselves. Various immigrants prayed day and night for the protection of their families. Churches held special services for the health of their members and some did so daily during the height of the disease. Some sent their children to live with family members in less populated areas. Others trusted home cures and various herbal charms to ward off this disease. There were no medications to help outside of "Musterole" and "Goose Grease." These cream based preparations were purchased at the local "apocathary" shop. Both preparations were rubbed on the chest and back but did little to help. The disease was feared and rightly so. It appeared so quickly and overtook the individual so rapidly that no hope was possible. If a person had some type of warning they could have tried to nurse themselves, or, quarantine the ill person from others but this virus progressed rapidly. At first, an individual would develop a dry cough and general feeling of tiredness and aches. Then, as it progressed, the cough would become severe and fever with a massive headache would develop. After these symptoms it was not long before the individual died from a lack of oxygen due to the lungs being stricken and finally malfunctioning. Some newspapers covered this epidemic in detail. One story told of how a few women boarded a train in Coney Island feeling a little ill. By the time this train reached its destination, forty-five minutes later, they were dead. In New York City alone, over 20,000 people died during the fall of 1918. When the numbers of deaths became overwhelming the media was forced to act. It became a common reporting method to list names of those stricken in a special column. This column, offset with a black boarder, was a fast way for the media to inform readers who had died.

Theories abounded by the medical professional but they had no more answers than the average immigrant. A consensus of prominent American physicians of the time was to offer various opinions for this disease. Reasons such as fish contaminated by Germans (World War I was raging), dirt, dust, unclean pajamas, open windows, closed windows, old books (stay out of library signs were common to see) and cosmic influence were given as explanations. In some towns and cities, signs appeared in windows that strangers were not welcome as it was feared they brought the disease with them. The Virginia State Department of Health stated in a pamphlet that the cause of the disease was due to "a tiny living plant called the germ of influenza." The New York Post offered its view of the epidemic that "epidemics are the punishment which nature inflicts for the violation of her laws and ordinances."

This epidemic as mentioned hit young adults and older children, all in relatively good health. Most people could understand why those who were elderly and ill died from it. Understanding how a perfectly healthy young adult could die so quickly left people amazed. In city areas it was common to see coffins placed on the curb to await transportation to the cemetery. In this era funeral viewing or "wakes" were held in the home. After the period of mourning the undertakers would transport the body. Undertakers became over taxed as there were too many dead to be removed. Some coffins as seen in newspaper microfilms had to wait for a few days to be removed to the cemetery. Another occurrence was coffins waiting for burial as there were no grave diggers to keep up with the demand. The economic ramifications of this epidemic were terrible. Many doctors came to see a new disease, starvation. Many times, the main support of the family was the husband. If the main source of income was ill, or died, there would be no funds, especially for food. Since women made a meager wage it was not uncommon to see many women with children who had lost husbands at the abyss of starvation and abject poverty. Another aspect of this epidemic was an increase in the numbers of children being placed into orphanages due to their parents deaths. If there was no family member who would take this responsibility these children would be sent to an orphanage. Many times, orphanages were so full during this epidemic that the children had to be sent to another location (which could have been in another state).

The massive numbers of immigrant families that were effected by this will never be known. Estimates from statistics show that during the height of the epidemic over 500,000 people in the United States died. For the genealogist, it is noteworthy to remember this epidemic when compiling data. This epidemic was the cause of so many untimely deaths, and many children being placed into orphanages. Another result of this was the relocation of families. Numerous individuals decided to leave certain areas and entire states solely for this reason. Another consideration was the loss of the main support of the family. Many had to relocate to reside with family members. A good idea is to reference the 1910 and 1920 Federal Census records. If there were major changes in residence or missing children due to deceased parents this epidemic may be the cause.

According to statistics, most Slavic immigrants that emigrated from their homelands had full intentions on coming to America to seek a new and better life. There were times it became a two way street for many immigrants: immigrating to America and then returning back to their original homelands. Many came to America to seek their fortunes and then to return home. It wasn't always an easy life for those immigrants coming to America from the mid 1800s to the early 1900s. Many were discriminated upon and most had to settle for the worst and lowest paying jobs. We have to remember that some of these early immigrants dressed different, talked different and had a complete different life style then those who lived in America.

Because of poverty, no future and various discrimination in their homelands the incentive to leave was very great. During the mid 1800s and early 1900s, the labors and farm hands in Eastern Europe were only earning about 15 to 30 cents a day. In America they earned from five to ten cents per hour for a ten-hour day. So in all reality they more then doubled their paycheck and had the chance for future promotion and better paying jobs. Those lower wage earners in their homeland were stuck in the lowest paid jobs and had no chances to upgrade themselves. The younger ones could serve apprenticeships with certain craftsman. This involved a few years with not much more than food and board and very hard work over long hours. For those who succeeded and learned a craft it meant a much better life in their homelands. In America, these craftsmen were always welcomed and sought after. In America many of these craftsmen had their own businesses and became very successful and became future leaders in their communities. Many came to America just to get away from being drafted in the Austrian or Hungarian Armies. Some came for political or religious freedom. Many of the immigrants had heard that the streets were paved with gold but were very disillusioned when finding that many streets weren't paved at all and that they were the ones that had to do the paving.

Some Slavic people lived in poverty in their homelands and anything had to be better. Down through the years they also had bad epidemics of various diseases that wiped out entire families. These things didn't make things any better. Some worked on family or neighboring farms and just survived. There wasn't any future to be had staying in the small villages or farms. My great grandfather Juraj Zloch lost his first wife and six children to a bad epidemic of Cholera during the mid 1800s. Diseases were very prevalent during the early years. In those years, before the Labor Unions persuaded our Federal Government to put a stop to recruiters, recruiting workers from Europe and Eastern Europe was the norm. The job recruiters would tell all the poor unfortunate workers how everyone in America became rich and how they could make piles of money. They hung posters and told stories about free land, lots of work with the potential of making a lot of money and above allYfreedom to do as they wish. They painted a very rosy picture. For some immigrants who had sponsors in America, the transition to the American way was much easier and smoother then some poor immigrant who had no one to help or advise him.

Many of the poorer Slavic families sold everything they had and immigrated to America. Some of these immigrants were very disappointed with conditions that they faced after coming to America but they had nothing to return to. Some lived in squalor or poorly built company homes in the coal regions. In time, some also took jobs on building the rail lines across America. Some also after arriving in America heard about all the opportunities to get free land out west and took jobs that took them across the country. Many died along the way and were buried in Potters graves or even buried along the wagon trails or the very railroads they were helping to build. Many of these workers had no identification and no one knew whom the next of kin was to notify about their deaths. Some of these immigrants who came to America were never heard from again. They just seemed to drop out of sight. There were also many immigrants who came to America to make their fortune only to go back home to their homelands, buy farms or businesses and became successful in their own country.

Some also went back and forth, leaving their wife and children in their native lands, they would earn so much money and then return. When these funds were depleted they made the trip back to America. After several trips, they eventually settled down in one country or the other. Many times the father of the family migrated to America first and after earning some money sent back for other family members. Some also brought back their father and mothers. Later sisters and brothers were brought to America to live with the family. In certain instances, parts of the families came to America while some preferred to remain in the land of their forefathers. I have heard several stories how immigrants came to America, worked hard, saved their money and returned to their native lands. Some made the mistake of telling their family in advance that they were returning home with a lot of money and they would be able to buy the land that they always dreamed about owning. A few of these immigrants, who were on the way home, were way-laid by local thieves along the road and robbed of their earnings.

Some immigrants left families behind, only to start a new life in America. The wives and children that were left behind were forgotten. Some also returned after a year or so to find their wife left behind was pregnant with child. When my grandfather George Zloch got killed in the Number 5 Mine in Lansford, PA, he left behind a son and daughter. His wife, my grandmother couldn't afford to raise the children, so she sent them back to Slovakia to be raised by her relation. After two years or so, my grandmother got remarried, and she went back to Slovakia and brought my mother and her brother back to America. A certain percentage of the early immigrants that migrated to America did return home, some for a better life, while others went back with a bitter taste left in their mouths from discrimination, hatred or just possibly, expecting too much. Some just didn't get the help or the break they needed to get their new lives started. The first and second generations of Slovak Americans certainly are the ones who gained the most from that early decision that was made by our ancestors so long ago. They wanted a better life for their children, and for future generations.

Going to America was their dream. Their dream turned into our inheritance.

Authors Note:

The author was a little apprehensive about readers not understanding the final word of his articleY"inheritance." To bring this word into a better context, in the Eastern Christian Liturgy before the Priest takes the communion chalice back to the altar he sings, "Oh Lord save your people and bless your inheritance." The word inheritance denoting what we have gained from the Savior and his deeds. In actuality, it is our bountiful inheritanceYthrough their sacrifices, their toil, hard work and worries which gave us our "Inheritance." This "Inheritance" is a life filled with freedom, opportunity and a life blessed with happiness. Above all we now have a future to look forward too, which is something they didn't have in their homelands.

Journey To America

"Paul Simek of Castkov, Slovakia - 1912 Immigration Memories"

by, David Kuchta

I want to give thanks to God, for giving me the vitality to keep going and for giving me the strength of not losing my mind with the horrible conditions that I had to endure aboard ship and passing the inspection that I took on Ellis Island. I kiss the ground of this new land, where everyone is free to worship as they wish. As I think back to all the trials and tribulations that I had to go through to get to America, it is amazing that I have made it at all. My story starts at my home in Slovakia. I lived on a small farm with my father and mother. We had food but little else. It seems that the government always wanted the bigger share of our crops. When they got done taking their share, we only had enough to get through the winter months. My father told me the stories of how the Austrians or the Hungarians would come into our area and plunder and steal our livestock and take what we had planted. Through the years, we were never really what you can call free. We always lived in fear of soldiers coming and taking away our land. We had to do what ever they insisted on. It seems like this had gone on since the beginning of time. Neighboring Jews were persecuted for their religious beliefs and in Russia there were uprisings between the Reds, Czarists and Bolsheviks. My father had heard that the German government was seizing different neighboring lands and that they were slowly working their way east. Since I was sixteen years of age, he feared that I would be drafted into the German Army and then used to fight and subdue our own people. He said it was time for me to emigrate to America.

I had heard so much about this land of freedom where everyone got rich, had large fancy homes, farms and jobs. It was a place where everyone's dreams and expectations became real. There were no police or soldiers hounding you, and watching all your movements and I also had heard that if you grew produce, you didn't have to give half of it to the government. I dreamed of going to America and just needed the excuse to go. I know my father needs me to work the farm but if the Germans took me into the military then I wouldn't be of help to my father anyway. I told my father and mother that I would work hard and make a lot of money, then I would send for them. In all honesty, I thought that I would make my fortune in a very short time and that I would see my father and mother soon. My father gave me his blessings and also gave me an empty change purse. I looked at him in surprise as he said, "Paul, you take your accordion along and play music and you will have all the money you need for food and passage to America." Strange as it sounds, it did work. The day I left home, I saw the tears swelling in my father and mothers eyes, as I said my farewells. I felt sad, leaving my home, parents, relations and friends, but at the same time, I felt that in America, I would become rich. Before leaving my mother packed a lunch for the start of my trip. A friend of our family, from a near by farm was making a trip with produce to the local rail station and offered me a ride. As the wagon pulled away from the old homestead, I could feel nothing but sadness. Even as I passed by the neighboring farms, I felt so bad.

The Journey

I found out that when I played the accordion in front of the rail stations, people put money in my hat which was laying at my feet. Making beautiful music was one of my favorite pastimes. After a while I collected up my donations and went into the train station and asked the agent at the ticket window how far I could ride with the money I made. He gave me a ticket that would go to a town in northeast Germany. As I boarded the train, I saw quite a variety of different ethnic groups dressed in their various clothing and when they talked I didn't understand the dialect or from where they came. I did understand some German, which helped me to get by. As we were crossing Germany; soldiers boarded the train and came down the center aisle checking out passports or credentials of all the passengers on board. I had no passport or papers and feared that when they came to me, I was going to have problems. I had heard that they would take people like myself and put them in their military service, doing all the different menial work. Worse yet, I may even be thrown into one of their prisons! At the end of the rail car, there was a group of students playing instruments and singing German songs. I took my accordion and joined this group. As we were playing, the soldiers approached our group. One of the soldiers said in German, not to bother, that we were only students. This was one of the first big obstacles that I had overcome. In time, I made it to the City of Amsterdam. Here is where most of the people from all over the southern and eastern part of Europe came to, to make passage to America. My next obstacle was to earn my passage. Through the use of my accordion, I succeeded. Little did I know, how my accordion would work for me.

When I checked at the ticket office, I found out that passage to America would be $35 for an adult. Half price for children and infants are free. To me this was an enormous amount of money. I don't know if this price quoted was first and second class or steerage. The name steerage came from the name of the lower decks where all the steering mechanism of the earlier sailing ships, had once been housed. On the docks, I started playing my accordion and in a short time, I was approached by an official of one of the steam boat companies that carried passengers to America. He asked if I would be interested in working my way to America. He said that I would only have to entertain first and second class passengers. I was to play the accordion for the passengers and thereby, gain my passage to my new life.

In working my way to America I would get a third or fourth class ticket and have to live and eat in the steerage area. I certainly was glad to hear this and thought that this had to be the best of luck that I could have gotten. If I knew then, what I know now, I would have bargained for second class accommodations. Little did I know, how horrible third and fourth class steerage could be. I had heard that certain steam ships carried up to 2,000 steerage passengers at one time. I also had heard that conditions were horrible I had heard one of the ships workers say that it is cheaper and easier to take on huge loads of passengers down in the hold. These passengers walk on and off the boat by themselves. I had also heard that steerage passengers did not pay too much money for their passage, but in quantity (of passengers), the steam ship companies made its money. The steam ship companies advertised a good meal and claimed we would have one good meal of soup, eggs, fish, meat, potatoes, and a vegetable. As the trip dragged on, these meals were cut back drastically.

Boarding Ship

As I boarded the ship, I met another Slovak, that had made the trip, several years previous. He had been detained at that time and then deported because of some kind of medical reason, which he would not talk about. This fellow became my friend aboard ship and also told me what to expect. He also told me different ways of passing certain regulations, which would help make the trip a little better. My new acquired friend also told me some of the horror stories of the health inspection that I would receive on Ellis Island. I do have to admit, that he put the fear of God into me. But in the same case, I also knew ahead of time what questions they were going to ask me, and what answers they wanted to hear. This certainly helped me get through the five hours of inspection on Ellis Island. When I went down into the steerage area, I could smell disinfectant that was used to clean up the areas from the last boatload of passengers. Even with the smell of disinfectant, I could still smell the damp, dead air smell of the lower deck of the ship. I was shown where I would sleep. The sleeping areas were long passage ways, divided with blankets down the middle of the aisle ways. There were triple bunks all along the aisle. Males would sleep on one side, females on the others. Families were kept together. The mattresses where real thin and tattered.. My new acquired friend had told me that most of the mattresses where usually infested with lice.

The first night as I laid down my head to go to sleep, I itched all over. I don't think I got lice, but just the thought of them made me itchy. The first night at sea, I couldn't sleep. I felt the rock and roll of the ship and the ever pounding of the ships engines kept me awake. Along with the regular noises from the ship, I heard all types of men snoring and an occasional conversation of someone talking in a language the I didn't recognize or understand. I was used to sleeping out in the farm with only the noise of crickets, frogs or an occasional hoot of an owl. As the night went on, I could feel myself becoming homesick. The next morning everyone started moving around, quite early. Probably, just like me, no one could sleep. The ships personnel issued each of the passengers a metal dish that was divided into a couple of compartments. We also got a fork and spoon. Some shipping lines provided kosher food for Jewish passengers, but not all ships catered to passengers of different religions or ethnic groups. These meals aboard ship were not that great. But I guess when you are cooking for hundreds or thousands of passengers, the meals were made in quantity. The second evening of our trip, I was requested to entertain the first and second class passengers with my accordion. I could see that these people were all business, or professional people. They had to have money to buy this class of ticket. One passenger from my country, asked me about our meals in steerage. I said they weren't bad, because I was too embarrassed to tell him the truth. He told me that they ate in a long dinning areas, with the tables all set, and the use of real table cloths. I ate sitting on an edge of a bunk bed. Nothing like the first and second class passengers. They ate with china. I ate out of a metal dish. Quite a difference. The passengers in first and second class accommodations enjoyed my music. I tried to play different types of music so all nationalities would appreciate it. 

When we got into the second week of our trip to America, the seas became more violent. The rock and roll of the ship made many people sea sick. At first they allowed the steerage passengers to go up on the deck to vomit over the railing. But as the storms got worse, they locked and even tied the doors shut. They didn't want anyone to be washed overboard. Down in steerage we had no showers or bathing facilities and the only water was in a couple of wash bowls and this was cold water. The smell from the unwashed passengers got worse and worse. This along with the smell coming from diapers of many babies aboard was all that anyone could take. As the storm got worse, the small infants and babies started crying. This did become quite aggravating, even to me. I could hear some of the other passengers cursing because of the crying. The more the infants cried the more complaining from all types of ethnic groups could be heard. I think the trip was starting to wear down these passengers. I heard a Cossack and a Turk, cursing in their native languages. These two passengers were very loud and boisterous. Many of the other passengers were getting irritated with them. But in the same case, these two men were big of stature. No one would dare say anything to them. As I laid in my bunk, I could hear the different passengers vomiting and complaining about being sick. The air in the steerage area reeked with nausea. My Slovak friend, who had no sea legs, told me he wished he was dead. He was as sick as a dog. The smell became unbearable. I couldn't wait to go up on the deck to be with the first and second class passengers to entertain them. Their quarters had port windows and conditions for them were much better then what we had down in steerage.

By the end of the second week, most steam ships would normally be near the shores of North America. But because of the storms and some mechanical problems, our trip lasted another seven days. The food down in steerage was cut way back. Some days we only got a cup of soup and a chunk of bread. This bread was hard and dried out. After a full three weeks on the high seas, we heard the ships horn blasting out. We also could hear cheering going on from the passengers up on the deck. The first mate came down into steerage and walked among us telling us that we would be coming into New York Harbor in the next few minutes. We weren't allowed to go on deck because all the first and second class passengers where going through the inspection process. They didn't have to go through Ellis Island. The ship went up the Hudson River and docked so the first and second class passengers could disembark off of the ship. During all this time, we had to wait ever so patiently to wait for our turn to come. As the ferries transported us to Ellis Island, I and all the other immigrants had our first look at the Stature of Liberty. We were all mesmerized by this huge statue. We all had heard about it, and knew that it meant freedom. An Italian family on board thought that this was where Christopher Columbus was buried. Some passengers had tears in their eyes. This was what they were waiting for. I do have to admit, that I had a sensation go through me as we passed this huge statue. By this time, we were a mangy bunch of greenhorns and many reeked with body odors and smelly clothes. Some passengers used the cold water basins and even drinking fountains to try and clean up but we were still quite a potent smelling group of people.

Arrival at Ellis Island

An interpreter who knew various slavic languages told us that we were lucky to be going to Ellis Island, that prior to opening, most immigrants were taken to ports up along the New England states and also to Castle Garden. Castle Garden was the State of New York's entry point for immigrants landing in America. It seems that the States and not the Federal government were in charge during the 1800's of any immigrants coming to America. The first wave of immigrants were primarily Northern Europeans from Ireland, England, Wales, Germany, and Scandinavia. The second wave of immigrants came out of Southern and Eastern Europe. Much of this came about when Ireland had its bad potato famine in the mid 1800's. Around 1847, the New York Commissioner of Immigration complained to the Federal Government that too many immigrants of bad physical and mental health and were bringing huge expenses to the State of New York. Immigration to America had increased drastically and both the state and federal governments looked for ways to regulate the flow of these immigrants and yet take advantage of the skills and profits that these people would bring in. Many of these immigrants had good professional skills and had good minds. But in the same case many people looked upon the immigrants as a drain on the U.S. Treasury. A report by a Representative of the Government, claimed that New York State spent 20 million dollars in taking care of paupers and people with unsound minds. Most blamed these people because of improper immigration procedures.

In 1882, The first general Federal Immigration Law denied entrance to "Convicts, lunatics, idiots, or any person unable to care of him or her self that might become a public charge." In 1891 this law was expanded to include the expulsion of paupers, prostitutes, polygamists or person suffering from a loathsome or a dangerous contagious diseases." The Alien Contract Labor Law came into effect in 1885 under pressure from the various unions, to protect American workers from industrialists who imported immigrant labor to break strikes or lower wages. These laws were meant to protect the immigrants as well as protecting the American workers. But they had little effect in deterring swindlers, and labor brokers from exploiting new arrivals once they passed through the gates at Castle Gardens. There were many accounts of abuse and inhumane treatment inside this depot. Joseph Pulitzer wrote an expose which accused the inspectors and commissioners at Castle Garden of corruption and criminal activity. This embarrassed the federal government so bad, that in February of 1890, the treasury Department canceled their contract with the New York State immigration commission, giving full responsibility of inspecting immigrants to the Federal Government. On New Years day of 1892, a fifteen-year old girl from the County of Cork in Ireland became the first immigrant to enter Ellis Island station.

As our ferry pulled into the dock at Ellis Island, many of the different ethnic groups, put on their clothing or costumes of the country were they came from. Even the Gypsies from Hungary put on their Gypsy outfits. The Russians, Slovaks, Poles, and Italians had different kinds of clothing. It was quite impressive and they figured it was better to wear it then carry it with the rest of their possessions. As we all left the ferry, everyone was in awe over the giant size building that we were fast approaching. It looked palatial. Some of the people including myself were never in such an elegant building such as this. The only building that they have seen that ever looked like this was pictures of some big famous church cathedral.

Entering Ellis Island

As we rushed off the ferries, everyone carried all their worldly possessions and we urged to get into lines, of three abreast. Little by little we pushed forward. As we entered this magnificent

building, we were directed to an area to leave all our trunks, luggage, or bags of various goods that we brought from the old country. Many Italians carried with them, grape cuttings from the Vineyards of Italy. I could hear some of the officials laugh that these cuttings wouldn't grow here anyway. To many people, this was all there worldly belongings. Some had family heirlooms in their trunks and didn't want to leave them behind. Some left them behind, and never saw them again. The officials also separated many of the passengers and guided them to an area to take showers and be deloused. All the clothes were taken to be disinfected. I am proud to say, that I wasn't one of these people. I do have to admit, that I was long over due for a good cleansing. At this point, the children were checked for head lice. Any child with a bad infestation, had their heads shaved.

When the clothes came back to the people, they were all washed and disinfected and folded nicely. The clean smell of clothes was very pleasant and wonderful as after three weeks of traveling clothes reeked with odor. After dropping off our trunks and luggage, we were all given name tags that they pinned onto our outer garments. The tag had our name, ship that we traveled on, country of origin and each of us was given a number. As we slowly worked our way toward the main stairway, that leads up to the giant "Registry Room," my friend reminded me not to look up at the ceiling or stare. He said that we were being observed as the first part of the inspection of immigrants. They had people watch us as we walked up this giant staircase. They looked for people who were coughing, wheezing, limping or staring. My friend said that he had seen the last time he tried to enter America, people who looked up at the ceiling that were marked with a white X on their lapels. This meant that they may have a mental disorder. As I watched, I saw different people get various letters, made with chalk on their lapels. Each letter symbolized a certain problem. When we finally got to the top of the staircase we saw the giant registry room. It was magnificent. I later found out that the room was 200 feet long, by 100 feet wide. The ceiling was a 56 foot vaulted ceiling. I never saw anything as majestic as this room.

As we entered the room, we were forced into single file and had to enter a maze of walkways, divided with pipe railings. Along the way, were different inspectors looking for various problems. My friend said that they looked for a potential 60 different health problems. I could see the uniformed inspectors standing at different stations. They wore high leather boots, stiff colored shirts. Many people were intimidated by these uniforms. Because of the police, secret undercover government officials and the forever threatening soldiers, this was one of the reasons they left their home land in the first place and why they were fearful of these officials also. I was told later, that these health inspectors had orders to be polite and understanding. But if you had a problem that warranted deportation, there was nothing much you could do about it. The steamship companies had the responsibility of returning you to the port where you boarded the ship. The steam ship companies did not get paid for your return voyage. In later years, the United States government made the steam ship lines pay a $100 fine, for anyone that was deported. This way, the government kept undesirable aliens to a minimum from making the trip to America. My friend had told me about an eye test that everyone had to take.

As I approached this health inspector, I felt fear overcoming me. I saw where the inspector took a button hook and pulled the eyelids of the immigrants, inside out to check for a dreaded eye disease that could lead to bad eye problems, including blindness. If you had Trachoma, you would be deported. There was no help at that time, and no review board would listen to such a case. When it was my turn for the Trachoma eye test, it was over fast, but for that few seconds, I felt pain. I think it is more intimidating then painful The people with the letters marked on their lapels, were pulled out of line and given more tests. Anyone who was a potential mental case, had to pass certain tests to prove otherwise. As I worked my way through the gigantic lines, it seemed to take forever. At the end of the lines were two large standing type desks, which had the final inspectors, who would make the decision if you would be allowed to enter America or be deported. These men, held our lives in their hands. These inspectors asked 29 different types of questions. Some were simple as your name and country you came from. There were many different translators with the inspectors to help translate the different languages.

The one that I had spoke Slovak, was nice, and I had a feeling he wanted me to pass the inspection. He would explain the questions, more thoroughly then some of the other interpreters. Whenever I had a wrong answer, he would ask me it again, with a better explanation. One of the trick questions was if I had a job promised. If I said yes, I could be deported. There was a immigration law that didn't allow contract labor to be made to bring people into jobs in America. I wanted to show the inspector that I had a job, but the inspectors interpreter said that I should say that I have relatives that said that they will find me a job. The inspectors would also ask small children their names so to see if they could hear and talk. If not this was grounds for deportation of any children. I also remembered some inspectors telling people to put their small children down to see if they could walk and that they were not cripples. As simple as these request were, they were still scary to the average immigrant. One final question was if you had any money. You had to have some money, so that you could take a train or get some type of transportation to get to your final destination. What it seemed like is that if you had 25 dollars, this was fine. Ten dollars was questionable. Also, people had relatives in this country post bonds, that they would guarantee, passage to their destination. This was a great help to anyone who didn't have any money. When I finally got past the last inspection, he marked my inspection tag with a stamp. I felt so relived to know that I was going to be allowed to enter America. The last place they guided me to, was the money exchange. These people would take your foreign money and exchange it for American currency. I had heard that some of the early money exchangers cheated the poor immigrants all the time. Later, it was taken over by government people and was run honestly.

Most of us foreigners wouldn't and didn't know the rate of exchange at that time so if we got cheated we wouldn't know. The money exchanger looked at me funny, because I had many different kinds of money, from different countries, that were given to me for playing my accordion. I guess he thought that I may have stolen the money from the different immigrants.

In later years, I had read that during the half-century of operation at Ellis Island, that over 3,500 immigrants died at Ellis Island and that this included 1,400 children. During this time over 350 babies were born there and that there was only three suicides. An immigrant was detained because of certain minor medical problems told me that he was held back for about a week. Although he was quite worried that he would be deported, he said that they treated him very well. They had a nice dispensary with clean beds that they were detained in. The Ellis Island personnel fed and took care of them in a very good manner. While being detained the Salvation Army came among them and offered them clothing and new coats. Although the coats were used, they were many times better then many of the coats that some of the immigrants brought with them from the old country.

America at Last

As I left the main building, I felt free. I felt like an American, but knew that I was still officially a foreigner. I knew that I had to take a ferry boat back to New York or one to New Jersey. I had heard that many of the Slovaks went to Hoboken. I thought that perhaps from there I could make my way to a mining town in North East Pennsylvania, by the name of Lansford. According to some of my relations, there was all kinds of work there and that they needed many workers to do the mining deep in the ground. I was told that a train would take me to Mauch Chunk and then I would have to get transportation to Lansford. What I wanted most was to live the "American dream" and to be an American, now, after so many trials my dreams had come true. As I boarded the train I knew I would have to learn a new language and learn American ways but, I had finally completed my journey and would become a good American citizen!

Life In Canada

The Memories of Rose Martin

Transcribed on November 22, 1983 by great-niece, Sharon Hay

Aunt Rose was born November 8, 1900 in Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba, Canada. This is her life in Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in the early 20th Century.Rose (Cherniak) (Emmerson) Martin:

Rose Josephine Martin, was born November 8th, 1900, at Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba. I am the sixth child of Dominick and Donka Cherniak. My father was Polish and my mother Ukrainian. The language used at home was Ukranian. I don't recall much of my early years, but apparently when I was seven my brother Jack (John), who had gone to Regina, Saskatchewan to work, became ill with typhoid fever. Unfortunately for us he came home and shared it with all five children. I became extremely ill. I was delirious for a week before my parents called in a doctor from Teulon. His prognosis was not too encouraging. He informed Dad that I would be dead in two hours as my fever was so high. After he left Mom and Dad got busy and prepared a nice warm bath for me. I guess their theory was if I was going to die, then I would die clean. However, it was this decision that saved my life. My fever started to go down and I eventually recovered. Because of my illness I lost all my hair. However, I am now the age of eighty-three years and I still have a good head of hair.

When I was eight years old I was sent to Winnipeg to help my sister Mary and her husband Metro. Because of their financial situation, Mary was obliged to work outside the home and I was to look after their new baby, Anne. One day while I was living at Mary's I went out on the street to play, taking baby Anne with me. The neighborhood children were very interested in my niece, so I guess as a friendly gesture they asked me to try and skip. About this time a street car stopped near us and a policeman got off. The children started to tease me and kept saying that the policeman had come to arrest me. I was so frightened that I grabbed Anne and ran into the house and hid under the bed. Imagine my horror when there was a knock on the door. I just crawled further under the bed. Later that night the policeman came back and talked to Mary. Apparently he was looking for a run-away girl about my size and who had short hair. (Remember I had lost all my hair when I had typhoid and it was just growing in). So when I had run away, the policeman was sure that I was the girl he was looking for, Thank goodness it was a case of mistaken identity. I remained at Mary's for two years. The last winter I was in Winnipeg, I attended school. When I went home in the spring I was able to go to school in the neighboring municipality of Foley and I was considered to be in grade three. After three months attending school in Foley I was sent home to make room for another student. The possible reason for his or her good luck may have been that they lived in the district and would thus have priority. Anyway our municipality was built in 1916 and by that time I was out earning my own living. When I was ten I was visiting my girl friend, Carrie. We were sitting in the kitchen when a boy our age, who lived in the house, came in and started to talk with us. He spied a gun on the wall and proceeded to take it off the wall.

He said to me, "I am going to shoot you". So I stuck my finger in the barrel. Fortunately for me he wasn't too well versed in how to shoot a gun. I finally got up to look out the window and when I glimpsed a rooster with a beautiful plumage, I called my friend Carrie to come and have a look. While leaning to look out the window, Carrie put her hand on the wall. Suddenly the gun went off. Her arm, between the elbow and wrist, was just mangled flesh. Apparently the boy's brother had put the gun away loaded. My sister and I walked Carrie the half mile to our home and then my sister ran another half mile to get Carrie's parents. In the meantime my mother put a white pillow case around Carrie's arm and I think she put ice around it too. Her parents took her by team and wagon, over rough roads, to Teulon hospital, a distance of eighteen miles. Fortunately the arm didn't bleed too much. Carrie recovered and later became a nurse. As for the would be gunman, he was so frightened that he ran off and hid in the bush after the accident.

Mom and Dad would always grow a good garden. We children had to pull the weeds. Another one of my chores was to take the vegetables to market. We always prepared the produce the night before taking it to market. Then at four in the morning I would meet my companion. We had to walk the five miles to Winnipeg Beach over a muskeg road. Logs had been laid over the worst section of the road and we trudged over this in our bare feet. I carried the produce on my back and in one hand I carried my shoes, while in the other hand I had a basket of eggs, strawberries or raspberries. We arrived at the Beach about 6:00 a.m. Here we put on our shoes, had a piece of bread and then rested for a while until about 7:00 a.m. when the C.P.R. train came through from Gimili on its way to Winnipeg. The engineer would blow the whistle at the crossing. This was our signal to start selling our produce as we figured the whistle would have wakened everyone. Some days sales went well and other days not so well. When we were finished peddling I would go to the store and buy a small glass of apple cider. Then we would head for home, removing our shoes again when we reached the boundary road and the muskeg.

Christmas was a very special time in our home as we celebrated as our ancestors in the Old Country had done. In the afternoon dad would bring in a special "sheaf of wheat" that he had saved for the occasion. As soon as it got dark on Christmas Eve, Dad would dress up and go out and bring in a large bundle of clean hay that he had also put aside for that night. When he knocked on the door for re-entry, Mother would invite him into the house. He would then tell us the story of how the angels told the shepherds about the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. After the story, Dad spread part of the hay on the floor leaving the remainder for Mother to spread on the home made table for protection. She and the older girls would then set the table. Candles were placed on the table and lit. Benches were arranged around the table. By this time the guests, family and friends, would have arrived and we would serve dinner. In keeping with the Ukrainian custom, twelve different dishes were served, These twelve dishes signified the twelve disciples. No food containing fat was served before midnight. At age fourteen, I went out to work. I worked as a housemaid at Winnipeg Beach and later in a restaurant. The following year I went to Winnipeg to look for work so I could help out financially at home. I got a job with a Mr. Yoe who was a Veterinarian . He had an elderly wife and a family of five boys. As his work kept him away from home a great deal, discipline was rather spasmodic so it was a difficult situation for a fifteen year old girl. To add to the problem four of Mr. Yoe's children moved into the household. I now had eleven people to serve and had to make all the bread for them too. I managed to stick it out for a year before I left and went home.

I was able to get a job in a restaurant at the Beach again. Later when my brother Jack (John) asked me to go with him to Marengo, Saskatchewan to be his housekeeper, I jumped at the chance. It was there I met and married William John Emmerson formerly of Bobcageon, Ontario. We were married in Saskatoon Saskatchewan, by a Reverend D. Clark, on March 11th, 1918. I was only seventeen years old and Bill was twenty-one. After a three day honeymoon with Bill's relatives, the Moncriefs of Laura, we returned to the homestead at Marengo. We had many happy times on the homestead. One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to drive the neighbor's Hackney Horse to town for groceries. To make the trip worthwhile I shopped for the neighbors, my brother Jack (John) and ourselves. Our life at Marengo was interrupted by Bill's call into the army. We left and after the war we spent the remainder of our married life in the Conquest-Outlook area of Saskatchewan. Our life together is chronicled in Bill's family history, but I would like to report on the harvest days in the Conquest-Outlook area of Saskatchewan. In our early days in the Conquest-Outlook area, I often worked on the cook-car during harvest. Figuratively speaking, a cook-car was a glorified granary on wheels and was used as a kitchen to prepare food to feed the hungry threshers. The cook-car of those days would certainly cause complaints on working conditions in society today. The so called kitchen was built with wood and was not insulated. It was heated by the cook stove.

Many times during a late harvest, everything would freeze including the children and I. The sleeping quarters were under the cupboard and probably occupied a space about six feet long and three feet wide. This edifice was hauled over the fields and parked near the threshing machine so we had lots of chaff floating around, both inside and out. Water was dipped from a barrel outside the door. We trailed our own cow so we always had fresh milk. Everyday started between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. and lasted until about 11:00 p.m. I set the table for breakfast the previous night with tin dishes.(China dishes would never have survived the moves over the rough stubble). Every day I made enough pies for as many as twenty-five men in time for dinner and they weren't limited to one piece each either. Every other day I baked fourteen loaves of bread and a supply of buns. Breakfast was served at 6:00 a.m., dinner at 11:00 a.m., and afternoon lunch in the field at 4:00 p.m. and supper at 7:00 p.m. The last workers to eat were always the grain haulers. Their last trip to the elevator about four miles away usually took place after the crew shut down the threshing machine for the night. Fortunately, I never had to buy the staples to feed the men. The owner of the threshing outfit did that. I just had to prepare and serve it up and on time. For this the wages ranged from $3.00 to $ 5.00 per day. The length of the job varied. Sometimes the job lasted six weeks, seven days a week and no time off. I was young and those were the fun times.

The introduction of the combine ended all this excitement for both young and old on the Canadian Prairie Farm. After Bill's untimely death in 1948 at age fifty-two, I lived in Conquest for a while and then went to the Prairie Christian Training School at Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan as a housekeeper. It was there I met and married Walter Ernest Martin of Bangor, Saskatchewan. We were married on December 20th, 1955 at the center and lived there for a short while. Later we moved to Calgary and have made our home in that city ever since.

In Memory of Rose (Cherniak) (Emmerson) Martin, November 8, 1900 - January 29, 1998

Immigration Ports of Departure and Arrival

by, Walt Czeslak

Authored by, Rose (Cherniak) Martin and Frank and Lena Cherniak

This is the Story of Dominic Czerniak (Cherniak) and Antonine "Donka" Orlowski Czerniak as written by their daughter Rose in 1983. It is their trip from Poland to Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada where they settled in the Pleasant Home area of Manitoba. John (Jack) Czerniak was born in Mariampol, Stanisloviv, Austria.

Dominick Cherniak (1864-1941) and Descendants:

Dominick Cherniak was born in Polish territory in 1864 while his wife, the former Donka Orlowski, (I believe her first name was Antonine) was born in 1861 and was of Ukranian descent. They left the town of Mariampole on the Dniester River in 1898 for Canada. The Dniester River rises in Poland and passes through the Ukraine and Rumania to the Black Sea. Along with Dominick and Donka from the Ukraine were their four children: Mary (1894-1966), Annie (1891- 1977), John (1894-1966) and Joe (1896-1975). They traveled with seven other families from the same area. Their traveling companions were the elder Chreptks, the John Gwizdiks with five children, the Hrynko Wowchuks and five children, the Joseph Turkeviches and three children and the Steven Wowchuks and two children. It took the group three weeks to cross the ocean and about six weeks all told to reach their destination in Manitoba, Canada. They settled North of Winnipeg in the Pleasant Home area which was slightly west of Winnipeg Beach. In the book 'Pioneer Profiles' there is information on the groups early days in Canada based on an interview with Joseph Turkevich in 1926 and published in 'New Fields Canadian Almanac,' Winnipeg 1927.The immigrants spent a week in Winnipeg, but being anxious to settle on farms, they left by train for Stonewall, Manitoba. From Stonewall, the Turkeviches and the Cherniaks were transported by wagon to section 30 where there was a shed for them to stay in but the road ended there. The men cut three miles of road for themselves so they could continue their journey. When the road was completed an Englishman transported their household effects by wagon to their new farms. The adults walked behind the wagon and carried their children as it was too rough for them to ride. They were assigned their farms by a one-armed German fellow. Iron stakes indicated the farm boundaries.

Their first days was described as follows:

Immediately we built a hut to accommodate the two families. At each end there was an opening, a seperate entrance and the bed sheets were used to close them; we had no doors. The one stove we had was set outside. The mosquitoes were bad, they flew in clouds and virtually flew into our mouths and made it practically impossible to eat. The poor children cried as they were tormented by them, and it was necessary to build a smudge to get some relief. The only space was near the hut and the rest was trees and bush. If one went deeper into the bush it was necessary for us to call "hop, hop" so a person would not get lost. Soon we erected a house out of logs. This took nearly a month. We cut grass with a sickle and were able to thatch the roof. We brought sickles and scythes from the Old Country and still have them, they are the only things to remind us of our native land. When the house was ready, we bought a cow so that there would be milk for the children. We also bought another bag of flour.

The two families arrived on their Canadian farms of bush and rock on June 29th, 1898. The communal living lasted for awhile, with the men going out to work to try and raise some money and the women and children picked mushrooms and cleared more land for a garden and according to Mr. Turkevich's words "crying for the Old Country for they were lonesome." The Turkeviches eventually moved into another house, reason given according to the interview was on account of the children, we could not continue to live together, as Mrs. Cherniak was dissatisfied. The land Dad settled on was rocky and muskegy and covered with bush. Apparently each settler tried to settle a farm with the most wood on it, remembering, of course, the difficulties he had in the old country getting an adequate supply of fuel. Four more children joined the family during Mom and Dad's first few years in Canada: Pauline (1899- 1983) Rose (1900-1998 ) Michael (1903-1967) and Frank (1905- ) Dad had to clear the bush off the land for garden space. He needed vegetables to take to town to exchange for other necessary staples and to help feed his growing family. The land had to be cleared for crops also. All who were able, young and old, were pressed into service to follow the plough and to pick the rocks and roots. Their first crop was very poor. In fact on St. Peter's Day (July 12th) there was a heavy frost and all was lost. Because machinery was not available, they followed the practice of their homeland, using a scythe or sickle to cut the grain and then they threshed it by hand. In those early days, neighbors helped each other with the more difficult jobs such as building bees, seeding, well digging and putting up fodder to keep the stock through the cold Canadian winter. Dad and my older brothers cut cord wood to burn and to sell in Winnipeg Beach. They were sometimes aided in this by other Ukrainian immigrants who usually worked at this job for their board and room, sleeping on straw mattresses on the floor.

To help sustain the family, Dad went out to find work in other areas of the country. Many men found work building the railroad. Pay was usually about one dollar a day with board. On one of his work searching expeditions Dad was gone for six weeks. This caused a great deal of worry for his family because he could neither read or write so he was unable to let them know how he was or where he was. One time Dad walked to Winnipeg and back (a distance of 50 miles one way) and carried home on his back a 98 pound bag of flour so his family could have bread on the table. As the children grew older, they too went out to work to help support the family at home. My eldest sister, Mary, and another girl went to Winnipeg to look for work. For a whole month's work, Mary was paid a handsome sum of $5.00. When the end of the month rolled around, Dad went to Winnipeg to collect Mary's wages. The children were not old enough to be on their own were kept busy helping at home. There were no schools in the area even if we had the time to go. Dad later organized a meeting to try and get a school. He brought in a speaker from Winnipeg to help sell the idea, but this appeal fell on deaf ears. The people voted to build a church instead. Many of the parents obviously thought that because they managed without schooling and it wasn't a priority for their youngsters. Eventually a school was built in the neighboring area of Foley. My dad was a very good singer and in the early days he led the singing of the hymns in church. Even in his later years, according to his daughter-in-law, Lena, he still loved to sing. My mother, Donka, died in 1923 after a lengthy illness. Dad later married a Mrs. Roga (whose daughter, Lena, is married to my brother, Frank). After the death of Dad's second wife he married a Mrs. Rodomski. Dad out lived her too and died in 1941 at the age of seventy-seven. Both Mom and Dad are buried in the church yard near where they settled on coming to Canada.

Information gleaned from 'Pioneer Profiles' states:

The progress made by the Pleasant Home Ukrainian settlers was recognized by a visit in 1936 from the Governor-General of Canada, His Excellency Lord Tweedsmuir. The community then wanted to further honor their pioneers and erected a monument. This monument bears the names of all the pioneers who came to the Pleasant Home area from the Ukraine.

Grand-Children of Dominick And Donka Cherniak:

Mary (Mrs.Huminicki's), Ann (Mrs. Stone), Frances (died in 1954), Christine (Mrs. Newman),Kay (Mrs.Hume), Stella (Mrs. Tomiak), Irene (Mrs. McIntosh)Annie ( Mrs.Rusyvich's) children:Philip, Joe, Michael Rathwell, Rosie (Mrs. Guigveno), Mary (Mrs. Guise),Ellen (Mrs. Buchey)Jack's (John-My Grandfather) children:Freda (Mrs. McNabb - Reynolds), Harvey (deceased), Jean (Mrs. Lund)Joe's children:Nestor, Eddie, Peter, MichaelPauline (Mrs. Page) children:George (deceased), Pam (Mrs. McLean), Eileen (Mrs. Ennis), June (Mrs. Wilson)Rose (Mrs. Walter Martin, Nee Mrs. Bill Emmerson's) Children:Geraldine (Mrs. Holland) deceased, Vera (Mrs. Young), Iris (Mrs. Anholt), Beryl (Mrs. Fridfinnson)Michael's Children:NoneFrank's Children:Joyce (Mrs. Harper), GordonIf anyone should have any information on the above families, surnames or areas of origin in Eastern Europe, please contact Sharon Hay at: sharonhay@hotmail.com

Reasons For Immigrating to America

by, David Kuchta

During the mid 1800's it was customary for Representatives of the Coal Companies to go to Europe and East Europe looking for cheap labor. This type of soliciting for workers ceased during the beginning of the 1900's. The government through the urging of Coal Unions urged the passage of laws that prohibited this type of solicitation. The big coal barons and large coal companies were hiring workers from East Europe as strike busters. Because of this law, anyone going through Ellis Island inspection was asked the question if they had a job promised to them by some company. If they answered yes, they would have been deported. Many got around this question by answering that friends or relations had told them that when they came to America they would find employment for them. In Eastern Europe most of the poor peasants or farm workers were working for landowners for wages of fifteen to thirty cents per day. During the 1880s, the pay scale for mine laborers or people working as slate pickers in the collieries was five cents an hour. Most worked a 12-hour day. Wage scale escalation for better jobs was about two cents an hour higher for each classification.

Between better salaries, religious freedom, and a chance to get ahead in life, these were enough reasons for leaving their homelands to go to America. Also, with the threat of World War I and of getting drafted into the Hungarian or Austrian armies, it was more reason to leave. It does seem that many of the young men that left Slovakia had intentions of returning to their homelands when they saved enough money. Some did, and some didn't. Many married men went first and then when they earned and saved enough money sent for their wives and their children. I have a friend whose grandfather left for America, made what he considered a bundle of money, and then returned home to Slovakia. The problem was that he let his family know that he was coming home with enough money to buy a farm and live a good life. The word got out about him coming back home and some local thieves waited for him to return to his village. They waylaid him along the road that lead to his home and stole all his money. I have heard other stories that ended the same way. Some Slovaks went to America, made some money and then returned. They did this several times before finally settling down in one country.

What did happen is that when one person or family left a village to go to America, the word got out on how good things were, and they also aspired to come to the "land of honey, where all the streets were supposedly paved with "gold." They heard that the streets were paved with gold and when they arrived, they found out that many of the streets weren't paved at all, and that they were the ones that had to do the paving. Many of the new immigrants made connections with prominent church members who sponsored more of their former villagers to come to America and settle in the same towns. This is one of the reasons that many church members all have the same surnames of people who lived in the villages of their ancestors. It does seem that the bulk of the immigrants landed in New York and then worked their way to the coal regions. Then for various reasons, they left and went west or south to work in Auto and Steel Plants. The reason for them leaving was the problems with strikes. There were many strikes down through the years. Some of the strikes were warranted while some weren't.

Mining was a very dangerous profession along with the worst of conditions. Many of the big Mine Barons or Company bosses pushed the men to the limits. They were constantly trying to get more out of the workers, or come up with new rules of measuring the amount of coal that they mined. These rules always worked against the miner. When the immigrants started working for the companies they lived in company homes. They bought everything in a company store and literally owed their souls to the mine companies. When the unions called a strike, they didn't want any to cross the picket lines. If the new immigrant didn't report to work the company intimidated him and he was threatened to be removed from the company home. Many were. The company would send in their goon squad and throw all the possessions of the miner out on the sidewalk. If they didn't have any friends or relations to move in with they were in big trouble. Some became scabs and crossed the picket lines and many were housed and kept inside the mine property. In the mean time, the union members would threaten the miners wife and family. They would intimidate them to no end such as they were going to dynamite their home or do personal things to the miners wife. The wives were a nervous wreck with all the threats that they were getting.

The miners who crossed the picket line and worked and then went home at the end of the shift ended up being beaten or tortured to some extent. There was a lot of violence during some of these strikes. One year they had a strike a month. Some were short lived and others were long. Some strikes were over nothing but nonsense. The way the strike would be called is a miner would come into work that morning and in the wash shanty (change room) he would take off the top of his lunch pail that held his drinking water. He would hold it upside down and spill out the water out on the floor while hollering "Domu.", that is, "home." No one questioned this procedure. They would put on their street clothes and head to the nearest gin mill or home. Some didn't even know the reason for the strike. The following day, if the issue(s) weren't resolved, the strikers would shut down the rest of the local collieries. Because of this many just picked up and left the hard coal fields of PA and headed for greener pastures. They also heard that the Auto Plants were paying more money along with better conditions.

1909 Ship Manifest

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