Your American Story

[€uroMeinke]

With the 4th of July celebrating the Declaration of Independence - an occasion that happen in 1776 - I have to confess a bit of a disconnect with me as none of my relatives were anywhere near the new world, rather they were slugging out other conflicts over on the European Continent - somewhere in the amorphous border-zone of what now is Germany, oh and probably France - Europe's battlefield.

Still, I have my own family story for coming to America. It's a rather contemporary one. My parents left Germany after the war as refuges in Canada, where they lived till 1961. They'd be considered economic refuges today, coming to the new world for greater opportunities and something far far away from the politics of 1930's Germany.

My parents became citizens in 1968, something my father was always proud of. His business cards at the time had patriotic quotes emblazoned on the back.

So, back to me - I really am the first American in my family, and probably realizing the success my father had hoped to achieve for himself. I am my father's American dream in that respect. And so, while I may not be able to directly identify with those colonial idealists - I still come to them, from a family that hoped to have a taste of that which the founding fathers created, a world still new and full of promise.

So that's my truncated American Story, what's yours?

[flippyshark]

I can't top that one.

According to some of my relatives on my father's side, I can trace a line back to the Mayflower, but I haven't seen the documentation on that one. (Whenever I mention it, someone invariably says "oh EVERYone says that!")

Somewhere on a limb of my family tree is William Jennings Bryan. I am less certain, but I hear that Gen. George Pickett of Pickett's charge is distantly related, but again, no documentation.

Chris' much more recent story is a lot easier to relate to, and pretty damn keen.

[JWBear]

One of my father's mother's ancestors was a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature during the Revolutionary War; and my father's paternal grandfather's father fought in the Civil War (for the Union).

My mother's father's family came to the US in the 1880's from Wales. We don't know much about her mother's family; except that her grandfather (mother's father) owned a saloon in Yakima WA. He also had a pet bear that he kept chained-up outside the saloon to attract customers.

[katiesue]

My grandmother came over from England when she was 6 or 7. My great grandfather had dream of owning his own land so homesteaded in the Madeline Plains (which is that kind of now-where's ville in the north eastern corner of CA). Don't buy land unless you see it. My great grandmother made the trip alone with all 6 kids. They were originally scheduled to sail on the Titanic (says family lore) but had to change plans as my great-grandmother ended up pregnant with my great Uncle George. They came from an estate in England (great grandfather was an estate manager) with their own cottage and servants - to Ravendale with 10ft high sagebrush and a homestead with a dirt floor. Apparently at some point my great grandmother had at least on nervous breakdown.

Interestingly all the women in the family got college degrees and were working professionals. Neither of the boys got any higher education.

My Dad's famlily on the other hand have been here forever. Great great great someone was the first white child in the territory. I'm 6th generation born in Lassen County. Three of my grandparents and both of my parents graduated from my high school. We're somehow related to Daniel Boone and someone's got the documentation so I could join the DAR should I ever feel the need.

History is big in our family. I've got tons of useless information. That I recall we've got no big celebrities. Farmers, loggers, carpenters - average joes.

[3894]

Not Afraid and I have a common ancestor who came over on the Mayflower. That's on my mother's side. My mother's family are 110% WASPs who came over very early in the game.

My dad's side is completely different. His father left the Jewish ghetto in Riga, Latvia and (probably illegally) came to New York City. There, he met my grandmother, a Canadian through and through. They stayed long enough for their two children to be born in New York, then moved to Toronto. My dad was a U.S. citizen by birth but proud that he had grown up and gone to school in Canada.

[Morrigoon]

My mother is a green-card toting Canadian. She came to California when she was 25 with her first husband and my 2 or 3 oldest siblings (I'm not sure if Drew was born in the US or Canada, but since he died about 6 years before I was born it's neither here nor there). So two of my brothers are Canadians. The youngest (7 years my senior) is American born to Canadian parents. Then after the divorce she met my dad and had me (out of wedlock). So I'm born in the US to a Canadian and an American, but because my parents didn't marry till I was like 4, I have the right to claim my dual citizenship. Hmm... I never really thought of myself as 1st-gen, but on the maternal side I am :) I don't know about her family's emigration to North America though because my mom was adopted. Her mom must have been English though, because her last name was Walters.

On my dad's side... the old story about someone coming over on the Mayflower. I know he had one French grandmother, but the rest is (to the best of our knowledge) pretty solidly English stock (puh-leeze... can I get any more WASPy?)

[wendybeth]

My Great grandfather Michael (x many gens back) and his brother came over in 1755. They settled in Kentucky and my uncle Nathaniel became best buds with Daniel Boone- there is even a place called Nat's Creek named after him. It was a family tradition on his side to name sons after Daniel, which they still do to this day. My grandpa fought in the Revolution, and was at Valley Forge during that terrible winter. (Eric's grandpa was there as well).


On the French-Canuckien side, we are second generation Americans. My grandfather and a few of his siblings came down from Quebec and settled in Michigan, Minnesota and New York around the turn of the last century. Their family name is one of the oldest in Quebec, and they are supposed to be descended from one of the founders of Quebec.

[libraryvixen]

My dad came to the US from Indonesia after his company transferred him to California in the 60s. He got married to a lady here about mid 60s. They divorced in the late 60s.
He met my mom on a trip back to Indonesia. They got married in 74 with my mom in Indonesia and my dad back in California. They got married by phone! My mom flew out to California to begin her new life with my dad. I was born soon after in 75.

My brother and I are first-gen in our family.

[katiesue]

I was just thinking when I was out watching fireworks from our complex parking lot - this is really "our" holiday. You can be from wherever, worship whatever - the 4th is about America. And you don't have to be born her or even a citizen here to celebrate. It's an across the board thing - except for the morons who let their car alarms go off for the duration of the fireworks - they need to have their little remotes taken away at the door.

[Not Afraid]

On my father's side of the family I have the genealogy traced back to William Brewster who was a Pilgram colonist leader and a preacher. He arrived at the Plymouth Colony on the Mayflower.

My last name was originally McCoe and my namesake arrived in America in the 1700's on a prision ship from Scotland. I don't think anyone has ever figured out if he was a prisioner or not. I've always thought it would be fun if SOMEONE other than myself wasn't an upright citizen! His name was Daniel Cone and his was was Mehitable Spencer (which gets has a connection to the same line Princess Diana is from).

Otherwise, I am so white bread American from UK descent. I have NO relatives that were not English, Irish or Scottish. Everyone in my family (both sides) were famers and very religious. (My mom was a Holy Roller!)

I, however, am first generation Native Californian. My parents moved to California when I was -3 months. My Grandmother disowned my Mom because she was moving to the other side of the world. (She had never been on a plane when she died in 1968 and I doubt if she ever got much outside of her small farming community.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

My mom was born and raised in South Africa. My dad was from Chicago. They met and married in Israel and moved to LA when I was a baby. I have dual citizenship.

My dad's father was a first gen American and my dad's mother was born in the old country and moved here as a young girl. I get muddled on who was from where - his mom from Latvia I think, his dad's family from what was Yugoslavia.....though the family name is German....yeah I suck at the history, my family didn't really get into that stuff. All I know about their families is that my grandmother's father had a furniture business that he put his life into. My grandfather's family is a big blank, as his father was "a jerk" so I never heard much about it.

My mom always said she'd never have come to America of her own volition and she'd definitely be in Israel at this moment if my dad hadn't dragged her here. I never thought I was "first gen" when thinking of her side, since she isn't exactly here to pursue life liberty etc.

[BarTopDancer]

My mom is from Canada, my dad is from IL. Our history can be traced to Europe, countries that don't exist anymore but true records were lost in the war, or so it goes. Some family members did a tree but it doesn't go back on our line past the great greats.

My mom moved here in the late 60s after graduating nursing school in Canada. She moved in with her aunt and uncle and their son (my uber cool cuz) and knew no one else. My dad moved out here in the late 60s with his parents.

Not first gen American, but first gen Californian and will be the first to have a Bachelor degree (mom is an RN, dad is a programmer but they went to trade school).

I have dual citizenship between US and Canada. I used to not want it, I consider myself American but sometimes I think it would be nice to travel on a Canadian passport. I can travel to Cuba if I want. Not very "American" for this thread though...

[wendybeth]

My mom is from Canada, my dad is from IL. Our history can be traced to Europe, countries that don't exist anymore but true records were lost in the war, or so it goes. Some family members did a tree but it doesn't go back on our line past the great greats.

My mom moved here in the late 60s after graduating nursing school in Canada. She moved in with her aunt and uncle and their son (my uber cool cuz) and knew no one else. My dad moved out here in the late 60s with his parents.

Not first gen American, but first gen Californian and will be the first to have a Bachelor degree (mom is an RN, dad is a programmer but they went to trade school).

I have dual citizenship between US and Canada. I used to not want it, I consider myself American but sometimes I think it would be nice to travel on a Canadian passport. I can travel to Cuba if I want. Not very "American" for this thread though...

The Cuban cigar section was the first place Eric hit when we were in Victoria. The embargo is beyond stupid.

[JWBear]

I forgot to mention that my great-great grandfather who fought in the Civil War was married to a full-blooded native-American woman. She was probably Lenape or Delaware - we don't know which.

[CoasterMatt]

My family is basically a bunch of extremely stubborn people, who came to America because somebody said they wouldn't do it.

[Strangler Lewis]

My father's family had the foresight--if foresight it can be called after having your assets confiscated--to leave Germany in the mid 1930s. The four children each left the country separately by ship in various kindertransports--three came to America and one went to Palestine. My father lived in various midwestern homes until his mother was able to reach Harlem by way of Cuba. My grandfather and many other relatives did not get out.

My mother's parents were both born here. Her father came from German and Austrian stock. Her mother's side was Sicilian. One of her sisters married a black man she met in a cult. They eventually left the cult. I have an aunt I've never met who is still a member.

I also have Parkinson' s Disease on both sides of my family. Not strictly on point, but it does concern me.

[Ghoulish Delight]

On my dad's side, my great grandfather, a Jew in Poland, deserted the Polish army pre-WWI. He started his family in London where he worked at the Phillip Morris cigarette factory. Phillip Morris gave jobs to a lot of the Jewish community in London, and, as odd as this sounds in today's terms, he allowed his employees to bring cigarette making materials home so their wives could earn extra income.

They eventually moved to Glasgow with two girls. In Glasgow the family grew by a boy and 3 more girls, the "baby" being born in 1905, currently living in Seattle and would be happy to tell you all about those 103 (and a half) years in between.

My grandmother, the hardhead of the family was the first to cross the pond. At 18 she was in Chicago, getting married. Her sisters followed shortly, thre settled with her in Chicago, the eldest in Canada. My grandmother with unfailing support from the youngest, ran the family business. She had a daughter with the husband she had married at 18. She divorced him, eventually remarried and had my father, 18+ years after his siter. He and his cousin were raised together by the siters and my aunt (with my grandmother doing less of the raising and more of the businessing as I understand).

I've never gotten the full story of the move west to California. But there wasn't a whole lot to it other than getting away from Chicago winters. Whcih is a perfectly reasonable reason. My dad was also motivated by not wanting to live the antiquing life (the business did well, but it's a difficult business to do, even if you're good), so he went to California for college.

I know less detail about my mom's side. My great grandparents escaped Russia. They also settled in the Chicago area. Their solution for the Chicago weather was to operate a resort in South Haven Michigan on the lake which earned the nickname "The Catskills of the Midwest" for its healthy Jewish resort industry. My mom grew up spending most of her summers at the resort, and much of that helping around the resort. Writing daily dinner menus and performing adorable song and dance numbers as entertainment for the guests.

But the resort culture passed, business dropped, and the resort eventualyl closed. And without the resort to escape to, the winters caught up with them and they eventually migrated west like so many others.

My parents met out here when they crossed paths in their young careers as LAUSD teachers which they both did until they retired in the past few years.

[Kevy Baby]

I once had wealth, power, and the love of a beautiful woman. Now I only have two things: my friends and... uh... my thermos. Huh? My story? Okay. It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child. I remember the days, sittin' on the porch with my family, singin' and dancin' down in Mississippi.

[wendybeth]

Still looking for your 'Special Purpose', KB?;)

[Kevy Baby]

I actually got an L7 for that post.

I don't know a lot about my ancestry. The only immigration I know of in my family is that my great grandmother, who lived to be 107, came over from Germany (although I do not know when for sure without looking it up). I actually have the old family bible (in German) which recorded family births on that side of the family.

My great grandmother was a stubborn old coot. She walked on her own until she was about 100. Died with all her teeth and her vision completely intact. When she was 105, they found a lump on her breast. The doctors knew that operating on her would kill her, so they elected to let nature take its course. After several months, she was still alive and well and the lump was getting nasty (festering and oozing). So, despite knowing it would kill her, they decided to operate.

She came through surgery with flying colors, recovering as quickly as a woman in her thirties or forties.

[wendybeth]

(Maybe the person has never seen 'The Jerk'? I can quote more from that movie than even I care to admit.....:D)

Your Grandma sounds like she was a great woman, KB!

[belleh5]

My story:

I don't much about my Dad's family. My Mom and, her parents were born in Holland. They came to American in the early 60’s. 20 years later, I was born.


I guess that makes Dutch & American.

[Alex]

25% of my anscestry is pretty much lost to me. My mother's father died when she was six and any remaining connection to his family was tenuous at best and did not continue beyond her.

For the other 75% I don't know much. My paternal grandmother has a well research family tree that is pretty much all people in the United States as far back as the mid-1700s. First in what is now Maine and then shifting to Kansas and then a significant post-WWII migration to the northwest to work int the timber industry.

A German surname that was in the United States at the time of the Revolution. For a long time I liked to think that they came from a group of Hessians brought from Germany by the British to find on their side in the Revolution. But apparently that's not true. No information on the actual migration or where they came from in Europe. In the 200+ years of that family tree segment, not one single person has ever risen to even local prominence. Farmers, sheepherders, and timbermen for the most part.

I know the names of three of my great-grandparents (and only because I knew them personally) and none older than that.

I can't decide if this is an american of an "American Story" or essentially the epitome of one since I am so engrained genetically within this country that I can't barely trace myself to a root outside of it.

However, my non-genetic family has all been immigrants (my stepfather from Germany; and Lani from Japan). I ended up related personally to people who fought on the wrong side in World War II in both theaters.

[Snowflake]

My father's side of the family, I do not know much about except someone hailed from the UK, but I am not sure if it is Ireland, Scotland, Wales of Britain. He hailed from Michigan and my paternal grandmother died in 1933 (my dad was then 11). His father remarried and he had 1 full sibling and added 2 step siblings (one of whom I've never met) and I grew up knowing Grandma Lulu. She was fabulous and full of vim and vigor. I loved visiting her and she loved visiting here, game old gal trekked Hearst Castle at 80. His father died in 1945 of lung cancer or emphysema.

My mother's side of the family hail from Russia (and now a part of Poland). My grandfather arrived in the US in 1905, grandmother in 1906. They were farmers and settled in New Britain, CT. 8 siblings in all, only one has passed away. My grandmother lived to be 100 and never spoke a word of English as I recall. Grandfather passed away in 1968 and I do not remember him. I remember my Great Uncle Adam, who was such a lush, he'd fall off the barstool and the patrons would carry him home to sleep it off. He lived to be 95. All the kids were bi-lingual (alas, never taught to me since my parents were the maverricks who moved away to California - Dad was a navy man). As an aside, Mom talked in her sleep sometimes, and it was the funniest thing to hear as a kid, not knowing it was in Russian. It sounded like Martian as I imagined.

[NickO'Time]

All I know is that my family dates back too the 16th Century where there were no last names?:confused:

After dodging being apprehended by Hitler's Gestapo in the Friesland region of Holland,(with the help of his soon too be wife and mother) my grandfather moved the family over here in 1948.
My grandmother and my Great grandmother flirted with the Germans while my Opa was underneath the floorboards 6 ft under, staring up at the soldier's foot.
My Opa refused too register with the German requirements.
The thing is with anyone who went through this, they never want to talk about it.
So for some reason lately we have been getting a story here and there. They just celebrated 60 years of Marriage back in May.

The economy in Holland after the war seemed too be slow to recover, so my Opa decided to move on to America.
Funny, a year later the Holland's economy improved after his family left.
My dad was born in Winschoten with a mid wife present. The home they lived in has some historical architecture that in 2004 was made into a museum or historical monument of some sort, a year after we visited.
My Dad and two of his 4 brothers were born in Holland. The others were born here. The rest of my Opa's brothers and sisters toughed out things in Holland.

Sponsored by another Dutch American, my grandfather(Opa) immigrated with his family moved over to Ripon, California. (Little Holland as we call it here.)

My Opa was a meat cutter, then moved on too start his own business.

My mother's side is unknown, she was adopted with her sister, and unfortunately a fire took out the records of her real parents in Iowa.
The sad part was one day my mother was told in elementary school by some kids who knew her real parents. (At least that was what we were told)
Kind of vicious isn't it?:(
I truly envy those who know more about their families. I would love too know more about mine.

[lashbear]

Well, I first came to America in 1991, but then I went home again.

Then I came again (to AMERICA, Kevy) in 1998, but I also went back home again.

Then I brought my Husband & kids to America in 2002, but we went back home again.

Then I brought my Husband back to America in 2007 without the kids, but..... we went back home again.

Maybe I can try again in 2009 ?? :D



...and to the spies from US Immigration who read this board, I'm not really trying to Emigrate... although I did leave my heart in SanFrancisco. ....I'm just coming back to collect it.

[wendybeth]

Maybe?

We gots plans for you and the Stoat, Lashdear. There's no 'maybe' in this equation.:evil:

[€uroMeinke]

Well, I first came to America in 1991,

Perhaps we need a "My Aussie Story" thread?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Perhaps the Lashies need to emigrate and begin their American Story :cheers:

[€uroMeinke]

Perhaps - but I still want to hear about their ancestors coming over in prison ships or what not.

[Gemini Cricket]

Well, €uroMeinke, I grew up slowly beside the tides and marshes of Colleton; my arms were tawny and strong from working long days on the shrimp boat in the blazing South...

[wendybeth]

All I know is that my family dates back too the 16th Century where there were no last names?:confused:

After dodging being apprehended by Hitler's Gestapo in the Friesland region of Holland,(with the help of his soon too be wife and mother) my grandfather moved the family over here in 1948.
My grandmother and my Great grandmother flirted with the Germans while my Opa was underneath the floorboards 6 ft under, staring up at the soldier's foot.
My Opa refused too register with the German requirements.
The thing is with anyone who went through this, they never want to talk about it.
So for some reason lately we have been getting a story here and there. They just celebrated 60 years of Marriage back in May.

The economy in Holland after the war seemed too be slow to recover, so my Opa decided to move on to America.
Funny, a year later the Holland's economy improved after his family left.
My dad was born in Winschoten with a mid wife present. The home they lived in has some historical architecture that in 2004 was made into a museum or historical monument of some sort, a year after we visited.
My Dad and two of his 4 brothers were born in Holland. The others were born here. The rest of my Opa's brothers and sisters toughed out things in Holland.

Sponsored by another Dutch American, my grandfather(Opa) immigrated with his family moved over to Ripon, California. (Little Holland as we call it here.)

My Opa was a meat cutter, then moved on too start his own business.

My mother's side is unknown, she was adopted with her sister, and unfortunately a fire took out the records of her real parents in Iowa.
The sad part was one day my mother was told in elementary school by some kids who knew her real parents. (At least that was what we were told)
Kind of vicious isn't it?:(
I truly envy those who know more about their families. I would love too know more about mine.


My Aunt Liliana is an Italian Jew and one of the few to survive from her hometown, which was near Florence. She seldom talks about her experiences, but last week we visited her at the hospital where she was holding court after a big surgery. Hopped up on morphine, she told us about when her cousin was shot dead in front of her and his parents by the Nazis, and then she went on to relate some of the other atrocities she saw committed by those sick bastards. She's such a cool lady, and she seems to bear no ill will or bitterness for her ****ed up childhood, but just listening made my blood boil. I want to get her to start recording her experiences- I think she wants to talk about them, and her family should have a written record on a big part of their history.

Kudos to your Opa.:)

[NickO'Time]

My Aunt Liliana is an Italian Jew and one of the few to survive from her hometown, which was near Florence. She seldom talks about her experiences, but last week we visited her at the hospital where she was holding court after a big surgery. Hopped up on morphine, she told us about when her cousin was shot dead in front of her and his parents by the Nazis, and then she went on to relate some of the other atrocities she saw committed by those sick bastards. She's such a cool lady, and she seems to bear no ill will or bitterness for her ****ed up childhood, but just listening made my blood boil. I want to get her to start recording her experiences- I think she wants to talk about them, and her family should have a written record on a big part of their history.

Kudos to your Opa.:)

Thanks Wendy, he's tough as nails.

We toured the Hotel in OosterBeek, where a few Allied Soldiers were surrounded by Germany's best Panzer Divsion.(Operation Market Garden)
One that was disregarded as "old Men and children" for soldiers.

My Opa turned the corner in the German section of mannequins and went straight back out the museum.
I have always heard the suggestion of sharing those personal stories for record and have always wondered how many have succeeded in recording it.

[Moonliner]

According to Mom, Her maiden name goes all the way back to the Mayflower. However when I researched it a few years back it did not take long to discover that every pilgrim with her name died before the first year was out. So I guess I'm half zombie on my mothers side.

On dad's side, we came in through Ellis Island from Scotland, err or at least that was the story. When I visited Ellis (and did some other ancestry searches) there is no record of Grandpa ever entering the country at Ellis or anywhere else. So put me down as half zombie half illegal alien, or in other words I'm your typical American.

[Stan4dSteph]

My ancestors on my father's side came over from Germany in 1884. The male relative was the oldest son of 11 children. The primary industry in the area was growing grapes and making wine, but the harvest had been bad for a few years before that (as recorded in the town hall in Germany), so the hard economic times helped push my relative to seek his fame and fortune in the USA. He was pre-Ellis though, so no record of him through there. Strangely enough, the female relative was from a town nearby in Germany, but they didn't meet until they both settled in Indiana.

[lizziebith]

On my Dad's side I'm a Schoonover (http://www.geocities.com/mfs53211/). Originally Van Schoonhoven (which means from the Dutch town of Schoonhoven, or "safe harbor"), my ancestors came to upstate New York (New Amsterdam) in 1650. All Schoonovers are in this one big family, as the last name was created here in America. I am related to famous artist Frank Schoonover, of the Brandywine School (Wyeth, Pyle et al.). My husband lived for many years near Kingston, NY (our family seat) -- and of course knew who Frank Schoonover was -- so he pretty much flipped out with excitement when he found out I was a Schoonover!

On my Mom's side I'm Irish -- half Catholic, half Protestant hehe. We were always told to wear green AND orange on St. Patty's Day. Family legend has it that we are Mayflower descendants (LOL seems like everybody claims that) and DAR and...horse-thieves. There were many name-changes due to criminal behavior. :D We think the original last name was McHugh. Or Campbell. On my Mom's side there are many tellers of tall tales though, so at this point in my life I have to admit that I am not sure about any of that.

[lizziebith]

I actually got an L7 for that post.That's too bad, Kevy. I think (as WB did) that they just didn't get the reference. But just yesterday hubby brought in a new phone book left on our doorstep, and yes I ran around like a geek yelling "the new phone book is here! the new phone book is here!" Hubby was proud. ;)

[Kevy Baby]

That's too bad, Kevy. I think (as WB did) that they just didn't get the reference.No worries. In retrospect, I shouldn't have even mentioned that.

[Morrigoon]

LB: I kept reading your name as "Schnoover", hehe.

[€uroMeinke]

No worries. In retrospect, I shouldn't have even mentioned that.

I'm okay with that ;)