My paternal great-grandparents came from Poland in the 1890s. Their destination was Lemont, IL (suburb of Chicago). My maternal great-grandparents both left their parents, siblings, and large families in Sweden in the 1910s seeking a better life in Chicago.
My paternal great-grandparents came from Poland in the 1890s. Their destination was Lemont, IL (suburb of Chicago). My maternal great-grandparents both left their parents, siblings, and large families in Sweden in the 1910s seeking a better life in Chicago.
that's awesome.MY GGF came from Italy, taught himself English.. Worked for Wild Bill Cody's Western show, then got a licence to cut hair. Raised enough money to open up a jewelry store. then received a degree in Dentistry from Philadelphia Dental College.. and, If that wasn't enough, went to Mortuary School and graduated in1913. not bad for starting out with no money and only speaking Italian. All his children received college degrees.
This is what America is about. Ancestors on my Dad's side go back to the Revolutionary War. My Mother was from England I'm still tracing her side but I know her grandfather w a s from Italy.
Both sides of my family were part of the founding of Jamestown as well as Plymouth. A couple of 10th GGrandfather's signed the Mayflower Compact. George Washington and Andrew Jackson are both 3rd cousins ( although separated by several generations). Several family members fought in the F&I war, Rev War and War of 1812. I had 3 family members convicted of being witches in Salem but, fortunately, sanity returned before they were put to death.
My Dad's family was from Germany and Switzerland. My Mom's family from the Basque country and France. I don't know what my Dad's families did when they arrived, but my Mom's family were a mix of ranchers, business owners (one 2nd GGrandfather owned a Basque Hotel just outside of Fresno starting in the 1880's), homesteaders, shepherds and camp tenders. I was fortunate to have spent a lot of time with my Mom's family. We spent several of my childhood holidays in my 2nd GGfather's hotel which, by then, had been converted into the family home (downstairs) with the hotel remaining on the 2nd floor.
My paternal great-grandparents came from Poland in the 1890s. Their destination was Lemont, IL (suburb of Chicago). My maternal great-grandparents both left their parents, siblings, and large families in Sweden in the 1910s seeking a better life in Chicago.
that's awesome.MY GGF came from Italy, taught himself English.. Worked for Wild Bill Cody's Western show, then got a licence to cut hair. Raised enough money to open up a jewelry store. then received a degree in Dentistry from Philadelphia Dental College.. and, If that wasn't enough, went to Mortuary School and graduated in1913. not bad for starting out with no money and only speaking Italian. All his children received college degrees.
This is what America is about. Ancestors on my Dad's side go back to the Revolutionary War. My Mother was from England I'm still tracing her side but I know her grandfather w a s from Italy.
Both sides of my family were part of the founding of Jamestown as well as Plymouth. A couple of 10th GGrandfather's signed the Mayflower Compact. George Washington and Andrew Jackson are both 3rd cousins ( although separated by several generations). Several family members fought in the F&I war, Rev War and War of 1812. I had 3 family members convicted of being witches in Salem but, fortunately, sanity returned before they were put to death.
My Dad's family was from Germany and Switzerland. My Mom's family from the Basque country and France. I don't know what my Dad's families did when they arrived, but my Mom's family were a mix of ranchers, business owners (one 2nd GGrandfather owned a Basque Hotel just outside of Fresno starting in the 1880's), homesteaders, shepherds and camp tenders. I was fortunate to have spent a lot of time with my Mom's family. We spent several of my childhood holidays in my 2nd GGfather's hotel which, by then, had been converted into the family home (downstairs) with the hotel remaining on the 2nd floor.