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Coming to America
I left Poland with my brother, Reid, to come to America. Both of our parents had died and we had nothing. I decided to begin a new life and move to America. The voyage was long and dreadful but I was so happy to finally see the Statue of Liberty and be in America. The only thing I brought with me was the clothes on my back and a few dollars to start me off in my new adventure in my life. -
Ellis Island
I finally got off of the boat with Reid and went through the inspections on Ellis Island. Reid passed everything but I did not pass the leagal inspection. I never learned how to read and write in Polish and they wouldn't let me pass through. I was then detained at Ellis Island and I hoped to see my brother again. Saying goodbye was the hardest part of my journey so far. I hoped to get out of detainment one day. -
Finally Free
On my 22nd birthday, I finally got out of detainment at Ellis Island. I walked down the streets of New York amazed by the sights and how everything was so different than the rolling hills of Poland. I found a place to live, small and dirty, but liveable. Then the most amazing thing happened, I saw my brother in the street. He was dressed up in a hat and suit, I almost didn't reconigze him. He asked where I was living and then told me to come stay with him, he had become a sucessful buisness man. -
Finding Work
I was taking my morning stroll in the town like every morning and I saw a help wanted sign in the window of a factory. I had seen many of these beofre but this job was wanted for a women. I went inside and they hired me and told me I would start tomorrow. I was now truely living the American life, working in a factory spinning wool into cloth. I didn't want to rely on my brother anymore for food, shelter, and clothing. He had a dream and it wasn't taking care of me. -
Wanting the West
My brother had gotten into bad deals with the wrong people. We were on the street again with nothing. I was so thankful for having a job and being able to support us with the money I had saved. Reid wouldn't let me help him and instead decided to move west by working on the Transcontinental Railroad. I wanted to go with him but they were discrimatory towards women and I wasn't allowed to. Yet again, I had to say goodbye to my brother. -
Oregon Trail
I had worked for another 2 years and saved more money. The Oregon Trail had opened and I was determined to get west and nothing would stop me.I had heard about the Homestead Act and how the governmenmt was giving away free land to whoever could race to it the fastest. I didn't have enough money to purchase my own wagon so instead I paid a small family to travel West with them. They were quiet and respectful. My dream was finally coming true. -
Racing For Land
I had finally arrived in the west. It wasn't as wild as I had heard and I needed to purchase and horse and learn how to ride it before the race. The horse I purchased was small yet sturdy and not very fast but he would get the job done. All of the new travelers were lined up looking at the vast land infront of us. This was all of our dreams, this land was the future of our lives. The cannon fired and the race was on. My horse ran as hard as it could but I didn't get any land, I was too slow. -
Saved my Life
I looked to my left, there was my brother. He had claimed his land right by the river. It was beautiful, so lush and fertile.He gaver me a sorrowful look but said nothing and instead opened his arms for a hug. He whispered in my ear, "This is our land now." I was so thankful to hear those words, tears streaming down my face. My dream was finally coming true. -
The American Dream
After 7 years my brother was a successful famrer, he had the biggest crops in all of the west. I had met one of this friends he met on the railroad and we married. We had 5 children together, 3 boys and 2 girls. We settled together on his land and my brother married and had his own family. -
Teaching Children
In September, I opened a school in the west to teach the young children who had immigrated there. I thought how to read and write in English, speak correctly, and lifeskills. I learned all of these for myself in my detainment in Ellis Island.I never would have thought walking off the boat and looking at America for the first time that I would make it this far and be this successful.
