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Pushed out of Ireland
I am Stephen Lewis. I was living, well used to live in the small farming village of Urlingford, Ireland until my harsh and greedy landlord took the land from under my feet, i already made low income, and was homeless. -
leaving Ireland on the Boat
I was poor and on the streets afer my horrible land lord forced me off my sot house for more willing and higher renters. I was cold and had a half months salary in my pocket and needed to use it. So I bought a ticket to the United States. -
Ellis Island
The test at Ellis Island were tough and unethical at first, they looked through my eyes and make me cough for tests on disease. I assured them I had no such thing but they made me do it anyway. I passed and sent into New York. -
the Boatride
the boat ride was long, and steerage was tough. i lived off of scraps the rich left and stole drinks half drunk. but it was all worth being a petty theif when i first saw New York from the boat and passed lady liberty. -
Finding a Job in New York
It was tough trying to get employed. And being illiterate and uneducated didn't help. Most factories turned me down just for being an irish immigrant. -
Railroads
I finally got a good job. It was going west too. I was working for the Union Central railroad company building the transcontinental. I worked with many Irish and Europeans. there were some Chinese and Africans, but there were very few. I senced that it was divided by race so i talked and slepted next to the Irish -
Building towards Kansas
We started laying down tracks from new York then to Missispi. After Mississipi we headed towards Kansas and Oklahoma territory were the free land was going. -
Oklahoma to California
I have finished the transcontinental railroad, we met Central Pacific a ways away from the Sierra Nevada. We rode the train into California for there was jobs in abundance in the West. -
Logging the Sierra Nevada
I have found a job in California logging the Sierra Nevada i get passing wages and cut down tree after tree even though it seems to make no difference, i also work as a cow hand with buffalo soldiers and ranchers for extra cash on the side. -
My own Ranch
i now have my very own ranch and people work for me. I am located between San Francisco and Sacremento, the most fertile land off the coast. Ever since they gave land there is lot more businuess.
