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Message-ID: <39CA7512.874E0C9A(a)wzrd.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 16:52:35 -0400
From: Gloria <jade(a)wzrd.com>
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To: LISTNAME-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Joseph and Agnes Zeller
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I am a bit late in my reply to your Grandparent's Day e-Mails, as I was
out of town. But, better late than never !!
My Grandparents were born in Sankt- Niklas, to the best of our
knowledge. We believe that to be correct as we were told that this town
is across from Neu Arad, where we know some of the children were born.
Grandpa was born in 1862, and grandma ( nee Finster , or Phinster ?
)in 1866. They were married in 1887
They had 5 children
Magdalena , Joseph, Mary, Agnes, and
Barbara, who emigrated in 1906 with their mother.. Grandpa emigrated in
1905. The only record I have found is that of young Joseph 's
Declaration of Intent, which states he arrived on the "Amerika," March
17 1907. I wonder if it is possible that the dates of the other
siblings, and Mother, is incorrect, or, did he come alone ?? I am still
trying to find out.
They made their home in Buffalo, N.Y.
I remember Grandpa as a small, quiet man, with a big mustache, very
blue eyes,and a strong German accent. He seemed to be a very kindly,
soft spoken man....except when he played a german card game that
evidently consisted of shouting, and slamming cards down !! He died in
1943.
I never knew my Grandmother as she died in 1921 ,before I was born .
But, she did live to see my Mother's engagement to my father., and was
very happy.
I truely wish I had known them. I wish , as a young child I had had
more intrest in their lives...where they came from, what did they do in
the Banat, and why did they leave. ? What were their hopes and
expectations ??
I have tried to impress upon my children what a privilege it is to
know their ancestry, to remember their Grandparents, and the lives of
their ancesters. How so many struggled to come to this country, the
hardships they had to endure, the heartbreak of leaving friends and
family, and to know they would probably never see them again. So many
comming to a country where the very language must have sounded like some
alien babble. But, they persevered, learned the language, got work,
raised their families ,... and raised their families as Americans. In my
Mothers household, German was only spoken inside the home, or to people
who could not speak English.....to do otherwise was rude , as other
people would not know if you were speaking about them.. I don't know if
this was common or not.
We are so privileged in this computer age...we can read, and learn,
and file the important things in our liv