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Through these words, singer/songwriter Neil Diamond summed up why so many people have immigrated to the United States, in his 1980 song, entitled "America." Unlike any other place in the world, the U.S. is a melting pot made up of many ethnic groups and denominations. Here, immigrants have been free to make a fresh start regardless of their religions or beliefs, and their triumphs and tribulations have laid the foundation for what this great country is today. Imagine coming to a new land where everything is different — people, climate, available food sources, and even diseases. Immigrants knew life was hard where they came from, and because of the shining promise of the "new world," they took the chance to come here. We can never understand today what they went through to tame the wild countryside and build lives for themselves and for the future of their children. Their tales are amazing and inspiring.
Biograhpy of a pioneer
According to family history and church records, Mathias Meinhart, Jr., of Autergau Co., Kreis Wells, Austria, came to the U.S. at around age 20 searching for a better life. After struggling to obtain a passport and transportation to America, he was finally able to sail to England, then to America, landing in New York City in 1855. He arrived on the shore of New York unable to speak English and penniless. He found work at a whetstone (metal utensil sharpening) shop for a few cents a day, then eventually got a job on a steamboat traveling
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from New York to Baltimore. After working for laborer's wages under the most difficult of conditions, he finally saved enough money to travel to Freeport, Illinois, his original destination. There he met up with Jacob Oberswanten, an old friend and neighbor from Austria. Oberswanten had been in America for a few years and was already set up in farming. Mathias went to work for Oberswanten and was introduced to a far more progressive way of farming that included horse drawn implements for tilling the ground and horse-powered threshing machines to separate the grain from the straw. Mathias, who was so impressed by the large fields of ample wheat, barley, oats and corn, and the progressive farming techniques, he contacted his father, Mathias Meinhart, Sr., in Austria and encouraged him to bring the rest of the family to join him. Meinhart, Sr., who determined he needed to see this for himself, arrived in America in 1857. After he saw the opportunities that awaited him, he sailed back to get his family. His trip to America and back to Austria lasted nearly a year. Though both father and son had sailed to America, the Meinhart family planned this time to go by steamship, which was considered much faster and smoother. Unfortunately, very near the time of their departure, a steamship burned in the English harbor, killing many people. This tragedy terrified the Meinharts so they opted to sail to America after all.
In May of 1860 Meinhart, Sr., his wife Threasia Grois Meinhart, daughter Threasia, and sons Michael and Joseph sailed from England to America. Traveling third class, their quarters consisted of a 10-by-10 room located in the lower deck. This housed the entire family and a chest containing all their belongings, which was 2 feet wide by 2 feet high by 6 feet long. The lone light source in their cabin day and night was one porthole around 8-inches in diameter, and when the ship rocked, water covered the porthole glass, and, the travelers were left in total darkness. The seas were very rough on the voyage, and one can only imagine the stench and filth. Food on the ship was sparse, with less than a quart of drinking water rationed to each person each day. One staple of their bland diets was pumpernickel bread, which came in the form of fist-sized rolls that were so hard they had to be soaked in hot water before the travelers could force them down. Salt pork was served every Friday, and salt smoked fish was plentiful, but rarely consumed as there was little water to wash it down. According to the journal, few passengers complained about the food because of the seasickness. Some jokingly remarked that there were "six meals a day, three up and three down." Two months later, the weary Few passengers complained about the food because of the seasickness. Some jokingly remarked that there were "six meals a day, three up and three down." 11 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.aiec.coop travelers finally arrived in Baltimore in July 1860, but because of stormy seas, could not enter the Baltimore harbor for more than a week. After landing, the family was in a weakened state, but soon recovered enough to make the trip to Freeport, Illinois, where they joined their son Mathias. They lived on a rented farm for nearly five years, where they learned to use new farming techniques. They did so well they decided to buy land and start their own farm. Land around Freeport was selling for $40 to $50 per acre, which was extremely high for the time, so they determined they could buy more reasonably priced land further south in Illinois.
Around 1864, the family took a rough, three-week journey by covered wagon to Jasper County where they were able to purchase land for $4 to $6 per acre from the Illinois Central Railroad Company. They signed a five-year contract with a few hundred dollars down payment on a section of land. The three sons built a shanty, dug a well and built a pole barn. The sons then headed back to Freeport and moved all their belongings, including livestock, by rail to their new land. The land they purchased is now part of Grove Township in Jasper County. There were no roads, and Teutopolis, the nearest town, was 10 miles away. The nearest post office was 15 miles away in Effingham. Because of poor drainage during the spring, the pioneers had to travel through the marshy land all the way to Teutopolis to attend church. In 1864, Mrs. Meinhart passed away while the family was building their home. There wasn't a cemetery in Island Grove at that time, and it was said that her casket was hung in the rafters of the house to protect it from animals. She was finally buried in the cemetery in Teutopolis, but her gravesite has since been lost. The new arrivals to America were not prepared to endure the crop failures and illnesses they encountered. The swampy prairies were a breeding ground for illnesses, such as swamp fever and typhoid. It's believed that many of the people who died young at this time had contracted tuberculosis. Family members tried to comfort and nurse each other through the devastating diseases, but many died. Times were hard and the family nearly collapsed, but they just couldn't give up. Meinhart, Sr. passed away in 1890 and is buried in the Island Grove Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Meinhart, Sr. and their families were the start of many generations of Meinharts in the Norris Electric Cooperative area. Paul Meinhart, who was Mathias Meinhart Jr.'s son, lived his entire life in Island Grove and was instrumental in bringing electricity to their area in the late 1930s. The primary source of information for this story came from a handwritten journal that Leo Meinhart finished writing when he was 65 years old. He was Mathias Meinhart, Sr.'s grandson. At that point, five generations of Meinharts lived in America. Leo's granddaughter, Linda, is married to Norris Electric Cooperative Manager Keith McKinney. Stefan says the rules were strict there, and everyone had to be quiet and behave. There was so much more freedom in Girad to "act like boys." Modern-day immigrants When Stefan Sporrer arrived America in 1977 as a 13 year-old boy, the country had just celebrated its bicentennial. It was 122 years after the Meinharts arrived, and America was a far more progressive place. It was a whole new world for this young German immigrant. Stefan's stepfather Thomas Davis was an American serviceman stationed at a military base in Nurnburg, Germany. He met Stefan's mother Helene in Germany in around 1972, and though she already had seven children, he married her and a few years later moved her, one of Stefan's brothers and three sisters to America. Two of his brothers stayed in Germany. Stefan and his brother were sent to the United States six months prior to their parents, and it was their first flying experience. The brothers were very excited, yet nervous about their trip. According to Stefan, they were especially excited "because everyone over in Germany knows about the Twin Towers, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building." Actually seeing the sites was something he'll never forget. Their time in New York was brief and the brothers were quickly whisked off to Illinois to live with their step grandmother in Girard. Their step grandmother didn't speak any German and the boys spoke no English, so communicating was a challenge. The boys began attending Girard High School two weeks after they arrived. They had to rely on an English tutor to get them through their first year of school. Stefan says he really liked living in his step grandmother's house. The family had lived in an apartment in Nurnburg, which, like much of the housing there, was government owned. Stefan says the rules were strict there, and everyone had to be quiet and behave. There was so much more freedom in Girard to "act like boys." Once Helene arrived in Girard, she had difficulty adjusting to her new surroundings. She not only didn't speak English, she had come from a city of 500,000 and now was living in a small town with limited resources. The stores didn't carry products she was accustomed to using in Germany, and she was very homesick for several years. To learn English, Stefan says his mother watched the television show "Sesame Street." And although she's had opportunities to visit Germany, she's never returned. Stefan says he's never missed Germany. He says, "I like almost everything about the United States." He feels that there's much greater opportunity here — so much work available. There was so much unemployment in Germany. Even obtaining something as simple as a driver's license is easier here. Stefan tells about how he was teasing one of his brothers in Germany who wasn't able to afford a license until he was around 30. Driving classes and license plates are very expensive there. Both driving and cars are considered luxuries. Train travel is preferred in Germany. Stefan came to work at Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative (RECC) in 1985 as the custodian/grounds keeper, and he takes his job seriously. His co-workers say his prized possession at work is his John Deere riding lawn mower. He takes good care of it, and has only spent $11 maintaining it in eight years. He's very frugal with the coop's money. Although he takes his share of teasing from all of them, his co-workers think a lot of him. David Stuva, President/CEO of RECC, says that Stefan is a hard worker who is a valuable member of their team. Stuva says, "Stefan brings with him a strong work ethic and a great sense of humor. He's a joy to have around." Stefan's mother and stepfather are alive and well in Thayer, and Stefan's sisters have started a new generation of Sporrers in the United States. Although it's been difficult at times, they're proud to be some of America's newest immigrants. America the beautiful The people in these two very different stories of immigration were able to come to America because our great nation stands with its arms wide open welcoming anyone who wants to come. The song "America," by Rev. Samuel F. Smith says it all.
"My country, 'tis of Thee, DECEMBER 2002 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 13 |
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