An American Story

On April 24, 1876, 21 year old Felix Vincent stepped off of a ship named the Switzerland in a new land, leaving behind a homeland with basic customs and language he had known all his life, all in hopes that a better life was to be had in the United States.  He would be one of five million Germans who would make their way to the new world between 1850 and 1930, not the least insignificant to our story would be a Franz and a Maria Hildebrand, who in 1883 left Epterode Germany for the Midwest.  To our knowledge these two groups of people never met, yet through the wide lens history allows we can see providence playing out in their separate lives.

It was not an easy trip and in a real sense their presence represented a nation's struggle with the best and worst in itself.  Hard as it is to imagine, there was racism to overcome.  Benjamin Franklin, writing about immigrants in his own day, wrote:

"Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion."

The complexion seemed to me the most strange, but Franklin in a lengthy quote goes on to explain the German "swarthy complexion" was in great contrast to that of the Anglicans.

Along with racism, concerns about religion (yes, blood was shed between different Christian groups in this period), loss of jobs, and freeloading all was part of a nativist rhetoric meant to keep America from changing too drastically.

It was into that political backdrop our heroes set their feet in time.  It is likely that they did not adapt to the new culture quickly and easily; Franz would become a member of a church that spoke German in their services until the world wars made the practice too taboo.  There are Mennonite churches in the area who to this day speak German in special services.

Despite this, I think it would be hard to claim their presence negatively impacted their new country.  They worked hard, and the commerce they produced brought needed goods and services to their communities.  Their voices became sources of valued council, they contributed to public works and served in various capacities in their churches.  With time, children would come (Franz and Maria in particular had 11), children who, like their parents, would go on to do great things for their communities.  They would fight their country's wars, help their neighbors, and continue providing the goods and services that helped bring forth the most flourishing economy the world has ever seen.

More like them would come.  By 1910, 14.7% of the people living in the United States were born some place else.  Immigrants like Enrico Fermi, Werner von Braun, Nikolai Tesla, Albert Einstein, and the Oppenheimer brothers (who, full disclosure, were merely the children of immigrants) would make America the most technologically advanced country in the world.  Andrew Carnegie became an important captain of industry, Henry Kissinger and Madeline Albright would serve as important diplomats, and Arnold Schwarzenegger made awesome action moves.  Where would America be without Irving Berlin's White Christmas, or "God Bless America"?  Many of the people listed left their countries fleeing for their lives in the face of extreme tyranny. 

Immigration is a pretty hot topic at the moment, particularly what should be done with refugees.  In the midst of some of the things said about immigrants and what they will do to our country, it might behoove us to remember that in a not-too-distant past, the very same things were said about each of our ancestors (the exception being, of course, our loyal readership from the Native American community, and their was plenty of nasty things said about them).  Eastern Europeans in particular were accused of being anarchists and communists who posed a grave threat to national security, and embarrassing atrocities were committed in the noble name of defense.

Whatever else is said, Felix and Franz need not worry.  The branches of their family tree now incorporate people of even more diverse nationalities, including Korean, Chinese, Ethiopian, South African, Irish, English, and many others.  The great great great grandson of Felix would eventually fall in love with the great great great granddaughter of Franz and Maria, and together they hope to add to the contributions begun by the immigrants who started it all.  Omnia Vincit Amore.