Journey to America
Written by William Burbach
While listening to stories of the "old country" from our parents, we also hear of their experiences during the journey to the United States. Such was the situation with the family of Elizabeth Miller Burbach.
By 1912 there had been a great migration of German-Russians to this country. There were a number of reasons for the movement such as over-population of the allotted farmland and the pressures in the "Russification" of the German people. The family of Henry and Margaret Miller also made the decision to emigrate. The plan was to locate in Portland, Oregon where they had relatives and friends living in a German-Russian community.
The Miller family consisted of father Henry (age 44), mother Margaret (age 46), daughters Amalia (age 18), Christina (age 16), Elizabeth (age 12), and son Henry (age 8). There was an older daughter, Katherine (age 24), who remained in Russia with her husband, Wilhelm Fink, and baby daughter, Lydia. Later, upon the death of her husband, she also came to America.
After a sad farewell, the family left the village of Norka in the Volga area on April 10, 1912. With their bundles and wicker baskets holding their belongings, they boarded the train in Saratov. This took them on a three-day trip to the seaport city of Libau (now Liepāja, Latvia). By this time they had heard of the great ocean liner Titanic, which had sunk on April 12. This added greatly to their apprehension of crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
In Libau, the family was given physical examinations and it was discovered that the daughters had trachoma, a contagious eye disease. Because of this condition, the U.S. Immigration authorities were denying entry into this country. People who had arrived in a U.S. port and failed the examinations were required to return to their homelands.
Henry Miller's daughters had to have this eye disease cured before arriving in this country. The family was in a dilemma. They could not return to Norka, Russia because their farm and home were sold. It was decided that the parents and brother proceed with their journey and the daughters remained in Libau for treatment of their eye disease. Henry Miller made arrangements with a missionary organization to provide for the sisters. They stayed with a family couple who were very kind to them. Every morning the girls were administered drops that burned their eyes most of the day.
After several weeks, the eye conditions were cured and they were able to ship from Libau to Liverpool, England. On this journey, so far, there were many new sights going from the placid countryside of the Volga to the bustling city life. It was on the Liverpool docks that they saw their first black person.
With a three week delay, the sisters departed from Liverpool on July 17 aboard the steamship Dominion. The ship arrived in Philadelphia on July 18. Here again, a church mission provided for them. These arrangements were made by Rev. John Hopp of Portland.
From Philadelphia they boarded the train for the last leg of their journey - a three day trip to Portland. The mission people had given them sack lunches which included peaches. They had never seen this fuzzy-covered fruit before and did know how they should be eaten. Across the aisle from them sat a gentleman who was observing them and saw they had problems. He came to their rescue and it turned out the he spoke German and was also going to Portland. He was able to answer many of their questions and helped relieve the sisters' anxieties. In Spokane, there was a layover and this person bought them supper at a restaurant because they had depleted their money.
Amalia, Christina, and Elizabeth Miller arrived at the Union Station in Portland on August 12, 1912. There was a happy reunion with their parents, brother, and relatives. The daughters told of the gentleman that helped them during the train trip. Father Henry wanted to thank and reimburse this person who had disappeared into the crowed station. They felt sad that he could not be found.
During the entire trip from Libau to Portland, Oregon somebody was watching over the three sisters. There are such stories of coming to America that can be revived and shared.
By 1912 there had been a great migration of German-Russians to this country. There were a number of reasons for the movement such as over-population of the allotted farmland and the pressures in the "Russification" of the German people. The family of Henry and Margaret Miller also made the decision to emigrate. The plan was to locate in Portland, Oregon where they had relatives and friends living in a German-Russian community.
The Miller family consisted of father Henry (age 44), mother Margaret (age 46), daughters Amalia (age 18), Christina (age 16), Elizabeth (age 12), and son Henry (age 8). There was an older daughter, Katherine (age 24), who remained in Russia with her husband, Wilhelm Fink, and baby daughter, Lydia. Later, upon the death of her husband, she also came to America.
After a sad farewell, the family left the village of Norka in the Volga area on April 10, 1912. With their bundles and wicker baskets holding their belongings, they boarded the train in Saratov. This took them on a three-day trip to the seaport city of Libau (now Liepāja, Latvia). By this time they had heard of the great ocean liner Titanic, which had sunk on April 12. This added greatly to their apprehension of crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
In Libau, the family was given physical examinations and it was discovered that the daughters had trachoma, a contagious eye disease. Because of this condition, the U.S. Immigration authorities were denying entry into this country. People who had arrived in a U.S. port and failed the examinations were required to return to their homelands.
Henry Miller's daughters had to have this eye disease cured before arriving in this country. The family was in a dilemma. They could not return to Norka, Russia because their farm and home were sold. It was decided that the parents and brother proceed with their journey and the daughters remained in Libau for treatment of their eye disease. Henry Miller made arrangements with a missionary organization to provide for the sisters. They stayed with a family couple who were very kind to them. Every morning the girls were administered drops that burned their eyes most of the day.
After several weeks, the eye conditions were cured and they were able to ship from Libau to Liverpool, England. On this journey, so far, there were many new sights going from the placid countryside of the Volga to the bustling city life. It was on the Liverpool docks that they saw their first black person.
With a three week delay, the sisters departed from Liverpool on July 17 aboard the steamship Dominion. The ship arrived in Philadelphia on July 18. Here again, a church mission provided for them. These arrangements were made by Rev. John Hopp of Portland.
From Philadelphia they boarded the train for the last leg of their journey - a three day trip to Portland. The mission people had given them sack lunches which included peaches. They had never seen this fuzzy-covered fruit before and did know how they should be eaten. Across the aisle from them sat a gentleman who was observing them and saw they had problems. He came to their rescue and it turned out the he spoke German and was also going to Portland. He was able to answer many of their questions and helped relieve the sisters' anxieties. In Spokane, there was a layover and this person bought them supper at a restaurant because they had depleted their money.
Amalia, Christina, and Elizabeth Miller arrived at the Union Station in Portland on August 12, 1912. There was a happy reunion with their parents, brother, and relatives. The daughters told of the gentleman that helped them during the train trip. Father Henry wanted to thank and reimburse this person who had disappeared into the crowed station. They felt sad that he could not be found.
During the entire trip from Libau to Portland, Oregon somebody was watching over the three sisters. There are such stories of coming to America that can be revived and shared.
Source
Burbach, William. "A Journey to America". AHSGR Oregon Chapter Newsletter. Vol. 18, No. 2.
Last updated July 5, 2018.