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 overpopulation of the allotted farmland and the pressures of 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 train took them on a three-day trip to the seaport city of Libau (now Liepaja, Latvia). By this time, they had heard about the great ocean liner, Titanic, which had sunk on April 12. This news added greatly to their apprehension about crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
In Libau, family members were given physical examinations. It was discovered that the daughters had trachoma, a contagious eye disease. Because of this condition, the U.S. Immigration authorities denied their 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 the eye disease cured before arriving in the United States. The family was in a dilemma. They could not return to Norka because their farm and home had been sold. It was decided that the parents and brother would proceed with their journey, and the daughters would remain 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 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, there were many new sights, ranging from the placid countryside of the Volga to bustling city life. It was on the Liverpool docks that they first saw a black person.
After 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 not know how they should be eaten. Across the aisle from them sat a gentleman. He was observing them and saw they had a problem. He came to their rescue, and it turned out that he spoke German and was also going to Portland. He answered many of their questions and helped relieve the sisters' anxieties. There was a layover in Spokane, and this gentleman bought them supper at a restaurant because they had depleted their money.
Amalia, Christina, and Elizabeth Miller arrived at 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 who helped them during the train trip. Father Henry wanted to thank and reimburse this person who had disappeared into the crowded station. They felt sad that he could not be found.
During the entire trip from Libau to Portland, Oregon, somebody watched over the three sisters. Many such stories of coming to America 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 overpopulation of the allotted farmland and the pressures of 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 train took them on a three-day trip to the seaport city of Libau (now Liepaja, Latvia). By this time, they had heard about the great ocean liner, Titanic, which had sunk on April 12. This news added greatly to their apprehension about crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
In Libau, family members were given physical examinations. It was discovered that the daughters had trachoma, a contagious eye disease. Because of this condition, the U.S. Immigration authorities denied their 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 the eye disease cured before arriving in the United States. The family was in a dilemma. They could not return to Norka because their farm and home had been sold. It was decided that the parents and brother would proceed with their journey, and the daughters would remain 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 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, there were many new sights, ranging from the placid countryside of the Volga to bustling city life. It was on the Liverpool docks that they first saw a black person.
After 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 not know how they should be eaten. Across the aisle from them sat a gentleman. He was observing them and saw they had a problem. He came to their rescue, and it turned out that he spoke German and was also going to Portland. He answered many of their questions and helped relieve the sisters' anxieties. There was a layover in Spokane, and this gentleman bought them supper at a restaurant because they had depleted their money.
Amalia, Christina, and Elizabeth Miller arrived at 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 who helped them during the train trip. Father Henry wanted to thank and reimburse this person who had disappeared into the crowded station. They felt sad that he could not be found.
During the entire trip from Libau to Portland, Oregon, somebody watched over the three sisters. Many such stories of coming to America can be revived and shared.
Source
Burbach, William. "A Journey to America". AHSGR Oregon Chapter Newsletter. Vol. 18, No. 2. The original was edited for clarity.
Last updated October 26, 2023