Spot on. My Italian grandfather came to Ellis Island in 1901. He was 19 years old, had no English, little education, had no family or friends in America. He was denied entry as being likely to become a public charge. He would have returned to Italy, but he met a jobber, Padron in Italian custom, who was hiring for the Niagara Parks power station in Niagara Falls Ontario. He worked till the structure was completed, became a Canadian citizen, but still wanted America. He crossed the Peace Bridge in 1904, and as he was stopped by US Customs who asked for papers, rather than show his Canadian citizenship dox, he took out a wad of US dollars. His pay, saved from three plus years of work and exchanged for US dollars. “ These are my papers!” he said. The startled border agent just said “ Welcome to America”. He stared a grocery store on Third Avenue and 53rd St in Manhattan. It took 14 years to become a citizen. Two of his sons fought Italian units in which their cousins served. He and my grandmother always spoke of Italy as “ the old country”. Something totally unknown to today’s illegal and some legal immigrants.
My late mother’s Birth family fled Germany in 1937. They sold thier busniess, and then bilt a new one here. This evil tribe(I’m not talking about most Jews) came here to destroy.
Wonderful account of your strong, creative and determined grandfather! I love stories like this! What a family!