Tag Archives: immigration

My Journey To America: August 1, 1914

Exactly 100 years ago today, my 18 year old grandfather, Kurt William Leucht, wrote the following entry into his journal:

 At 1:45am, we finally arrived in Chicago. Those of us who were to continue on received a piece of paper, which was pinned on.  At the train station, buses were waiting.  Everyone was placed on the appropriate bus.  Now, I was all alone.  The bus I was on went to another train station.  I had a four and a half hour layover before my train left for Peoria.  While waiting, I ventured out to look at the city of Chicago for a little bit.

At 9:00am, the train left.  I arrived in Peoria just before 2:00pm.

I took a taxi to my Uncle Gustav [Degenkolb’s] home, according to the address on my paper [822 Griswold Street near Humboldt].  When I got there, I rang the doorbell; but no one was home.  It wasn’t long before my Aunt [Alice] came.  My uncle was out of town and was to be back home on Tuesday.  My aunt and I spoke German with each other.  She could not speak much, but it was sufficient.  I washed myself thoroughly and laid down for awhile, since I was quite tired from the trip.

[On this very day, Germany was declaring war against Russia.  Kurt had no idea this was even happening.]

“Uncle” Gustav is not an uncle, nephew, nor cousin to Kurt even though he referred to him as Uncle Gustav throughout his journal. According to genealogical research Kurt’s father, Julius, had a sister named Alma who married a Degenkolb. This Degenkolb, Julius’ brother-in-law, had a brother named Gustav who came to America. So “Uncle” Gustav is related only by marriage to Kurt’s Aunt Alma.

Reverend Gustav J Degenkolb was born in the province of Saxony, Germany in 1876. He was twenty years older than Kurt. He came to the United States in 1896. He married his wife, Alice, in America. He was the first minister, from 1911-1915, of Grace Evangelical Church, located on the NW corner of 605 Stanley Street at Humboldt in Peoria.

Kurt and Verna were married in this church in 1920. The church built a new building diagonally across the street in 1925 which still stands there today. Kurt’s third son, Bill, married Gail in the 1925 building in 1966. It became Grace Evangelcal United Brethren Church in 1946, then Grace United Methodist Church in 1968 ending its affiliation in 2002 and was sold.

You can read my grandfather’s entire journal and see vintage photos of Chicago and Peoria by clicking below.  It’s quite interesting!  Of course, I’m biased!   🙂

http://www.leucht.com/history/My_Journey_To_America-Journal_of_Kurt_William_Leucht-1914_to_1920.pdf

Thanks for your interest!
Kurt

My Journey To America: July 31, 1914

Exactly 100 years ago today, my 18 year old grandfather, Kurt William Leucht, wrote the following entry into his journal:

 At 5:00am, the train stopped in Hornell, NY, where we had a twenty minute layover.  We had breakfast.  We continued on the whole day and night.  During daylight hours, I was able to enjoy the wonderful landscape.  Occasionally there was a village or small city where the train stopped.

You can read my grandfather’s entire journal by clicking below.  It’s quite interesting!  Of course, I’m biased!   🙂

http://www.leucht.com/history/My_Journey_To_America-Journal_of_Kurt_William_Leucht-1914_to_1920.pdf

Thanks for your interest!
Kurt

My Journey To America: July 30, 1914

Exactly 100 years ago today, my 18 year old grandfather, Kurt William Leucht, wrote the following entry into his journal:

 I got up at 5:00am.  At 7:00, we had to go to the luggage hall where the suitcases were managed.  From there, we were quickly transported to Ellis Island [via ferry] where we were examined.  We came into a large hall where everyone was shown to a specific location.

Since I had given the address of my uncle, I was directed to go to an area for Peoria, Illinois [Peoria is 170 miles SW of Chicago].  Then I came to the luggage room, where I had to find my things.  I got my ticket to Peoria, which cost $18, and that was that.  We had to wait until 3:00pm to get on a ship which left at 5:00 for the train station.  [This was likely a ferry from Ellis Island to the mainland.]  Everyone was decorated with a large piece of paper.  We didn’t have to ask, every employee knew where we belonged.

We stayed in the train station until 7:00, then we were led to the ready trains.  Shortly before 7:30, the train began to move.  There were twelve Germans in my section of the train and we made ourselves comfortable.  There was no difference between First and Fourth Class.  Every section of the train was the same and was furnished something like our Second Class.  Now the train was moving thru New York City, beyond and to the West [towards the city of Chicago].  Night came and we laid down to sleep as good as possible.

You can read my grandfather’s entire journal and see photos of Ellis Island from the early 1900’s by clicking below.  It’s quite interesting!  Of course, I’m biased!   🙂

http://www.leucht.com/history/My_Journey_To_America-Journal_of_Kurt_William_Leucht-1914_to_1920.pdf

Thanks for your interest!
Kurt

My Journey To America: July 29, 1914

Exactly 100 years ago today, my 18 year old grandfather, Kurt William Leucht, wrote the following entry into his journal:

 It was 11:30am [Germany time] when I got up; 5:30am New York time.  [Kurt now switched to New York City time in his journal.]  At 9:00, we saw land far on the horizon.  At 10:30, we could recognize the buildings of New York City fairly well.  At noon, we rode past the skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty.

We docked at 8:00pm [in Hoboken, NJ which is a couple miles from Ellis Island].  From a distance, one could see the thousands of people at the arrival hall, who were expecting us and shouting well wishes.  It was a great joy.  Shortly before docking, a heavy rain came down, but it soon stopped.  First and Second Class disembarked, while we had to remain in the lower decks overnight.  There was much to see on the docks from the ship.

You can read my grandfather’s entire journal and see photos of what New York and Ellis Island actually looked like in 1914 by clicking below.  It’s quite interesting!  Of course, I’m biased!   🙂

http://www.leucht.com/history/My_Journey_To_America-Journal_of_Kurt_William_Leucht-1914_to_1920.pdf

Thanks for your interest!
Kurt

My Journey To America: July 26, 1914

Exactly 100 years ago today, my 18 year old grandfather, Kurt William Leucht, wrote the following entry into his journal:

 Nice weather today.  Rain began to fall in the evening.

You can read my grandfather’s entire journal by clicking below.  It’s quite interesting!  Of course, I’m biased!   🙂

http://www.leucht.com/history/My_Journey_To_America-Journal_of_Kurt_William_Leucht-1914_to_1920.pdf

Thanks for your interest!
Kurt