Klem Family Research Paper
The Klem Family Comes To America
Lithuanian immigration to North America was spurred by economic opportunity and political oppression. A large wave of immigrants came between 1880 and 1914, when an estimated 300,000 arrived. The Klem family was part of this wave of immigration, arriving sometime in the mid to late 1880s. They left their native Lithuania and made the long journey across the great oceans. Simon, along with his father Joseph, mother Mary, and brother Joseph made the journey together.
In most cases, Lithuanians did not have enough funds to make the journey all at once. Several stopped along their route to take temporary employment to finance their passage to America. Many disembarked at Glasgow, Scotland, the northernmost industrial …show more content…
The native lands of their neighbors were diverse, including Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Austria, Italy, and Ireland. Most of these immigrant neighbors had family members working in the coal mines. Simon and his brother Joseph, and father, worked in the coal mines. Most of the miners could read, write and speak English. It is likely because it made functioning in the work environment easier.
Klem Family Economics The coal mining industry was a difficult one. Employment was short and erratic, and the pay was meager. It is estimated that sixty percent of adult miners earned less than $450.00 per year. It was difficult to live on one income, which explains why Simon, his brother Joseph, and father, all lived and work together to support their family. By 1900, the Klem family had welcomed three additional children, Annie, Mary, and Ellie.
During the Industrial Revolution it was not uncommon for a daughter or son to defer marriage or remain single. They were expected to continue supporting younger family members, and aging parents. Joseph, Simone’s brother, was forty-seven, and a single man on the 1930 federal census. He lived most of his adult life in the family home. First he contributed to the family finances, and then he provided for his retired father, mother, and
Lithuanian immigration to North America was spurred by economic opportunity and political oppression. A large wave of immigrants came between 1880 and 1914, when an estimated 300,000 arrived. The Klem family was part of this wave of immigration, arriving sometime in the mid to late 1880s. They left their native Lithuania and made the long journey across the great oceans. Simon, along with his father Joseph, mother Mary, and brother Joseph made the journey together.
In most cases, Lithuanians did not have enough funds to make the journey all at once. Several stopped along their route to take temporary employment to finance their passage to America. Many disembarked at Glasgow, Scotland, the northernmost industrial …show more content…
The native lands of their neighbors were diverse, including Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Austria, Italy, and Ireland. Most of these immigrant neighbors had family members working in the coal mines. Simon and his brother Joseph, and father, worked in the coal mines. Most of the miners could read, write and speak English. It is likely because it made functioning in the work environment easier.
Klem Family Economics The coal mining industry was a difficult one. Employment was short and erratic, and the pay was meager. It is estimated that sixty percent of adult miners earned less than $450.00 per year. It was difficult to live on one income, which explains why Simon, his brother Joseph, and father, all lived and work together to support their family. By 1900, the Klem family had welcomed three additional children, Annie, Mary, and Ellie.
During the Industrial Revolution it was not uncommon for a daughter or son to defer marriage or remain single. They were expected to continue supporting younger family members, and aging parents. Joseph, Simone’s brother, was forty-seven, and a single man on the 1930 federal census. He lived most of his adult life in the family home. First he contributed to the family finances, and then he provided for his retired father, mother, and