In a small German village on New Year's Eve 1903, my father, William Frederick was born. He was the oldest of thirteen children. Life was challenging and after his brother was born, my grandfather traveled to the New World. Grandpa worked hard to save enough money to bring his family to America.
Came to America as a Stow-Away
The day came when my Grandma and her two little boys could travel across the seas to unite with Grandpa and have a better life. There was not enough money for the three of them to travel as passengers so my dad and his brother were stow-aways in the hull of the ship. It was a three week journey with little food for the boys to share. My father was four years old and would go the kitchen and beg for the table scraps that had been thrown away. Often, he was reprimanded for being there and given nothing to eat.
