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 to work and save enough money to bring his family to America.
TRAVELLING AS STOW-AWAYS
The day came when Grandma and her two boys could travel across the seas to unite with Grandpa for a better life. There was not enough money for the three of them to travel as passengers; 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 beg the kitchen staff for table scraps that had been thrown away. He was reprimanded for asking and given nothing to eat.
