The North Atlantic Ocean Family Emigration Routes from:
Bremen, Germany (1844) * Berlin, Prussia (1855 & 1856) * Sundsvall, Sweden (1903) Ain Arab, Lebanon/Syria (1899, 1903, 1905 & 1907) * Munich, Germany (1902) * Landskrona, Sweden (1902 & 1903) * Sundsvall, Sweden (1903) to the Western Skies

Wolff Bach (1844) * Charles Nathan (1855) * Sarah (Baruch) & Benjamin Nathan (1856) Fares Boutrous Abu Dakken (1899) * Ghattas (Attas) Fares Boutrous (1899) * Jirji Nassif Attiyeh (1903) * Anders Nelson (1902) * Max Hesslein (1902) * Christine, Anders, Helmer, Ernest Julius, Frank, Sebran, Abbie & Vera Erickson (1903) * Gerda, Sture, Anton, August, Clara Nelson (1903) * Delleh binto Jirji Nassif (Boutrous) Attiyeh (1905 & 1907) * Sheikh Assaf 'George' Nassif (1907)

Since childhood I have retraced the countless family stories told to me, and recently to an incredible degree. I have regarded them as pure gold, and as life's lessons, the true sonic tales of history. And historic they are, from my grandfather Frank's 'Lost Battalion' experiences in 1918, to my father Ernest Ander's piloting B-17s in the Air Corps in England, in 1944. Add to that Frank and my uncle Ernest Julius's cowboy days out west, and include the farming, real estate, businesses owned, traveling and merchant stories. The stories became shiny gems to lean on, and have been present for me ever since.
They guide me forward.

The 'Family Archive Project,' came about in 2014. It consists of an expansive photographic and document archive going back to the mid 1800s. The pages are filled with Western myths, immigrant challenges and heroic deeds. Countless images of family gatherings and studio portraits, but all with a classic tone and quality.

Acknowledging the multitude of families connected to the project, my intent was to create 'the one family' mixture of it all, that was the key. The beginning of all this is the individual immigrant story that began with their journey to America. From 1844 to 1907 dozens of family members crossed the Atlantic Ocean and headed to the U.S. The sacrifices they endured to find a new homeland is remarkable. What occurred after is equally inspiring.

I continue to search for other family emigration registry documents to determine when the full heritage of our family arrived in America. That is the fascinating part, and those will be added here when found. For now the dozen or so registries posted on the Family Archive Project is an incredible beginning. Two of these emigration documents are below from 1905 and 1907.

The tales that were told to me by my father Ernest Anders Erickson and my grandmother Clara Amelia (Nelson) Erickson blended and turned in my imagination. Over the years, others chimed in with their recollections, all filled with important details. Some things are often missing in these situations, and the challenge to search for the truth continues.

Beginning with the expansive arena of the family, in one regard, began when my Aunt Dian Marcella Erickson married Floyd Nick Boutrous in 1961 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This remarkable woman, Dian brought into the family an incredible group of folk. Energetic, smart, and very different than the subdued, stoic Skandis of the Erickson's and the Nelson's. A breath of fresh air swept in, and Dian gained a mother in-law by the name of Delleh binto Jirji Nassif Attiyeh - aka Della Boutrous. Della was overjoyed to have the beautiful Dian in the family, and over the next years, her 5 grandsons were born. On our family visits and in Los Angeles, I soon became aware of the Attiyeh Family, the mighty umbrella to so many other families.

The Attiyeh Family all come from the small village of Ain Arab in Lebanon/Syria. Exactly as a multitude of my Scandinavian and German family members emigrated by ship over the Atlantic from their countries, the Attiyeh took similar routes from the Middle East. The various families arrived in America between 1844 and 1907, and many dealt with Ellis Island, which was a small plot of an island in the Upper New York Bay. Ellis Island was the gateway for over 12 million immigrants for over 60 years from 1892, until it closed in 1954. As the our family immigrants passed through customs, and then began the final leg of their travels, they scattered to places like New York City; Easton, Pennsylvania; Sioux City and Cedar Rapids Iowa; and prairie towns called Denhoff, Wilton, Regan, Painted Woods and Bismarck, all in North Dakota.

Over a half dozen family names represent the total of the Attiyeh Family. Many tied in close, in regards to my personal connection of the Boutrous and Nassif Families. Many are represented here in photographs and the stories connected with those images. The Attiyeh Family consists of, besides the Boutrous and Nassif’s; the Nicola, Nemer, Saba, as well as offshoots, such as the Bashara and Skaff Families. As their stories came to light to me, I have begun to understand more, and with that, created a type of unity to the Project. With the guidance of my cousin, Michael Joseph Boutrous, the journey has become far easier.

Michael is the son of my Aunt Dian (Erickson) and Uncle Floyd Boutrous. What I learned from Michael, was immeasurable. Michael was the source of the Attiyeh family tales. The ship registry documents below and in other postings in the Family Archive Project, were supplied by our cousin, Julie Evans of Tucaipa, California.

Over the years I have studied the map, following in detail our family's various journeys from Europe and the Middle East to America. My father, Ernest Anders Erickson's grandparents on his father, Frank's side of the family, were Christine 'Kristina' Brita (Olson) Erickson who was born on December 28, 1864 in Sweden. Ernest's grandfather was Anders Alfred Erickson who was born on May 21st, 1860, also in Sweden. Christine and Anders, along with their children arrived in New York City on May 21st, 1903. My grandfather Frank Gustaf Severin Erickson was born in Sundsvall, Sweden on December 12th, 1892, and was 11 years old at the time when he and his family came to America.

Ernest's mother Clara Amelia (Nelson) Erickson was born on April 25th, 1903 in Landskrona, Sweden. Clara's father Anders Nelson was born on May 5th, 1860, also in Landskrona. Anders headed to America alone, his plan was to meet up with his brother Fredrick, and scout out a future homestead for him and his family in Painted Woods, North Dakota. Anders landed in Boston, Massachusetts on September 14th, 1902 and headed to Dakota.

Clara's mother, Gertrude 'Gerda' (Miljander) Nelson was born on August 12th, 1865 in Kyeflinger, Sweden. Over a year later, after her husband Anders arrived in America, Gerda and her 4 children began their travels to the United States. They arrived in New York City on October 3rd, 1903. Three different trips by the Erickson's and the Nelson's crossing the Atlantic to get here are remarkable endeavors. All three groups headed to North Dakota, where only a few years later, they all would be acquainted and eventually related.

My Grandfather Maximilian 'Max' Hesslein, was born on August 10th, 1878 in Furth, Bavaria, Germany. Max was the father of my mother Bernice Lane (Hesslein) Erickson. Max arrived in New York City on April 3rd, 1902 from Munich, Germany. Bernice's mother, my grandmother, Blanche Rose (Nathan) Hesslein was born on December 28th, 1884 in New York City. Blanche's grandfather Charles Nathan was born in Prussia in 1822, and arrived in the U.S. in 1855 from Germany.

Blanche's father, Benjamin Nathan who was born in Germany in 1847, and came to America when he was 9 years old. Benjamin's mother was Sarah (Baruch) Nathan who was born in Prussia in 1824. Sarah along with Benjamin and his 6 siblings joined Charles Nathan in New York City the following year, traveling from Europe in 1856.

My mother's grandmother, Henrietta (Bach) Nathan was born on August 11th, 1847 in Easton, Pennsylvania. Her father was Wolff Bach and he was born in Baden, Germany in 1820, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1844 at twenty four years old. Wolff's wife, my mother's Great Grandmother Louisa Gottheimer was born in 1829 in London, England, and emigrated to America in 1850.

The Lebanese/Syrian side of the family, under the banner of the Attiyeh, arrived in America in the late 1800s through the early part of the 20th Century. The poignant family members that are part of this late 19th Century and early 20th Century migration, and the main players in the following story are: My Aunt Dian's mother-in-law, Delleh binto Jirji Nassif Attiyeh - aka Della Boutrous, who attempted to emigrate in 1905, but was unsuccessful, yet in 1907 was fortunate to enter into country on her second try. Della's father, Jirji 'George' Nassif Attiyeh emigrated to the states in 1903. Also Della's husband Ghattas (Attas) Fares Boutrous, and his father, Fares Boutrous Abu Dakken, both emigrated in 1899.

The following are the tales of the North Atlantic sea journeys from Europe and the Middle East to America by my family. On May 21st, 1903, my Great Grandparent's Alfred Anders Erickson who was born on May 21st, 1860 and Christine Brita 'Kristina' (Olson) Erickson who was born on December 28th, 1864 and their 6 children arrived in New York City. Also traveling with them was a family friend, Brita Lisa Hammarström. After nine days at sea, the S.S. Aurania ported at Ellis Island.

The Erickson family had traveled from Sundsvall, Sweden to Liverpool, England, and on May 12th, they sailed west over the North Atlantic to America. They had begun their trek in Sundsvall, and by train and ferry, they had made it to Liverpool. My grandfather Frank (Frans) Gustaf Severin Erickson who was born on December 12th, 1892, was 11 years old at the time and was one of the children that made the trip.

The other Erickson children aboard were Ernst 'Ernest' Julius Alfred Erickson who was born on June 7th, 1889. Also Anders 'Andy' Sebran Filimon Erickson who was born on February 18th, 1896, Erick Alof 'Helmer' Erickson who was born on February 5th, 1886, Edla 'Vera' Alfrid Elivira (Gallager) Erickson who was born on March 10th, 1902 and Ebba 'Abbie' Angnis Kristina (Lincoln) Erickson who was born on October 10th, 1898. Christine and Anders and the 6 children were all born in Sundsvall and Torpshammer, Sweden. In North Dakota, a seventh child would be born to Christine and Anders, Alphons 'Al' Fredrick Alkallar Erickson who was born on August 6th, 1905 in Bismarck.

Arriving at Ellis Island, in Upper New York Bay, was daunting and the Erickson family luckily passed through customs without any problems. Within days they headed to downtown New York City and arrived at 42nd Street and Grand Central Station. This would be the last leg of their momentous journey, long multiple train rides to the Great Plains of North Dakota.

Spring was in full bloom, so the train ride was pleasant and they could enjoy the landscape passing by. The children were laughing and enjoying each new experience. Over a week of traveling through a dozen states, the Erickson's were told by the train conductor that they were in North Dakota. Within hours, carrying all their earthly belongings, they walked onto the train station platform in Bismarck. Anders brother, Fredrick, greeted them warmly, and the tired group headed to Fredrick's family farm in Slaughter, near Wilton, ND.

There are two of the dozen passenger/registry lists I have, and like many of the family ship registries presented through the Family Archive Project, they reveal the customs procedures of the era. Pen and inked by a clerk with all the pertinent information of each passenger listed, line after line: names, ages, how much money they had on them. Most important to the government, was where the passenger intended to go and who they knew or were related to there.

My Great Grandfather, Anders Nelson traveled from Landskrona to Copenhagen and then eventually shipped out from Malmo, Sweden and headed to Liverpool, England. In early September aboard the S.S. Merion, Anders sailed across the Atlantic to America. The Merion ported on September 14th, 1902 in Boston, Massachusetts, and Anders passed through immigration. His first thought was to head to the train station and begin the long haul to his family already settled in North Dakota. A long train ride awaited him, but he felt lucky it was the tail end of the Summer, and he would be long in Dakota Territory before the Winter chills would hit. Anders brother, August and his wife Amelia ran a farm in Painted Woods, and he looked forward to the idea of settling down in what would be his home for the rest of his life.

One has to reflect on the era when my family members began to emigrate to America. What was happening in the country at the time of their arrival. What was the mood of the people and what was affecting it's citizens. In the regard to main percentage of my families emigration at the turn of the 20th Century is significant. The list goes on and on, but issues that come to mind are worth mentioning here.

The 19th Century was done and gone, and the 20th Century passed into existence with a bang. America was percolating and significant occurrences were underway. One of the most significant days in the very early part of the Century, a sad greetings of violence, was the day in 1901, when President William H. McKinley was shot at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York while shaking hands with fair visitors. Anarchist Leon Czolgosz is arrested for the crime. Within a week, McKinley was gone and Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated as President.

Carrie Nation in 1900 continued her 'Temperance Movement' to abolish the consumption of liquor when she demolishes twenty-five saloons in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. The first modern World Series of Major League Baseball is held between the American and National Leagues. The first major oil discovery in Texas occurs near Spindletop in Beaumont. The first movie theater in the United States opens in Los Angeles, California. It was known as the Electric Theatre. The first two-way wireless communication between Europe and the U.S. is accomplished by Guglielmo Marconi when he transmits a message from President Theodore Roosevelt to the King of England from a telegraph station in South Wellfleet, Massachusetts.

In mid December of 1903, Inventors Wilbur and Orville Wright succeed in the first sustained and manned plane flight, taking the heavier-than-air machine through the winds of Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina. It was at that point man was taken into the age of flight. In 1904, Cy Young, of the Boston Americans, pitches the first perfect game against the Philadelphia Athletics in the modern era of Major League baseball. In 1904, the first successful field tractor is invented by American Benjamin Holt, using a caterpillar track to spread the weight in heavy agricultural machinery. In 1905, the city of Las Vegas, Nevada is formed with the sale of one hundred and ten acres in the downtown area.

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt grants protection to Indian ruins and authorizes presidents to designate lands with historic and scientific features as national monuments. This act, now known as the Antiquities Act, which would be utilized by Roosevelt to expand the National Parks system over his term was utilized for the first time on September 24, 1906 with the proclamation of Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, an 865 foot volcanic column. On June 29, legislation by Congress would continue to expand the national park system when it establishes Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, preserving the most notable prehistoric cliff dwellings in the United States of America. Muir Woods National Monument, named after conservationist John Muir, is added to the National Park System, as well as the Grand Canyon Monument, along with Pinnacles National Monument and the Roosevelt orders the continued expansion of federally protected lands like the Jewel Cave National Monument in southwest South Dakota. 1900-1909 was an amazing time, yet these were just some of the hundreds of occurrences that were beginning to shape the 20th Century in America.

The key piece of legislation that positively affected many of my family back in the day was the implementation of the Homestead Act of 1862. President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill on May 20, 1862 during the Civil War. It encouraged Western migration, by providing settlers with 160 acres of public land. In exchange, these homesteaders had to pay a small filing fee, and were required to live and work on the land for five years, before receiving full ownership of the land. The Homestead Act created a flurry of activity and the news got back to Europe and the Middle East, where many of my family eventually took advantage.

In early October of 1903, my Great Grandmother Gerda (Miljander) Nelson along with her four children Sture Albin, Anton Nick, August Valentine and my Grandmother Clara (Klara) Amelia Yunhild Nelson left Sweden for the long haul across a quarter of the world to America. Clara was a little over five months old at the time. The family departed from Malmo, Sweden for the their Atlantic crossing. The Nelson's were aboard the S.S. Scandinavian Amerika steamer, and after nine days at sea ported at Ellis Island. Gerda and her children shuffled through customs, and like Anders before them, headed to 42nd Street to Grand Central Station. The five of them began the arduous train ride to Bismarck, where Anders would be happily meeting them with Fredrick and Amelia.

Following my German Grandfather, at 24 years old, Max Hesslein's 1902 trek, takes an easier turn and is far more simplistic and relaxed. Jumping a train from Munich, Germany, his home for most of his life, he road across Germany to France and stopped in Paris. He figured he may never return to France again, so he took advantage of where he was, and ventured through the streets of Paris. He found a hotel and visited the Louvre and spent time in the Montparnasse and Montmartre districts enjoying the atmosphere.

Four days later he took the train to Cherbourg. The last European leg of his trip was coming closer. Max took the ferry across the English Channel to Southampton. From there he awaited on a steamer bound for the North Atlantic. He looked forward to the days out at sea, and especially to the adventure that awaited him in New York City.

Arriving at Ellis Island, Max was excited and thrilled that he had finally made it to America and filed into the lines he was directed and waited. Within a day or so, Max was on the mainland and took the train to downtown New York City, planning to look up some friends that had traveled before him. His life had begun again, and the sky was the limit.

Aboard the S.S. Bremen Barth Kosonos, my Great Great Grandfather Charles Nathan, left the port of Bremen, Germany and headed for his new homeland in America: New York City. He arrived on January 9th, 1855 and within days strode into the city, with a new feeling of confidence.

Charles had begun his life in Prussia, which is much of today's Germany. He was born and raised in Berlin and eventually raised a family there. He married Sarah (Baruch) Nathan in 1840 and it was not until 1853 after having their sixth child, that they had come to the conclusion it was time to seek new options in the West. Both had heard the stories, from fellow co-workers of Charles, that America was indeed the land of opportunity. Charles was 36 years old at the time, when he boarded a ship in in 1855 in Bremen for the West. What was written by a clerk in the ship registry, for Charles's profession, was 'Merchant,' would serve him well for the rest of his life in the states. Charles and Sarah would have two more children in America.

In 1855, things were bubbling in America, just as Charles and his family newly arrived began to settle in New York City. It was an unique time to be on the eastern coast of the country. From the 1830s to the 1860s, the movement to abolish slavery in America was finally gaining momentum. It was led by free blacks such as Frederick Douglass and white supporters such as William Lloyd Garrison, who was running the radical newspaper, 'The Liberator.' And Harriet Beecher Stowe, had just published the antislavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852. It's affects were growing into what many considered helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War.

It was just 4 years before Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th President of the United States, and just 4 years before the War Between the States begins, as 11 states; South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina secede from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America. The Civil War burns on till 1865, and then a serious insult to everyone, the assassination of Lincoln culminates in a terrible chapter of America's history. If crazier times existed in the U.S. before or after, these calamities of the mid 1850s through the 1860s are direly poignant.

On a lighter note, at the same time in America Walt Whitman's poetry collection 'Leaves of Grass' is published in Brooklyn and the first bridge over the Mississippi River opens. Of all things imagined, the U.S. Congress decides to appropriate $30,000 to create the U.S. Camel Corps, and as a Californian, I have to mention that the ongoing California Gold Rush begins to peak out by the late 1850s.

Aboard the S.S. Meta, my Great Great Grandfather Wolff Bach left the port of Bremen, Germany and headed for his new homeland in America. He arrived on September 9th, 1844 and ported in the New York Harbor. He had begun his journey from his homeland of Prussia (now Germany). Wolff was 23 years old and he had written 'Bookbinder' as his profession on the ship registry.

To imagine what it was like in America back in the mid-late 1840s, one would have to recall their history well. James Knox Polk was President and James Marshall discovers gold near Sutter's Fort in California, and that begins the California Gold Rush. Ireland's 'Potato Famine' results in an influx of Irish immigrants to the United States beginning in 1845.

The American Medical Association is founded in Philadelphia and Captain Charles Wilkes circumnavigates Antarctica, claiming it for the United States. Of personal interest, Alexander Cartwright and his New York Knickerbockers organized the 'Rules of Baseball' in 1845 and in 1846, Elias Howe patents the sewing machine. Times were a changing, and Wolff shows up ready and able to succeed.

Starting in Ain Arab, Fares Boutrous Abu Dakken and his son Ghattas (Attas) Fares Boutrous Abu Dakken left for the beginning of their trek to Beirut. From there the two continued on the difficult task of traversing through the Mediterranean with multiple stops in ports along the way to pick up more passengers. Then onboard the S. S. Le Bretagne they sailed through the Straits of Gibralter into the darkness of the North Atlantic.

On June 18th, 1899, the Le Bretagne sailed into the New York Harbor and passed Lady Liberty with everyone staring eagerly outwards to the incredible sights of New York City. The ship headed to Ellis Island and every passenger filed out as ordered and stood in line and waited their turns to be summoned by a customs clerk. My Uncle Floyd's father, Ghattas Fares Boutrous and grandfather Fares Boutrous were two of the hundreds of passengers that were looking forward to entry into the United States. The story of Fares and Ghattas' (later changed to Attas) journey across the Atlantic from Beirut, Lebanon to New York City is fascinating. Like countless other immigrant families stories, they are treasures for us to consider. For Ghattas, his birth homeland was Lebanon/Syria and his new home would be forever, America.

Jirji 'George' Nassif Attiyeh and his daughter and Delleh binto Jirji Nassif Attiyeh - aka Della Boutrous traveled to America together aboard the S.S. New York. They had left Ain Arab in early June of 1905, then headed to Beirut, then to Alexandria, Egypt, then to Marseilles and then the final distance across France. Eventually they arrived in the Port of Cherbourg, France and sailed from there to America. They arrived at the Port of New York on July 2nd, 1905. As they steamed through the Port, it was obvious, Della was not well. Jirji was already an U.S. Citizen by this time, having been earlier to America, and was in good health. Jirji was cleared for Entry into the U.S. at Ellis Island. Della however, was not as fortunate. She was deemed to have medical problems; an infection in my eye, Trachoma, and was sent to the hospital for treatment.

After Della was treated, it was deemed by the officials in charge that she would be deported back to Lebanon. Jirgi made the hardest decision, not to accompany his daughter home. He decided what was best for the family was for him to continue on his own to Dakota. On July 5th, 1905, that is what happened, Della was put on a ship heading back to France and eventually was forced to make the long haul back to Ain Arab, Lebanon on her own. How she managed that experience at her age was incredible.

The trip back to Ain Arab from Alexandria and Beirut was extremely difficult in those days. Most of the traversing would have been by horse, donkey or foot, most likely on foot. If you were lucky one could beg their way on a caravan of sorts along the way. Della would have been very lucky to have had shoes, and it was a route riddled with danger. Bandits, Turks, truly a hell of a journey. To think that at 11 years old Della made this journey alone. But lucky she was only 11 years old, maybe better odds of making it back to her village unscathed as a pre-teen girl. But one can only wonder the dangers she faced.

Two years later in 1907, Della at 13 years old, along with her 1st cousin Assaf 'George' Nassif Attiyeh, who was 16 at the time, journeyed to America together. Beginning from Ain Arab in a caravan to the port city of Beirut, then they traveled to Alexandria, Egypt, and from Alexandria, to Marseilles, France. Leaving Marseilles and traveling through the Straits of Gibraltar, passing Tangiers, Morocco, they ventured out into the North Atlantic Ocean. Della had made this trip before with Jirji in 1905, when she was 11 years old, so she was accustomed to what was happening. Della also knew what could happen at the end of the ship's journey. Heading to Mexico seemed like the thing to do, considering her last experience at Ellis Island and being deported.

Michael tells a great story about Della's and Assaf's journey through Mexico and up to North Dakota.

"One tale along the trip that I can never forget; The young Uncle Assaf (on his ascent to Shaykhdom), Delleh's 16 year old cousin, was in charge of the loot for the trip. He began at one point divvying up coins betwixt him and Grandma Delleh, “one for you, and one for me,” type deal.

I can still hear his voice in my mind, it was a joyful, uniquely old country, emotion filled voice - all the younger generations that knew him well, still imitate it to this day. So, the coins had been dispersed, and Assaf came to the paper bills. There was an odd number of paper bills, so Assaf, holding the purse strings, did a very diplomatic and cute thing for a 16 year old; he tore the dollar bill in two and gave one half to Grandma!”

Della and Assaf's ship pulled into the harbor at Tampico, Mexico and they walked on land for the first time in a week. From Tampico, Della and Assaf traveled up thru Mexico by train, and horseback. They met many travelers on the way, most on the same journey they were committed to. It was all part of the life of the immigrant Della and Assaf came to know and witness on the many roads they traversed., Everyone hoping for the best and safe travels to the north. Della was imagining what it would be like in Dakota, far into the northern lands up near the Canadian border.

On July 13th, 1907 from the municipality of Zaragoza, in the state of Coahuila in north-eastern Mexico, Assaf and Della crossed the border into the United States. They passed through customs in Eagle Pass, Texas and looked northward, toward where they would inevitably be heading.

Della was traveling to reunite with her father, Jirji at the family homestead in Sheridan County, North Dakota, near Denhoff. They both spoke no English and Della and Assaf made their way by train to the Great Northern Plains. Della had pinned a piece of paper to her jacket with the words 'Denhoff, North Dakota' written on it. After days on their way, the two made it to the train station in Bismarck, where they were met by Jirji and Assaf's older brother, Karam Nassif. The group then went to the family homestead. Assaf later would stay with Karam, who also had a homestead near Denhoff.

Michael writes:
At the end of the day, in spite of the all the trials and tribulations, the rejections and the agonizing wait, it was a good deal and it all panned out for Della. She made it to America, and was granted entry finally. Della got to live out an extraordinary life in America. Later in her days, Grandma was asked by a friend if she would rather move back to Lebanon, due to the 'unbearable' Northern Plains winters. Della simply pointed at the thermostat and said, “Weather, I have the best weather in the world right here!"

And with that statement by Della, it sums up many of the immigrants of those days. They were just grateful to have made it and made the best out of it they could. Della was blessed with an incredible large family and made countless friends in America. Her life was full and noteworthy. Her children and their children's children and on from there continue her legacy. Della was the true testament to the immigrant.continue her legacy. Della was the true testament to the immigrant.

Below is the North Atlantic ship registry aboard the S.S. New York, from Jirgi & Della (Dally) Nassif Boutrous' 1905 journey. The second image is Della & Assaf Nassif's 1907 border crossing document from the municipality of Zaragoza, in the state of Coahuila in north-eastern Mexico and their passing into the U.S. at Eagle Pass, Texas.