AS THE 19TH CENTURY COMES TO A CLOSE IN EUROPE many countries are in a state of unrest. Thousands flee their current environment of political upheaval, uncertainty, poverty, and famine in hopes to settle in a country that can offer the promises made in the U.S. Constitution. In the last thirty years of the 19th century, nearly 40 million immigrants came to the U.S. Amongst them was a family from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the principality of Transylvania.

“I simply don’t understand Gustav. What is wrong with where we live? Our families are here. You know nothing about this country that you speak of! Why do you insist on this?” she asked defiantly.

“Our country is not in good condition and is no place to raise our family… You know the country of Romania has designs on us… There is political unrest and I have to make sure that my family is safe,” came the reply.

So started the challenge of moving to a country they knew little about in the hopes that they would have a better life, liberty, and the allowance for the pursuit of happiness. The journey was difficult for the young family, and challenges and heartache were met along the way. Never did they lose hope for the dream they had regardless of what they and tens of thousands of other forgotten immigrants faced.