To the Copper Country
Page 9
Private collection of letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs compiled by my grandfather (originally Anton Lesac/Lesic), born January 2, 1880, in Smisliak, Croatia, chronicling his life as an immigrant, Michigan state legislator, prosecuting attorney, and judge.
Lucas, Robert. A. Letter to the author, October 28, 1993. Correspondence with Robert A. Lucas, second cousin, who shared recollections and copies of family photos, including one of the ancestral home in Croatia.
Maps
Gale, M. P. Geological Survey of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan 1869–1873.
New York: Julius Bien, 1873. Print. Ann Arbor: Bentley Historical Museum.
Historic reference document, showing information relating to the mines of the area.
Haefer, F. C. Bird’s-eye view map of Houghton, MI. 1881. Postcard reproduction. Ann Arbor: Bentley Historical Museum.
Offcial Records
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington, DC.
New York Passenger Lists, 1820–1957. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com via stevemorse.org. Web archive.
I located the manifest with my great-grandmother and my grandfather’s names listed that documents the ship they boarded. This information helped me research what the ship looked like, their departure port, and what foods they served on board.
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington, DC.
United States Selective Service. Draft card of my grandfather, Anthony Lucas, verifying his birthdate. Microfilm.
Web
Bradley, Sherri. The US GenWeb Project. http://www.usgenweb.org/research/immigration.shtml.
Genealogy research portal with helpful recommendations about finding immigration and passenger arrival records.
Center for Upper Peninsula Studies. “U. P. History.” Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI. http://www.nmu.edu/upperpeninsulastudies/node/16.
Portal for many aspects of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, including history, folklore, mining history, political history and geography.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum. “Locomotives and More.” Web archive. http://cprr.org/Museum/Locomotives/index.html
Resource for descriptions and details of railroad engines and cars used in the United States during the mid-late nineteenth century.
Cook, William. Michigan Forests Forever: Teacher’s Guide. Michigan State University Extension; Forest Biomass Innovation Center, Escanaba, MI. http://mff.dsisd.net/Default.htm.
Tree basics, including identification, forest ecology, and environmental concerns.
———. Upper Peninsula Tree Identification Key. Michigan State University Extension; Forest Biomass Innovation Center, Escanaba, MI. http://uptreeid.com.
This site is a child-friendly reference for both trees and plant identification and shows particular counties in the Upper Peninsula where species grow.
Copper Country Historical Collections. An Interior Ellis Island: Ethnic Diversity and the Peopling of Michigan’s Copper Country. “Keweenaw Ethnic Groups: The Croatians.” Michigan Technological University Archives. J. Robert Van Pelt Library, Houghton, MI. ethnicity.lib.mtu.edu Information about the various Keweenaw ethnic groups, including Croatians.
“Destination America.” http://www.pbs.org/destinationamerica/usim_wn_noflash_4.html.
Accompanying website for a PBS-produced television series about immigration.
Houghton County Historical Society. http://www.houghtonhistory.org/exhibits.html.
Keweenaw County Historical Society. http://www.keweenawhistory.org/sites/sitemap.html.
Johnson, Dan, et al. “Bringing the Past to the Present.” The Keweenaw Ingot.
Summer 2005. National Park Service, US Department of the Interior. https://www.nps.gov/kewe/learn/news/upload/2005KeweenawIngotforweb.pdf.
Juch, Juden, and Roy. “My Zeisler Family.” http://www.juch.net/zeisler.htm.
Information about immigrant ships leaving from the port of Bremen/Bremerhaven, Germany, in the late 1800s, which is the port from which my ancestors departed. Descriptions of life onboard and a few photos.
Keweenaw National Historical Park. “Keweenaw’s Copper Story.” US National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/kewe/index.htm.
The role of copper in the lives of the people who have lived in the Upper Peninsula, from ancient native peoples to the many immigrants who came to work during the boom years. History, photos and multimedia.
Keweenaw Time Traveler. Regional historical maps and other historical resources for the Copper Country. http://www.keweenawhistory.com.
Magnaghi, Russell M. Portals to the Past: A Bibliographical and Resource Guide to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. http://www.nmu.edu/sites/DrupalUpperPeninsulaStudies/files/UserFiles/Files/Pre-Drupal/SiteSections/UPHistory/Upper_Peninsula_Bibliography.pdf.
Michigan’s Copper Country in Photographs. Keweenaw Digital Archives. J. Robert Van Pelt and Opie Library, Michigan Technological University. http://digarch.lib.mtu.edu.
Original photographs of the Calumet-Houghton region from the late 19th century, accessible online.
Michigan History Center. http://www.michigan.gov/mhc/0,4726,7-282-61080---,00.html.
Michigan’s Internet Railroad History Museum http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/Timeline/1880s/TimeLine1880sBackUp.htm.
Norway-Heritage Hands Across the Sea. http://www.norwayheritage.com.
Information about passenger ships from a variety of ports in Europe in the late nineteenth century, including photographs and other historical data. (This site allowed me to find a picture of the ship that brought my ancestors to the United States, the Lake Simcoe of the Beaver Line, formerly registered as the EMS from the North German Lloyd shipping line.)
“The Peopling of America.” The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. http://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/peopling-of-america-center.
A timeline showing forces behind immigration and their impact on the immigrant experience.
Powell, Kimberly. Castle Garden-America’s First Immigration Center. http://genealogy.about.com/od/ports/p/castle_garden.htm.
Portal to database, history, immigrants, passenger lists.
Tamburitza Association of America. “Overview of Tambura Instrumentation.” http://www.tamburitza.org/TAA/articles/instruments.html.
Illustrations and definitions of the various acoustic stringed instruments in the tambura family.
US National Park Service. Castle Clinton. www.nps.gov/cacl/index.htm.
Site features information and photos of the immigrant entrance point used prior to Ellis Island, where my family was processed before entering the United States.
Image Credits
p. vi Mihaela’s Journey. Map by Coni Porter.
p. 101 MS 042-045-U-194, J.T. Reeder, photographer; Reeder Photographic Collection, Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections, Houghton, Michigan.
p. 102 MS 042-039-T-071, J. Harry Reeder, donor; Reeder Photographic Collection, Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections, Houghton, Michigan.
p. 102 MTU Neg 00558, Roy Drier Photographic Collection, Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections, Houghton, Michigan.
p. 103 ACC 239-5-6-1985-02-124, Frederick Fraley Sharpless, photographer, Eric Sharpless, donor; Frederick Fraley Sharpless Photographic Collection, Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections, Houghton, Michigan.
p. 103 MS003-011-GN101.1, Universal Oil Products, donor; Calumet and Hecla Photograph Collection, Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections, Houghton, Michigan.
p. 104 LD3328H3-18-1, Raymond Smith, donor; Centennial Collection, Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections, Houghton, Michigan.
p. 104 ACC 239-5-6-1985-02-127, Eric Sharpless, donor; Frederick Fraley Sharpless Photograph Collection, Mic
higan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections, Houghton, Michigan.
p. 105 No neg 2010-11-01-13, “L. D. H,” artist. Postcard c/o Greenlee Printing Co, Calumet, MI. Postcard Collection, Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections, Houghton, Michigan.
p. 106 Nara 42-139, J. W. Nara, photographer, William Nara, donor, Nara Photographic Collection, Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections, Houghton, Michigan.
p. 106 Book E726-M6-08-01, Archives Book Collection, Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections, Houghton, Michigan.
p. 107 Henry Wellge, Beck and Pauli, J. J. Stoner. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division. J. J. Stoner. Madison, WI: J. J. Stoner 1881. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g4114c.pm003401.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the following people for their assistance in making this book a reality:
My husband, Bill, and children Elizabeth and Nicholas, for their extraordinary patience and participation during research trips and the entire writing and revising process; my Treetops writing group— Amy Appleton, Monica Baker, Peter Fakoury, Peter Fendrick, Traci Grigg, and Jane Udovic, for years of encouragement and help; Mary Quattlebaum, for her friendship as a teacher, mentor, and early believer; Carolyn Coman, for her workshop magic as well as extra support; Lindsay Hiltunen and Georgeann Larsen of Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections for their help obtaining photos and permissions and for cheerfully answering questions; Thomas Truscott, member of the Michigan Historical Commission and former history teacher, for his encouragement and early enthusiasm; Silvija Belajec and Zana Pedic, advisors to the executive director of EDS19, World Bank Group, Washington, DC, for Croatian translation and expertise with pronunciation and spelling; John Backman of Dollar Bay, Michigan, for sharing photographs, resources, and local knowledge; Jennifer Strand, Osceola Township School/Public Library, for sharing “A History of Osceola Township”; Jeremiah Mason, archivist at the Lake Superior Collection Management Center, Keweenaw National Historic Park, for his suggestions and in-depth knowledge of the Copper Country; Ellen Braaf, regional advisor for SCBWI, who has helped me and so many others in our mid-Atlantic chapter; and the children’s librarians at the Georgetown and Palisades branches of DCPL.
Special thanks to Kathryn Wildfong for editorial support, guidance, and kindness, and her terrific team at WSU Press—Carrie Teefey, Emily Nowak, Rachel Ross, Kristina Stonehill, Jamie Jones, and copyeditor Lindsey Alexander.