Honoring our Immigrant Herritage Survey

Full Name

Ridgeway, Janet (Walsh)

What are your ties to Collyer?

(Grew up there)

Where did you live?

Which School did you attend?

What was your religious affiliation?

Catholic - Protestant.

Do you have any stories to tell about family hardships resulting from building and oranizing a Collyer Church or Church Structure?

Were your friends and neighbors all of the same religious affiliation?

No - Both Catholic & Protestant.

Your ethnic background/which country did your ancesters call home?

Irish/English/German. My father - Irish/English

My mother - German/English

What language was spoken in the home?

English

Did you experience any problems or barriers caused by speaking a different language?

What ethnic and/or religiuos traditions do you specifically remember growing up with? Does your family still practice the same traditions?

Walsh family, large dinners with fine china and silver. (No, we don't.)

When did you and/or your family move to Collyer?

Ancestors moved to Collyer, Homestad granted in 1900.

Do you know how "Collyer" was chosen as a home designation? (Why did your family move here?) Did they operate a farm on homesteaded property?

Great Grandmother (English) married a Walsh from County Cork, Ireland who was considered to be beneath her family status. She left her family temporarily to come to America to get away from the shame. She later earned enough money in America to send for her husband and sons.

Did you/and or your family operate a business in Collyer?

Did you or your parents serve in the military?

Father in WWII

Brother - Army 1953-54

Were there problems caused by your ethnic background?

Was your family name changed after you arrived in the United States?

What year were you born?

1939

Where was you place of birth?

Quinter, Kansas

Why did your family leave their homeland?

Poverty, famine (Potato Famine) and to get away from shame.

What form of travel did your ancestors use to get to their destination?

Cattle boat from Ireland to New York.

What hardships did they encounter on their journey?

Poverty, separation from family, lack of income (no work).

What Ports of Call did they travel through to get to America?

New York.

Which Port of Entry did they come through when they arrived in America?

New York to Chicago.

What possessions did they bring along with them on their journey? Did they have to sell most of their possessions to be able to obtain money for the journey?

Brought clothing only.

How long did their journey take them from their homeland?

Weeks.

What was the occupation of your ancestors?

Seamstresses, broom makers upon arrival in Chicago to earn extra money.

Did they change occupations once they settled?

Became farmers after homesteading.

Did they face discrimination once they settled in Collyer?

How did they acquire their homestead land or business?

Homesteaded. (By living on land required for homesteading.)

Did there seem to be different social classes among the settlers?

How did the war affect you or your family?

Father as a Pilot was shot down behind enemy lines, but escaped and was uninjured. Brother served during Peace time.

Do you have ties or are you in communication with anyone in your ancestor's country?

Have you ever been back to your ancestor's country?

Yes, once.

How did your ancestors integrate into a community? In other words, what was the common thread that brought them together?

Great entertainers, loved parties and group entertaining.

Additional Notes:

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