Honoring our Immigrant Herritage Survey

Full Name

Malsom, Anthony (Tony) B.

What are your ties to Collyer?

Son of Fred & Mary (Keller) Malsom. One of 10 children and 5 step children (same father, different mothers) on a farm 10 miles south of Collyer.

Where did you live?

Lived on a farm until my mother died in 1933. I was 11 year old. Went to school at South Banner until my 7th grade. Was hard for my Dad, we all had our chores, walked a mile to school every day and lots of fights on the way home . Remember the ladies dad had to help, Kaiser girls from Park & St Peter.

Which School did you attend?

Banner School and St Joseph Home in Abilene High School. There were 5 of us boys were in ther orphanage at Abilen. I left before the others did, went back to Collyer Home for awhile, then worked for different farmers for $1.00 per day. Spent 1-1/2 years in CCC Camp at Peirre Idaho with my brothers.

What was your religious affiliation?

Catholic.

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

None. Was home from service when Parrish Home was being built. I had a small shop across the Highway (old 40) doing repair work for people. (This would have been the station in front of the Thiel Sod House.)

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

Yes.

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

Germany and Volga Russia

What language was spoken in the home?

English

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

None

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

Spoke English only.

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

Family came to Collyer from South Dakota in 1902.

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?

Family all came here from Russia and Germany to South Dakota first, then to Collyer in 1902.

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

I started in business in Collyer in 1946 - home from the service. In 1948 owned Highway store and garage, and operated the Zeman Dance Hall for 4 years. In 1965 took on Ford Tractor Dealership, till 1985 - then sold to my son Dwayne and his wife Donna, which is still in business yet. Had lots of business years in Collyer, and is still home to me. Had lots of help with my wife Beata, which she has passed on 6-20-2000.

Did you or your parents serve in the military?

I spent 4 years in Army. Went overseas to China, Burma, India. Got wounded in April 1943, spent quite some time in hospital. Was involved in the India and Burma Road in which the Japanese had control of. Got to circle the globe which was in Austria, New Zeland, Iran, Iraq, North Africa and Newfoundland.

Were there problems caused by your ethnic background?

None

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

What year were you born?

1922

Where was you place of birth?

Collyer, Kansas.

Why did your family leave their homeland?

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

What hardships did they encounter on their journey?

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

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

New York.

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?

How long did their journey take them from their homeland?

What was the occupation of your ancestors?

Farmers.

Did they change occupations once they settled?

No.

Did they face discrimination once they settled in Collyer?

How did they acquire their homestead land or business?

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

How did the war affect you or your family?

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?

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

Additional Notes:

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