With or without the testiness of the dialogue, it is interesting to know about our ancestors coming to America. I tell and have written the stories of my grandparents so that my grandchildren and ancestors who will never know them, can know about their family. My grandfather, Ante Rancic, came to America to Leadville, Colorado and worked in the mines. His father took out a government loan with his vineyards as collateral so that he could come to the land that offered so much. Quite a number of young men and some cousins came at the same time. Ante treasured the possibilities that America offered and was determined to be a GOOD American. He knew that he needed to learn to read and write in order to improve himself and to leave mine work behind. My grandmother, Andja Bravic, came, alone, a few years later. Her brother who was already here sent for her. She ran his boarding house, doing all of the washing, cooking and cleaning for all of the boarders who worked in the mines. Her brother, Jure Bravic, decided that she should marry Ante, because he was a promising young man who also came from Dalmatia. (He also owned the best buggy in town with a lap robe that had a big topaz stone in it. Ah, the lure.....) Together, they moved to Globe, Arizona where she had boarders in their home and he had a co-op general store with other men from Croatia. She bore him 5 children in as many years. Then a shyster sold Ante on land in the El Paso Valley. Making a long story short, the land was barren & poor covered in mesquite. They worked very hard, fighting bandits and nature....floods and fires. Little by little, the land was tamed and Ante increased his holdings. They started as poor, immigrant settlers and ended up with wealth. Ante always appreciate the opportunity of America. He grabbed the brass ring with hard work and good will. He always remembered his religious teaching at the knee of his mother and his Croatian family, who he never saw again, as he died when he was in his fifties. But, Andja returned several times to Dalmatia when she was older, taking me with her one time. I am so proud of my grandparents. They are a true lesson about taking advantage of the opportunities. Bee

Bee, that was a nice story. My mom and dad got to visit the relatives in Croatia and Slovenia in 1966. Mom enjoyed meeting them and had a good time, but said she wished she could thank her parents for coming to America. Most of the ones in Croatia, at that time, were still very poor and working in the vineyards. Since the last war, we haven't heard from many of them and figure that they are dead. My dad's family in Slovenia seemed to fare a bit better and have government jobs at banks or the post office and they write to us via email and send pictures. Margaret ----- Original Message ----- From: "RMB" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 2:54 PM Subject: [CROATIA-L] Rancic & Bravic > With or without the testiness of the dialogue, it is interesting to know > about our ancestors coming to America. I tell and have written the > stories > of my grandparents so that my grandchildren and ancestors who will never > know them, can know about their family. > > My grandfather, Ante Rancic, came to America to Leadville, Colorado and > worked in the mines. His father took out a government loan with his > vineyards as collateral so that he could come to the land that offered so > much. Quite a number of young men and some cousins came at the same time. > Ante treasured the possibilities that America offered and was determined > to > be a GOOD American. He knew that he needed to learn to read and write in > order to improve himself and to leave mine work behind. > > My grandmother, Andja Bravic, came, alone, a few years later. Her brother > who was already here sent for her. She ran his boarding house, doing all > of > the washing, cooking and cleaning for all of the boarders who worked in > the > mines. Her brother, Jure Bravic, decided that she should marry Ante, > because he was a promising young man who also came from Dalmatia. (He > also > owned the best buggy in town with a lap robe that had a big topaz stone in > it. Ah, the lure.....) > > Together, they moved to Globe, Arizona where she had boarders in their > home > and he had a co-op general store with other men from Croatia. She bore > him > 5 children in as many years. Then a shyster sold Ante on land in the El > Paso Valley. Making a long story short, the land was barren & poor > covered > in mesquite. They worked very hard, fighting bandits and nature....floods > and fires. Little by little, the land was tamed and Ante increased his > holdings. They started as poor, immigrant settlers and ended up with > wealth. > > Ante always appreciate the opportunity of America. He grabbed the brass > ring > with hard work and good will. He always remembered his religious teaching > at the knee of his mother and his Croatian family, who he never saw again, > as he died when he was in his fifties. But, Andja returned several times > to > Dalmatia when she was older, taking me with her one time. > > I am so proud of my grandparents. They are a true lesson about taking > advantage of the opportunities. > Bee > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.3 - Release Date: 4/25/2005 > >