Lois, Nothing silly about your question at all. I cannot offer any suggestion as to specifically why them came but come they did. I am sure the state of the wars and unrest in European Countries along with the chance to perhaps better themself during that time period had a lot to do with it. Initial locations of immigrants no matter what nationality or culture pretty much located (at first) near the Port they arrived at. The Port of New York (Ellis Island) which is actually located in Jersey City is but a stones throw from Hoboken and a mite further to Weehawken. The same is true for other Ports of Entry weather it be Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, California, New Orleans, etc. Ports always equal a large city and a large city means jobs, generally menial jobs but often the new arrivals look for any job to get started in their new country. Some new arrivals had jobs promised to them prior to their departure from their native land and they in most cases boarded a train for transportation to other areas of the country. But generally speaking the majority settled initially within a short distance of their port of arrival. Housing was readily available as was a mode of transportation, the amount of new arrivals alone accounted for new job opening to serve them also. Hope this is what you are looking for. Jim