In a message dated 1/5/00 11:14:32 AM Eastern Standard Time, ORCLACKA-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: > Does anyone know the reason for the multitude of Germans that came to the > US in the late 1800's? Almost all of our German families came over during > that time and did not stay on the East Coast. My grandparents (maternal) were both from Schlesvig-Holstein which is in northern Germany. My grandfather came in 1886, my grandmother came in 1887. They knew each other b/4 they left Germany, and planned to marry when they both arrived here (which they did). The reason that was given for their coming here was for my grandfather to avoid the German draft, and to prevent future generations from having to serve. Since I have been studying my family history, I have learned that my grandfather's brothers and sister also arrived within that same time period. And, they re-grouped at Cass County, Nebraska. From there, three brothers went to Iowa, another brother went to Minnesota, and two siblings (my grandfather and his sister), stayed in Cass County. However, because my grandmother and her sister-in-law did not care for each other, my grandfather moved to Oklahoma. But, because he did not like the extreme weather conditions which he found in OK, in 1910, they moved to Marion County, Oregon where they were able to buy their first home. This was a well-planned departure from Germany by all of the six siblings. They were also quite planful as to where they would meet once they got here. They left another brother (their oldest brother) in Germany, and never saw him again. The rumor in my family is that my grandfather never had any further connection with, or letters from anybody left in the old country. A story in my family is that my grandfather tried to vote before he was a citizen. I think that he felt great joy in having come to this country. Marilynn O'Neall meoall@msn.com