Beginning in about the 1840s or 50s, there was a massive German & Swiss immigration to East Tennessee, specifically Morgan County. There was "free" land there (which was on the Cumberland Plateau & too rocky to grow much of anything), lots of advertising & "agents" in various places. Some of the families that came still have descendants there, believe it or not, but many moved on after a few years. If you can wade through it, here's link to a Master's Thesis from 1925, on the subject. (click on chapter #s at FAR right of page to read). A lot of it is about the county & may be of no interest, but it gives a good picture of what was going on with immigrants in mid 1800s. http://wchs.k12tn.net/community/colonizationthesis.html Ernie Hurst > [Original Message] > From: <Posnsrch@aol.com> > To: <SWITZERLAND-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 11/23/2005 7:47:47 PM > Subject: [SWITZ] type error: Leaving the Old Country for America > > Hi List, I MEANT TO WRITE: Remember too that the agents were NOT so > bad.....!!!!! > > PS. Remember too that the agents were so bad...many of the folks from the > Empire of Germany and surrounding areas had someone already in America who was > writing to the Old Country telling their families how much land was > available here, and how they could own land and make a living. > > Regards from Texas, USA > Nellie, a 68-yr-old root digger > > > ==== SWITZERLAND Mailing List ==== > Going on vacation? Gone longer than 4 days? Go to > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/CHE/SWITZERLAND.html > to unsubscribe