After passing through Ellis Island, the new family traveled to Iowa to meet with Marie's cousins and start working for the large farm there. The owner of the farm introduced Grandma to his son who was older than she. Grandma said he considered her a nuisance but he did look after her as his father requested. The made sure she got to the school alright and to the classroom she was supposed to be in. Her first task in school was to learn English. The farmer gave her his sons old school books and her first grade teacher also gave her plenty of books to help her with her education. Her first grade teacher also spent time with her during lunch to help her understand the language.
Grandma's second grade teacher wasn't as patient and grandma's stubborn nature likely didn't help the situation any either. She failed the second grade but she recalled it being the best thing that could have happened to her. She had the chance to fully understand what she'd been unable to understand before. This repeating second grade helped her out down the road. There are times I wish people could look at failing in the same light today. As Grandma learned English she taught Marie and Antone English. When farming allowed the time she helped her parents study for the citizenship test. The teachers, principals, and superintendents that came into her life also helped by giving her materials that would help her parents pass the citizenship test.
As history will tell you, immigrants from Germany at this time didn't always have it easy. Fear breeds suspicion and often will lead to misunderstandings. Antone, especially, felt the scrutiny. As he learned English he struggled to disguise the German brogue from his speech, thinking it would help him better fit in and not get them deported back to Germany or worse. The German temper did not always aide his efforts. More than once Grandma and Marie thought they'd be in trouble when his temper got the better of him. Whenever Grandma told me stories of Great Grandpa's temper and brogue I always pictured Popeye and his little cartoon fits. I'm sure it wasn't nearly as funny as my imaginings made it seem. Learning how to cuss in English and the slang that comes with the language was another lesson the family struggled to adapt to. Grandma told of misunderstandings that started only because Antone thought the swear word the name of the horse the farmer was yelling at. It was apparent that some 'horse names' were not appropriate to mention in mixed company.
It wasn't easy but they were free to make their choices now and choose they did. Grandma continued to help her parents learn the language and study for the tests. It was a joyful day when Marie and Antone passed the test necessary to make the entire family American! To add to their blessings, eventually, they had their own farm to work, their own livestock to raise, and their own crops to harvest. Marie had two tubal pregnancies that both ended in miscarriages. This left Grandma as an only child and as such she was both son and daughter. She helped with the cleaning and cooking as well as helped with the livestock and farming. She could harness a horse and work behind the plow and many other tasks that would have been required of a son. As payment for her labor she'd get her choice of calf and piglet. When the animals were sold she could use the money from the sales to purchase books, material for dresses, and shoes for school.
Grandma told many a story about growing up this way. She related how important school was and how she often played school with the farm animals. When they wouldn't sit still or it got too cold to play outside she moved to the corn crib where she'd set the corn cobs upright and teach them a good and proper lesson. If they minded well enough she'd even supervise a recess for the star pupils.
She also shared some of her adventures with the horses they raised. One particular horse was named Kate and Kate had those natural herding instincts that some horses are known for. Grandma rode Kate on an errand for her mother. She was taking something to a neighbor. The trip to the neighbor's house was uneventful. The trip back was another story entirely. The neighbor gave Grandma a large bucket (I can't remember what was in the bucket but it was flour or something along those lines). Grandma couldn't see around the bucket as she rode so she trusted Kate to know the road home. She said it did seem like a longer ride back but didn't know why until she heard her mother's gasp from the porch of their house. With the bucket out of her tired arms and into the waiting arms of Marie Grandma could see what Kate had done. Filling their yard were animals from the farms between the home she'd visited and their own. Kate had taken it upon herself to gather and herd every sheep and cow along the way back. Grandma and Kate spent the rest of the afternoon returning the livestock to the proper homes as well as apologizing to the somewhat irate farmers.
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