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I Arrive in America
My name is Mary Flanagan. This day was my 22nd birthday, and my first day in America. I was pushed to America from Mollymucks, Ireland because of discrimination against my Catholic religion (many ani-Catholics actually came to my family's home and burned part of it to the ground!) and my family had very little money so they arranged a marrige for me to Mr. Charles O'Donnell here to make a new life for myself. I couldn't wait to finally meet him! -
Time on Angel Island
This was my first day on Angel Island! The citizenship tests were very difficult; they asked me many questions about my homeland and my family. Because my sister, Elizabeth, goes by her middle name, I was almost put in containment! Also, my "Prince Charming" was suppost to pick me up at noon, but he didn't show up until almost supper time. The ride was a quite one. He claimed he had a headache and went to bed as soon as we got home. I ate some porriage I found in a cabnit for dinner. -
Living in Hoboken, New Jersey
Charles and I were officially betrothed to each other. We dedcided, that, since we don't have enough money right now to throw a nice wedding, that we would wait until we officially settled down to get legally married. For the time being, we shared a small apartment with a very nice family, Rose and David McGuire. Rose is just a few years older than myself and already we have become good friends. -
Charles Gets Arrested
Life was not going well. Charles was very upset because he was having trouble finding work. People were very prejudice towards the Irish, and there was not much work avalible here for him. So, on the 1st, he went out to a Irish pub and "drank away his problems." While highly intoxicated, he got in a fist fight with the maganger of the pub, who tried to throw Charles out. Charles protested, and the police came and arrested him! I had to pay our whole savings to the police to bail him out of jail. -
We moved West!
After debating, Charles, Rose, Phillip (Rose's husband), and I beleived that the best thing for both of our families would be to move West and start over. Because the Homestead Act was passed two weeks ago, this is now possible. The Homestead Act states that anyone can have land in the Great Plains for free, if you promise to improve the land. We all scraped together our money to buy a horse, a wagon, two mules, and some household items to journey to Iowa. Today was our first day on the road. -
We Arrive in Iowa
Today we arrived in Waterloo, Iowa. I already love it in the West! There is such a sense of community here and wonderful people trying to live a good life. Next week is the great race for land! Charles and I have been preparing out horse, Rebel, and inspecting the surrounding area in our free time. We have the perfect spot picked out, a lush green feild, right next to a babbling brook and enclosed by small hills. Rose and Phillip plan to steak the land just to the East of our plot. -
Race for Land
Today we raced for land; it was so exciting! The gunshot went of with a crack, and off we went. Rebel raced towards the hilly western area, exactly like we trained him. It was close, but Charles slid off Rebel, grabbed the blue stake, and replaced it with our red one. We got the land we wanted! Sadly, Rose and Philip didn't quite make it to their land fast enough. They had to settle two miles North. Charles and I have settled our differences and can't wait to start our new lives as farmers!
