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Looking For Work
The quick increase in population and the
absence of industries at the turn of the
century was the cause of emigration to North
America. Among the 187 people who went to
Hungary, mostly men 20-40 years old, were
many German settlers; sons of farmers who
wanted to seek a better livelihood in the
United States. By 1907, the number of
emigrants more than doubled. The emigration
swell seized the Sathmar Swabian
communities. This was especially the case in
the eastern area, where the heavy white clay
soil caused poor crops, as in Scheindorf,
for example. By 1913, 121 people had
emigrated: 53 men, 15 women, 13 boys, and 40
girls. Stopped by the First World War, the
emigration resumed when peace was declared.
Those who had trouble going to the United
States because of quota restrictions, now
went to Cuba, Mexico, and Canada. In 1928, 8
adults went to Canada, 1 to the United
States, and 4 to France. 17 people went to
Canada the following year. During the
Depression, however, numerous Scheindorfer
returned home; 14 in 1931, 24 in 1932, and 5
in 1933.
After World War I, more and more young
people went to Banat, where they could make
a good living working on farms. In 1926, 20
young men and women worked in neighboring
communities; 12 in 1928, and 11 in 1929.
After 1940, many Scheindorfer went to the
Batschka (Yugoslavia) and to Germany.
Happily, most emigrants kept in touch with
their families and supported their relatives
at home. Many came home or to nearby towns
and bought farms or built houses with the
money they had made in other countries.
Scheindorf acquired 700-800 acres of fertile
farmland and almost doubled its land
ownership. The emigrants were not only able
to acquire new land, but also, especially in
Scheindorf, encouraged community. Luckily,
after the events of World War II, many
emigrants were able to support their
landsmen in Germany and Austria, and help
many get to the United States and Canada.
[Credits,
Originally Published by Jody McKim Pharr at the DVHH.org 29 Sep 2006]
[Published by Sarah Coraggio
at the DVHH on 2 October 2018]
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Last
Updated:
13 Oct 2018 |
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