In 1900 my great great grandparents moved to Kane, Pennsylvania from Italy. In Italy, my great great grandfather, Guiseppi DeMart, who was called Joe, wanted to marry my great great grandmother Mary. Her father did not approve of Joe and did not give his blessing to their marriage because he felt Joe was not good enough for his daughter.
Joe told her father, “I’m going to marry her, and I’m going to take her to America and you will never see her again,” and that is what he did. He married her and when she was pregnant with my great grandfather they traveled on a boat and moved to America. They came through Ellis Island, and settled in Kane, Pennsylvania. At this time Italians were not well received in the community, but he was able to find work on the railroad. …show more content…
After being jobbed a forman, this allowed him to find work for his family, friends, and other hardworking Italians. There was a rise of organized crime during this time in his community, but because of his size and popularity he was able to keep them out of the railroad. He was rewarded with a management role. He wanted a better life for his son, so every day he put him on a two hour train ride to Buffalo for college. My great grandfather, Pasquale, his son, received his degree, and went to work for the government and worked a very successful career in the cabinet for the governor of
Joe told her father, “I’m going to marry her, and I’m going to take her to America and you will never see her again,” and that is what he did. He married her and when she was pregnant with my great grandfather they traveled on a boat and moved to America. They came through Ellis Island, and settled in Kane, Pennsylvania. At this time Italians were not well received in the community, but he was able to find work on the railroad. …show more content…
After being jobbed a forman, this allowed him to find work for his family, friends, and other hardworking Italians. There was a rise of organized crime during this time in his community, but because of his size and popularity he was able to keep them out of the railroad. He was rewarded with a management role. He wanted a better life for his son, so every day he put him on a two hour train ride to Buffalo for college. My great grandfather, Pasquale, his son, received his degree, and went to work for the government and worked a very successful career in the cabinet for the governor of