William Szakara and Julia Trochcza were my maternal great-grandparents who, at the age of 17 immigrated to America from Slovakia. They both left their home country for the same reason and that was simply for a better life. They didn’t know each other, nor did their families, but they just wanted something more than a farmer’s life.
In Slovakia, my great grandfather worked in the steel mills. In 1905, made the decision to immigrate to America and was a passenger on the boat Yugoslavia. My great-grandmother, Julia, immigrated to America on the boat Carpathia in 1907. It is not known if they immigrated with family or alone.
After being registered for Naturalization papers at Ellis Island, they both settled in the Hungarian district of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They both found jobs at the same hotel, which is also where they met. Little did they know, they would soon marry, have 12 children, and move to and live the remainder of their lives in Detroit, Michigan. In early 1931, the last two of their 14 children were born in Detroit; my grandmother and her younger brother.
My great grandfather achieved the success he dreamed about. While in Pittsburgh, he invested his savings in property and became a wealthy landowner. To cover the cost of moving their family of 14 from Pittsburgh to Detroit, my great grandfather sold a few of his homes. Once in Detroit, my great grandfather got a job working in the steel mill as a crane operator. Unfortunately, he suffered two accidents while on the job and was out of work for several months. Luckily, he sold the rest of his homes to pay the bills and support his family while. Tragedy struck a third when the Great Depression hit and wiped out my great grandfather’s remaining fortune. Still, he was blessed with a boss that kept his job for him after he fully recovered.
My great grandparents were known for their great love, love of their children and love of America. They raised their children to speak Slovakian, but would only allow them to speak it at home. Out of the home, they were to speak their country’s language, English.
Julia Szakara died on September 22, 1970. William Szakara died April 23, 1971. On my great grandfather’s death certificate, his death is listed as a broken heart.
