was born Henry Karl Hupperich on March 6, 1900 in Dusseldorf, Germany. My father was Heinrich Hupperich and mother was Caroline (Kneutgen). I was the oldest, then came Paul, Adeline, Karola, Katherine and Mia (Maria). We also had one more sister, baby Francis, who died in infancy.

At the age of 10 my mother became very sick. It was cancer. I remember one day we were in the garden and she said to me: "The Jay birds are calling..." They were hollering and it was an omen. Soon she died. It was a real trauma for me being only 10 years old and having the responsibility of caring for my younger siblings. It was July 4, 1910. I would always remember this all my life, not only Mothers Day, but also the 4th of July.

Well after about a year, Dad decided we would all go into a "home" (orphanage) and he said he would find a good woman and mother to care for us. He made good his promise and our new mother was Christina Schlosser. We all liked her and got along very well. We all worked together. [Pictured from L-R: Paul, Katherine, Karola, Henry, Adeline, Heinrich, Mia (Maria)]

I went through grade school and after apprenticed as a Black Smith for 4 years. When W.W.I. came I went into the infantry and shoed the horses. After the war times were tough and we already saw one depression and soon another.

In 1924 I had an opportunity to go to America. It seems a neighbor was to go and be sponsored by his uncle who lived on a farm in Illinois. The town was Toluca. He changed his mind as he had a girlfriend. He decided to get married instead of going to America. Then I had my chance and my father thought it was a good idea.

In the fall of
1924 I sailed
to America
"The Land of
Opportunity".

In the fall of 1924 I sailed to America "The Land of Opportunity". It took 9 days to sail by ship. Most of the people got sick but I did not. When I arrived at New York we checked in at Ellis Island. They were very strict that no diseases were brought in to the country. Especially Tuberculosis. I sure felt sorry for a woman and her small daughter who were rejected and could not enter as she had this disease. I slept in Central Park and then ventured by train to my friend's uncle and sponsor in Toluca, Illinois. His name was Ed Wirtz. I helped with many chores on the farm. I loved to plow the fields and always wanted to live on and someday own a big farm. Someday was not to be but I did end up with a 14 acre farm in Creve Coeur and played around with a bit of corn and alfalfa. After selling the Creve Coeur farm I bought an 80 acre farm in Wright City, MO. I acquired an Allis Chambers Tractor that was my pride and joy.

Back at the Wirtz Farm we worked hard from dawn to dusk but never too tired to go into town on Saturday nights and dance. I made $1.00 a day besides my room and board. I went to town one day when I was on the farm and bought a pair of overalls, shirt, jacket, and they threw in a cap for $1.00. So were the times. After my year was up, I headed to the big city of Chicago. I really did not like the big city but I did get a good job at Western Electric.

In that day and time to come to this country you had to have a sponsor to stand good for you and to prove you could survive and care for yourself. When I got to Chicago, I sent for brother Paul and sister Adeline. Paul got a job in Chicago as a shipping clerk at Sears and Adeline in a laundry. Paul was very good at figures. We would make little trips back to Toluca where Paul met Nora Cinotto. Back in Chicago Adeline met an excellent painter from Tennessee, Theodore Price.

In 1927 I had a model T that I paid $425.00 for out of the show room in Toluca. We all drove to Streator, Illinois and Paul and Nora, Adeline and Ted, got married. I must tell you when Paul, Adeline and I roomed in Chicago, it was quite an experience for us to have this sleeping room. It was so loaded with bed bugs we could hardly sleep unless we left the lights on. They sure would bite us all night. Well we all went our own ways but always keeping in contact.

At this point in time my dad thought Katherine should also go to America. I remember as I was waiting for her and dad to get here I was sitting on the porch and heard the radio say Lindberg had landed in Paris 1927. Dad stayed 2 weeks and afterward, I got Katherine on her way.

I had a nice German friend called Matthew Werner. We took off for Texas to meet my friend from Germany who was from my hometown and was sponsored by his Uncle in Texas. He was also on the boat with me. His name was Henry Henscheid. I had told him that I would see him in Texas after my 1 year of sponsorship was up, but it was not to be. It took almost 20 years before I got to Texas.

When Matt Werner and I were crossing a 6 rail train track in East St. Louis, Illinois we looked both ways and before we knew it my car was hit! It still ran and we were happy we did not get hurt. Knowing no one and could not find no place to sleep, we came upon a cemetery. I told him we will sleep there. Matt was so scared as he was afraid of snakes but we had heard if you put a rope around where you slept they would not bother you. We found some rope and circled it around us and made it through the night. Next morning we saw a man delivering newspapers and we told him our situation. He said go to St. Louis and go out to the suburbs to Wellston and my wife will room and board you. So we did. Matthew got a job in a Foundry where he worked all his life and I, as most immigrants did, got a job at Westover Nursery. My future father-in-law worked there while his wife ran the boarding house. He liked me and brought me home for supper one day where I met my future bride, Johanna Wolf. We married June 23 1928. A most happy time with some downs as well as ups. Another depression in the land of opportunity... I could not believe it. This is what I thought I would avoid but we survived working 7 days a week.

By now I had a job working at Gerst Packing House. I worked in the boiler room keeping the furnace going. In 1929 a daughter, Marie Helen, was born. The following year Johanna Doris and a couple years later in 1932 another girl, Elsie Ruth. Survival was the name of the game. Wages were poor, and there were so many bills. It was hard trying to keep my family clothed and fed. Then I almost lost my home we were buying. If it wasn't for such a good friend, Herman Hecht, he had great faith in me. He lent me money so I would not lose my home. I paid him back as quick as I could. I tried never to be in debt again.

Later I saved a bit of money and went into partnership with my brother-in-law Henry Peetz in a neighborhood bar and restaurant. We made a good living but worked hard for 30 years (1939-1968). Henry Peetz and I tended bar while my wife and her sister Tillie did the cooking with a bit of hired help. My daughters helped keeping the house, tending also to the lawn and garden also hand plowing, milking the cow and caring for the chickens and a pet goat. Our lives were turning around.

I bought a new home in Creve Coeur close to my farm. I've made trips all over the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and been to the old country 5 times. I retired from the business in 1968 then bought an 80 acre farm in Wright City, MO. I received 1/3 share of the crops. I sold my other farm in Creve Coeur and also my home and then moved to the Warrenton area where I acquired several homes and later used for rental property. I also bought a small home in St. Petersburg, Florida. I would spend from November to April there. In November 1985 my beloved wife Johanna came down with cancer. We came back to Warrenton and on August 21, 1986 Johanna passed away. In October of the same year I went back to St. Petersburg and sold the home. I always loved to go to St. Petersburg for the winter and had many friends there.

As of this writing, I am the only one living of 7 siblings. All of their spouses have passed on and I the first born am still among the living. My daughter Elsie has passed away (May 7, 1990). There are so many more stories to my life. I have indeed been blessed. If God keeps me in good health I would like to see the turn of the century as I would mark it by being 100 years young! What an amazing century and life I have seen from horse and buggy to outer space, television, computers and so much more. I sure have been blessed.

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