How My Ancestors Made Me an American: A Reflection on Roots and Choices
- Jon Marie Pearson
- Jul 11
- 2 min read
Our ancestors are more than just names in a tree—they’re the roots that hold us up. Their choices shaped the lives we live today, including something as simple and as profound as where we were born.
It’s a little wild to think about: the reason I was born in America is because someone—several someones—made the life-changing decision to leave everything behind and start over here. Just as my decisions shaped where my children were born, their decisions shaped me.
Some of our ancestors had choices. Others did not. Slavery, arranged marriages, war, and injustice stripped people of agency. And yet, those forced circumstances still echoed through generations, carving paths that would impact all of us.
For me, every branch of my tree leads to someone who immigrated to America before 1900. Their reasons were likely different—opportunity, safety, land, love—but they all shared one thing: hope. They believed in a better life. And in doing so, they gave me a place to call home.
Today, I want to share eight of those immigrants—my 2nd and 3rd great-grandparents—whose decisions helped make me who I am.
✨ 2nd Great-Grandparents
William Stinson Born: September 21, 1878 – Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, England. At just 16, after losing his mother, William left England and arrived in New York on May 18, 1895. He settled in Rochester, NY and later sent for his siblings. In 1891, he and his brother had been living with their aunt—his father’s fate still remains a mystery.
Hugh & Anna (McFarland) Kerr Hugh: Born February 20, 1866 – Clonavaddy, Tyrone, Ireland. Anna: Born August 29, 1868 – Aughnacloy, Ireland. They married on October 25, 1894, and sailed aboard the State of Nebraska to arrive at Ellis Island on May 21, 1895. Their journey marked the beginning of their American chapter.
George “Geo” Steinbrecher
Born: November 2, 1860 – Felsberg, Hessen, Germany. He immigrated around 1883 and likely followed his family, who were already living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I suspect some were brothers or cousins.
Dorothea “Dora” Adrain Born: October 13, 1856 – Peterzell, Freudenstadt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Dora came to America on her own in 1883. A year later, she married George Steinbrecher, and together they built a new life.
✨ 3rd Great-Grandparents
Michael Kraus Born: February 14, 1842 – Krickenbach, Germany. According to census records, he immigrated in 1873. There's still much more I want to learn about his story.
Anna Brayer Born: June 1842 – Germany. She also arrived in 1873 and married Michael Kraus that same year, although I haven’t confirmed whether their marriage took place in Germany or after they arrived in the U.S.
Charles “Carl” August Greiner, born February 22, 1832, in Cappel, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. His story is still unfolding. I don’t have a confirmed immigration date yet, but I’m determined to learn more.
It’s strange and humbling to think—if any one of these ancestors had made a different choice, I might not be here. Their courage, losses, and dreams became the foundation for my life. And now, I carry those stories forward, not just for me, but for the next generation too.
Comments