Hannah

In the late summer of 1900, the Zimmer family, Jacob and wife Mable sailed from Germany to New York City in America. Their two daughters, Hannah age 11 and Lilly age 8 came too. Jacob wanted to start a new life and open a bakery in the city. He wanted to bake loaves of bread, cookies, cakes and pastries. Mama and the children were not sure of starting a new life in a faraway country. The family waited several weeks to be processed at Ellis Island. They had to become American citizens, learn English, American customs and the American way. Papa found a job in a livery stable. They moved into an apartment house in an area of New York City where other German families lived. Hannah was not happy living in the city. She was used to wading in crystal clear streams, climbing trees and playing on the Zimer farm, owned by the Zimmer grandparents. Mama died of typhoid fever and left Jacob to raise his two girls by himself. When he felt he could no longer care for them, he sent the girls to a local orphanage. Hannah and Lilly faced many challenges living as orphans and were sure they would never be happy again. Hannah married David when she was sixteen. Now she had a new life as a wife and mother. She took care of Lilly. They never saw Papa again.