THE MAKING OF THE LOCAL AMERICAN
BY WM. J. AIKEN, ESQ

The object of this article is to give briefly a chronological survey of the entry into this neighborhood of the various races that now compose its population, to scan the causes leading to their coming, and to note the processes involved in their Americanization. Like a dramatic performance, into which in regular order are introduced the characters, who remain upon the boards at the close to greet the audience, so by degrees, into the drama of American affairs, as well as upon the stage of local life, each with a part to play, have come the types of all the world; or like a vast choral movement beginning first with a few voices then, at intervals augmented by others of a different kind, and finally closing with a united chorus, each voice adding something indispensable to the symphonic effect, so, likewise, now join in this vicinity a multitude of tongues telling us the nations of the earth are here assembled.

Mankind, as an animal, is both gregarious and migratory. The history of any race is largely the story of the wanderings of its ancestors, and their final union with each other. Even as a number of modern nations among which, for example, may be mentioned the English, Spanish, German, and Italian, have resulted from centuries of amalgamation of various peoples, so the same process which produced those nations but in a far more wonderful way, is now at work upon this soil. The English race of today represents a composite of Angle, Saxon, Dane, Roman, Jute, Celt, Pict, Scot, and Norman, whereas all the races of the world, with their ancestral combinations of blood, are being welded together into a new race in America; and nowhere in our country does the refining crucible burn more brightly or with finer and more masked results than in this immediate district.

The Swedes, Dutch, and English Quakers had the eastern part of Pennsylvania pretty well settled by the time George Washington was born. The settlements were scattered and often consisted of only a few families, but as early as 1740 Philadelphia counted her population by thousands, and we read of the villages of Burleigh, Haddonfield, Chester, Lancaster, Shrewsburg, Squan, Bethlehem, Wyoming, Shamokin, and Wehaloosing. Some of these towns, such as the last one named, contained more Indians than whites, and a number are historic for the terrible massacres of settlers by the Indians.

The eastern part of the province was thickly enough settled by 1750 to encourage newcomers and the more adventurous settlers to move westward. So it happens that some Scotch and Irish families, having found eastern Pennsylvania well in the hands of others, pushed on over the Alleghanies to the frontier, a pioneer family or two being in this neighborhood when the French arrived to fortify the junction point of the three rivers where, later, was to rise the great city of Pittsburgh. Reliable historical documents inform us that some settlers gave aid to General Braddock's defeated army. After General Forbes captured Fort Duquesne, and the English, having recovered from the defeat inflicted upon Braddock's army, had been successful in their struggle with the French for mastery of the western world, more Scotch, Irish, and English came to settle along the Monongahela near Turtle Creek.

The Indians mingled freely with the white settlers until as late as 1820 gradually, however, dying off or moving further westward. The Penns, by a last treaty with the Indians, had secured from the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix in 1784 quit claims to all lands in Western Pennsylvania not formerly obtained.

The next people to make their appearance in large numbers were the Welsh, who arrived after the opening of the coal mines and the smelting of ore had begun. The numbers of Scotch, Irish, and English increased rapidly, the population of the British Isles, especially Ireland, markedly affecting the immigration. Just before the Civil War a number of German families lived in the district and during the war period hundreds more arrived. Now and then a Dutch family moved over the mountains from central Pennsylvania and a few Hollanders came direct from the Netherlands. It will be noted that the races mentioned so far came from Northern Europe. This was the case until about the year 1870 or a little later. With that year closes the first period or phase of immigration. Beginning with 1870 the additions to our population from alien lands assumes a character differing widely from the earlier period.

A number of reasons may be assigned for the changing appearance of the incoming throng as well as for the added impetus marked in immigration. About the time mentioned above, the great iron industry for which our district is universally famous, began to thrive and a demand arose for labor which the section itself could not supply. Furthermore, the preservation of the Union and the consequent international strengthening of the United States, together with disruptions and dissatisfaction in Europe persuaded many to leave their native land. The overcrowded autocracies and kingdoms of central Europe had nothing to offer even the sturdiest man, physically or mentally, except endless toil for a few cents a day, the scantiest fare, and the harshest burdens of taxation. The great mass of people, weighed down by the sufferings of years, moved under their relentless yoke as if life were a thing unfortunately thrust upon them. In the darkness of their existence glowed a spark of ambition for their children that filled their dreams with brightness. America, land of liberty and opportunity, and all their lives were longing for, beckoned them to come. Great were the resolves of heart. Nobody left his home without a purpose. All came to create a better future for themselves. Wearied with oppression they hailed the lamp of freedom. America's invitation offered the realization promised in their dreaming. By thousands came the home and freedom seekers. An exodus from central, southern and southeastern Europe began such as never before has been witnessed in the chronicles of nations.

Pittsburgh at the beginning of this new phase of immigration was already known as the Smoky City or the Iron City on account of its iron mills, and Braddock contained the largest steel and iron works then in the country. Large numbers of people came to our section. Every day brought some one who had come from a foreign land and spoke a foreign tongue. Sometimes the newcomers arrived by train loads, coming directly from the ship that had borne them across the Atlantic. The numbers from northern Europe and the British Isles continued, but the numbers from southern and central Europe far exceeded the former until the latter made more than seventy-five per cent of all our population gained through immigration.

It is estimated that from 1776 to 1820 the number of arrivals in the United States amounted to two hundred fifty thousand. Of this number fully ninety per cent settled at first in the larger centers of population near the seaboard, and moved westward slowly. In the year 1821 the country received 9,127 immigrants, a few hundred of whom came directly to Western Pennsylvania. By the year 1842 the number of arrivals for the year amounted to 104,565, over one third of which number came directly to western towns, Pittsburgh by that time having become a flourishing business city. During the years of the Civil War over 100,000 each year were received and the proportion of westward travelers was large. The numbers continued to increase. There was plenty of room in America, plenty of work was to be had, the greater population made more work for newcomers, and a good report spread over Europe. In 1873 the number of arrivals had increased to 459.803 due to the coming of the central and southern Europeans. During the years 1877 and 1878 the numbers dropped to 141,000 and 138,000 but in 1882 increased to the tremendous number of 788,992. From that time the number never fell below 229,299, which was the number for the year 1898. The million mark was passed in 1905 and the banner year reached in 1907 with 1,285,349. From 1903 they came "a million a year" until 1915, when on account of the great war the number dropped back to 326,700 and for the year ending 1916 the number was 298,826.

Western Pennsylvania originally consisted of the one county, called Cumberland, out of which by Act of 1771 Bedford County was erected, and later by Act of 1773 Westmoreland County. In 1781 Washington County was erected, out of which were carved Fayette and Greene Counties. Allegheny County was erected out of parts of Westmoreland and Washington Counties in 1788, and later, as the population increased, Beaver, Butler, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Warren, Venango and Armstrong Counties were carved out of the original Allegheny County. This forming of counties gives some little idea of the gradual increase of population and settlement of the territory. People were induced to come westward by public auction of lots held in Philadelphia in 1785, where tracts containing 200 to 350 acres in Western Pennsylvania were sold at prices ranging from three pence to eight shillings an acre and patents were issued to purchasers. Many flourishing cities now stand on ground purchased at these figures. Unsold tracts were gradually disposed of by the Commonwealth on warrants and surveys. Allegheny County was all disposed of by 1813 when an Act was passed to cure any defects that might have existed in these hasty warrant and survey titles. Revolutionary soldiers were encouraged to take up lands by being granted certain 200 to 500 acre tracts free. The Pennsylvania Population Company and the Holland Company took out hundreds of warrants in 1792 and 1793. Examination of the records shows that nearly all these lands were held at that time by Scotch, Irish, or English people, the exception being German or Dutch. Today the records disclose the fact that many of these same lands, for the most part cut up into small pieces or town lots, are held by people who learned to speak English after they arrived in America.

Having outlined the general scope of the populating of our district, it will now be interesting to observe the present composition of the peoples in the three adjoining boroughs, compiled from the census statistics of 1910. Braddock at that time was accredited with 19,837 persons, of whom the native white of native parentage numbered 4,845. There were 6,786 persons made up of those who were of foreign or mixed parentage. The foreign born numbered 7,299, the negroes numbered 421, and the Chinese 6. In North Braddock, out of a population of 11,824, there were 3,811 native white of native parentage, 4,360 native white of foreign or mixed parentage, and 3,366 foreign born, the negroes counting 287 and the Chinese 1. Rankin whose population was 6,042 had 704 native white of native parentage, 1,823 native white of foreign or mixed parentage, 3,072 foreign born white, and 443 negroes. Attention need not be called to the amazing proportion of native white of foreign or mixed parentage and the foreign born to the native white of native parentage. The following statistics for Braddock and North Braddock explain themselves reliable figures for Rankin not being available: Of the foreign born Braddock had 2,238 from Austria; 12 from Belgium; 45 from Canada; 1 from Denmark; 261 from England; 5 from Finland; 6 from France; 446 from Germany; 21 from Greece; 1529 from Hungary; 481 from Ireland; 445 from Italy; 9 from Roumania; 1225 from Russia; 143 from Scotland; 334 from Sweden; 7 from Switzerland; 70 from Wales; and 21 from various other countries. In North Braddock the countries represented by the foreign born and their numbers were Austria 724; Belgium 4; Canada 19; Denmark 2; England 3,68; Finland 4; France 40; Germany 579; Greece 9; Hungary 411; Ireland 353; Italy 59; Russia 190; Scotland 250; Sweden 218; Switzerland 45; Wales 55; and other countries 35.

Of the native white both of whose parents were born in foreign lands the numbers follow. For Braddock, both parents born in the countries named, Austria 1049; Canada 15; England 132; France 9; Germany 668; Hungary 1191; Ireland 831; Italy 210; Russia 557; Scotland 106; Sweden 224; Switzerland 1; Wales 79; and all others of mixed foreign parentage 460. For North Braddock, both parents born in the countries named, Austria 646; Canada 7; England 248; France 16; Germany 682; Hungary 208; Ireland 630; Italy 46; Russia 135; Scotland 117; Sweden 237; Switzerland 31; Wales 60; and all others of mixed foreign parentage 315.

From this enumeration it is apparent that the Braddock district is sheltering representatives from nearly all the countries of the globe. Here they dwell together in peace and harmony, gradually being molded and fashioned to conform with the American ideal. Some races take up new customs and follow American principles more readily than others, owing to circumstances, traditions, laws, and racial and family tendencies in the home land. A few have come to exploit the advantages in the United States, and like the farmer who continually takes a crop from the rich soil but never revives it, so they take all they can get from American life and never return anything. Forgetful of the wrongs they fled in Europe, they aid in nothing in the preservation of human rights in their refuge. Others, selfish, suspicious, and superstitious, hold themselves aloof from the means of progress, and clinging to ancient holidays, former customs, and the very things once odious to them, retard their own development and hinder the advance of the town they dwell in and the nation at large. Again, many are backward and fear to enter into the life of those about them, continuing in their old associations, speaking their mother tongue and making little effort to learn the new language. A large majority, however, especially marked in their children, readily adapt themselves to the conditions found in the new country and are quickly assimilated by the civic public. Much allowance must always be made and judgment never rendered hastily in considering this remarkable union of peoples. It must ever be remembered that they have come from countries differing greatly in customs and laws from the United States and naturally the old ideas are discarded slowly. It is extremely difficult for the average person over thirty years of age to acquire a ready use of a new language and practically impossible for anybody past forty years to learn to speak a new tongue, with any degree of proficiency. Even young people of less than twenty can rarely gain such complete mastery of the new language as not to show their native accent. However, the children of those whose efforts at the American language are slow and broken, show scarcely any accent, and a few years of school, associating with other young Americans, gives them entire use of the language their parents cannot completely master.

Citizenship statistics show that in Braddock for 1910 there were 929 naturalized citizens, 281 declarants or those who have taken out what is commonly called their first papers, 2,781 aliens and 112 unknown. In North Braddock there were 655 naturalized citizens, 215 declarants, 646 aliens, and 107 unknown. In Rankin there were 264 naturalized citizens. These figures show that a great many foreigners remain foreigners. Many instances exist where the parents and one or more children are aliens while other children, having been born here, are citizens. Under most circumstances the aliens have failed to become citizens simply through neglect. Their allegiance is with America, their home and interests are here, they are citizens in all but name and the law. All who find the American principles of government to their liking and appreciate what the stars and stripes stand for should take a further step, and, renouncing forever the ties that bind them to the old world, should take the oath which makes them citizens in the new world.

The establishment of evening schools for teaching the language, explaining the naturalization laws, and the requirements, duties, and responsibilities of citizenship has been another influential factor in causing many aliens to become citizens. The Carnegie Free Library of Braddock has supported one of these schools for many years, being one of the first in the United States to offal instruction in citizenship. Various civic bodies and organizations in other cities are now doing such work. The Bureau of Naturalization at Washington, D. C. has outlined a course of study for prospective citizens and is encouraging the public schools throughout the country to furnish evening instruction. The bureau cooperates with the schools by furnishing the list of names of applicants for citizenship in the different districts, and by encouraging the applicants to attend the schools during the period of ninety days which elapses between their petition for second papers and the granting of citizenship. Two years ago the Pittsburgh Public Schools installed an evening school of citizenship and last year Braddock had an evening school for foreigners. North Braddock has had in former years such evening schools and Rankin its planning one the coming year. All of these schools are well attended and much interest is shown by those who come.

The process of Americanization goes on. The races intermingle. The second generation from birth breathes the atmosphere charged with American ideals, principles, laws, customs, language, and liberty. Hyphens disappear. One flag becomes the only flag. Kindly disposed toward their ancestral connections, they hold the land of their birth first in all their thoughts. International brotherhood approaches with the Americanization of the mingled races of the world, making possible the court of nations. The American race representing the unification of the best elements of all peoples is sounding the dominant note in civilization. Peaceable and progressive at home, and respected abroad, the American is known whereever mankind dwells, and such is the race of people vie have in Braddock, North Braddock and Rankin.