Alfred Andreas Marker

  Generelle notater:

Han blev født den 26 oktober 1896, ingen dåb i folkekirken, forældrene er baptister, søn af former Thorvald Christian Marker og hustru Karen Marie Pihl, 32 år i Rønne.
(Kilde: Rønne kirkebog 1895-1901, opslag 33, Bornholms amt).

When my thoughts seek out old memories dear to me,
I wander the dear old path of my childhood home.
Guarded there from life's swift currents by father and mother.
The happy times of my childhood were like a dream.
Thank you, little mother, for childhood memories that remain.
Thanks for the faithful daily prayers of both you and father.
Mother, when your time on earth is done, I know
I shall always harvest the fruit of your faithfulness.
The happy hours of my childhood home, the world of dreams disappeared.
Life is a dream. but mother's prayer and counsel are true.
Mother's God will help when no other help we can find
A memory I have of mother in her prayer corner.
The sweet times of childhood we cannot have again.
But I am a child of God and Jesus is my friend.
A home is prepared for me there above in the blue.
The bliss of childhood with my mother I shall renew.

Often I long for home's sweet corner of prayer,
For my home where no pain can reach me there.
But one day I will come to heaven sweet Lord
To meet Jesus, mother, on that golden strand.

This song was written by Charles and Alfred Marker for their mother's funeral.

Translated from Danish to Swedish by Alfred Marker

Translated from Danish to English by Ches Blackam 2019

A Native of Bornholm Home after 45 years in America

Ronne Wednesday: After 45 years Alfred Marker will again see his native country, and the island of his birth, Bornholm. Marker emigrated to America in April 1915, just 18 years old. And the . motivation for leaving Denmark was that his work bored him_ he did not think he could go further and would therefore seek happiness in the foreign land. Marker had a brother and a pair of uncles in America. So housing and food were assured in advance. On Easter Sunday 1915 he stood on the deck of "United States"as is left the harbor of Copenhagen.
Made it on $25

Alfred Marker was born at SCT. Martensgade 52 on October 23, 1896. He is today 64 years old. He was trained as a farmer for Ostre Jernstobers (East Foundry) in Rønne where his father also worked. His father was a master farmer and Alfred was his apprentice.

The voyage to America took time because it was in the middle of WWI and the waters were full if mines, the route had to be changed so that they sailed along the coast of England. But one bright morning in May the "United States" docked in Jamestown, N Y. The journey was over. Alfred Marker was in America and it would be 45 years before he set foot on Danish soil.

Marker settled in with a brother in Jamestown. Besides a few belongings he had only the $25 the law required an emigrant at that time to have and which he made it through his first hardships. He finally found employment at a furniture factory but the work was not to his liking. He had the desire to again be a farmer which he did.

In 1917 he married his first wife with he had whom three children. After his wife's death - she died of tuberculosis he married again and with his second wife had two children. On his 4 weeks stay in Denmark he had his 21 year old son with him, a child of his second wife.

Wishing Kennedy Victory

Marker led a varied life of employment. But he is glad for it. He thinks it is delightful to be able to change jobs without much trouble in spite of little education. The last nine years he has been employed at a milking machine company.

In the up coming November election in he USA, Marker hopes the Kennedy will become president. "There are millions of people at this moment out of work over there and I believe that only Kennedy can eliminate this condition. I believe the conditions today can be compared with the election of Roosevelt. So I hope for a democratic victory. It is a pity I am not home fo Election day"

Alfred Marker was strongly guarded when he came to Kastrup Airport and there he received a greeting from Prime Minister Kampmann, "Welcome to Denmark." He felt very warmly welcomed. A little jokingly, he added that the King would also have greeted him, but he (Marker) didn't have time to wait for him.

During his visit on Bornholm, Marker is staying with the Karl Ipsen family in Tejin. He will celebrate his birthday with his sister. Inge Mathiasen, at Larsegade 25 in Ronne. After a few days he will go to Jutland where he will stay several days and finally will visit a sister in Vordingborg.

Alfred arrived 16 April 1915 at Ellis Island at present there is no knowledge of how he was processed and made his way to Jamestown to live with his brother. His eventual naturalization and other documents can be viewed here on family search. I wish to thank Ches Blackem for translating this newspaper article and making the link to the past that later generations may know their grandfather better in anticipation of meeting on the other side of the vail.

In 1960 Alfreds mother died, it had been 50 years since he left Bornholm Denmark to live in the United States. His mother left him an inheritance but made the requirement to collect it that he was required to travel home to Denmark to collect it. So Charlottes
letter shown above is copied her to the best of our ability.

Nov 7, 1960
Dear Charlotte Herby
When you get this, we'll packing and leaving for home. It has been an enjoyable trip, thanks honey. But the worst is yet to come, saying goodbye Kristine is very sweet. I gave her those two towels. They were dirty and she needs to wash all my clothes . This is the last night in Jylland. For two days no letters. The must have came to the wrong place, unless you have forgotten me, but I don.t think so. Anyway you'll tell me what you think when you see me. There is much to tell I can't write every thing down now, we will have many evenings to talk about it. I'll be glad to get back to normal again, couldn't take it if anything to separate us again. So never mention leaving me any more. Well we are going over town. I'll take pictures
and Kristine wants to buy you a slip, she is taller than you and perhaps not quite so broad. But she takes same size stockings as you do 10 1/2. As I said before Horsens is a nice town, but I can't take ant more souvenir stuff. The have a nice Mormon Chapel, but just my luck no church yesterday conference in Asikas. So I went to the Pentecostal. Kristine wanted me to. Donald asked one night how long the meeting lasts. Charles head it he understands a little. I said 1 1/2 hours, Don said Moses and Charles laughed. Well it sure has been a vacation for us. It's going to be hard to wake up in the morning and go back to work. I told Charles that I should bye a lottery ticket for him 5 kr and if he wins they could all come over. But I will have to practice Danish gravy its' real good. We have enjoyed Charles' singing every evening, it's wonderful. You might like Horsens. We can get apartment for Kr 69 a month hast? ? water furnished. Very small, but we like the U.S.A. the best.I will write more later. We have had lunch and everybody sleeps.Charles and Petra are't very strong I am going to send Donalds' work clothes and some of my stuff home by parcel post. Inger said she wanted to buy you something. I'm sending her a card now.The sun is shining but it's cold here 4degrees Celsius. They have many statues here both male and female everything shows. Emil had our picture taken for the paper I haven't seen it yet.Allen is working and Elisabeth is home from school. Well this will be the last letter because it may take three days to get through or more. So hope to see you in Buffalo Sunday Nov. 13. Take it easy and don't get hurt. See you then love from whole marker family and from your husband and Dad.

  Begivenheder i hans liv:

• Bopæl, 1901, Rønne, Bornholm, Danmark.

• immigration, 16 Mar. 1910, Bonholm Denamrk via Ellis Island New York.

• Bopæl, 1911, Rønne, Rønne, Bornholms Vesterherred, Bornholm, Denmark.

• Bopæl, 1920, Jamestown Ward 6, Chautauqua, New York, United States.

• Indfødsret, 13 Jun. 1921, Chautauqua, Jamestown New York.

• Folketælling, 1930, Lakewood, Chautauqua, New York, United States.

• Bopæl, 1930, Lakewood, Chautauqua, New York, United States.

• Konfirmation, 6 Aug. 1933, Lake Chautauqua Chautauqua New York.

• Dåb, 12 Aug. 1933, Lake Chautauqua Chautauqua New York.

• Ordination, 15 Okt. 1933, Jamestown, Chautauqua, New York, United States.