A Better Life

by Connie Shrout Roman

A journey of more than 7,000 miles began with one decision. In 1848, Georg and Louesa Herre knew they had no choice but to leave their ancestral home in the Kingdom of Hanover. Their small farm was insufficient to support their growing family. Taxes to the wealthy ruling class and the church left little for the Herre family. They scrimped and struggled to survive. Then things got worse. A blight infested the crops. The Great Famine raced across northern Europe from Ireland to the Germanic states and beyond reducing crop yields by eighty percent. That time would be remembered as the hungry years. Social unrest spawned rumors of war setting the stage for the Prussian Revolution! The family became desperate; Georg and Louesa made a wrenching decision. They would go to the ends of the earth to provide their children a better life. Enduring profound loss, sickness, cramped quarters, hurricanes and pirates they made their way to the western edge of the United States of America settling in Jackson County, Missouri. Along the way they discovered the depth of their love and strength as they became Harra, an American family.

548 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2017

Reviews

[Jo Perrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Family story based on the immigration of the family from Hanover (Germany) to the USA.

[Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of a four-year-old this shares the tale of a German family fleeing war/virtual famine/grinding poverty to take the weeks-long ship trip across the Atlantic Ocean (100 pages worth) to Amerika. Shares the massive packing process of materials and foods in preparation for migration.

With each chapter they get closer to...home. A newcomers perspective to the American Experience. Insightful.