My name is Justina Tubbe and I was born on 29th of May 1795 in Bad Freienwalder in Prussia. With my husband Carl Ludwig Tubbe I have 8 children. Sadly my husband died 1845. Now I was a widow and had to care for my children on my own. 

Some years later my son Wilhelm and his sister Wilhelmina emigrated to America. Shortly after their depature I had to endure a life full of torments. My harvest was destroyed and my barn was burnt. 

In 1853 the Prussian Governement intodruced high dike fees and therefor I had to sell my house and had to leave my beloved hometown Bad Freienwalder.

I had enough of Prussia, no land, no work and no rights, I couldnt cope with this horrible life anymore! So i decided to make an application for emigration to America. Short time after I got the answer:

"I was allowed to emigrate with my 2 sons!"

Now I saw an future opportunity again. 

Finally on the 6th of October, 1855 I started my long yourney over the ocean. I departed from Bremerhafen and it took us nearly six weeks to reach our destination New Orleans. Our sailing-ship was called Tuisko. The youreney was very very uncomfortable. We were 319 pessengers and allthough i used the second class, i had to share my quarter with a lot of foreign people. The living conditions were even so bad that eight people died.

Luckily me and my sons survived the long strenuous trip. We reached Ellis Island at the end of november. We had luck again, we were allowed to enter the USA. 

We settled down in a cheap motel and waited for Wilhelms arrival. After 40 days Wilhelm arrived but I was very ill. I cant rember anymore but Wilhelm told me after how we came to his farm in Nacogdoches, Texas. 

Now its 1886 and im becoming older and older every day but Im healthy and love the life with my family on Wilhelms farm.