Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor



Immigrants to America 1905

Eugene Bessire
About 1894, Iowa



Eugene Bessire Comes to America

In a day when the issue of immigration can reach a feverish pitch in political circles, we might forget we really are a nation of immigrants.  In a selfish way, I’m glad the huddled masses I declare as my ancestors were allowed “in” a land of promise.   I don’t know what it took to make a decision to climb aboard a boat and sail to America in hopes of a better future.  Besides the cost of passage there were other costs: leaving family behind that you might never see again, leaving the known for the unknown, and starting over.  The pioneers of America started over a lot and moved a lot.  Their endurance and hard work are remarkable.

Whatever beckoned Eugene Bessire to leave his homeland of Pery, Bern Switzerland, sail across the ocean, and settle in Ohio and eventually in Iowa, would be so interesting to know.  Were there relatives advertising life there in Ohio, life so full of promise, that he couldn’t resist? 

Eugene Bessire’s Application for Naturalization

Fortunately Eugene obeyed the immigration laws and became a naturalized citizen.  The abstracts of application and naturalization can be found in the “Wayne County, Ohio Abstracts of Naturalization Records 1812-1903, published in 1985 by the Wayne County Historical Society, Wooster, Ohio. Remember these are abstracts, not the original records.  I believe those can be found in Wayne County Court records which I will investigate.  There is always promise that the original records might have additional historical clues about an ancestor. (Family History Library US/CAN Book 977.161 P48.  Can also be found on Ancestry.com, “Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s.)   

In page 29 of said book, the abstract of the application from Journal 16 states:  “Eugene Bessier, 29, native Switzerland, emigrate 1849.” (This would indicate his birth year as 1820.)

On page 31, in the Wayne County Court of Common Pleas, Journal 18, under the September Term 1854, the naturalization is recorded:  “Eugene Bessier: native Switzerland.”

This source explains the time table for naturalization:  “An immigrant needed to be a resident of the U.S. for 2 years before filing his application of intent to be naturalized.  He needed to be a resident of the U.S. an additional 3 years before filing for his final naturalization papers.”

Mary Ann Emily Grimm Bessire
About 1894, Iowa

Immigration of Mary Ann Grimm Bessire

Eugene’s wife, Mary Ann Grimm (1830-1916), came to America in 1833 with her parents Jean (1798- ) and Emilie Bueche (1802- ) Grimm.  Essie May McCrillis Cowles (1883-1978) gathered copies of the Jean’s traveling papers through a descendant of Eugene’s son, Alfred Bessire (1854-1946), for her compilation of the Jean Bueche Genealogy and Bessire History, a process that began in 1951. These papers indicate the route of travel for Jean Grimm as from Switzerland to France and then embarking for the U.S. at Le Havre, France, the 21^st of May, 1833.  The history indicates it took 45 days for the crossing.  Eugene may have followed a similar route.

The Modale, Harrison, Iowa 1900 census lists Mary A. Bessire living with her daughter, Mary Z. Bessire McCrillis.  It indicates her immigration to the U.S. as the year 1838 and 62 years as the number of years in the U.S.  The Green River, Emery, Utah 1910 U.S. Census indicates that Mary A. Bessire, once again living with her daughter, Mary Z. Bessire McCrillis,  was born in Switzerland-French with her father and mother’s nativity being the same.

Eugene Bessire’s traveling trunk—where is it?

In a copy of a letter dated June 11, 1958, Bert Austin Bessire (1886-1973)corresponds with Mrs. Charles Bessire [Juanita ] of Hoople, North Dakota.  In the letter Bert states: 

“Grandfather Eugene Bessire came to this country from Switzerland in 1839.  My brother, Blaine, happens to have the home made trunk which he brought with him.  It was made in Paris and on the lock is written, ‘Eugene Bessire, Paris, 1839.’ Grandmother Bessire came to this country from Switzerland a few years earlier.”

 Can it be assumed that the date on the lock is the emigration date? I would think in applying for his naturalization, Eugene would have put the correct date he came from Switzerland, that being 1849 as found in the abstract.  Something to verify.

Eugene Bessire family bible-where is it?

Later on in the letter, Bert references a Eugene Bessire family bible as being in the possession of “Uncle Albert, living at Grand Junction, Colorado” [that] had “names and dates of birth of his children.” Bert continues with the speculation that the bible might be in possession of George Bessire or Dwight Bessire.

How You Can Help.    My intent is to find the exact date Eugene Bessire left Switzerland, departure port, name of the ship, and arrival port in the United States. What do you know of the story of Eugene Bessire coming to America?  Do you have any documents or family stories that might shed light on his journey?  Did he come alone?  What was the calling card to America, land? Where is the Eugene Bessire family bible?  And the same for the 1839 trunk?  Even photographs of these precious heirlooms would be fascinating!