First time on American shores was when she came with her father and sister Maria to Harrisburg, PA. They chose this city because others from the village were there. They left from Bremen on 20 November 1913 on the Wittekind and arrived in Baltimore on 20 December 1913. Magdalena stayed to help her mother in Hungary.
The next time she is discovered on a manifest is on the ship that her husband, Joseph, lists her as the close relative left behind in Heidenkofen. Then we see Elizabeth and the two boys arriving at Ellis Island on the Homeric on July 4, 1923. It says her passage was paid for by her brother-in-law (Stephen Holczimmer). She is joining her husband at 31 Oakman Street. She is 5' 2", fair complected, brown hair, brown eyes. It says she left her "father" Johann Leberfinger (father-in-law?) in Holzhausen, Bavaria. The boys are listed as being US citizens and born in Rochester, New York
Elizabeth was naturalized in 1934. Her certificate states she is Mrs. Elizabeth Helldobler. Her age is 35 years, her complexion is fair, her eyes and hair are brown, she is 5 feet and 2 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. At the time she was living at 22 Scrantom St., where my parents and grandparents lived.
She was the perfect wife for a farmer. Always cleaning and cooking. She would share recipes with her sisters and would enjoy their visits with their families to the farm. She was a second mother to Adam Keller who worked on the farm for several years as a teenager. Rose Mary, daughter of her sister Mary, also spent several summers on the farm with her Aunt Elizabeth. She was a kind, gentle individual who loved family. Her two sons were her pride and joy. She suffered in her first marriage with an abusive man but was not one to complain or seek pity -- she took care of her problems.
Snapshots: Eager to please. Enjoyed cooking.
