My GF came over at 17, and by the time he was 20 he had brought his brothers and mother over, and had a ranch in santa clara county, Ca that consisted of all of the arable land east of the coyote river, north of the town of Coyote, and south of Beryessa.
They lost it all to the bank in the depression.
Yes, its true many people who were young knew hard work. I should have elaborated. My granddad came with zip and stared an entire company in NY when he was nineteen, car routes, drivers...the whole shabang. I can see if it took years to build up a business it would make sense, that was not the case with grandpa.
My Dad left NY during WW11, only on occasion went back. I never really knew the family growing up, he did not want us too, we have reconnected in our older age.
My oldest brother went back and started a company in NJ, were he reconditioned 50 gallon barrels. He cleaned out the contents, repainted and resold. I do not have one cousin or nephew who will talk about what they do for a living.
Just saying.
;-)
Your family doesn’t seem ‘family’ like.