The following story is based on a conversation I had with Helen Abourezk Ramey (19 Sept. 1909-12 Feb. 1998) of Beckley, WV at the Kfeirian Reunion. Some details were added from her brother Jim Abourezk’s book, Advise & Dissent. – Abe J. Bassett
Helen Ramey came to America from Kfeir with a large family group in April 1920, as a ten-year-old child. Her father Beshara Abu Rizk (he later anglicized his name to Charles Thomas Abourezk) had emigrated to South Dakota in 1898 and after several years returned to Kfeir to find a wife.
Helen was born in 1910 and when she was three, Beshara returned to South Dakota intending to earn money to bring over the family. Because of World War I, Beshara was unable to communicate by mail or to send the family any money, and so the trip was delayed until 1920.
Helen’s mother, Juliana “Lena” Mickel, was forced to raise her family without financial support from her husband. Helen recalls the 1918 flu epidemic, as well as the occupation of Kfeir by the Turks. She and her brother Chick specially recalled the horrors of a Kfeirian male, who apparently wanted to avoid service in the Turkish Army, was caught and beaten so severely he died the next day.
Helen’s family group traveled to Beirut via Marjayoun, leaving Beirut on April 1, 1920, and traveling by boat to Marseilles, by train to Paris, and Le Harve, where their departure on the French Line’s Ile de France was delayed for a month because of a port strike. In time the ship left and subsequently arrived in New York, where they managed to avoid passing through Ellis Island.
In the group with Helen was her mother Yulyani (Juliana), Farha Abourezk (Bassett), Adeeb Khouri, brother Chick, Wakeam Khoury, cousin Michele (Helen’s father’s sister’s son), Helen’s uncle John Michel, Mary Baraket, and others. From New York, they traveled by train to Omaha, Nebraska where they were met by Helen’s father, who accompanied them on the train to Winner, South Dakota, and then to Wood, SD about 40 miles further. Helen’s father who had good success in business in Wood financed the trip.
Farha had two sisters Edna and Hamziuh who stayed in Kfeir with their mother Katrina, so seriously afflicted with osteoporosis she walked “bent over.” Farha’s father, Bolus Abourezk, immigrated to America about 1899, staying until 1929, when he returned to Kfeir. When Bolus reached Beirut on his return, Katrina came to meet him at the boat dock but they didn’t recognize each other. After all the people at the dock had left two people remained: Katrina and Bolus. Bolus said to the woman, “Are you Katrina?” and the woman replied, “Yes, are you Bolus?” And they were reunited!
Helen Ramey came to America from Kfeir with a large family group in April 1920, as a ten-year-old child. Her father Beshara Abu Rizk (he later anglicized his name to Charles Thomas Abourezk) had emigrated to South Dakota in 1898 and after several years returned to Kfeir to find a wife.
Helen was born in 1910 and when she was three, Beshara returned to South Dakota intending to earn money to bring over the family. Because of World War I, Beshara was unable to communicate by mail or to send the family any money, and so the trip was delayed until 1920.
Helen’s mother, Juliana “Lena” Mickel, was forced to raise her family without financial support from her husband. Helen recalls the 1918 flu epidemic, as well as the occupation of Kfeir by the Turks. She and her brother Chick specially recalled the horrors of a Kfeirian male, who apparently wanted to avoid service in the Turkish Army, was caught and beaten so severely he died the next day.
Helen’s family group traveled to Beirut via Marjayoun, leaving Beirut on April 1, 1920, and traveling by boat to Marseilles, by train to Paris, and Le Harve, where their departure on the French Line’s Ile de France was delayed for a month because of a port strike. In time the ship left and subsequently arrived in New York, where they managed to avoid passing through Ellis Island.
In the group with Helen was her mother Yulyani (Juliana), Farha Abourezk (Bassett), Adeeb Khouri, brother Chick, Wakeam Khoury, cousin Michele (Helen’s father’s sister’s son), Helen’s uncle John Michel, Mary Baraket, and others. From New York, they traveled by train to Omaha, Nebraska where they were met by Helen’s father, who accompanied them on the train to Winner, South Dakota, and then to Wood, SD about 40 miles further. Helen’s father who had good success in business in Wood financed the trip.
Farha had two sisters Edna and Hamziuh who stayed in Kfeir with their mother Katrina, so seriously afflicted with osteoporosis she walked “bent over.” Farha’s father, Bolus Abourezk, immigrated to America about 1899, staying until 1929, when he returned to Kfeir. When Bolus reached Beirut on his return, Katrina came to meet him at the boat dock but they didn’t recognize each other. After all the people at the dock had left two people remained: Katrina and Bolus. Bolus said to the woman, “Are you Katrina?” and the woman replied, “Yes, are you Bolus?” And they were reunited!