EXAMINING PATTERNS OF ITALIAN IMMIGRATION TO ...

FARMING
2
Laborer/farm 2
(0.11%)
FOOD & DRINK SELLING
45
Baker 6 Grocer 6 Peddler/groceries 2 (2.68%)
Bartender 7 Liquor dealer 2
Butcher 5 Salesman 2
Cook/restaurant 1 Saloonkeeper 14
PROFESSIONALS AND SKILLED TRADESMEN
47
Surgeon 2 Fireman 2 Tailor 3 (2.79%)
Policeman 2 Miller 2 Teacher 1
Priest 1 Sprinkler 2 Watch repairer 1
Blacksmith 11 Machinist 1 Teamster 14
Dressmaker 2 Shoemaker 3
GENERAL OFFICE JOBS
9
Bookkeeper 3 Printer 1 Appr. newspaper 1 (0.53%)
Clerk 3 Proprietor newspaper 1
GENERAL MERCHANDISE SALE
23
Teamster/store 1 Saleslady 3
(1.3%)
Merchant 6 Salesman 13
3
UNSKILLED
43
Servant 23 Laborer 13 Washwoman 1 (2.6%)
Housekeeper 5 Janitor 1
OTHERS
357
At school 328 Not clear 28 Patient 1 (21.25%)
TOTAL 1,680 1
The second group in number is Other with 357 individuals, most of whom are
students, 328. 38
Building, Professionals and Skilled Tradesmen, and Food and drink selling follow
with relatively small numbers of workers. One important datum to notice in the category of
Food and drink selling is the number of saloonkeepers. According to previous studies and
the stories of many descendants of the first Italian immigrants, Italians were prominent in
Houghton County in the liquor business. In this case, however, they do not appear to be that
many: fourteen saloonkeepers and two liquor dealers. The same is true for masons, just
thirty-seven, which according to many descendants interviewed by Professor Magnaghi
should have been really numerous. 39
Another interesting datum concerns Farming. The number of workers in this field
increases notably over the years, but considering the fact that Italian emigrants were almost
38 In the following years, 1910, 1920, and 1930, the number of students is almost null even though the
community is considerably bigger. This may be a consequence of the fact that students were no longer
considered ‘occupied’ by census takers and therefore were not recorded.
39 Magnaghi, Russell. Interviews with Italian Descendants of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Northern
Michigan University Archives.
38