The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

The first big wave of Chinese immigrants came to America in the mid 1800s escaping poverty in China.  They arrived on the West Coast during California’s Gold Rush.  Anti-Chinese sentiment came in full force because the newly arrived Chinese were perceived as creating job competition for miners and other laborers.  The hard-working Chinese were willing to work for lower wages than most others workers were.

In 1877 in San Francisco, railroad workers began to strike over wage cuts and poor working conditions.  A meeting to express sympathy for the strikers resulted in attacks on the Chinese, and quickly a mob turned on the Chinese neighborhood of Chinatown.  Around the same time Irish immigrant Denis Kearney organized the Workingmen’s Party of California and called for the end of Chinese immigration, nicknamed the “yellow peril.”  His party fell apart in a few short years, but by then the “yellow peril” had become a national issue.  Anti-Chinese attacks and riots continued throughout the 1870s and 1880s.

A Harper’s Weekly magazine cover from 1877 shows throngs of Chinese immigrants entering San Francisco. Image courtesy of the Library Of Congress.

In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, prohibiting Chinese immigration and naturalization.  The Chinese were the first group to be barred from entry to the U.S. based on ethnicity, or nationality.  For 10 years, no Chinese laborer was admitted to the U.S.  Those already here were ineligible for citizenship.  In 1892, Congress updated the law with the Geary Act which extended the ban for another 10 years. At its expiration, Chinese immigration was made illegal indefinitely.

Discrimination in housing and jobs led to concentrations—and segregation– of Chinese in “Chinatowns”. Some states restricted Chinese from owning property. Few industries were open to the Chinese for employment outside of restaurants and running laundries.

An 1896 depiction of Chinatown in New York City, published in Harper’s Weekly. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

In 1910 Angel Island, an immigration station six miles offshore of San Francisco, opened to mostly Asian immigrants.  Chinese who could claim a Chinese-American parent were allowed to enter, as well as officials, teachers, merchants, and students.  However, 30% of the Chinese who attempted entry were denied.  Those who appealed this were held in prison-like barracks for months.

In 1943, Congress purged all exclusion acts because China was an ally against Japan in World War II.  However, limitations still existed. Only 105 Chinese were allowed entry per year, but Chinese-Americans were able to become naturalized citizens.  The Immigration Act of 1965 loosened the restrictions further allowing 170,000 immigrants annually from outside of the Western Hemisphere, with a limit of 20,000 from any one country.

In Rockford, Illinois the first permanent Chinese settler was William T. Moy. In the early 1900s he opened a hand laundry at 108 South 3^rd Street. In 1915 Hop Wah opened a laundry on Seventh Street that would stay open until 1930. Hop Wah was born in California to Chinese parents. The number of Asians in Rockford remained small – under 100 – until after World War I.

Seek Loy Wong, Charley Don’s son, sits at the center of the photo in the striped shirt. He is surrounded by his family as they take a picture in the back of the laundry. Image courtesy of Patricia Fong.

 

Among the arrivals after World War II was Charley Don, who emigrated from China and spent a few years living in Chicago. When he moved to Rockford in the early 1950s he opened a laundry on Court Street across from Court Street Methodist Church. In 1956 he moved the laundry to Mulberry Street and remained in business until the 1970s. Although Charley Don’s son and grandchildren lived in Rockford as well, at least one member of the family was precluded from coming to the United States until after the passage of the Immigration Act of 1965.

Steve and Lanny, Charley Don’s grandsons, are pictured here in front of the Court Street laundry around 1956.

 

 

Mackey-Bertog Family History: Merger of German & Irish Roots in Rockford

Anna Bertog’s parents, Heinrich and Julia, were proprietors of an inn in Germany. Fearful of the growing militarism as the 19^th century gave way to the 20^th, they wanted to get their children away from the volatile atmosphere spreading across Europe. Anna was ten-years-old when they left for America in 1902, and so frightened that she had to be blindfolded just to walk up the gangplank of the ship.  After disembarking in Baltimore, the Bertogs eventually settled in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

 

When Anna turned eighteen, she attended the Snow College of Dressmaking in Rockford, Illinois, living first with her sister Edita (Edith) and then staying at the YWCA.

Anna Bertog

Quite some time earlier and many miles away, James Mackey, Sr. was born in Ireland in 1820. Reaching adulthood, he married his sweetheart, Lucy, and they immigrated to America where James Jr. was born. The Mackeys came to Rockford from Plymouth, Wisconsin in 1878. Nine years later, James Jr. married seventeen-year-old Emilie Krueger, whose parents hailed from Niden, Germany. Into James Jr. and Emilie’s growing family was born Willard Mackey. With the deaths of both James’s, senior and junior, in 1904, young Willard became the man of the house.

Willard “Mac” Mackey

The Mackeys had a farmhouse in Rockford, circa 1890, complete with a hickory nut grove. The family’s famed hickory nut cake recipe survives. The Mackeys helped sponsor the building of a one-room school on Prairie Road in Rockford called the Oak Grove School. This former schoolhouse was later renovated into a private home.

Growing up, Willard was described as “bookish,” always to be found in the orchard sitting under a tree reading a book. As a young man, he became an active member of the Blackhawk Canoe Club. Canoeing was not only a popular form of exercise but was also an enjoyable way to take a date for a leisurely, serene excursion on the beautiful, winding Rock River.

Willard Mackey canoeing on the Rock River

Willard often canoed as far as Oregon, Illinois, past the imposing Blackhawk statue on the banks of the river. This 48-foot “Eternal Indian” sculpture, dedicated in 1911, was erected in honor of the Native American chief whose name was also appropriated by the canoe club. Willard met Anna during this period and many times the young and spirited Anna Bertog was by Willard’s side on these excursions, a somewhat dangerous endeavor for her because she had never learned how to swim!

Willard Mackey and Anna Bertog, wedding photos, 1914

Willard and Anna married on September 16, 1914. During the prosperity of post-war 1920s Rockford, five factories (Free Sewing Machine Company, Haddorff Piano, Landstrom Furniture Company, Rockford Varnish, and National Lock) formed an alliance called Consolidated Industries. Willard, known as “Mac” to his friends and colleagues, had worked at the sewing machine company; he now became the purchasing agent for this conglomeration.

The young couple lived on Albert Avenue across from Sunset Park in Rockford’s west side. In addition to being a homemaker, Anna was also on staff at Snow’s College.

Around 1920, the Mackeys moved to 2040 Oxford Street in northwest Rockford. This move was short-lived when the family rented a bungalow on Mulberry Street in 1921 near the P.R. Walker School so the Mackey children could easily walk there. Up to this point, the Mackeys had never owned an automobile, but Willard purchased his first car in 1922.

In the spring of 1923, the family moved yet again, this time settling in for a much longer stay. The Mackey clan filled a four-bedroom home at 315 Sheridan Street on Rockford’s northwest side.

Owing to her training and college background as well as her husband’s connection to the Free Sewing Machine Company, Anna always had an electric sewing machine in the house. This was quite a luxury to many young families of these early modern times. As a purchasing agent, Willard would receive gifts from salesmen and clients. One such gift was a children’s slide, which the Mackey youngsters greatly enjoyed in their Sheridan Street backyard.

Willard taught his children canoeing and rented a boathouse with access to the Rock River from a family on National Avenue. The Mackeys loved to ice skate on the frozen river in the long and lingering winter months.

Anna and Willard moved to a home on Hilton Avenue in 1943. In 1960, Willard retired, and he and Anna moved to N. Fort Meyers, Florida to escape the often harsh Midwestern winters. Here they spent their golden years enjoying sunshine, boating, fishing, and each other. The longtime couple, having successfully joined and multiplied their combined German-Irish roots, celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary in 1964.

Willard and Anna (Bertog) Mackey, 50th anniversary, 1964

~Written by Doug Janicke, intern in Collections Department at Midway Village Museum & MLIS Graduate Student

                                                   

Celebrating Dr. Maurice P. Rogers: Local Physician & Pioneer Brain Surgeon

Maurice P. Rogers (1892-1983) was a physician in Rockford with a distinguished 67-year career. Dr. Rogers became highly regarded as a renowned pioneer in the fledgling field of brain surgery. Professionally, Rogers practiced at one time from offices in downtown’s William Brown Building on S. Main Street. In their personal life, he and his wife, Jeanette (1890-1976), eventually resided on Spring Creek Road in a home designed by architect Jesse A. Barloga in the late 1920s. In its February 27, 1949 edition, the Rockford Morning Star published an article about the Rogers and their English-style home, complete with photographs, titled “Manor-Type Architecture Represented in Spring Creek Road Home.” The newspaper ran another article with pictures about the home’s English heritage and its subsequent owners on May 22, 1966. The Rogers later lived on land where Rock Valley College currently stands.

Dr. Maurice P. Rogers

In the materials at Midway Village Museum (MVM) that houses Rogers’ collection are two small loose-leaf, three-ring binders with cracked black leather covers. Each contains an alphabetical listing of medical procedures and protocol, carefully and meticulously detailed and neatly handwritten by Dr. Rogers himself. The instructions contained in the binders run the gamut from office policy to directions dictating exactly when and how to properly administer appropriate medication. These books, acting at the time as quick and handy reference guides, now serve as historical reminders of the state of early 20^th century medical, health, and hygiene practices.

A page from Dr. Rogers’ medical journal

A Morning Star article from November 30, 1952 noted Dr. Rogers’ rise to the position of President of the Winnebago County Medical Society.

Other notable items in the Rogers’ collection at MVM include a commemorative carafe inscribed “Medical Society Stag, Rockford ILL, 1934,” an ornate guestbook with wooden covers containing penciled entries and signatures from guests at dinner parties, holiday gatherings, and other special occasions spanning several decades, and receipts and blueprints pertaining to the Rogers’ Spring Creek home and its rather elaborate accoutrements and elegant fixtures.

Guestbook, commemorative carafe, and medical journals

On October 18, 1983, the Register Star reported that Dr. Rogers had died at age 90 on September 7^th in River Bluff Nursing Home.

~Written by Doug Janicke, intern in Collections Department at Midway Village Museum & MLIS Graduate Student

Identity Revealed: Civil War Soldier

While scanning Civil War photographs for a researcher, investigations were made to gain more information on a soldier who was later identified as Henry Martyn Thomas. Born Dec. 21, 1841, Thomas served during the Civil War in the 45^th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, rising from Private to Commissary Sergeant in Company G.

Henry was one of seven children born to Dr. Alden Thomas (1791-1856). After practicing medicine for a few years, Dr. Thomas moved to a farm two miles south of Rockford on Kishwaukee Road where he lived for two years. After this, he relocated to Rockford where he operated a drug store until shortly before his death. Dr. Thomas was buried in Cedar Bluff Cemetery in Rockford.

On Sept. 28, 1863, Henry Thomas was involved in rescuing passengers from a burning steamer on the Mississippi River. An article in the Rock River Democrat (Rockford IL) stated that Thomas acted “with true heroic gallantry . . . assisted in launching a gang-plank,” and saw to the safety of others on board. He was later lost attempting to swim to shore. The newspaper proclaimed that “he died like a true soldier.” Thomas was twenty-one-years-old.

The photo below was taken seven months before his untimely death.

Henry Martyn Thomas, 1863

Back of photograph

 

Another Rock River Democrat article, dated Nov. 25, 1863, reported that the remains of Henry M. Thomas were recovered from the Mississippi and returned to Rockford. He was also buried in Cedar Bluff Cemetery.

~Written by Doug Janicke, intern in Collections Department at Midway Village Museum & MLIS Graduate Student

 

Arisaka Type 99 Rifle: A Japanese WWII Relic

Midway Village Museum has a permanent collection of nearly 150,000 artifacts. Within the walls of the museum are untold stories of amazing relics. In honor of our upcoming WWII Days event, we’d like to share a piece of history with our readers. In our weaponry collection, we have a Japanese Arisaka Type 99 bolt action infantry rifle from WWII, brought back by Everett Charles Sarver. Before continuing with this story, let’s get some more background on Mr. Sarver and why this particular weapon is one of the best bolt action rifles to have been produced.

Everett Charles “Son” Sarver was born on April 24, 1916 to Everett Alexander and Lauretta Sarver.  He and his father, Everett Alexander, began a livestock hauling business that evolved from Everett Alexander’s garbage hauling job from Camp Grant. E.A. Sarver & Son began circa 1934, and by 1941, E.C. had taken over the business; it became E.C. Sarver Livestock Trucking. E.C. Sarver owned and operated this trucking company before he entered the Navy.

Everett Charles Sarver (1916 – 1991)

U.S.S. Minotaur

He was drafted into the Navy in 1944 during WWII and served until 1946 in the Pacific on the U.S.S. Minotaur.  Everett was the U.S.S. Minotaur’s mailman and the Captain’s Talker (he relayed orders via an intercom system to stations beyond the bridge).  As mailman, he would go in a small boat from ship to shore to pick up mail and “other illicit things.”  It is believed that this is how he acquired an Arisaka Type 99 bolt action rifle and bayonet.

The Type 99 rifle was created as a result of Imperial Japan’s fast track to modernization, called the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912). During that time, Japan was quickly assimilating Western technologies and improving upon them in order to become a colonial power. Before WWII, Japan had already started taking over territories in China and had defeated Russia to claim land in Manchuria and Korea.  As Japan’s power grew, their military spread into other parts of Asia, leading to the Second Japanese-Russo War and later, WWII.

The Type 99 rifle and its predecessors, the Type 30 and Type 38, were created by Nariakira Arisaka during these conflicts. The type 99 came in four versions: the Type 99 short rifle (a standard infantry rifle), the Type 99 long rifle (limited production), a Takedown Type 2 Paratrooper rifle, and the Type 99 sniper rifle. The standard infantry rifle had a monopod as well as an anti-aircraft rear sight meant to take down low flying lightly armored bombers.

Arisaka rifle evolution (from top to bottom): 1. Type 30 2. Type 38 3. Type 38 carbine 4. Type 44 carbine 5. Type “I” model 6. Type 99 (earlier model) 7. Type 99 (later model)

The Type 99 rifle was basically an improved version of Type 38, but with the increased firepower of a 7.7mm cartridge (the 38 used a 6.5mm cartridge). The 99 could chamber a 5 round stripper clip. It had a quick-release bolt and a safety measure built in so that the spent cartridges would fly away from the soldier. It also had a chrome lined bore for easier cleaning. Although it had the heavier firepower, it also had a strong kickback due to its lighter stock. The Type 99 came with its own bayonet in the form of a long slender blade, often grooved to reduce weight. The Type 99 was a strong and solid weapon and one of the best bolt action rifles of its time.

The Type 99 was produced by 8 factories over the course of its service. These included Nagoya and Kokura in Japan, the Jinsen Arsenal in Korea, and Hoten (Mukden) in Manchuria. There were also subcontractors throughout mainland Japan producing these rifles. The rifles were produced in series of 100,000 with its numbering being 0 to 99,000 before the count would start over. The Type 99 rifle was only manufactured from 1939 to 1945. As the war progressed and pressure increased for Japan to manufacture more weaponry, the quality of these weapons decreased. At the end of WWII a batch of “last ditch” rifles were produced and they are known for their crude and simple design.

Most of the weaponry collected from Japan after WWII had any significant symbols/insignia removed or defaced by the Japanese before they were handed over. The Type 99 rifle in particular had its Imperial Chrysanthemum blossom ‘mon’ (a Japanese emblem used to identify an individual or family) removed before being turned over. One theory behind this act is that it would have been disrespectful to the Emperor if his ‘mon’ was allowed to remain upon a weapon handed over the enemy. Any rifles with the ‘mon’ still intact indicate that they were taken before the surrender by Chinese, British, or American soldiers.

Arisaka Type 99 Bolt Action Rifle from Midway Village Museum’s permanent collection 

Above is an image of the Type 99 bolt action infantry rifle in our collection. Its arsenal mark and serial number, 3976, indicate that it was part of the 31^st series of rifles manufactured by Toyo Kogyo under contract to Kokura Arsenal. It was most likely manufactured during 1942-1943. The story of Mr. Sarver bringing this rifle back with him during WWII is supported by the Chrysanthemum ‘mon’ still being intact on this rifle. If the rifle had been handed over after the war, the ‘mon’ would no longer be present or fully intact. The writing below the ‘mon’ is ‘kyu-kyu-shiku’ which roughly translates to Type 99, meaning that the rifle is a Type 99. Our rifle has a flip up anti-aircraft rear sight, monopod, and is made from better quality materials than the ‘last ditch’ rifles at the end of the war.

The Chrysanthemum ‘mon’ (coat of arms) of the Japanese Imperial family & “kyu-kyu-shiku” (below ‘mon’) translates to Type 99

Arsenal mark and serial number

 

The bayonet that came with our rifle has a hook guard and a serial number of 2271908, which suggests it was made in the 1910s and would have been issued originally with an Arisaka Type 38 rifle. Our rifle measures 44in in length from the butt to the barrel and is roughly eight pounds.

Type 30 bayonet & scabbard from WWI that came with the Arisaka Type 99 rifle

 

Once Everett Charles Sarver returned home, he ran his trucking business until 1969. He had married Ruth Irene Wickens in 1941 and together they had three children: Suzanne Mary, Charles “Chuck” “Charlie” Sarver, Jr., and Linda Kay.  Everett Charles Sarver passed away on October 24, 1991.

-Post written by Tiffany Arnold, Assistant Curator at Midway Village Museum