Ewald had been in the United States since December 3, 1913, when he arrived in New York City on the SS Friederich der Grosse from Bremen, Germany, along with some of his siblings. They originally stayed with their father Lorenz and uncle John Pape in Evanston, Illinois, but by the following year, Lorenz and his children had moved to nearby Wilmette, to 1622 S. Forest Avenue.
Apparently, Ewald had filed a Declaration of Intent earlier, on December 11, 1920, in Denver, Colorado, while living in Fort Logan. He is recorded on the 1920 Census on January 6 as living with his father Lorenz, brother Carl, and sister Petronella (Nellie) in Port Edwards, Wisconsin. His sister Mary had married Herman Walter of nearby Nekoosa the previous year. His brothers Joseph and August were already married and stayed in Wilmette. So, sometime during 1920, Ewald headed west. I have not found any evidence yet for why.
By 1923, Ewald was living in Portland, Oregon, at the Royal Palms Apartment building, 262 Flanders, and working as an independent draftsman, according to a city directory. He married Alma Albert, who was raised in Wilmette, on November 24, 1923, in nearby Vancouver, Washington.
Ewald's actual Petition for Naturalization was filed August 6, 1941. However, he was not allowed to take oath of allegiance until December 12, 1947. His petition was continued from March 18, 1943, "until end of war."
I don't know why Ewald didn't follow through on obtaining citizenship sometime before 1927 (a Declaration of Intent is only good for seven years). He had registered for the draft, as required, in World War I. Perhaps by 1936, with Hitler's rise to power in his German birth land, he felt the need to finally become a full-fledged United States citizen. Unfortunately wartime fears seemed to delay his citizenship - even though he also complied with the 1942 World War II draft "old man's registration."
© Amanda Pape - 2012 - click here to e-mail me.
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