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My grandfather was born near Riga in 1892. He came to the USA in 1908 with his mother to join his father who had come to the USA in 1906.
My grandfather and my grandmother (who was Swedish) believed their children should totally assimilate, so there is not much connection in my family to Latvia. My grandfather died when I was very little, so all I have are a small amount of second hand information from my mother and grandmother (both passed away), some birth/marriage/passport documents from the late 1800's and early 1900's which I had translated, some old photos from Latvia likely from the late 1800's, and my grandfather's Latvian bible. The Latvian documents are all in either Russian, German, or both.
My grandfather's parents were:
Jan (John) Sihrap-Mezis b. 1867
a peasant from Naukshensk region, Volmarsk district, who moved to Riga and married there. Every document has his last name different, and it changed several times after getting to America. Variants: Sihrop-Mesis, Sirap-Meese, Sirop-Mesis, Sirap-Mies, Sihrap, Mezis. The best I can tell, Volmar district is north-east of Riga, but am not sure. He was baptist, I think, but I've seen Mezis listed on the internet as a Jewish surname. I don't have information on his parents other than his given name was Jan Karlov, so I'm assuming his father was Karl. I have heard the story that he came to America, but others in his family went to Argentina. There is a photo that I think is a picture of a big group of his relatives in Argentina. He never discussed his early life in Latvia, so little is known other than his people were farmers. He hoped to return to Latvia, but never did.
Pauline Laura Apping b. 1866
Born in Riga (I think), birth registered in the Bikkern Evangelic-Lutheran Church. Last name also spelled Apin. Parents were Piotr (Peter) Apping, and Annu (Anna), maiden name not known. I have a Latvian newpaper clipping of Annu Apping's obituary, and some photos of her grave that relatives must have sent. Pauline's brother and sister (married name Krumin) also came to America. Pauline and her parents were said to be members of the Latvian Baptist Church by my grandmother, but Pauline's birth certificate shows both her parents as "Lutheran faith". Pauline was a salaried clerk in Riga.
Before going to America, my grandfather's parents lived in the Mitovsk part of Riga, 2nd Police District.
I'm curious if anyone can shed some light on where John Mezis was from in Latvia, and why the surname was juggled around so much (is there an accepted modern spelling?).
Also, since I know there are relatives here the the USA, and also probably in Argentina, I would like to hear from them.
Steve
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