Around World War I, the Odisho family joined the wave of Assyrian immigrants who came to live in Chicago. Joseph arrived first. According to the 1930 census, he came in 1911, but this does not coincide with the birth dates of his daughters in Persia.
Shushan, Regina, and Sapura arrived in 1921, sailing aboard the SS Katori Maru from Japan to Seattle, before making their way to Chicago. The ship manifest states that they were refugees. Their most recent residence was listed as Baghdad, Mesopotamia.
Upon arrival, the family name was changed to Baba. According to descendants, this was because Joseph had held a position of honor as a "baba" or elder in his village.
Joseph found work in Chicago as a laborer in a garage. He and Shushan had four more children: Monie, Agnes, Bessie and Joseph.
Joseph died at the age of 52.
Around World War I, the Odisho family joined the wave of Assyrian immigrants who came to live in Chicago. Joseph arrived first. According to the 1930 census, he came in 1911, but this does not coincide with the birth dates of his daughters in Persia.
Shushan, Regina, and Sapura arrived in 1921, sailing aboard the SS Katori Maru from Japan to Seattle, before making their way to Chicago. The ship manifest states that they were refugees. Their most recent residence was listed as Baghdad, Mesopotamia.
Upon arrival, the family name was changed to Baba. According to descendants, this was because Joseph had held a position of honor as a "baba" or elder in his village.
Joseph found work in Chicago as a laborer in a garage. He and Shushan had four more children: Monie, Agnes, Bessie and Joseph.
Joseph died at the age of 52.
Inscription
(thanks to the Assyrian Christian Church of Chicago for help with this translation)
Joseph Odisho (son of) Baba the headman of Sipurghan village, lived 52 years, passed away on February 12 of the year of our Lord 1938
Family Members
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