I grew up in the 50's hearing tales of Dad's experiences working heavy construction on steel mills and later on the construction of the locks and dams on the upper Mississippi.
Dad was born in 1895 in Germany and came to the US 1896 along with his parents and one older brother. They settled in eastern Iowa.
At that time, so I understand, one had to have a sponsor that would vouch for you and assure that you had a place to settle in order to immigrate to the US.
Oh, how I wish I could once again hear those stories.
We did get a chance to video my Mother talking about her upbringing as a child, she was born in the US in 1901.