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The Harness Maker's Dream: Nathan Kallison and the Rise of South Texas
Both historical study and ancestral narrative, The Harness Maker’s Dream follows the story of Ukrainian immigrant Nathan Kallison’s journey to the United States in search of a brighter future. At the turn of the twentieth century, over two million Jews emigrated from Czarist Russia and Eastern Europe to escape anti-Semitic law. Seventeen-year-old Kallison and his brothers were among those brave enough to escape persecution and pursue a life of freedom by leaving their homeland in 1890. Faced with the challenges of learning English and earning wages as a harness maker, Kallison struggles to adapt to his new environment.
Kallison moves to San Antonio, Texas, where he finds success by founding one of the largest farm and ranch supply businesses in south Texas and eventually running one of the region’s most innovative ranches. Despite enormous changes in environment and lifestyle, Nathan Kallison and his beloved wife Anna manage to maintain their cultural heritage by raising their children in the Jewish faith, teaching them that family values and a strong sense of character are more important than any worldly achievement.
The son of Nathan Kallison's daughter Tibe, author Nick Kotz provides a moving account of his ancestors’ search for the American dream. Kotz’s work has received recognition by the Texas Jewish Historical Society for eloquently depicting the reality of life for Jewish immigrants in Texas during this time and delineating their significant contributions to society. Kotz’s insight into the life of this inspiring individual will prompt readers to consider their own connections to America’s immigrant past and recognize the beauty of our nation’s diverse history.
Kallison moves to San Antonio, Texas, where he finds success by founding one of the largest farm and ranch supply businesses in south Texas and eventually running one of the region’s most innovative ranches. Despite enormous changes in environment and lifestyle, Nathan Kallison and his beloved wife Anna manage to maintain their cultural heritage by raising their children in the Jewish faith, teaching them that family values and a strong sense of character are more important than any worldly achievement.
The son of Nathan Kallison's daughter Tibe, author Nick Kotz provides a moving account of his ancestors’ search for the American dream. Kotz’s work has received recognition by the Texas Jewish Historical Society for eloquently depicting the reality of life for Jewish immigrants in Texas during this time and delineating their significant contributions to society. Kotz’s insight into the life of this inspiring individual will prompt readers to consider their own connections to America’s immigrant past and recognize the beauty of our nation’s diverse history.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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50 people want to read
About the author
Nick Kotz
7 books6 followersNathan "Nick" K. Kotz was an American journalist, author, and historian.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 24, 2017
Excellent Read About Early Texas Immigrants and Ranching
Well I suppose I was expecting this book to read more of a historical fiction, but it is definitely a biography style writing of Nathan kallison and his descendants. It provides a deep rich history of early Jewish settlers in America and leaves the reader wanting to run to the nearest computer to start their own family history search.
Well I suppose I was expecting this book to read more of a historical fiction, but it is definitely a biography style writing of Nathan kallison and his descendants. It provides a deep rich history of early Jewish settlers in America and leaves the reader wanting to run to the nearest computer to start their own family history search.
July 8, 2016
A well-written history of the Kallison family, starting with Nathan Kallison who fled Russian attacks on Jews in Ukraine in the late 19th century for a harness shop in Chicago and (after his marriage) down to San Antonio. That shop turned into an iconic San Antonio downtown business of the first part of the 20th century and the author (who is a grandson of Nathan Kallison) nicely weaves in the history of the city and the state with the history of his family. Lots of good stuff here, and very readable, with some nicely selected pictures and resources.
December 12, 2013
This family story begins with Nathan Kallison fleeing persecution in the Ukraine and building a first small harness maker's shop in Chicago. Later he and his wife build a thriving family businesses in San Antonio that helped local farms and ranches through the depression, droughts, and the transition to modern farming and agricultural practices. Nathan and his sons were remarkable, and the history they lived through is well researched and articulated in this book.
July 23, 2014
This book is nonfiction. It is the story of the Kallison Farm Goods Store in San Antonio, and the family that started it. It starts with Nathan Kallison as he escapes Jewish persecution in Russia. After a short stay in Chicago, he comes to San Antonio in 1899 and begins working as a harness maker. If you are from San Antonio, you will enjoy this story of it's early days.
November 26, 2014
Nick Kotz's memoir about his grandfather, Nathan Kallison, is a warm tribute to a man who started with nothing and built up a huge ranch and farm supply store in San Antonio. The book is exceptionally strong
in nesting family history in the context of the history of Texas and the United States from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century.
in nesting family history in the context of the history of Texas and the United States from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century.
September 7, 2013
Fascinating to read about Russian Jews escaping the horrors of 19th century czarist Russia and making it big as cattle ranchers! In South Texas!
Want to read
September 24, 2014I love this title! Unfortunately, I somehow missed the book review on BookTV; but when I listen to it, I'll review "The Harness Maker's Dream."
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews