Immigrant Farmer Story
by Ana Arroyo
October 16, 2009
Nolan Sump is more than just a Special Education Teacher at Axtell Jr/Sr High School; he portrayed himself as a German Immigrant farmer named Johannes Rauschenberg for Mrs. Carlin’s American History class on Thursday, October 1, 2009. He reenacted the role of a German Immigrant farmer during the late 1880’s.
Mr. Sump spoke German at first and then with an accent. He described the outfit he was wearing and how significant it was during those times. As his character, he expressed how hard it was growing up and moving to the United States because his family wanted a new beginning. Rauschenberg’s father and mother got that new beginning because of the Homestead Act. The Homestead Act allowed his family to have a freehold title to 160 acres (1/4 of a section) of land. His family had to farm the land as proof of improvement to receive a deed of title. His family lived in a sod house made from the land. Herr Rauschenberg talked about his father and the mouse that went up Johannes’ trousers because he didn’t put his socks over the bottom of his trousers. He didn’t like mice.
Overall, this is one of three personae Nolan Sump does for various organizations that want to put on living history.
