A brief history of the life of Mr. Joseph Yonan, deceased, which he wrote just before his last illness. It was translated from Syriac to English by Pera Mirza.

I was born in Oksar Village in Sulduz about 60 miles from Urmia City in Iran on January 5th 1879. I started to go to the village school when I was 8 years old and continued going to that school for four years, When I was twelve years old, I went to Urmia City, intending to enter the School of Episcopalian Mission of England, which had been started for our people just recently, but since the school was full, there was not chance for me to attend. My father then took me to the American Presbyterian Mission College and I was accepted there. But after a few days I left that School because I found out that I had to eat meat on Wednesday and Friday, which was forbidden to me to eat because those were the days of fasting.

I came back to the Village School again for another year. The next year I tried to enter the School of the Archbishop of Canterbury Episcopalian) and was accepted and took a course of five years of study. After my graduation, the Mission sent me to teach in my own village school, which I did during the four winter months of 1897.

In May of 1897 I left (Persia) Iran for Russia and came to Tiflis City, where I learned painting from a man of our own nationality. In 1900 I married a girl named Martha, daughter of a carpenter named Moosheil ((Moses). Her parents had immigrated from Urmia Iran some years ago and were settled in Tiflis, Russia.

Our first child was born in Tiflis in the year of 1901, his name was given Marshall. In 1902 I sent my wife and son back to Iran, but after two months I also left Tiflis and returned to join my family in Geogtapa, a village about four miles from Urmia City. This was the first place from where my father in law had gone to Russia, and also a place where my wife had many relatives. Again 1903, the Mission sent me to teach school in another village called Sulduz for four winter months.

In 1906 when the Archbishop of Canterburry transferred their mission work from Urmia Iran I went to work for the Assyrians of Kurdistan in Turkey, The Russian Orthodox Church Mission took their place, and I was employed by them as a teacher for another year. That time they sent me to teach in Charbash, a village about one mile from Urmia City. Even here I taught the little children for four winter months.

In the Spring of 1907, I left Urmia and came to Russia again to work as a painter, but unfortunately I got sick and was in bed for three months. After I got well I left Russia in 1907 and came to America. I arrived in America on January 2, 1908, arriving in Baltimore Maryland. From there I went to Rochester New York to one of my wife's relatives. But after two days I went to Elizabeth, New Jersey to see Mr. Hossana, another close friend of my wife. I stayed there for seven months and tried to find work, but failed. I then left Elizabeth and came to Chicago, Illinois. Here I started to work as a painter and was employed eight hours a day, earning seventy-five (75) cents per day. I tried to become a Union member and through the help of Mr. Saul Joseph, I got my membership card. Here I worked eight hours a day for four (4) dollars a day.

In 1908 I left Chicago and went to Gary, Indiana and decided to stay here and make Gary my last home. After two years of hard work, I saved some money and sent for my family to come to this blessed country. In the year of 1910, my wife, son Marshall and daughter Julia came to Gary.

I started my home life and worked as a painter and then later as a contractor. Here in Gary two other sons and three more daughters were born. So I had seven children, myself and my wife to take care of. I worked very hard and succeeded in making enough money to buy three houses in different parts of Gary, and employed sometimes more than thirty persons a day. My best years of success were form 1925 to 1929. Then the depression started, and I lost all my real estate and other property. I could hardly make my daily bread.

In 1932 I left Gary for California, through the help of my friends of Gary, who was a painter and contractor there I was able to get work. So after a few months, I called my family to California intending to settle there. But unfortunately my friend could not employ me, and according to the laws of the state, I was left without any job. Therefore, I returned to Gary with my family in 1933. Again I worked hard and tried to support my family, so that I would not have been on relief. But in 1938 I found myself weak and could not work as before. So my troubles began and slowly but continuously my health failed until I could not work hard.

Now few lines about my Christian life and my relation to the Church. When a child in the Old Country, I was trained and grown in the Doctrine of Nestorian Church. I used to keep all the day fixed by the Church for fasting and prayer. When I was 18 years of age in Russia, I decided to enter the Monastery of the Giorgians to become a Monk, but God changed my plans for good. I used to read and memorize the Bible and preach to my companions. After I got married and sent my family back to Urmia, I became involved in different temptations as a young man, and found myself drifted with some other bad companions. It was there that I decided to come to America, thinking that in this country I would escape those temptations and find here a heaven for myself. But after coming to Chicago, I found out that the head of the Devil was here and even in this country the same temptations and sins are in the roads of the young people.

Now I came to myself and realized that there is only one of escape and be delivered, that was through faith in Christ and remembered his invitation, "come to me all weary and heavy laden". So I surrendered myself to him and found rest and peace.

When I came to Gary in 1908, I was a converted Christian. For two and one-half years I lived In Dr. Walthon's home as their child. He was a man of great heart and helped every Assyrian young man who came to him for help. It was then that I sent and brought my family to America and started our home life in Gary.

After some Assyrians came to Gary, through the help and leadership of Dr. Walton, we started a mission work and the First Church gave us one of the church rooms four our service. Rev Isaac B. Moorhatch was here in that time, so he started to preach for us each Sunday. When he left Gary, Mr. S. Hossana took his place until January 1, 1919, when he moved to California. The Mission called Dr.Ismael Yohanan to take his place and he accepted the call and served the church until 1929, when he resigned because of his illness. It was during his ministry that the present church building was built and I worship there for some years. Then I united with the First Presbyterian Church and became a regular member of the that church

These are my last words before I pass away. It is my will that this short story of my life should be read in Syriac at the time of my funeral service. My service should be preformed by my present minister. The text of sermon should be John 3:12 and the Hymn song "What a Firm Foundation". I know that God has saved me and brought in out of the depth of sin, and I am waiting and expecting his Call.

"Concludes with these words"

"Good bye my sweet family, my beloved relatives and my true friends. I am going to meet my Dear Savior. 

Joseph Yonan

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