According to Geschicte der Gemeinde Zichydorf by Johann Achtzehner (History of the Village of Zichydorf translated by Elizabeth Hugel), 24 families left Zichydorf for Brazil in 1924.
Zichydorf had been within the Austro-Hungarian Empire until after the First World War. The Treaty of Trianon that ended the war carved chunks of territory out of the Empire and distributed them to other bordering countries. The piece that contained Zichydorf was given to Yugoslavia.
The government of Yugoslavia broke up the large estates in the Zichydorf area and gave the land to Serbian war volunteers called Dobrowolski. This displaced many of the German tenant farmers. Achtzehner tells us that 24 families went to Brazil, but he does not know the exact number of people and he does not say that all were displaced from these estates. Only families with children were requested, so we know that there were at least some children and he says that some people even took their younger brothers and sisters along.
According to Achtzehner, the families were:
- Paul Looß and Anna (Klooß)
- Nikolaus Schönherr and Marianna (Kühborn)
- Franz Kafka and Rosalia (Schönher)
- Johann Linden and Barbara (Bär)
- Jakob Bär and Katharina (Nay)
- Johann Kaufmann and Katharina (Schleicher)
- Johann Binder and Theresia (Müller)
- Josef Puschkasch and Maria (Günther)
- Josef Lutz and Marianna (Scheitnas)
- Michael Noll and Elisabetha (Engel)
- Matthias Niesner and Theresia (Pilo)
- Josef Fellenr and Maria (Wingert – also known as Billmann)
- Adam Fellinger and Katharina (Kannegießer)
- Johann Andres and Elisabetha (Neff)
- Josef Binsenberger and Katharina (Linden)
- Andreas Kaufmann and Barbara (Binsenberger)
- Johann Takatsch and Magdalena (Fertich)
- Michael Grebeldinger and Elisabetha (Descho)
- Anton Pilo and Magdalena (Jung)
- Franz Puschkasch and Maria (Hochländer)
- Bernhardt Gajo and Annamaria (Niedermayer)
- Paul Steinbrückner and Katharina (Kannegießer)
- Michael Andres and Theresia (Tretter)
- Georg Leitermann and Eva (Andres)
Achtzehner says that they hoped to settle their own land, but were assigned as farm labourers on estates and coffee plantations and did not find a good life. Some relocated to the city of Sao Paulo; some others went on to Argentina; some others remained where they were; some moved on to North America, and some returned to their homeland.
According to ZVA member, Joan Molyneaux, the Adam Hornsberger family immigrated to Brazil in 1899 and then on to Argentina in 1905. They immigrated to Canada in 1912 leaving behind two married daughters. Their one son Adam jr. immigrated to Canada with his family in 1903. She recognizes several names on this list as being in the same family.