Agapiy Goncharenko

Agapiy Goncharenko, born Andriy Onufriyevich Humnytsky in 1832, was the first documented Ukrainian immigrant to the United States, arriving in Boston in 1865. A former clerk for the Metropolitan of Kyiv, he fled to escape oppression from the Tsarist regime and eventually settled in San Francisco. Goncharenko became a prominent figure in the American press, founding the 'Alaska Herald' and advocating for the rights of the Aleuts while also promoting the purchase of Alaska by the United States. He was known for his colorful personality, being referred to variously as a priest, social critic, and political émigré, living out his days on a small farm he named 'Ukraine.'