Family History Writing Challenge Day 14 - Gus Gulyban my Father-in-Law

 Gustav Joseph (Gus) Gulyban was born on 11 Nov 1926 in Martins Ferry, Ohio.  His parents were Gustav (Augustinus) Gulyban and Maria Fendrik were Hunganian immigrants.  Martins Ferry became the home of many Hungarian immigrants because it strongly resembled their homeland and there was work available in the coal mines in the area.

Gus grew up in Martins Ferry attending the local schools and going to church at St Mary’s Catholic Church with his sister Mary Elizabeth and brother John.  An older sister Irene had died at three months of age.

In 1940 Gus was thirteen years old and had completed the seventh grade. 

By 1945 Gus had joined the Navy and in September of 1945 was serving on the Zebra.  His rate was Fireman 2^nd class and also Electrician’s Mate.  The Zebra was originally launched in Oct 1943 as SS Matthew under a Maritime Commission Contract.  As a freighter traveling the waters of the South Pacific where she was heavily damaged by a Japanese torpedo.  While she was awaiting repair at  Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides as naval officer recognized her potential for service as a net cargo ship.  She was commissioned as such 27 Feb 1944.  During that summer the ship visited Tongatapu; Bora Bora; Tutuila and Upolu, Samoa; and Funafuti. She arrived at Pearl Harbor 15 Dec 1945 where she waited for her next mission which would be to Iwo Jima.  She left for Iwo Jima on 28 February and remained there until 11 April when she returned to California.  The ship returned to Pearl Harbor on 8 September 1945 with Gus aboard and left 12 days later for the Marshall Islands, Iwo Jima, and Saipan.  She departed Saipan on 15 Nov and returned to the United States arriving at the Panama Canal Zone on Dec 31, 1945.  She arrived at Norfolk, Virginia on 8 January and was decommissioned on 21 January 1946.  Gus was still on the Zebra at that time as reported by Navy muster rolls for the Zebra.[i]    

                                                                                                                                                                                                      After leaving the Zebra in Jan 1946, Gus served aboard the Lindenwald, a dock landing ship, with missions in Okinawa and the Phillipines.  Muster rolls show that Gus served on the Lindenwald February, March, April, May, and until the 24^th June 1946 when the ship left New Orleans for Bremerhaven.  .[ii]

After Gus left the Navy in 1946 he decided to stay in Chicago where he became comfortable while he was training at the Great Lakes Naval Station.  For a while he worked at the Walgreens Drug Store on State Street.  At the time he was living on LaVergn Street on the West Side of Chicago.

Around 1947 he was hired by AT&T and began working at their Canal Street office.  Working the night shift he met Wanda Peterson and a friendship developed.  Wanda and Gus were married on 2 Dec 1949.

At Gus’ sugestion Wanda and her children, David and Patti, were baptized in the Catholic Church and invoking the Pauline Privilege their marriage was blessed in the Catholic Church.  David and Patti made their First Communion on 6 May 1951.

After the birth of their daughter Susan Margaret, Wanda and Gus purchased a home in suburban Wheaton.  In 1956 Gus and Wanda sold their original home and built a new home at 1111 N Main St where they became members of St Mark Parish.  Gus was active in the parish as an usher at Sunday Mass and also a counter of the money collected during the Masses.  He joined the Knights of Columbus and became a member of the 4^th degree which is the patriotic arm of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the Color Corps.  You’ve seen them with their capes, swords, and chapeaux at parades and other functions.  With all this going on Gus remained a loyal AT&T employee even reaching management status. 

In 1982, Gus retired from AT&T, the house on Main St was sold and the move to St Pete Beach was completed. Once retired, Gus began a new life by establishing his own business “Wangus”, a combination of Wanda and Gus.  Wangus was a lawn care and building maintenance company and Gus was busy for several hours a day. 

Over the years Gus had several other hobbies.  He was an avid stamp collector and in the 70s he began making candles.  He actually took orders for and sold his candles.  One year, for Christmas, the table was set with star shaped candles at each place with each person’s name and the year inscribed on it.  I know that my family used their candles every Christmas for many years.[iii]

Gus is currently living in well deserved retirement in Florida and I sincerely hope enjoying himself.

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This blog has been edited to correct military information posted in error.

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[i] Wikipedia Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

[ii] ibid

[iii] Photo gypsybees.com

Veterans Day 2016 and A Life Well Lived!

Wanda and Gus
50th Anniversary

Today is Veteran’s Day and I salute all of my friends and family who have bravely served our country.  I also want to especially remember my father-in-law Gus Gulyban who died 6 November 2016, just five days before his ninetieth birthday.

Gus was born in Martins Ferry, Belmont County, Ohio to Gus and Mary (Fendrick) Gulyban.  They were both Hungarian immigrants who braved a long sea voyage to come to the United States for a better life.

As Gus grew up, he watched his coal miner father go off to a dangerous job with a metal lunch box in hand.  On his father’s return home, Gus would watch his father go down to the basement and try to remove the coal dust before going to the kitchen for dinner.  Mary, his mother would remain home to raise the three children (Gus, Mary Elizabeth, and John) and prepare the meals.  She also would cook for the church when there were funerals and other activities.

Gus attended public schools in Martins Ferry and St Mary’s Catholic Church.  He never out ended the habit of kneeling beside his  bed to say his night prayers.  As soon as he finished high school, Gus joined the United States Navy for the duration of World War II. 

After training at Great Lakes, Gus was assigned to ships in the Pacific, serving on the USS Zebra and the USS Lindenwald from which he was discharged. After the navy, Gus settled in Chicago where he was employed by AT&T. While working the night shift at AT&T, Gus met the love of his life, Wanda Peterson, a single mother of two children, David and Patricia.   Gus and Wanda fell in love and married on 1 Dec 1949.

After several years in the city, Gus and Wanda moved to Wheaton, IL where they had purchased a house.  It was there that their daughter Susan was born in 1952.

The family continued to grow and thrive.  In 1956, just before David was to graduate from high school,  the family build another house in Wheaton, to make room for Wanda’s widowed mother.  This enabled Wanda to continue working for Illinois Bell while Gus continued working in Chicago, walking to and from the train station daily.

 Gus joined the Knights of Columbus at St Michael’s Church in Wheaton, achieving the rank of 4^th Degree ( the patriotic arm) and becoming a member of the Color Corps.  Gus also volunteered as a counter of the Sunday collection.  This was a task he performed weekly until they moved to Florida in 1983.  Gus had retired from AT&T and after selling the house in Wheaton, they purchased a condo in St Petersburg, FL just a block from the beach.  Not one to sit around, Gus established a lawn care company which he named “WANGUS”.  He then proceeded to take care of the condo grounds as well as several other nearby properties.  He even had a vanity license plate “WANGUS”.  

In the 1990’s Wanda and Gus moved to a bigger condo in Clearwater, where they lived a quieter livfestyle.  That was to be their final move.  Wanda’s increasing health issues limited the traveling they could do.  When Wanda was required to move into an assisted living facility, Gus visited her every day at both lunch and dinner time.  Between times he would often do laundry or grocery shop.

Sadly, in 2010, Gus’ health required his move to assisted living as well.  Wanda and Gus were now in different wings of the same facility.  He still visited Wanda as often as he could until her death in January 2011.

This is the man my children knew as their grandfather.  He was cheerful, generous, patriotic, religious, loving, and honest!  I can’t imagine a better example for a child to emulate.  I am so proud to have known and loved him.

Happy Birthday Gus - Veteran's Day 2011

Gus Gulyban was born 11 Nove 1921 in Martin's Ferry, Ohio.  His parents were both immigrants from Hungary.  His father, August, was a coal miner who had immigrated in 1905 as a laborer, coming to the United States to seek his fortune.  His mother, Mary, traveled to the United States with her sisters, Elizabeth and Julia, to join their mother who had immigrated earlier.  Mary found work as a domestic servant, which helped her learn English.

Gus grew up on the banks of the Ohio River, but never learned to swim.  That was probably due to his mother's fear of water.  Nevertheless. he joined the U S Navy during WWII and served on the USS Zebra and on the Lindenwald from which he was discharged.  His brother John followed him into the Navy and remained in the Navy for 20 + years.

After leaving the Navy, Gus went to work for AT&T and settled in the Chicago, Illinois area where he married and raised a family.  After retiring from AT&T, Gus and his wife, Wanda, moved to FL where he lives today.

Happy Birthday Veteran Gus Gulyban!  One of many heros who served or are serving our country.

Thinking of Gus - 11 Nov 1926 - 6 Nov 2016

It’s been a year since you left us to re-join your beloved Wanda and I wanted to learn more about you. I previously wrote about you here. I went back to the 1940 Census to see what I could learn about your family and life in Martins Ferry, Belmont, Ohio.

1940 US Census

According to the census, you lived with your parents Gus, variously called Augustinis, August,Gus,and Gustav, and Mary (Maria) in a rented house at 120 Clay St. in Martins Ferry. The monthly rent on the house was $11.00 per month. Since your father only worked for 14 weeks in 1939, earning an income of $168.00 ($2968.83 in today's dollars) we know that money was tight.

Your father came to the United States from Hungary in 1906 as a 15 year old with a 6th grade education. He initially lived with his brother in Pennsylvania.  By 1917, he was living and working in Ohio. As America went to war in 1917, your father enlisted in the army with the unfortunate result that he was determined to be an enemy alien since he did not yet have his naturalization papers.[i]

By 1920, he was naturalized citizen living in Martins Ferry.[ii] Your father spent the rest of his life in Martins Ferry where he worked in the coal mines to His faith was very important to him and he faithfully attended St Mary's church in Martins Ferry and every night said his evening prayers on his knees. A habit that you also practiced.

Mary Fendrick also came to the United States at about age 16 traveling with her sisters Elizabeth and Julia. On the ship, she was so sick she had to be hospitalized. On her arrival, she took a job in a private household to help her learn the language.

In 1924 Gus Gulyban and Mary Fendrick were married at St Mary’s Church in Martins Ferry.[iii] Following their marriage, Gus and Mary raised their family in Martins Ferry instilling their religious, patriotic and hard work values in their children.


From 1940 you attended Martins Ferry High School, graduating in 1944. That's your senior picture. In your Sophomore year you were a member of the stamp club, a hobby that would stay with you. In your Junior year you were a Hall Guard. 

You entered the US Navy shortly after your High School Graduation. You were stationed on both the USS Lindenwald and the USS Zebra. After the war was over, you settled in Chicago and began to work for A&T in downtown Chicago.  You met and married Wanda Ferguson in 1949. You also acquired two children, David and Patricia, who you would raise with love.

In 1952, your daughter, Susan, was born and you moved your family to Wheaton, IL. where you had built a home.

You and Wanda raised your family with the same values you were taught by your parents example. Hard work, prayer, and a healthy dose of patriotism were the keystones to a successful life.

You were generous, cheerful, hardworking, and honest. You loved music, cooking, stamp collecting, and people. The stamp collecting was a holdover from your membership in the high school stamp club. You embraced learning trying new challenges like doing crossword puzzles in ink and learning to make candles or stained glass. 

Your success in raising your family is a tribute to both you and your parents and I thank you for that. You are honored and missed.

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[i] Ancestry.com images online; U S, Adjunct General Records 1631-1976; Ohio 1917-1918 p 6640 accessed 6 Nov 2017

[ii] “Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:MM9.1.1/K84B-YQW: accessed 13 May 2013, Gustav Gulyban, 1919.

[iii] West Virginia, Marriages, 1853-1970, index FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:MM9.1.1/F19S-HJM: accessed 13 May 2013), Gustav Gulyban and Mary Fendrick, 1924.

Geneabloggers Funeral Card Friday - Wanda Bernice Gulyban

RIP 

Wanda Bernice Gulyban 10 Aug 1921 - 21 Jan 2011

Wanda was born August 10, 1921 to Murl and Naomi (nee Sempsrott) Ferguson in Hunt City, Jasper, Illinois.  The family moved to Chicago by 1930 and retained their ties to Jasper County.

Wanda married Harold Arthur Peterson in Chicago on June 1, 1938.  They had two children, David and Patricia.  She and Harold divorced in 1948.  Wanda married Gustav J Gulyban in Chicago on Dec 2, 1949.  They had a daughter Susan.

Wanda loved knitting and ceramics which she did until arthritis made the use of her hands too painful.  Due to back problems caused by a car accident, Wanda took a disability retirement from Illinois Bell Telephone Co.

In the 1980s, Wanda and Gus moved from Wheaton, IL to St Pete Beach, FL, followed by a move to Clearwater, FL.

After a long illness Wanda died on Jan 21, 2011 in Clearwater, FL.

She is survived by her husband Gus Gulyban and daughters Patricia Peterson Leithem Morgan (Gary) and Susan Gulyban Walter (Tom).  She is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Wanda did not have a formal funeral service or an obituary published so this is my attempt to memorialize her.  She was my mother-in-law and will be missed.

Surname Saturday - Gulyban from Hungary

As I work my way through my surname list I have come to the name Gulyban and its various spellings. The Gulyban line I am researching originated in the county of Borsod, Hungary.
It is from Northeastern Hungary. Ellis Island records show 45 Gulyban arrivals between 1893 and 1923. There are many more when "creative" spelling is used for searching. The 1920 federal census lists 54 Gulybans born in Hungary. Again this does not include alternative spellings such as Gooban.


Wikipedia provides the following information: Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén (Hungarian pronunciation: [borʃod ɒbɒuːj zɛmpleːn]) is the name of an administrative county (comitatus or megye) in north-eastern Hungary (commonly called "Northern Hungary"), on the border with Slovakia. It shares borders with the Hungarian counties Nógrád, Heves, Hajdú-Bihar and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg. The capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county is Miskolc. Of the seven statistical regions of Hungary it belongs to the region Northern Hungary. Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén is the second largest county of Hungary both by area (after Bács-Kiskun) and by population (after Pest County). 40% of the land is arable. Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén is one of the most geographically diverse areas of Hungary. It lies where the Northern Mountains meet the Great Hungarian Plain, thus the northern parts of the county are mountainous – with some of the highest peaks and deepest caves in the country –, the southern parts are flat.

Augustinus Gulyban, my immigrant, came to the United States in 1905 at the age of 15. As many others had, he went to stay with friends or relatives until he got his feet under him. He settled in eastern Ohio like many Hungarian immigrants and worked in the coal mines. Gus, as he was also known, enlisted in the US Army in 1917 only to be rejected 3 months later as an enemy alien. Gus was naturalized in 1918.

Family History Writing Challenge Day 13 - My Mother-in-Law Wanda Bernice

Wanda Bernice was born on 10 Aug 1921 in Hunt City, Jasper, Illinois to Murl C Ferguson and Naomi Sempstott. Murl worked as a laborer on the farm rented by his father in Willow Hill, Jasper County, Illinois according to the 1920 census.

By 1923 Wanda had a little sister Garnet.  The little family moved to Chicago to seek better work opportunities.  Murl found employment with the railroad and in 1930 he was a switchman for the Steam Railroad.  They lived next door to Murl’s brother Byrl who had followed Murl from Willow Hill to Chicago.

Although Wanda’s sister Garnet, sadly, died in 1928, there always plenty of cousins around since records show that several nieces stayed with the family over the years and right next door was Uncle Byrl and his family.

Wanda about 14 years

Wanda about 18

On 1 June 1938, having completed two years of high school, Wanda married Harold Peterson who worked as an electrician for the railroad.  One year later, on 1 June 1939, their son David Lee was born. Later came Patricia Ann on 15 March 1942.

During the 1940s Harold and Wanda took flying lessons with Harold’s sister Hazel and her husband Larry.  Photos from that time show the families at the air field.

Unfortunately the marriage did not last and the couple separated about 1947.  Wanda and the children moved in with her parents and Wanda got a job at the telephone company.  Wanda worked nights and eventually met Gus Gulyban who also worked nights at the telephone.

 

                                                           

Gus and Wanda were married 2 Dec 1949. Their daughter Susan Margaret was born 15 Apr 1952 while they were still living in Chicago.  Soon they moved to Wheaton where Wanda continued working for the telephone in Wheaton while Gus kept working in the downtown Chicago offices.

Wanda remained in touch with her southern Illinois roots returning there frequently and often letting David and Pat spend parts of their summer vacations in Willow Hill. Gus had roots in Ohio so the couple traveled in that direction often too.  On one of their trips they were in an accident and Wanda suffered back injuries that caused her to take an early retirement due to disability.

After her retirement Wanda began knitting until arthritis in her hands made it too painful to continue.  Her back injuries required several surgeries which were less than successful.  Wanda used a walker for many years before being forced to move to a wheelchair.

50th Anniversary 2 Dec 1999 with Pat, Susan, and Dave

Even though Wanda survived several bouts with cancer, an attack of shingles forced Gus have her admitted into a nursing home.

Wanda died 21 Jan 2011.

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Genealogy by the States - An Hungarian Immigrant

On 16 Mar 1907 Augustinus  Gulyban arrived at Ellis Island with his brother Janos  from Rakacza, Hungary.  The brothers initially went to Pennsylvania and in 1910 the Federal census indicates that they were living in the home of Frank Voytko, another Hungarian immigrant, in Cleveland, Ohio.  They were laborers in a Foundry.[i]

By 1917, Gus had moved to Martins Ferry, Belmont, Ohio where he enlisted in the National Army on 3 October  1917.  On 14 Dec 1917 he was discharged as an alien enemy.[ii]  It would be 1918 before Gus became a U S citizen.

Gus remained in Martins Ferry where he found work in the Gaylord Mines.  Over the years the immigrant with a sixth grade education worked his way up from a coal loader to a coal miner.[iii]

On 6 June 1924 Gus married Mary Ann Fendrick, another immigrant from Hungary, in St Mary’s Catholic Church in Martins Ferry, Belmont, Ohio.  A daughter, Irene, was born on 25 May 1925 and a son Gustav Joseph was born 11 Nov 1926.  Sadly Irene had died on 18 August 1926.  Mary Elizabeth joined the family 6 Sep 1932 and John Robert was born 26 April 1934.

Gus worked in the coal mines until his death 7 Jan 1965.  His funeral was held at St Mary’s and he is buried in St Mary’s Cemetery, high on a hill overlooking the Ohio River.

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[i]  Year: 1910; Census Place: Cleveland Ward 20, Cuyahoga, Ohio; Roll: T624_1171; Page: 20B; Enumeration District: 0306; FHL microfilm: 1375184.

[ii] Ancestry.com. Ohio Military Men, 1917-18 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.  Original data: Official Roster of Ohio Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the World War, 1917-1918. Vol. I-XXIII. Columbus, OH, USA: F. J. Heer Printing Co., 1926.

[iii] : Year: 1940; Census Place: Martins Ferry, Belmont,Ohio; Roll: T627_3029; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 7-26.

Family History Writing Challenge Day 17 - Hungary to Ohio

^[

^i]This may be the church of St Jacob.  St Jacob is the Catholic Church in Rakacza, Borsod, Hungary where for over one hundred years the Gulybans and their descendants were baptized, married, and buried. It is a small rural village in the Northeast part of Hungary.    

                                    

Borsod within Hungary

Rakacza within Borsod upper edge
just right of center

                    

Rakacza is in the county of Borsod, one of the oldest counties of the Kingdom of Hungary.  After the mongol invasion of Hungary, in the mid-thirteenth century, stone castles were built and the county formed around the castle.  

typical of a Hungarian Castle

The castle was named after it’s original steward Bors.  The county name Borsod means belonging to Bors.  The name Bors is Turkish in origin and means “black pepper”  or “peppercorn” in both the old and new Hungarian although it is no longer used as a personal name.[ii]

[iii] Grandiose plans were made for magnificent buildings to celebrate the Millennium in 1896 (the one thousandth anniversary of Hungarians settling down in the Carpathian Basin.)  In spite of the façade of flourishing plans there were some serious problems in Hungary.  Small land owners went bankrupt due to lack of money and this caused thousands of workers to leave Hungary to find work and a better life.[iv]

This may have been the reason that Augustinus Gulyban left Rokacza and set forth to the United States.  He was seventeen years old when he arrived in New York on 16 Mar 1907 via the ship Patricia sailing from Hamburg, Germany.  Arriving in New York, Gustav said he was going to Pricedale, Pa, that he had a ticket to get there and that he had $10.00.  Immigration records show that his race was Magyar, he was 5 ft 4 in with fair complexion, brown hair, and grey eyes.

In the 1920 census, Gust was working at the Gaylord Mine in Martins Ferry, Belmont, Ohio.  Gus remained working in the mines for the rest of his life supporting his wife Mary and their three surviving children.  Every night Gus knelt on the floor beside his bed and said his prayers.  He kept the faith.

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[i] Photo credit google images vatera.hu

[ii] Wikipedia

[iii] Ibid

[iv] http://www.hungary-tourist-guide.com/history-of-hungary

Family History Writing Challenge Day 26 - Oh How They Worked! Part 2

Butchers, Realtors, and Musicians!  Oh my!  Adolph Hansen left Norway after finishing seventh grade in Kristiania (Oslo) Norway.  In 1894 he left Norway with his sister Dagny and brother Artur.  According to the 1940 census he ever went back to school once he was in Chicago.  He went to work for his Uncle Oskar and learned iron work.  Oskar’s company was involved in bridge building, ship building, and building part of the New York subway system as well as constructing many towers and buildings in the midwest.    Adolph held many positions in the company such as timekeeper, treasurer, vice-president and was always “hands on”.

Adolph’s father, Adolf' became a member of the Norwegian Army at about fifteen years of age.  Somehow it was discovered that he had a real talent for music.  Adolf was sent to Paris to study clarinet.  He returned to play with the Norwegian Brigade Band and turned his talents to composing music.  He composed many pieces which were played by the Brigade Band and even composed a special piece on the occasion of the wedding anniversary of his contemporary Edvard Grieg.  Adolf also composed the Norwegian Honor March.  Before his death in 1911 Adolf was a Music Instructor in the Norwegian Army.

In 1856,  from the dutchy of Nassau in Hessen, Germany, Georg Burbach and his family made their way to a German port and sailed for the United States.  They settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where Georg became a drover of cattle, later he became a butcher, and finally his sons Herman and John opened their own butcher shop in 1876.  The butcher shop would remain open many years as successive generations would grow up helping in the shop.

In 1880, Michael Connery was told by his father to take a cow to market and sell the cow.  The money from the sale of the cow was to be used to pay for an apprenticeship in butchering.  Michael, who had previously thrown his clothes out the window, picked up the clothes and cow, sold the cow, and bought a ticket to America.  Once settled in Chicago, Michael became a saloon keeper, later the owner of a bowling ally, about 1910, to appease his wife Michael left the saloons and became a realtor.  Michael was an astute business man and by 1915 was running his own real estate company, M J Connery & Sons.  Adding “&  Sons” to the company name was a good indicator of Michael’s thinking.  Both of his sons, at least three of his daughters, and a son-in-law worked at “the office”.  “The office” only meant one place in our family.  Later he added travel and insurance business to the company.  The company was closed in the 1970s with the retirement of Michael’s son Thomas and daughter Kathleen who had worked there for many years.

It was 1905 when Augustinus Gulyban left his Hungarian home and moved to Belmont County Ohio where he got a job in the coal mines.  Gus worked in the mines for many years.  Going off each day at dawn with his lunch box and returning for dinner each evening.  So many years in the mines that the coal dust never really left his hands no matter how he washed them.  They were clean but stained.

Of the five brothers of Alice Fleming  that emigrated to this country, one became a Jesuit priest, one was a jewler, one became an undertaker, one became a postmaster and writer, and one returned to Ireland to open a grocery and fine spirits shop in Dublin.

More recent generations have followed other career directions but there are still musicians, teachers, mechanics, tradesmen, professionals, and others that reflect those who taught us the “work ethic” that they passed on to us by their example. 

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