Friday, November 22, 2019

GUEST POST: Rubcic and Sertic families in Udbina

Hello Dan! My name is David Badovinac. I live in Sacramento, Calif. I recently was working on my ancestry and came across your blog where you listed names of families from the Udbina area. Some of the last names were very well known to me: (ie. Rubcic and Sertic)

I discovered recently that my maternal Grandfather was probably born in Udbina and I believe his name was Luka (aka Louis) Rubcic. I'm not sure that Louis was his original first name, but my mother named me after him (i.e. my middle name is “Louis”) and so I think she thought that was his name.

My grandfather’s grave is in Kemmerer, Wyoming and his gravestone (which was put there in 1924) shows his name to be “Louis G Thomas”. I have no idea where that middle initial and last name came from. It may be the result of his attempt to be more “American” during the first World War.

However, I have done some research in Wyoming and found that when he married my grandmother in Kemmerer, Wyoming in 1917, he used the name of Louis Rubcic on the marriage license. I’m sure it was his marriage license because of my grandmother’s name, Johanna Petric, on the license and the date and place of the marriage. They lived in Kemmerer until his death in 1924.

Also, as a little boy, I can remember my mother taking special care of her “uncle” Joe Rubcic, after he had a stroke. Joe was a logger in the state of Washington and he had a stroke in about 1952, so he came to live with us at my Mom and Dad’s house in Roseville, Calif.  I’m positive that Joe Rubcic was her father Louis’ brother.

I found Joe Rubcic’ draft registration card (from 1942) on Ancestry.com and it said he was born in Udbina, so I think its fair to assume his brother was born there too.

I also remember my mother had another relative whose name was Mile “Mike” Rubcic and he lived in South San Francisco in 1950’s and 1960’s. I remember visiting him at his home. I found Mike Rubcic’ Naturalization form on Ancestry.com and it says he was born in Udbina.

So, I’m pretty sure my Grandfather’s name originally was Louis or Luka Rubcic and he was born in Udbina.

Anyway, Louis was killed in a coal mine cave-in in Kemmerer. After this tragedy, his boy-hood friend from the old country, Jack Sertic stepped up and volunteered to take care of Louis’ family. He married Louis’ widow and adopted Louis’ kids and moved the family to a farm in Corning, Calif.

I found Jack Sertic’ draft card from 1942 on Ancestry.com and it also said Jack was born in Udbina.

So, I would like to know anything I can about the Rubcic and Sertic families of Udbina during that time (ie. 1900 to 1910).

Do you have any information about three brothers named Rubcic [i.e. Louis, Joe, Mile (Mike)] who immigrated to America between 1902 and 1909?

You can reach me via:  davidb1@surewest.net

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

GUEST POST: Potkonjak and Banic in Mekinjar

This is a guest post from Mike Penzer (penzer@sbcglobal.net).  This is information that comes from research he has done for a family history book.  He has also created a "Village - family tree" from available records that has 2,817 names and covers the time period from roughly 1850 to 1950.  You can reach Mike (penzer@sbcglobal.net) directly if you have interest in that information.  

MEKINJAR. Our ancestors came from Mekinjar, also known as Donji Mekinjar, which is located seven miles northwest of Udbina, Croatia, the main village in Udbina municipality. Mekinjar village and Udbina village and municipality are part of Lika – Senj County, the largest county by area in present-day Croatia, but also the least populated and among the poorest. The population of Mekinjar has drastically declined over the years due to the negative effects of several wars and a poor local economy, with local residents seeking safety and better economic opportunities elsewhere. The population of Mekinjar in 1857, the earliest year for which I can find population figures, was 1,041 people. The population peaked slightly higher in 1900 at 1,121 people, and then declined a little to 967 in 1931. But by 1948, following World War II (1939 – 1945), the population had fallen to 609 due largely to the expulsion of Croatians from the Udbina area in December 1942.

In 1981, the year that Elaine and I (Michael Penzer) visited, Mekinjar was down to 312 inhabitants. By 1991, the population had drifted slightly lower to 274 (composed mainly of 93% ethnic Serbians) as the locals continued to seek better job opportunities elsewhere. Then, the population collapsed to just 42 people in 2001 following the Croatian War of Independence between Croatian-dominated Croatia and Serbian-dominated Yugoslavia (Jugoslavia) from 1991 to 1995. [See the article about the Croatian War of Independence at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatian_War_of_Independence.] Because Mekinjar’s population was mostly Serbian rather than Croatian after 1942, the Croatian victory over the Serbians in 1995 sent the Serbians of Mekinjar fleeing to nearby Serbia, and to Serbian parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. By 2011, Mekinjar had only 31 people, a catastrophic decline of 97% from 1,121 inhabitants in 1900. The farmlands in Mekinjar have reverted to forest and grasslands. The place is empty.

The nearest city to Mekinjar is Zadar, situated at the edge of the Adriatic Sea, 60 miles west of Mekinjar. In contrast to Mekinjar, Zadar has gained in population since the early 1900s, going from a population of about 25,000 in 1900 to about 75,000 in 2011, making it the fifth largest city in Croatia.OUR FAMILY IN MEKINJAR. I have researched all of the births in Mekinjar from 1900 to 1913, and all of the marriages there from 1900 to 1939, and from that research, I have found that there were about 216 properties in the village. Cully’s father, Durad Potkonjak (George Ponak), was born at Mekinjar #136, and her mother, Dragjla Banic, at Mekinjar #86. But the extended Potkonjak and Banic families also occupied other properties in the village, suggesting that we had a large network of distant cousins living in Mekinjar. I have found members of the Potkonjak family living at Mekinjar #71, #79, #80, #81, #82, #83, #86, #87, #119, #122, #124, #136, #183, #193, #194, and #209. Also, I have found members of the Banic family living at Mekinjar #85, #86, #90, #121, #122, #124, #130, #148, #149, #150, #195, #196, and #212. In addition, I believe Dragjla Banic’s mother was a Divjak, and the extended Divjak family resided at Mekinjar #74, #75, #141, #215, and #216.

OTHER SURNAMES IN MEKINJAR. In addition to Potkonjak, Banic, and Divjak, I found the following surnames at Mekinjar: Adamovic, Barac, Beokovic, Bosnic, Brkic, Buncic, Cosic, Cuka, Culajevic, Cvjeticaic, Ergarac, Ernaut, Grbic, Grkovic, Kliska, Kozlica, Kukic, Loncar, Marinkovic, Mastelica, Medic, Mrkobrada, Obradovic, Peric, Popovic, Radeka, Radovanac, Ribaric, Romic, Sakic, Trkulja, Vracar, Vukmirovic, Vukovic, Zjajvuk, and Zorica. We are probably related to nearly all of these families because of the intermarriage amongst these families in Mekinjar village.

NEARBY VILLAGES. In my research of the marriages in Mekinjar in Udbina municipality between 1900 and 1939, I found that residents of Mekinjar married not only fellow residents of Mekinjar, but also residents of nearby villages in Udbina municipality. These nearby villages included Bunic, Cojluk, Josan, Komic, Kreana, Kuk, Kurjak, Mutilic, Pisac, Podlapac, Rebic, Srednja Gora, Svrackovo Selo, Tolic, Udbina, and Visuc.

Friday, August 31, 2018

Pictures from Graveyard #2 in Mogorić

I have taken pictures from a few of the graveyards in the area. The graveyards in Mogorić are both located off the main road.    The second is located just a short distance on the road.   When you see this sign, it will take you directly there:



Here are the pictures (with the information from the markers). Under each picture it gives the name with the birth year and death year in brackets. 

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Нада Маљковић (Nada Malkovich) [1914-]  
Буро Маљковић (Buro Malkovich) [1917-1975]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Илија Маљковић (Ilija Malkovich) [1906-1967]
Аница Маљковић (Anica Makovich) [1904-]
Other: Children = Ђорђе, Милан, Драгица, Јела, Милка (Jorge, Milan, Dragica, Yela, Milka)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Dragica Maljković [1931-2012]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Rade Maljković [1913-1943]
Other: Brothers= Mile, Đuro (Mile, Juro) 

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Đuro Maljković (Juro Malkovich) [1911- 1985]
Other: Wife = Boja; Children = Mile, Gojko

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]:  Kosovka Maljković [????-??83]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Жељко Вучковић (Jelko Vuchkovich) [1958-1983]
Other: Father = Душан (Dushan); Sister = Мира, Анкица, Душанка, Милица, Драга (Mira, Anica, Dushanka, Milica, Draga); Son = Жељко (Jelko)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Миле Вучковић (Mile Vuchkovich) [1967-1983]
Other: Father = Гојко (Goyko); Mother = Љубица (Lubica); Sister = Весна (Vesna)

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Сиба Маљковић (Siba Makovich) [1893-1972]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Мане Маљковић (Mane Makovich) [1888-1968]
Милан Маљковић (Milan Malkovich) [1918-]
Боја Маљковић (Boya Malkovich) [1929-1983]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Марта-МашаМаљковић (Marta-Masha Malkovich) [1856-1914]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Јела Маљковић (Jela Malkovich) [1882-1950]
Other: Husband = Мане (Mane)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Никола Маљковић (Nikola Malkovich) [1852-1934] 
Зорка Маљковић (Zorka Malkovich) [1888-1__2]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Миле–Шендер Маљковић (Mile Shender Malkovich) [1879-1934]
Јелена Маљковић (Jelena Malkovich) [1881-1914]
Other: Grandson = Бане (Bane)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Дане Вучковић (Dane Vuchkovich) [1898-1950]
Сава Вучковић (Sava Vuchkovich) [1909-]
Ђуро Вучковић (Churo Vuckkovich) [1924-1943]
Душан Вучковић (Dushan Vuchkovich) [1926-1943]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Милe  Вучковић Mile Vuchkovich) [1902-1941]
МилкaВучковић (Milka Vuchkovich) [1906-1961]   
Other: Sons = Божо, Душан, Гојко, Дане (Bodjo, Dushan, Goyko, Dane) 

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Ката Вучковић (Kata Vuchkovich)
Јован Вучковић (Jovan Vuchkovich) 
Other: Son =Божа (Boja)(The son Boja is listed as a director of a bank)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Дмитар Вучковић (Dmitar Vuchkovich) [1871-1958]
Милица Вучковић (Milica Vuchkovich) [1872-1909]
Смиљана Вучковић (Smilana Vuchkovich) [1897-1936]
Ђуро Вучковић (Churo Vuchkovich) [1921-1943]
СмиљаВучковић (Smila Vuchkovich) [1930-1933]
Милан Вучковић (Milan Vuchkovich) [1932-1933]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Јован Вучковић (Jovan Vuchkovich) [1874-1937]
Сока Вучковић (Soka Vuchkovich) [1878-1948]
Other: Son = Милош (Milosh)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Miloš Vučković [1916-1992]
Jelena Vučković [1922-]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Душан Вучковић (Dushan Vuchkovich) [1909-1996]
Милица Вучковић (Milica Vuchkovich)  [1920-1984]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: ??? [1870-1946]
Никола(Nikola) [1928-1949]
Other: Nikola is the son.

Names: Стојан Бањеглавић (Stojan Baneglavich) (He put up this memorial)
Grandfather = Гавро (Gavro)
Mother = Боја (Boya)
Father = Стојан (Stojan)
Brother = Јово (Yovo)
Brother = Ђуро (Churo)
Brother = Никола (Nikola) 
Brother = Дане (Dane)
Sister = Милка (Milka)
Sister = Јело (Yelo)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: 
Миле Багленовић (MileBaneglavich) [1877-1943]
Бранко Багленовић (BrankoBaneglavich)  [1920-1942]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Стеве Петар Сердар (Steve Petar Serdar) [1920-1942]
Миле Бранко Сердар (Mile Branko Serdar) [1948-1948]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Nikola Đaković [1952-1995]
Other: Wife = Ljubica; Sisters =  Vera, Nena

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: М. Ђ. [1925-1994]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Милија Ђаковић (Milica Chakovich) [1912-1995]
Стојан Ђаковић (Stoyan Chakovich) [1916-1922]
Сава Ђаковић (Sava Chakovich) [1920-1942]
Никола Ђаковић (Nikola Chakovich) [1935-2011]
Милка Ђаковић (Milka Chakovich) [1939-1981]
Бранко Ђаковић (Branko Chakovich) [1947-1947]
Јела Ђаковић (Yela Chakovich) [1950-1983]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Сара Ђаковић (Sara Chakovich) [1908-1959]
Миле Ђаковић (Mile Chakovich) [1910-1995]
Милка Ђаковић (Milka Chakovich) [1913-1951]
ЈелаЂаковић (Yela Chakovich) [No dates mentioned on marker]
ИсоЂаковић (Iso Chakovich)[No dates mentioned on marker]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Нове Ђаковић (Nove Chakovich)[1858-1884]
Јован Ђаковић (Jovan Chakovich)[1866-1938]
Тома Ђаковић (Toma Chakovich)[1868-1959]
Милица Ђаковић (Milica Chakovich) [1880-1942]
Мане Ђаковић (Mane Chakovich)[1910-1985]
Милан Ђаковић (Milan Chakovich)[1912-1918]
Сока Ђаковић (Soka Chakovich)[1915-1943]
Милка Ђаковић (Milka Chakovich)[1915-1995]
Ђуро Ђаковић (Churo Chakovich)[1937-1943]
Дане Ђаковић (Dane Chakovich)[1939-1943]
Марко Ђаковић (Marko Chakovich)[1952-]
Other: Soka’s maiden name = Маодуш (Maodush)

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: О. П. (O. P.)  [1895-1977]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: О. П. (O. P.)  [1913-1974]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: К.С. (K.S.) [1908-1991]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Д. Ђ. (D. Ch.) [1935-1994]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Јосо Крњаић (Joso Kernaich) [1856-1927]
Тодора Крњаић (Todora Kernaich) [1881-1929]
Бранко Крњаић (Branko Kernaich) [1920-]  
Милица Крњаић (Milica Kernaich) [1920-]   
Анђа Крњаић(Anja Kernaich) [1925-1925]
Милева Крњаић (Mileva Kernaich) [1941-1943]
Невенка Крњаић (Nevenka Kernaich) [1943-1943]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Mane Maljković [1901-1955]
Anđelija Maljković [1903-1965]
Other: Children = Đuro, Nove, Branko, Petar, Jaca, Milica

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Dane Maljković [No dates given on marker]
Jela Maljković
Boja Maljković
Other: Father = Miloš

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Lazo Maljković [1832-1916]
Damjan Maljković [1865-1949]
Mika Maljković [1877-1940]
Dmitar Maljković [1904-1997]
Jeka Maljković [1908-1991]
Milan Maljković [1919-1942]
Miloš Maljković [1931-1933]
Dmitar Maljković [1937-1939]
Dušan Maljković [1939-1940]
Jovo Maljković[1943-1943]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Mirko Maljković [1947-1995]
Nada Maljković [1950-]
Other: It notes that he was buried in 2008.  Son = Branko; Daughter = Rada
Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: 
Петар Маљковић (Petar Malkovich) [1882-1972]
Сава Маљковић (Sava Malkovich) [1889-1960]
Смиљана Маљковић (Smilana Malkovich) [1918-1988]
Никица Маљковић (Nikica Malkovich) [1924-1943]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: The little brothers Malkovich [No dates given on marker]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Јека Борковић (Jeka Borkovich) [1898-]
Богдан Борковић (Bogdan Borkovich) [1898-]
Милка Борковић (Milka Borkovich) [1938-]
Угљеша Борковић (Uglesha Borkovich) [1939-1976]
Other: Milka and Uglesha are married.  Jeka and Bogdan are married. 

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Сава Маљковић (SavaMalkovich)[1873-1945]
Стојан Маљковић (StojanMalkovich) [1877-]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Нове Маљковић (Nove Malkovich) [1933-1941]
Божанка Маљковић (Bojanka Malkovich) [1937-1941]
Other: Father = Тома (Toma); Mother = Јања (Yanna); See neighboring marker for parents.

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Тома Маљковић (Toma Malkovich) [1912-1982]
Јања Маљковић (Yanna Malkovich) [1913-]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Стојан Корица (Stojan Korica) [1893-1957]
Стана Корица (Stana Korica) [1894-1956]
Никола Корица (Nikola Korica) [1924-1986]
Other: Stana and Stojan are married. Nikola is one of their sons.  The marker is put up by their other children.  The other family members = Бранко, Мика, Сава, Смиља, Марица, Милева, милка, Десанка, Бранислава (Branko, Mika, Sava, Smila, Marica, Mileva, Milka, Desanka, Barnislava)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Milica Korica [1920-2009]
Milan Korica [1921-1950]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Анђа Корица (Andja Korica) [1917-1983]
Other: Nephew = Ђуро (Churo). Churo’s wife = Неђом (Nechom)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Божо Корица (Bojo Korica)
Стана Корица (Stana Korica)
Маша Корица (Masha Korica)
Јанко Корица (Yanko Korica)
Саво Корица (Savo Korica)
Новак Корица (Novak Korica) [1942]
Јован Корица (Jovan Korica) [1940]
Урош Корица (Urosh Korica) [1937]
Other: At the bottom it lists two pairs of name: a) Дане Јован (Dane Jovan), b) Дане Сока(Dane Soka) 1966. 

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Божо Корица (Bojo Korica) [1844-1929]
Ћирил Корица (Chiril Korica) [1886-1898]
Јелка Корица (Yelka Korica) [1893-1968]
Миле Корица (Mile Korica) [1894-1987]
Божо Корица (Bojo Korica) [1913-1913]
Петар Корица (Petar Korica) [1914-1976]
Боја Kорицa (Boya Korica) [1915-2004]
Јања Корица (Yanna Korica) [1856-1898]
Other: Yelka and Mile are married. Their son is Ћуро (Churo). Petar and Boya are married.  Boja and Yanna are married and their grandson is Bojo)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Mile Tomaš [1906-1946]
Anica Tomaš [1906-1993]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]:  Јања Вурдеља (Yanna Vurdela) [1920-]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]:  Marija Zaklan (Maria Zaklan) [1924 -1968]
Other: Husband = Đuro (Juro); Son = Đorđe (Jorge); Daughter = Željka (Jelka)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Зорка Заклан (Zorka Zaklan) [1920-2007]
Петар Заклан (Petar Zaklan) [1920-1977]
Other: Sons = Стеван, Мирослав (Stevan, Miroslav); Daughters = Невенка, Олга (Nevenka, Olga).

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Božo Zaklan (Bojo) [1880-1960]
Jeka Zaklan (Yeka) [1881-1952]
Mika Zaklan [1907-1907]
Dane Zaklan [1918-1945]
Other: Bojo and Yeka are married, Mike and Dane are their kids. The other children are Savo, Mika, Sava, Mane, Janja, Soka, Đuro

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Божо Радаковић (Bojo Radakovich) [1875-1940]
Јека Радаковић (Yeka Radakovich) [1878-1934]
Никола Радаковић (Nikola Radakovich) [1907-1999]
Милица Радаковић (Milica Radakovich) [1911-1993]
Слободан Радаковић (Slobodan Radakovich) [1943-1943]
Милка Радаковић (Milka Radakovich) [1944-1947]
Мићо Радаковић (Micho Radakovich) [1947-1947]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Миле Басарић (Mile Basarich) [1918-1955]
Other: Son = Сава (Sava)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Марија Басарић (Maria Basarich) [1900-1982]
Никола Басарић (Nikola Basarich) [1901-1987]
Ђурђица Маодуш (Churchitsa Maodush) [1961-1981]
Other: Churchitsa’s mother = Даринка (Darinka)

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Даринка Маодуш (Darinka Maodush) [1940-1996]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Саво Д. Корица (Savo D. Korica) [1873-1948] 
Other: Son = Милан (Milan). Milan’s wife = Марта (Marta)

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Стојан Басарић (Stojan Basarich) [1891-1981]
Јања Басарић (Yanna Basarich) [1903-1989]
Петар Басарић (Petar Basarich) [1917-1946]
Other: Yanna and Petar are married.  Yanna’s brother is Илија Томаш(Ilija Tomash)

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Нове Басарић (Nove Basarich) [1909-1987]
Милица Басарић (Milica Basarich) [1915-1992]
Мирко Басарић (Mirko Basarich) [1937-1943]
Бранко Басарић (Branko Basarich) [1947-2009]
Здравко Басарић (Zdravko Basarich) [1952-1979]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Dragica Maoduš (Dragitsa Maodush) [1880-1954]
Milica Maoduš (Militsa Maodush) [1913-1935]
Other: Dragitsa is the grandmother and Militsa is the mother of the person who put up the marker.  

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Nove Basarić [1898-1984]
Mika Basarić [1907-1978]
Dmitar Basarić [1933-2011]
Sofija Basarić [1934-2008]
Gojko Basarić [1935-1944]
Other: The marker was put up by the son Dmitar and his wife Sofia.  

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]:  Никола Басарић (Nikola Basarich) [1882-1958]
Мика Басарић (Mika Basarich) [1883-1959]
Јања Басарић (Yanna Basarich) [1884-1917]
Милка Басарић (Milka Basarich) [1907-1944]

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Đuro Basarić (Juro Basarich) [1920-1994]
Mika Basarić (Mika Basarich) [1929-]          
Other: Sons = Mile, Bogdan

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Dmitar Basarić [1897-1984]
Sava Basarić [1901-1974]
Đuro Basarić [1926-]
Neđeljka Basarić [1934-2002]
Other: Lists son (Branko) and daughter (Milka), but doesn't say which individuals are the couple.

 Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Jovo Radaković (Yovo Radakovich) [1900-1945]
Boja Radaković (Boya Radakovich) [1905-1992]
Anđa Radaković (Anja Radakovich) [1930-]
Mileva Radaković (Mileva Radakovich) [1933-]
Nikola Radaković (Nikola Radakovich) [1938-1940]

Name [Birth Year-Death Year]: Ђуро Радаковић (Churo Radakovich) [1887-1957]
Мика Радаковић (Mika Radakovich) [1887-1975]
Дмитар Радаковић (Dmitar Radakovich) [1912-1991]
Јека Радаковић (Yeka Radakovich) [1912-1960]
Other: Churo and Mika are married with the following kids: Симо, Дмитар, Мика, Унучад
(Simo, Dmitar, Mika, Unuchad). Dmitar and Jeka are married with the following kids: Софија, Љубица, Јово, Анђа, Милка, Милан (Sofia, Lubica, Yovo, Andja, Milka, Milan).