Pollocks from Slovakia too

UPDATE 9/18: Helen does not have a brother named Henry after all. However, I still believe her family is from Slovakia. The information below may or may not be helpful.


It looks like my cousin R. has been doing family history and has discovered where Helen Pollock's brother Henry is from. Looking at Henry's WWI and WWII draft registration cards, it looks like he was born in Zilina, Slovakia. Zilina is the Slovak spelling, which was used when Slovakia was part of Czechslovakia (during WWII time). Zsolna is the Hungarian spelling, which was used when Slovakia was park of Hungary (during WWI time).

Zilina is in north western Slovakia, about 120 miles from the capital Bratislava.

Dorothy's Diary

I am reading Dorothy's diary which covers the years 1948 to 1953. I am so excited to find details! First of all, I now know that Florence's birthday is Jan. 8.

While Dorothy and her husband had four young kids at home, her mom Helen and brother Al and sister-in-law Flo were part of her life. She saw her mom Helen about every week or two. Helen "came up" and sometimes even spent the night. The three also joined Dorothy's family each Thanksgiving. Someone would bring the pies. Flo and Dorothy gave each other gifts throughout the year. The kids got presents from their aunt and uncle. I am guessing each lived 30-60 min. away. Al and Flo bought a house in Temple City, CA on July 27, 1950. That is east of Alhambra.

More to come!

Starting Helen Pollock mystery

So, I have been researching my Grandmother Dorothy's dad's line. Now, I am attempting once again to research her mom's line. Helen Bell Pollock Kozub died 40 years ago yesterday (Feb. 25, 1975). I was born shortly before that.

Today, I visited my local Family History Center. Les was still there, but this time Allison helped me. We attempted to find new info. for either Helen or her parents or grandparents. We didn't find anything.

But I walked away with an assignment. I need to find the cemetary in Farrel, PA where Helen's mom was buried. Then, I can find more clues.

Also, there may be news articles on her mom, who lived in the same community for 50 years. I should check the local family history center and the churches as well.

Dorothy's Scrapbook Pictures

I recently visited my parents. While I was there, we scanned pictures from Dorothy's old scrapbooks, which are falling apart.

 She had taken a lot of pictures! Here are some pages from her scrapbooks, showing her handwriting:

The Two Grandmas. First Grandson.

Grandma Kozub Day before leaving. April 12, 1947

Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Kozub, married in Las Vegas April 5, 4[???]

Al the Civilian "Thanksgiving Day" Nov. 1945.

And here are some of her pictures!!

The first ones are of her brother Alexander "Al" and his wife Florence. Alexander had changed his last name to "Alexander."

"Al and Florence married LV April 5, 4-"

"Al and Florence September 1947"

We were not sure when Al changed his last name to Alexander. I thought it was later in life, when he was married to his second wife Millie. But I came across the funeral program for his first wife Florence. Notice that her married last name is "Alexander," not "Kozub." My dad thinks Al changed his last name during WWII.

Anyway, now I know this about Florence E. Alexander: She is a native of California. She died Oct. 3, 1980. She is burried in Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

Also, from the pictures, I now know that Al and Florence were married in Las Vegas, NV on April 5 in the 40's.

Here is another picture of Al, but I do not know who his is with.

"Uncle Al 1940"

Here is a picture of Dorothy's mother Helen Bell Pollack Kozub:

"Grandma August 1963"

 

I think I have posted a copy of this picture before. It is of Helen Bell Pollock Kozub with her two children Alexander "Al" and Dorothy (Dorthea in one census). This was most likely taken in Pennsylvania before they all moved to California following August's death.

And here is Dorothy in 1965:

Anna Petrosky Pollack Death Certificate

I have had this document since 2011. It is the death certificate for Helen Pollack's mom, Anna Petrosky Polak (Dorothy's grandmother).

Here is the information from it:

 Death Certificate for Anna Petrosky Polak. She died at 39 Brookfield Ave., in Masury, (Brookfield Township) Trumbull, Ohio. She had been in the U.S. for 53 years, 50 in that community. She died April 23, 1944 at 4:43 p.m. of coronary thombosis. She had been a widow of Michael Polak. She was born in 1872 in Czechoslovakia and died at age 72. Her mother's maiden name is Anna Mitrik (born in Czechoslovakia) and her father's name is George Petrosky (born in Czechoslovakia).  Anna is buried in Farrell, PA.

Henry Pollack

UPDATE 9/18: Henry is NOT Helen's brother. The info. below is irrelevant.


I have been meaning to look into the Pollack side of my family. August Kozub married Helen Pollack. (And their daughter is my grandmother Dorothy.)

It turns out, my guy from the FHC had helped me find an obituary for Helen's brother over a year ago. At that time, I didn't even know Helen had a brother.

It is from the Ohio Plain Dealer on June 14, 1957.

It reads:

POLLACK. Henry A., beloved husband of Rose (nee Scholnick): father of Renee Caplan, Melvine Klein and James F.; brother of Helen Pollack of Los Angeles, Calif.; also grandfather. Funeral services at the Deutsch Funeral Home, 1490 Crawford Rd., Friday, June 14, at 2:30 p.m. Internment Mayfield Cemetery. Family at 3140 Courtland Blvd.


So. . . I should
1) find his grave
2) find info. on his children and wife
and maybe that will lead me to more info. about Helen and Henry's parents?

Alexander Kozub's Obituary

From jtgen's notes, I came across another clue!

This is Alexander Kozub's Obituary. In it, I learn that besides a brother, Peter, living in Perth Amboy, Alexander had two sisters in America! From baptismal records, I know his sisters names: Catharina, Johanna and Maria. So which is married to a Risko of Manville, NY and which is married to a Repatsky of Youngwood?

Here it is:

Alexander Kozub Obituary. Perth Amboy [NJ, USA] Evening News. Thursday, May 23, 1935. "Alexander Kozub 77, died last night at his home, 173 Broad Street. He is survived by a widow, Irene, one daughter, Mrs. J. W. Obuck of this city; two sons, Anthony A of Rahway and Alexander Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio; one brother, Peter, of this city; two sisters, Mrs. J. Risko? of Manville, NY, and Mrs. B. Repatsky of Youngwood and eight grand children. Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 9 o'clock from the home and 10 o'clock from St. John's church where a requiem high mass will be celebrated by Rev. Michael Iskats?. Internment will follow in the St. John's church cemetery."