Reverend J.M. Trunk - California 1912

Copyright © 1996, 1997, Slovenian Genealogy Society International, all rights reseved

These Rev. J. M. Trunk texts were published originally in 1912. Part 8, History of Slovene Communities, contains significant genealogical information about Slovenian immigrants, the places they lived, the organizations they formed, and the churches they attended.

Translators for the Slovenian Genealogy Society have been working to translate many texts published early in the 1900s that contain significant genealogical information. Our translators are not professional linguists, and they do not complete a translation with rigorous academic oversight. The goal of our translation projects is to make information available to the American descendants of Slovenian immigrants.

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The Slovenian Genealogy Society collects church histories. Readers with information on Slovenes in the communities listed, the churches mentioned, or other information on Slovenes, can contact:

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California

Crockett: Slovenes came here around 1897. Most of them came from the village of Semic in Dolanjska. They found work in the gold and silver smelts. They attend an English church on Sundays. Lodge #14 - St. Joseph's JSKJ has forty-five members.

Fresno: The Slovene emigrant Mr. Stefanic is cultivating a nice vineyard where only Slovenes are employed.

Oat Hill: In 1903 some 30 Slovenes worked here in the smelts. They came from the town of Metlike (Bela Krajina) around 1896. In those days a German priest would come once a month and celebrate the Mass in a private home. I regret that I could not find out what the life is like today.

Portersville: Some 17 years ago some Slovene farmers settled down here. The land was cheap then and it was not irrigated. They raised mostly cattle, but later irrigation was introduced and the land is like a beautiful garden. It is about 200 miles from San Francisco.

San Francisco: The first Slovenes came from Metlike and Dragatusa (Bela Krajina) in 1888. In 1903 about 20 families could be found. All together there were over 100 people. I do not know how many Slovenes live here, since nobody submitted any data. The Slovene emigrants work in different factories. Form the beginning they worshipped where a Croatian priest was celebrating the Mass. In 1903, the Rev. F. Turk came here. The young people attend public schools. The Society of St. Joseph #23, KSKJ has 105 members. There are two more Societies active here.

Sulphur Bank. Slovenes are engaged in agriculture and raising cattle in this place
Some Slovene settlers can be found in Oakland, Alameda, Richmond, San Jose and Angelos Camp where they work in the gold.