Revend J.M. Trunk Index - AK, IA, ID, ND, and SD

Rev. J.M. Trunk - 1912
Alaska, Iowa, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota

Provided by and courtesy of Al Peterlin, President, Slovenian Genealogy Society International

This Rev. J.M. Trunk text was published originally in 1912 as 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. If you believe we have made serious errors in translation, please contact us and volunteer your time to us in order to make the corrections. We strive to do good work; we are always willing to correct errors to the extent we can; and we ask others to join us in this worthwhile endeavor.

The Slovenian Genealogy Society International collects church histories. Readers with information on Slovenes in the communities listed, the churches mentioned, or other information on Slovenes, can contact the Society at 52 Old Farm Road, Camp Hill, Pa 17011. The society accepts donations of Slovene books, texts, and publications.

Beginning of translated text for:
1. ALASKA
2. IOWA
3. IDAHO
4. NORTH DAKOTA
5. SOUTH DAKOTA

1. ALASKA

Some time ago many hundreds of Slovenes were working in the gold mines, but most of them have left and have become farmers in the States of Washington and Oregon. There are still some Slovenes here, scattered around this large area. As far as I know, Mary Mueller from Fairbanks is the only permanent resident here.

2. IOWA

Des Moines. In Des Moines and the neighboring communities there are a few Slovenes, but their permanent residences are not here. In the Does Moines area five Slovene families have their farms. The first one who came here was V. Pirnat who came 12 years ago. Most emigrants work in the mines. They attend the English church where religious conditions are satisfactory. There are no benefit societies.

Lyons. Years ago this was a prosperous community. The emigrants worked in the sawmills along the Mississippi River, but then the mills were moved and the workers left. Those who stayed work in a furniture factory.

Riggs. The first Slovene settlers came here around 1860. In 1903 there were 30 families and 50 single men. Most of them have farms and are well-off. They attend church in Sugar Creek. years ago the Rev. J. Plevnik visited them yearly. The emigrants are enrolled in St. Joseph's Lodge #39 KSKJ. I could not find out what conditions are like at the present time.

Slovenes can also be found in Clinton, Bussey, Buxton, Carney, Kopkington, Madrid and Woodward.

3. IDAHO

Ivy. There are a few Slovemes here who already around 1900 purchased farms. Nobody takes care of the religious problems and needs.

Kellog. Mr. V. Oblak mentioned in his letter that the first Slovene emigrants came here five years ago from Semic, Slovenia. They work in the lead and silver mines. The records show that there are eight families and ten single men. The situation for the Slovenes is bad. They had to claim to be German in order to get work. The religious situation is also bad. The English priest comes from Wallace twice a month. There are no services in Slovene. No organization is active here. Some Slovenes live in Wardner, Idaho.

4. NORTH DAKOTA

Many Slovene workers and farmers scattered over the entire State. For a long time many Slovene farmers have been in Wahpeton. Some of them are rather wealthy. In 1902, one sold his farmstead for $26,000. In carpio, there are several Slovene workers among the Swedes, and in the Czech settlement of New Hradec. Our fellow countryman, the Rev. J. C. Smole, is the pastor and at the same time a State Mailman.

5. SOUTH DAKOTA

Central City. Some Slovene workers work in the mines of this community.

Lead. The community became well known when in 1902 the Rev. Ivan Stariha became bishop of the newly established diocese. There are about seven Slovene families and ten single men here. There are many Croatians here also. For some time the parish priest was Rev. J. Tomsic.

Plankington. For more than 225 years some Slovene immigrants have been farming here. There is just one Catholic church and parishioners of all nationalities worship here.

Vermillion. Some 20 Slovene farmers have been farming on large farm. They plant mostly corn.