ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1956-07-04
Croatian immigration
To oANegheoy County
BY STJEPAN GAZI, Member, Lodge 20
Copyright applied for Rights of republication reserved)
CHAPTER Nv - PART
THE CROATS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY
The first inn,iprants - Their nrnhIems
BY STJEPAN GAZI, Member Lodge 20

The first immigrants - Their problems
Hurng the interval between Father Kundeks visit to
- Pittsburgh in Spring of 1s41 and the year 1880
Croats traced to Allegheny County That year. how
ever found 2317 immigrants from Austria Hungary set
tied in Pennsylvania, mostly in Allegheny County.
AS Croatia formed part of the Habsburg Monarchy,
it is most likely that Croas among them, al
though they left whatever Allegheny County
might have employed of them for period of two
or three years. after which they returned to Europe
At the time mentioned Pennsylvania had the repu-
taon of being of the most coorful states as to the
multiple nationaities of it's population
Immigrants of Croatia doubtless added some of their
own to picture The Pennsylvania these pages
usually refers part only, especially to Allie
gheny County and Pittsburgh An Austrian Honorary
Consul named Max Schamberg functoned in this city as
early as 1866 and founded that year establish
men partly bank, partly travel agency which ne adver
tised later under the name of Croatan Bank he had
probably used this to attract Croatian customers
The first Croats definitely known in Allegheny Coun
ty Jura Grguic Jura Les Janko Les, Blaz Secen
and Josp who settled in Allegheny City, at present
Pittsburghs North Sde in 1882 They originated from
the region of Jaska which extends south of zagreb.
In 1884 they were joined by Josip subasc who later
played outstanding part within the Croaan society IN
Allegheny County He established himself in Mlvale Jo
sip subasc was Vukova Gorica Karlovac AS
trade Later after completing his military service he
emigrated to America He spoke German fluenty fact
that helped him obtain at better working cond
tons Soon he became machnis of the City Water Works
at Milvae and moved to Allegheny City, where he ac
qured house and thus became the first Croat there to
possess his own home
subasic recalling his first days in Mvale tells about
the shack in which he had to live with twenty imm
grants At that time the youngsters dwelling in their
neighborhood, found it amusing to call them Hunkes"
and to throw stones at the poor immigrants who did not
know how defend themselves Following interven-
ton by Subasc the police put stop to these rude jokes
by furnishing the guilty children and also their parents
From then they were left in peace
Other immigrants had similar bad experiences. Their
ignorance of the English language exposed them to all
kinds of vexatons during and after work.
About 1883 the Croatian colony in Allegheny City
was strengthened through the arrival of immigrants
such Frano Zbrat Trivn Lazic, Krunosav Maljevc,
Josip Novakovic and Josip Stibuhars
Thus the nucleus of the future Croatan colony had
been formed in Allegheny City, site of the first Croatian
settlement in this part of Pennsylvania. During the
ing years continuous stream of Croatian
flowed into Pittsburgh and other towns of Allegheny
County Nevertheless, great many of them considered
their stay just temporary and returned after few
of hard work and vigorous economy to their coun
try Those who remained however, began to think seri
ousy of organizing life in America more permanently.
lhese immigrants represented various parts OF Gro
ata though mostly the districts of Jaska Karlovac Vr
bovsko and Ogin The majority peasants or of pea
SAINT origin and therefore prepared for the different
kind of work that awaited them in the coal mines and steel
mills Furthermore the long working hours transformed
their daily life into hardship
The only places to pass their free time after work and
Sundays saloons their boarding houses.
The faithful Catholics among them tried to go to
church, but they understood neither English German
for Croatan churches and priests lacking Besides
they felt unwecome in the English and German Catholic
churches.
Of course, they made effort to adjust themselves
to the American of life being convinced of their brief
stay this country When their hopes did not realize
the problem Of organizing their future became acute not
only in Allegheny County but all parts of the new
continent.
statistics of the United States of America
10th June 1880 Washington Government Printing Of
1881 NapredaL, 1898; SSoc Dobrosav
Spomen kniga zatnog Rimokataicke Crve Sv Noa
Pittsburgh Pa D. Sort November 81 1901
'Soric Edward A, On the
Of the immigrant N. Steiner, 1906) 205