Frank Aloysius Croshal

#### **Birth**

Frank Aloysius Croshal was born on November 12th, 1893 in Vinice, Slovenia to Marko Krozil and Frančiska Tursič.

#### **Immigration**

In the summer 1895, Frank and his older sister, Maria, travelled with their mother to the port city of Le Havre in northern France. They were on route to reunite with Marko, who had immigrated to America a few years earlier. In August, Frančiska and the kids boarded the S.S. Touraine with over 800 strangers and set sail for the United States. On the Saturday morning of September 7th, 1895, they landed at Ellis Island. From Ellis Island, they journeyed over 2000 miles to Livingston, Montana where Marko had found work.

#### **Early Years in Montana**

By 1900, the family had moved to Anaconda, Montana where they were living at 820 East Park Avenue. They moved to 118 Washington Street by 1902. There stay in Montana was shortlived.

#### **Early Years in Pueblo**

The Croshals moved to Pueblo, Colorado in 1903 where they started their own saloon at 325 Northern Avenue. In 1910, they lived at 511 East Northern Avenue. Frank was employed as a steel worker with his father by the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company. Frank and his parents spoke Slovenian but his younger siblings, all spoke English.

Frank worked in the steel mill for 15 years before leaving to become a mail carrier for the post office. Mail carriers in Pueblo would take the street cars to the main office twice a day to pick up incoming mail. Frank's mail route included of the southeastern blocks of Minnequa Heights. He soon met a young woman, Josephine Russ, who lived on his mail route. They grew closer as he passed by her house twice a day, six days a week.

#### **Marriage**

On September 12th, 1923, Frank Aloysius Croshal married Josephine Rose Russ at St. Mary's Church in Pueblo, Colorado. The newlyweds purchased a house at 2523 East Evans Avenue in Minnequa Heights, across the street from Josephine's parents. With Frank's secure and reliable employment, they started a family of their own.

#### **Children**

Children of Frank Aloysius Croshal and Josephine Rose Russ:

1. Frank Aloysius Croshal Jr.
2. Virginia Josephine Croshal
3. Agnes Marie Croshal
4. Josephine Lorraine Croshal
5. Mary Louise Croshal
6. Dolores Nadine Croshal

#### **Family Life**

Frank and Josephine raised their children and spent the rest of their lives living at 2523 East Evans Avenue. One Christmas Eve around 1935, Frank ran across the street and knocked on the Pechak house. Anton and Mary Pechak opened the door, with her three boys in the background, to Frank screaming "I just saw him! I just saw him!." The boys ran outside and looked around and swore they saw something as well. Frank explained to his nephews that it was Santa Clause on his sleigh.

When Frank retired after 35 years with the U.S. Postal Service, he and Josephine began to travel extensively. In June 1973, they spent three weeks in Yugoslavia and surrounding countries. They visited Vinice, the place of Frank's birth.

#### **Anniversaries**

In 1948, Frank and Josephine celebrated their 25th anniversary with over 50 friends and family.

They celebrated their 50th anniversary in Pueblo and all of their children were present for the event.

#### **Hobbies**

Frank and Josephine enjoyed playing High Five with Frank J. and Anna C. (Russ) Jacklovich. Frank and Josephine played card games with most of their friends and family. Their other hobbies included gardening, reading, and dancing.

Frank belonged to the Veterans of World War I, Retired Civil Service Employees, Knights of Columbus, and Postal Carriers Union. He was a member of St. Mary's Church and St. Joseph's Lodge.

#### **References**

1. ↑ "New York, Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, *FamilySearch*(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXST-74X : accessed 29 September 2015), F'ca Krozil, 07 Sep 1895; citing departure port Le Havre, arrival port New York, ship name La Touraine, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, *FamilySearch*(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM5W-6KD : accessed 12 November 2015), Frank Kasco in household of Michael Kasco, Anaconda township Anaconda city Ward 5-6, Deer Lodge, Montana, United States; citing sheet 30A, family 653, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,240,911.
3. ↑ "R. L. Polk & Co.'s Anaconda City Directory 1902-1903", online images, Ancestry.com (http://interactive.ancestry.com/2469/16175845?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d2469%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=16175949 : accessed 12 November 2015), entry name: Michael Kruzil.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Frank and Josephine Croshal 50th Anniversary, Pueblo, Colorado, Unidentified Newspaper.
5. ↑ "R. L. Polk & Co.'s Pueblo City Directory 1904-1905", online images, Ancestry.com (http://interactive.ancestry.com/2469/13066301?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d2469%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=13066376 : accessed on 12 November 2015) page 148, entry name: Michael Croshal.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, *FamilySearch*(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK4V-QPG : accessed 12 November 2015), Frank Crocker in household of Marcus Crocker, Pueblo Ward 6, Pueblo, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 171, sheet 16A, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,137.
7. ↑ "R. L. Polk Directory Co.'s Pueblo City Directory 1921", online images, Ancestry.com (http://interactive.ancestry.com/2469/14128017?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d2469%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=14128063 : accessed 12 November 2015) page 91, entry name Frank Croshal.
8. ↑ "R. L. Polk Directory Co.'s Pueblo City Directory 1923", online images, Ancestry.com (http://interactive.ancestry.com/2469/14128017?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d2469%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=14299430 : accessed 12 November 2015) page 93, entry name: Frank Croshal.
9. ↑ John Joseph Pechak. Oral Interview, by Angela Pechak. Transcription in the possession of Wesley Miller.
10. ↑ Barbara Ann Jacklovich, (arizbad@aol.com), "Croshal Family," [This message states that Frank and Josephine (Russ) Croshal were Barbara's godparents.]