The Mystery of “Fuzsi” or “Fursi” is Solved!
"Slovakia Census, 1869," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-28480-19928-12?cc=1986782 : accessed 7 March 2016). |
I am so thankful for doing my spit test with Ancestry DNA along with my brother, my mother & my father’s sister. I have been connected with unknown distant cousins through the current DNA popularity & others that I knew about; yet, I had difficulty locating.
In three previous blog posts from 2016, I was researching the mystery of the surname of my great-grandmother, Mary Hyduck/Kostelnic Sarna. In the final post, I concluded that her name was Kostelnic. In doing so, I came across a mysterious forename of one of her sisters, Fuzsi or Fursi.
Mary had two elder sisters, Anna born 1851, Fuzsi or Susanna born 1859. Mary was born in 1863. A fourth sister, Elizabeth was born in 1866.
A DNA cousin and I have been collaborating our family trees. I am connected via her husband’s line. Jean Hoffman’s family tree is from Anna’s line. She has shared more details along with photos.
Anna & Mary sure look like sisters!
Suzanna Kostelnic came to the US around 1875
according to the 1900 US Census.
She is listed with her husband Michael Wargo. They were married by 1880. They have four children listed as Michael, John, Mary, Susan all born between 1883 to 1895.
My mother and her sisters, remember their grandmother, Mary Kostelnic Sarna, telling stories about her coming to the US as a teenager, first staying with her sister, a Mrs. Wargo. Suzanna!
Anna came to the US in 1874 with her husband, Michael Zemany. Susanna followed the next year in 1875. She was married to Michael Wargo by 1880. Mary came in 1880 and married George Sarna by 1883.
Several Extract Deed documents mention the three sisters (husbands mentioned), Mrs. Anna Zemany, Mrs. Susanne Wargo and Mrs. Mary Sarna all living in Freeland, Pennsylvania, at the same time! Thank you, Richard and Jean Hoffman for helping me solve this mystery!
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Vol. 269, p. 65
Cross Creek Coal Co. to Trustees of the Hungarian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Freeland Pa.
“This indenture made the Twenty-first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-Seven Between the Cross Creek Coal Company of the first part and Michael Zemany and Michael Warga of Freeland Pa, George Dzurisen and John Soltis of Upper Lehigh Pa Michael Cervenak George Celig of Sandy Run John Kmetz of Drifton and John Homulska of Eckley Pa Trustees of the Hungarian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Freeland Luzerne County Pennsylvania of the Second part, “
Abstract: For the sum of one dollar a lot on the east side of Washington Street is sold. The lot is identified as No six (6) of block L on a map of the Woodside. Further description of the lot is:
“Beginning at a point on East side of said Washington Street on hundred and twenty-five (125) feet south of the South-East corner of the intersection of said Washington Street with Luzerne Street thence East on a line parallel with said Luzerne Street one hundred and thirty (130) feet more or less to an alley or Smaller Street on a line parallel with said Washington Street twenty-five (25) feet thence west on a line parallel with said Luzerne Street one hundred and thirty (130) feet more or less to said Washington Street thence North along said Washington Street twenty-five (25) feet to point of beginning.”
All the usual rights are granted to the party of the Second Part, their successors and assigns in trust for the Church and School purposes and as a dwelling for the resident clergyman and not for interment of deceased persons or any other purposes. Failure to heed this restriction will result in forfeiture of the Estate granted and reversion of ownership to the grantor.
The original declaration contained the word “heirs” in five places. This word was lined out and replaced with the word “successors” in the presence of both parties. Sealed with the Corporate Seal of the Cross Creek Coal Company, and signed Eckley B. Coxe, president; Arthur McClellan, secretary; Michael Zemany, Michael Warga, Djurisen George, John Soltis, Mikel Cervenak, George Celig, John (his X mark) Kmetz, John Homulka
Receipt of one dollar acknowledged by J. B. White, Treasurer of the Cross Creek Coal Company
Signature above sworn to as his and sale sworn to as executed in his presence and with his affirmation by Eckley B. Coxe, president of the Cross Creek Coal Company on 26 April 1887 in the presence of Elliott A. Oberrender, Notary Public.
Similarly sworn to by parties of the second part on 23 Apr 1887 and notarized by John D. Hayes
Recorded Aug 4th 1887
Another volume mentions a land sale between George Sarna and Michael Wargo (brothers-in-law) of Lots 21 & 22 across the street from the church property mentioned above.
Vol. 306
p. 248
George Sarna and Mary Sarna his wife of Upper Lehigh to Susan Varga (Wargo) of Foster Twp for $1.
W. side of Washington in Woodside Addition, #21 & 22 of Block K, 125’ S. of SW corner of Washington and Luzerne, W 130’ parallel (see map)
Dated 29 March 1892, Recorded 18 April 1892
p. 250
Michael Wargo and Susan his wife of Foster Twp to George Sarna of Upper Lehigh for $350 above lots 21 & 22.
Dated 29 March 1892, Recorded 18 April 1892
Included is a map with the above properties mentioned provided by Jean Hoffman.
All of Michael and Susan’s children were born in Upper Lehigh, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, from 1883-1895. The Wargo family moved to Michigan by 1910.
I have also been connected with Wargo distant cousins through Ancestry DNA. One of them, unfortunately, informed me that her grandmother had a fire that destroyed all the family pictures and information. She was so thankful for the information I had on her ancestors.
Now did the fourth sister, Elizabeth Kostelnic, remain in Slovakia or did she also come to the US? I hope to find the answer to this question with more research and DNA testing.
