Reverend J.M. Trunk - West Virginia 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:

Slovenian Genealogy Society
52 Old Farm Road
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011-2604

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West Virginia

Coceton. There is the Lodge #10 of St. Barbara here.

Charleston. Many Slovene miners work here and are members of Lodge #38 of St. Barbara.

Davis. The first Slovene came here about 27 years ago as reported by G. F. Penko, but several years ago they came in greater numbers. There are about 250 Slovene immigrants here. They work in the different factories, paper mills and leather factories. There are about 20 families. They worship in St. Veronica's Irish Church. Around Easter, a Slovene Franciscan Father visits the community. In 1911, the Lodge of St. John, JSKJ was founded and it is progressing nicely.

Durbin. In 1907 the first Slovenes settled down here. Among the first ones was Iv. Humer from the region of Primorje (along the Adriatic coast), but most of them came from Carniola (Kranjska). Mr. J. Vabcer mentioned in a report that there are six Slovene families and about 40 single men. There are no fraternal organizations, but they have a bowling alley which is getting crowded on Sundays. There is no church. I asked where do the Slovenes attend Mass and received the following reply: "They go to the woods since we are surrounded on all sides by forests. There is no religious life here." The report added that the Slovene workers earn good money and save some of their earnings. It is a sad situation.

Gormania. Mr. A. Korencan reported: Among the first settlers there were A. Lorencan and J. Javornik, who came from Vrhnika in 1892. P. Ponikvar came from Iga. There are two Slovene families and eight single men living in the community. They are employed in the leather factory. Except for the Slovenes, there are no Catholics here. The Hoffmann Company erected the church and once a month an Irish priest visits the community. There are no fraternal organizations here. That is why the people are leaving the community. They are not building homes.

Henry. There are some Slovenes employed here. They are enrolled in Lodge #96 of St. Georg with seven members.

Monogah. There is the Lodge #100 of Blessed Mary of Carmel JSKJ.

Moundsville. In the coal mine seven Slovene families plus some single men are employed. There are no fraternal organization in the town; they belong to organizations with offices located elsewhere.

Richwood. There is the Lodge #102 "The Diamond of the Mountain", JSKJ, here.

Thomas. This community is considered the largest Slovene community in the State of West Virginia. The workers are employed in the coal mines and forest. I was told there are several hundred Slovene immigrants here. Some time ago Rev. J. Tomsic was their parish priest. At the present time Slovene Franciscan Fathers visit the community.

Some Slovenes can be found in Benwood and Hacker Valley.