The house Martin was raised in was named Lilkov. ®2863 He emigrated to the United States at age 18, leaving Bremen, Germany 27 June 1905 on the S. S. Kaiser Wilhelm II, arriving in New York City on 4 July 1905. ®28 ®2863 He arrived in Ely, Minnesota on 7 July 1905 ®2862 and boarded with his brothers Anton Matkovich and Joseph Matkovich at the house of John Tomachich (who became his brother-in-law in 1906) in Ely. In the spring of 1908 he moved to Virginia, Minnesota. ®28 He and Teresa were married in Virginia, Minnesota on 17 August 1908. On 1 February 1910 he and Teresa lived in Virginia, Minnesota where his brother Anton Matkovich boarded with them. Martin was a pump man in the Bessemer iron ore mine, residing at Virginia Mine. On the 30 April 1910 US Census Martin was a 23 year old iron miner living with Theresa, 20, and Anie, 10 months old, at the Lone Jack Location of Missabe Mountain Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota. (Missabe Mountain Township has since been absorbed by the cities of Virginia, Eveleth and Gilbert). Next door to them lived his brother Josef and sister in law Mary. Martin’s son Louis was born there on 15 August 1910. ®1240 In 1911 Martin applied to be a United States citizen, at which time he was 5 feet, five inches tall, 150 pounds, with light brown hair and blue eyes. ®2859 Their son John was born on 7 October 1911. In 1912 Martin was a miner at the Alpena mine, with their residence at 7 Commodore location, Virginia, Minnesota. In 1913 he became a fireman. Their son Martin, Jr., was born on 29 April 1913. Martin became a naturalized citizen on 15 November 1913 in the District Court of St. Louis County, Minnesota (certificate # 399186) when he listed his residence as Post Office Box 368, Virginia, Minnesota. In 1914 they moved to Willard, Wisconsin, by train ®2862, where he became a farmer. On 5 June 1917 he lived in Willard, Hendren Township, Clark County, Wisconsin. He was a farmer of medium height and medium build with gray eyes and dark brown hair. ®36 The first four children were born in northern Minnesota and last two in Willard, Wisconsin. "Someone was waiting for them with a team of horses and wagon at the depot and then took them to their farm (currently Duwayne Trunckel farm) which had a one room house and lots of rock. Louis remembers his mother going in the house and she sat down and cried. Martin was a watchman in the mines in Minnesota before coming to Willard and at first felt they really made a mistake leaving a good job and coming to Willard. They bought one cow and one horse and that is how they got started farming. They picked stones from morning to night - day after day getting the land cleared. Chud Daughenbach lived across the road from the Matkovich farm and he taught Theresa how to can berries and some baking. Chud built some homes in the Willard area including the one Louis lives in now (1982) At one time Martin and Theresa owned that property. It was sold to Louis when he married in 1939. Chud had built their upstairs railing by hand and it was saved during remodeling and is now in the Don Kirn home. This railing is approximately 80 years old. Martin at one time was clerk for the Town of Hendren and was a member of the Willard School Board. They retired from farming in 1946 and they built a house in Willard.” ®2862 He spoke English well ®2859 and was never in U. S. Military.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Matkovich of Willard celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Sunday. A high Mass was offered by Fr. Aloysius Madic, O. F. M. , pastor of Holy Family parish. Breakfast was served to the family in their home after Mass. Dinner was enjoyed at the Silver Dome Supper Club, Neillsville, with their sons, daughters and their families: Louis of Willard; John of Seattle, Wash.; Martin of Milwaukee; Mrs. Gnader (Ann) of Milwaukee; Mrs. Bertrand (Molly) of Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. Rauen (Marie) of Burlington; and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Matkovich, their son, Robert, and daughter, Dorothy, with their families from West Allis. Mr. and Mrs. Matkovich have nine grandchildren and one great-(missing rest of text).

Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) publication date August 28, 1958


The text of Martin Matkovich’s personal history, as written to his grandson Carl Rauen on 18 March 1959:
“Born August 30th, 1886 in Yugoslavia in the village called Tancha (Tanča) Gora, population of about 200 and 5 miles from the parish church where I received my religious education and sacraments, also a 6-grade public school in Slovene of course, with attendance one-half day first four grades and full day the second two. Reading, writing and arithmetic were the principal courses taught, with geography just within border of that time State of Austria, outside the border being left up to the individual to find out for himself.
In the year of 1905 the government reduced restriction on immigration and issued visas to the applicants of under army aged boys up to 20 (the army induction age was 21), so I took advantage and received my passport when I was 19, with the promise that I would return for induction into the army when I was 21.
On July 4th, 1905 I landed in New York U.S.A. Arrived at Ely, Minnesota. Worked in the iron mine there for 3 years. In the winter of 1907-1908 felt first depression with single men layed (laid) off. So in the spring of 1908 I moved to Virginia, Minnesota. Got job there and glad of it. Wages at that time of course $1.80 - $2.25 a day for 10-hr. day and 6 days a week.
On Aug. 17th, 1908 I marry Theresa Kocyan. That same year I apply for the citizenship and in 1910 became U. S. citizen working in the mine and a few other jobs. I also walk 1 ½ mile to the night school once a week for a few months, provided specially for immigrants. Labor situation steadily declining, so my wife and I decided to move on the farm. Sold the house and with meager earnings bought 80 acres of raw cutover land in Wisconsin.
With trust in God, courage and depending on our own hands we arrived in Willard, Wis. on April 4th, 1914 with 4 children--1 daughter and 3 sons. 2 daughters were born on the farm. With ambition, hope in future, God’s help for preservation of health, by 1919 we succeeded having it well cleared and building put up. It wasn’t easy--tough--my wife and I out in the woods every day cutting cord wood for 5 winters in deep snow and many below zero days, leaving children care for themselves between meals. Mother and I constantly kept an eye on the chimney. Fortunately nothing have happened. Children well behaved and obey orders. Thanks to God.
The axe and the cross cut saw was the only means of our income for a few years. From there on, horse, dynamite and manpower.
Our children grow up healthy, mannerly, full of pep, always on the go. Mud or snow hardly ever miss a school or church. Mile and a half away, no school buses, cars, snow plows those days. The high school was and still is 8 miles to the nearest town with no transportation, but 1 son and 2 daughters attended. They stayed in town, work for their board and room. Today is different of course, almost every scholar is picked up by buses.
Today all our children are married, maintain their homes and raise their own families and hope they realize that every pioneering is difficult. We do hope that our children will enjoy better life. We prayed to Lord that we made our home here and retired in 1946 but this is possible only in the U.S. A. Thanks to God.

My father John Matkovich:
I can’t remember the date of his birth. Births, marriages and deaths were recorded in parish rectory only if recorded at all. The parish priest serves as provincial recorder I presume.
He married my mother Mary Jerman and lived on the farm willed to them by his father. To them 8 children were born---6 sons and 2 daughters. One daughter being second child died when 5 years old of epidemic that raged the country at that time called Black Pox, another child 3 years old also being affected but pulled through. His face and body scars shown for the rest of his life. Finally years later the government came out with serum and checked the epidemic by vaccination of all the children on or before entering school. With medical aid and doctor there was only one in whole county, the most serious epidemics having been checked. Nobody ever knew or heard about dentist nor required dental work, but if minor case happened such as toothache, it was usually taken care of locally.
Of course it took only a hardy and sturdy youngsters and oldsters to keep up home and make a living with our feet and a yoke of oxen our only transportation. Besides, there was enough spare time of which everyone took advantage, young and old, for dancing and singing that was the country well recognized. Of course youngsters grow and begin to plan their own future. It happened so with us. Since there was a custom that one son inherit the home place, the rest should look out for themselves. Then since the country did not provide means for our living immigration was our only course. So one of my brothers take over the home place, five brothers and one sister were admitted to the 4nited States America.
My father died in June 1907 at age 56, cause of his death unknown. My mother died at age 81 of old age complications. I do not remember my grandparents. All I remember what was told to us by our parents, that way the history carried on from one generation to another. According to the history and legend our ancestors did live a rugged life. Besides droughts, plaques and wars they were under obligation to the big land lords called Barons, who owned all good lands, lived in the great inaccessible castles well protected against their enemies, collecting one tenth of anything raised plus one person a day free labor from rural people. Villagers may own a few patches of land where they were able to build a hut or a log camp, taxes if any have to be worked out. Schools were out of the question. Only the rich land lords have their children education at home.
They maintain army for their own protection and fought the enemy from within closing access to the castle usually located on some nature created defense, leaving poor people on their own mercy...fists, axes, machetes, or whatever they got hold of. Turks invaded our country on many occasions across Balkan states, usually when there was a good crop. They came in large groups on fast horses, followed by wagons, looting, burning, destroying and killing whatever in their way. Killing small children and old people, tied up young girls and boys and took them back for slavery with the rest of the loot. Some may escape by hiding in woods or caves if able to see warning signs of a big fire built on the hills, the only communication available in those days. Even Napoleon invaded our country once before my time. He did not get his price I suppose and pulled out willingly or compulsory, most likely compulsory.
At the beginning of King Franz Joseph and Queen Elizabeth’s ruling in some 150 years ago, they crushed that terror and slavery system outlawed, toll and free labor. Building schools, churches and highways. Imposed taxes on property. That was the end of the cruel Barons. Unable to pay labor and taxes, they were forced to sell out. Gradually moved to cities, where no doubt some of their heirs live yet. That gave local people chance to expand their farms, raise and educate their family.
At the time my father and mother were in school age. There was a graded school in city Chernomelj (Črnomelj)10 miles away, but attendance was not compulsory so they never went, although they learn reading later. So years later, I don’t remember date, a 6-grade school was built in the parish village Dragatus, a distance of 5 miles, and attendance compulsory, so there the rest of us kids received our education.
The once most powerful empire in Europe Austro-Hungary, capital in Vienna, radically changed geographically and politically. In World War One, when my brother on home place died in Russian prison, Austria was cut to bits. Part of it is now Yugoslavia formed in 1918 and ruled by Serbian king until second World War. Although Yugoslavia, capital Belgrade, didn’t change much geographically, it did a great deal politically, though after the second World War civil war broke out between religion and communism, with communism victory including all our catholic and predominately Slovene province by the name Kryin (?), provincial capitol Ljubljana, most beautiful scenery, mild climate, rich soil. Yet there was not developed industrially or otherwise for progressive minded young people to make a fair living on homestead. After all the worryless Youngsters had a lot of enjoyment and fun in various ways, but no dates in those days.

My wife Theresa Matkovich, her maiden name Theresa Kocyan, born Dec. 24th, 1888 in the village called Dragovanja Vas in Yugoslavia, a distance of about 2 miles to my home village. Attended same church and school. She came to United States Aug. 15th, 1907. She also came to Ely, Minnesota. Personally we hardly knew one another before we first met.

He father, Stefan Kocyan, married her mother Mary Panijan. To them 7 children were born, 2 sons and 5 daughters, whom to date are alive--2 in Yugoslavia and 3 in the U.S.A. The older son died of heart failure at home place after second war in age 60, and second son died of cancer in Detroit, Mich. in age 53 (”Pete”). Her father died of old age. Her mother died of cancer when 43 years old. She remembers her grandmother that told us about those dark horrible days she lived through and worked on toll and compulsory labor in her prime age.” ®28

Did they moved to Marion in 1908? There is no northern Minnesota place-name, old or new, that I can find.