Croatian arrivals from Igrane or Ygrane-Alach-Anticich, Cvitanovich, and Talijanich

 

 

 

Igrane is a village in Croatia, around 19 km south from Makarska. It has about 420 inhabitants.^[1]

 

At the highest point of the village is the "Kula Zale" tower - named after Ivan Anticic [Anticich], and built during the 17th century as a protection against Turks. The Pre-Romanesque church of St. Michael (Sveti Mihovil), dating from 11.century, dominates the village.  Tourism and agriculture are the main sources of income for the inhabitants.                                                               

 

Biloxi Cemetery-6th Addition

 

ALACH

Andrew John Alach (1895-1959) was born at Igrane, Croatia.  He married Margaret Covich Anticich (1902-1990) circa 1932.  Margaret Covich was the widow of Blaz Anticich (1881-1929) who she had wedded in Harrison County, Mississippi on June 23, 1919.  Their child was Maria ‘Polly’ Genette Anticich (1927-1998) m. Kenneth Joseph Toups.(Harrison Co., Mississippi Circuit Court MRB 31, p. 139 and Bk. 72, p. 411)

 

Andrew J. Alach and Magaret Covich were the parents of:  Catherine ‘Connie’ Alach (1944) m. Andre Durel Charitat (1938-2008), the son of Jean G. Charitat (d. 1971) and Louise Barlow (1907-2001); Adri-Anna Alach (b. 1945) m. Luther A. Youngs III; and Andrew John Alach Jr. (1936-2015) m. Joan Carol Laurance.

 

Children

 

Andrew John Alach Jr. (1936-2015)

 

Andrew 'Andy' John Alach, Jr., died Tuesday May 5th, 2015. Born October 16th, 1936, New Orleans, Louisiana, to Margaret Covic Alach and Andrew John Alach Sr., Andy grew up in Biloxi, Mississippi. He met his wife of 49 years, Joan Carol Laurance Alach while attending the Ray-Vogue School of Design in Chicago. He and Joan were married in Chicago January 28th, 1966, and relocated to Lakeland, Florida, in 1971. He is survived by his wife, Joan, his daughter Susan Margaret Alach, his son Andrew John Alach III, daughter in law Kathryn Alach, his sisters Adri Anna Youngs and Catherine 'Connie' Charitat, and five grandchildren, Ellen Catherine Earl, Anthony James Earl, John Cyril Earl, Andrew John Alach IV, and Phoebe Kathryn Alach. He is preceeded in death by his parents and his sister, Dr. Polly Toups. Andy will be laid to rest in Biloxi, Mississippi at the Biloxi City Cemetary at 1166 Irish Hill Drive in the Blaz Anticich family mausoleum. In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation be made to Lions Club International. 

 

REFERENCES:

The Daily Herald, “[Blaz] Anticich takes own life in New Orleans”, August 9, 1929, p. 1.

 

The Daily Herald, “Toups-Anticich”, August 9, 1946, p. 2.

 

The Sun Herald,“Andrew J. Alach Jr.”, July, 2015.

 

The Tampa Tribune, "Polly A. Toups”, December 30, 1998, p. 7 . 

The Times-Picayune,“Charitat-Alach”, April 19, 1959.

The Times-Picayune,“Andrew J. Alach Sr.”, December 27, 1959.

The Times-Picayune,“Chariat”, February 8, 2008.

 

 

632 Howard Avenue

Grego Anticich owned this home at 314 East Howard Avenue from 

 

ANTICICH

Grego Anticich

Grego Anticich (1886-1954) was born March 3, 1886 at Ygrane, Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, the son of Mat Anticich and Christine Lulich.  Grego married Mary Skrmetta (1898-1947), the daughter of Nicholas Skrmetta (1855-1918) and Margaret Jakoich (1862-1947).  He expired February 9, 1954.  Mary died March 28, 1947. Veronica Anticich Cangemi (1919-1998), their daughter married Felix O. Cangemi (1912-1982) in October 1940.(Harrison Co., Mississippi Circuit Court MRB  51 , p.  385)

Captain John M Anticich (d. 1941), brother of Grego Anticich, and native of Croatia, died at NOLA in July 1941.(The Daily Herald, July 23, 1941, p. 6)

 

Blaz Anticich Memorial-Biloxi Cemetery

 

Mijo Anticich-Southern Memorial Park

 

Mijo Anticich

Mijo Anticich (1885-1867) was born September 28, 1885 to Joseph Anticich and Marie Morovich.

 

Biloxi Trading and Packing Company

The Biloxi Packing & Trading Company was incorporated in September 1920.  The organization was composed primarily of Croatian immigrant fishermen: Jake Rosetti, Vincent Rosetti, Vlocho Milion, Grego Anticich, Mary Skrmetta Anticich, Mike Kulivan, John Skrmetta, and John Mavar.  Frank Bosarge was the only non-Croatian in the company.  Of these immigrant fishermen, John Mavar would become the most successful. (The Daily Herald, September 18, 1920, p. 4)

 

The Biloxi Trading and Packing Company was capitalized with $25,000 in stock with a par value of $1.  Its mission was to ‘own, operate, lease factories and canneries and package vegetables, fruits, oysters, fish and shrimp.(The Daily Herald, September 18, 1920, p. 4)

 

The Biloxi Trading and Packing Company was located on Biloxi’s Point Cadet.  The organization acquired Lot No. 5, Lot No. 8 and a very small part of Lot No. 9 in Block No. 1 of the Summerville Addition Subdivision.       The lots was acquired from Vincent Olivari in January 1921 for $4750.  The tract was described as: bounded on the north by First Street; east by the Estate of Lazaro Lopez; south by the Gulf of Mexico; and west by the Dunbar-Dukate Company.(Harrison Co., Mississippi Land Deed Bk. 39, p. 79)

 

In September, Grego Anticich, Mary Skrmetta Anticich and Mijo Anticich incorporated the Anticich Canning and Packing Company at Biloxi.  The company evolved from the The Biloxi Packing & Trading Company which had been  incorporated on September 20, 1920 at New Orleans. From the deed records of Harrison County, Mississippi, it appears that the Anticich family took control of the Biloxi Trading & Packing Company between August 1924 and August 1925 and began operating as the Anticich Canning and Packing Company.(Harrison Co., Mississippi Chattel Deed Bk. 53, p. 571).(Harrison County, Ms. Charter Copy Book 6, p. 487)

 

Veronica Anticich Cangemi v. Anticich Canning and Packing Company

In late October 1954, Judge Dan M. Russell accepted the petition of Ralph Harold, Nick Mavar and Glenn L.   Swetman (1901-1994) to sell in a private sale the real estate and property of the Anticich Canning and Packing Company to John Mavar Jr., Sam Mavar and Victor Mavar.  The selling price was $70,000 and included the copyright brands-American Beauty and Silver Spray and the following vessels: Adriatic, Europa, Lillian; Lillian B., Louise, Mary, Baltic, Pacific, On Time, and Veronia.( Harrison Co., Mississippi Land Deed Bk.  387, p. 483)

 

The sale of the Anticich Canning and Packing Company to the Mavars was effected on November 5, 1954.( (Harrison Co., Mississippi Land Deed Bk.  and Bk.  388, p. 346)

 

REFERENCES:

Harrison County, Mississippi Chancery Court Case No. 34589, ‘Veronica Anticich Cangemi v. Anticich Canning and Packing Company’-1954.

The Daily Herald, “The Daily Herald, “Americans from troubled Dalmatia”, March 4, 1920.

The Daily Herald, “Biloxi now has new concern”, August 28, 1920.

The Daily Herald, “The Charter of Incorporation of the Biloxi Packing & Trading Company”, September 19, 1920.

The Daily Herald, “Anticich takes life in New Orleans”, September 24, 1929.

The Daily Herald, “Officers 'Canned' by striking shrimp pickers at Biloxi”, November 15, 1932.

The Daily Herald, “New disorder in shrimp war occurs today”, October 19, 1933.

The Daily Herald, “Cangemi-Anticich”, October 17, 1940.

The Daily Herald, “$200,000 sought by Mrs. Anticich”, October 22, 1940.

The Daily Herald, “Mrs. Anticich gives testimony”, January 22, 1941.

The Daily Herald, “$50,000 damage suit is filed”, January 28, 1941.

The Daily Herald, “Anticich funeral”, July 23, 1941.

The Daily Herald, “Mrs. Mary Anticich dies in Birmingham”, March 28, 1947.

The Daily Herald, “Biloxi packer dies in auto Crash at Bay [St. Louis]”, February 9, 1954.

The Daily Herald, “Mijo Anticich”, March 22, 1967.             

The Times-Picayune, “Anticich”, March 23, 1967.

______________________________________________________________

CVITANOVICH

 

Antony Cvitanovich

Antony 'Tony' Cvitanovich (1886-1964) arrived at New York in 1906 from Ingrene, Croatia.  He came to Biloxi from Louisiana where he and his brothers, Dominic Cvitanovich  (1894-1962) m. Philomena Sercovich (1900-1985); Thomas Cvitanovich (1895-1977) m. Antonia Ragusin (1908-2001);  were in the oyster business. 

 In June 1923, Tony Cvitanovich married Mary Elizabeth Trojanovich (1894-1987), a native of Trestino, Croatia who came to Biloxi  in 1922. They were the parents of: Mary Antonia Cvitanovich (1924-1985) m. Robert F. Mahoney (1923-2005); Ann E. Cvitanovich (1927) m. LeRoy P. Clark (b. 1923); and Andrew Cvitanovich (1927-2014) m. Mary Ouida Parker (1935-1988) and Sarah Gautreaux.(Harrison Co., Mississippi Circuit Court MRB 35, p. 154; MRB 39, p. 397; MRB 133, p. 490)

 

Southern Seafoods

 

Children

Mary A. Cvitanovich [Mary Mahoney]

 

 

Dominic Cvitanovich

Dominic Cvitanovich (1894-1962) came to America and settled at New Orleans the early 1900s.  He relocated to Biloxi, Mississippi in 1919.  Dominic married Philomena Sercovich (1900-1985), a native of New Orleans.  Children: Barbara Faith Cvitanovich m. Stephen A. Lyons; Earl Cvitanovich; Darrell D. Cvitanovich; and Anthony Cvitanovich.

 

Obituary

Dominic (sic) Cvitanovich (1893-1962), age 68 years, native of Igrane, Yugoslavia [Croatia], resident of New Orleans since 1908 and Biloxi since 1919, died at his home, 1143 East Howard Avenue about 11:30 a.m. Sunday.  Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. from Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home with 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Michael's Catholic Church and burial in Biloxi Cemetery.

Mr. Cvitanovich owned and operated the Sanitary Grocery on East Howard Avenue. He and his brothers, Anthony at Biloxi, and Tom in New Orleans, also formerly operated Southern Seafood on Back Bay for twenty years. He also owned several properties, including apartments. Dominick was a member of the Slavonian Benevolvent Association, St. Michael's Catholic Church and the Holy Name Society.

Dominick Cvitanovich was survived by Philomena Sercovich (1900-1985), his wife; a daughter, Barbara Faith Cvitanovich of Biloxi m. Stephen A. Lyons; Anthony Cvitanovich, USAF, Madison, Wisconsin; Earl Cvitanovich and Darrell Cvitanovich of Biloxi and Mississippi State Highway patrolmen; three brothers, Steve Cvitanovich, Yugoslavia, Anthony Cvitanovich, Biloxi, and Tom Cvitanovich, New Orleans; a sister, Mrs. Katie C. Pabrico, Yugoslavia; and two grandchildren.

 

Children

 

 

Anthony Cvitanovich

In 1944, Captain Anthony Cvitanovich, US Army Air Force and USAF, completed flight training and received his wings at Spence Field, Georgia.  During the Korean Conflict, he was assigned to the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing, 5th Air Force flying the F-51.

 

Thomas Cvitanovich

 

Thomas Cvitanovich (1895-1977) m. Antonia Ragusin (1908-2001)

 

Anthony  Cvitanovich

Anthony Cvitanovich married Henrietta Beaorovich (1911-1999), the daughter of Marko Beaorvich (1883-1966) and Jacobina Sekul (1881-1956).  Children: Samuel A. Cvitanovich (1927-2014) m. Mildred ‘Peachie’ Noel (1932-1990), the daughter of Herman Noel and Sadie Mae Noel.

 

Children

 

Samuel A. Cvitanovich

Samuel  'Sam"  Amos Cvitanovich (1927-2014), age 86 years, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, died Sunday, March 16, 2014.  Sammy was a native of Biloxi, a lifelong resident of Ocean Springs and was the former owner of Henriettas Café in Ocean Springs for 52 years. His many interests were the love of his family, riding the horn and having his whiskey cocktail. He was also a longtime member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and the Slavic Benevolent Society.  

 

Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred "Peachie" Cvitanovich, parents, Anthony Cvitanovich and Henrietta Beaorvich Cvitanovich Bellew Savage, daughter, Mary Ann Cvitanovich and granddaughter, Alicia Ann Allen.  Survivors include two daughters, Angela Cvitanovich Vermillion and her companion, Jody Marshall Pigford, Tanya Cvitanovich Guice, three grandsons, Douglas Paul Vermillion II and fiancee, Robyn Ashley Perkett, their unborn daughter, Schella Rose Vermillion, Anthony Michael "Tony Mac" Vermillion and fiancee, Kristy Angelic Allen and Nicholas Anthony Guice, two great-grandchildren, Jessica Ann Saunders and Donald Scott Saunders, and five great-great-grandchildren, Adalee Ann Wilson, Jaxston Nash Wilson, Kaiden Scott Saunders, Jordyn Sky Saunders and Leighla Rose Brown.  

 

The family would like to give a special thanks to a cousin, Nadine Marie Sekul, for all of her help.  Visitation will be on Friday, March 21, from 5pm until 8pm, with a 7 pm Rosary, all at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. On Saturday, March 22, 2014, there will be an 11 am Mass of Christian Burial, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, where friends can visit one hour prior to service. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Ocean Springs.(The Sun Herald, March 19, 2014, p. A-4)
 

 

REFERENCES:

Edward J. Lepoma, A Passion for People: The Story of Mary Mahoney and her Old French House Restaurant, (Quail Ridge Press: Brandon, Mississippi-1998).

The Baton Rouge Advocate, “Darrell D. Cvitanovich”, May 6, 2006.

The Daily Herald, “Cvitanovich-Noel”, December 19, 1949.

The Daily Herald, "Flies 72nd Mission [in Korea]", June 7, 1952.

The Daily Herald, “Grocer and former Seafood man [Dominic Cvitanovich] dies at home on Sunday”, January 29, 1962. 

The Daily Herald,

The Ocean Springs News, “Biloxi's oldest building has been restored”, October 8, 1964.

The Sun Herald, “Mrs. Philomena Cvitanovich”, October 13 1985.

The Sun Herald, “Mildred Noel Cvitanovich”, May 7, 1990.

The Sun Herald, "Angel Cvitanovich", June 2, 1997, p. C2.

The Sun Herald, “Passion chronicles life of [Mary Cvitanovich] Mahoney”, 1998.

The Sun Herald, “Antonio [sic] [Ragusin] Cvitanovich”, November 13, 2001, p. A5.

The Sun Herald, “Robert F. Mahoney”, August 2005.

The Sun Herald, “Mildred Cvitanovich”, July 10, 2008.

The Sun Herald, “Samuel Amos Cvitanovich”, March 19, 2014.

The Sun Herald, “Andrew Matthew Cvitanovich”, May 5, 2014.The Times-Picayune, “Thomas Cvitanovich”, September 15, 1977.

The Times-Picayune, “”,.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Pascal F. Talijanich and Antonio Mavar

[Biloxi Cemetery-September 2012]

 

 

TALIJANICH-TALIANCICH FAMILY

Pascal Fabian Talijanich (1902-1976) was born at Ygrane or Ingrane, Croatia on May 16, 1902.  His father was Baracha or Barisa Talijanich and mother, Katherine Lovic or Loverich.  Pascal married Antonia Mavar (1909-1996) on April 25, 1937 in the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Biloxi.(Harrison County, Mississippi Circuit Court MRB 47, p. 620, The Daily Herald, April 26, 1937, p. 6 and The Times-Picayune, May 2, 1937, p. 5)

1932 Arrival

Pascal F. Talijancich was greeted on the docks at New Orleans in early March 1932 by Captain Peter A. Taliancich (1889-1942) and Leopold J. Taliancich (1892-1943), his two older brothers, who had come to the Crescent City from Croatia in 1903 and 1905 respectively.  The Taliancich Brothers were associated together in the oyster shipping and produce business at NOLA.  Peter bragged that he was 'the greatest fisherman on the Coast' while Leopold was a butcher in the French Quarter.  Pascal was invited join his brothers in their enterprises and he was so optimistic of his future here that he exclaimed: "This is New Orleans.  This is heaven to me. I will make my fortune." (The Times-Picayune, March 5, 1932, p. 3)

 

Restaurateur

Pascal F. Talijanich soon developed a partnership with Anthony Zanki.  Their business was the Mid-City Restaurant situated at 4139 Canal Street.  This relationship ended in March 1936 and Pascal opened the Broadview Restaurant at 1420 North Broad Street.  By June 1939, his success here allowed him to buy for $25,000 his restaurant premises and the three contiguous buildings from 1420 to 1432 North Broad.  While a resident of NOLA, Pascal was a member of the Young Men's Business Club and the Mid-City Carnival Organization.(The Times-Picayune, June 14, 1939, p. 13 and The Daily Herald, May 24, 1952, p. 4)

 

Biloxi

Pascal and Antonia relocated to Biloxi in 1947.  Here he operated the Wisbee Washerterias at 309 Porter and 1729 West Howard Avenue.(The Daily Herald, May 24, 1952, p. 4)

 

Slavonian Lodge

Pascal was elected president of the local Slavonian Society in May 1952.(The Daily Herald, May 24, 1952, p. 4)

European visit
 

Pascal returned to Igrane for the first time in 1950. In May 1950, he left for New York to board a steamship for Croatia to visit his 92 year old mother. Pascal planned to visit his Mavar in-laws, also in Croatia.(The Daily Herald, May 20, 1950, p. 3)

 

Pascal F. Talijanich died on May 16, 1976.  Antonia Mavar expired on February 12, 1996.  Their corporal remians were interred in the Biloxi Cemetery.

 

REFERENCES:

The Daily Herald,“Bridal couple weds”, September 2, 1937.

The Daily Herald,“Talijancich head Slavonian body at Biloxi”, May  24, 1952.

The Daily Herald, “Pascal F. Talijancich”, May   1976.

The Sun Herald, "Antonia Talijancich", February 14, 1996.

The Times-Picayune, "Jugoslavian, 26, see brothers in city for first time", 

The Times-Picayune, "Croatian Circle to be formed today", August 21, 1932.

The Times-Picayune, "Mid-City Restaurant", April 1, 1936.

The Times-Picayune, "Biloxi, Miss.", May 2, 1937.