"Montana"
- Trunk 1912 -
Slovenia translation
© Copyright 1996, Slovenian Genealogy Society and FEEFHS, all rights
reseved
First Posted: 16 October 1996
Provided by and courtesy of Al Peterlin, President, Slovenian Genealogy Society
International
This Rev J. M. Trunk text was published originally in 1912 as 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
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The Slovenian Genealogy Societycollects church
histories. Readers with information on Slovenes in the communities listed, the churches
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Beginning of translated text:
MONTANA
Aldridge. In this region there is a coal mine where Slovenes from Kranjsko and
Stajersko came in 1894. There were 150 of them in 1903. Of the 30 families, 20 had their
own houses. I was unable to determine how many of them are here now. The Slovenes have
their Holy Family Church and are visited by Rev. Jos. Pirnat. The JSKJ has its Society of St.
Joseph #17 and St. Barbara #52.
Anaconda. The Slovenes came to this city, which has 10,123 inhabitants, in 1889
from Crnomelj. In 1903 there was a total of 1,500 and among these 150 families who had
one-third of the land. They worked in the smelters. Now the number of our fellow
countrymen has shrunk. I was not able to ascertain how many of them are there now. They
are said to have a church of St. Peter and they are cared for by Rev. Jos. Pirnat. The KSKJ
has a society of St. Joseph. The societies of Sts. Peter and Paul and of St. Georg belong to
the H.Z. it is said.
Bear Creek. This is a small town in a deep ravine. There are not many Slovenes
there. They are said to be employed in the local coal mines and rarely come this way on
business.
Bridger. There is one Slovene family and three single men in this region.
Butte. Mr. A. J. Terbovec writes me about the town itself: "Butte is the largest city
of Montana (39,165 inhabitants), and the largest Slovene settlement in this state. The town is
alive and beautiful It lies at the foot of mountains of medium height. Copper ore is brought
up by hoists from the depths of these mountains. The majority of the Slovenes are employed
in these mines, as are also the Serbs and Croats. The Slovenes already have stores and a few
taverns.
A large number of Slovenes have been here for many years already. Some have a fair
amount of wealth. Others, at least have their own houses. Even though three is no Slovene
school here and the children have to attend English schools, the young people have high
esteem for their mother tongue and are never ashamed of it, as is the case, unfortunately, in
many other regions. The Slovene girls stand out especially, which speak in their favor just as
does their honesty. It honors both the older people and the youth".
A countryman, who did not sign his name, sent me a report, which was completed by Rev.
M. Pirnat. The first countrymen came here already about 1885. After they had been earning
for a while, they either went back or bought farms. Among the latter were S. Lasic, Juri
Bibic, J. Stavdohar, P. Zalic and J. Lakner, who settled in the area of Dillon, 60 miles away,
where they have beautiful farms and became very rich. Some of them are also in the Willis
region.
At present in the city of Butte and environs, there are over 1,000 Slovenes who are employed
either in smelters and mines or have land holdings and houses near the city, where they are
engaged in raising chickens and pigs. There are six districts (Additions) in the city, where
there are some Slovenes in each one. Most of them are in the McQueen-Meadville district.
Here there is the Church of the Holy Redeemer, to which Italians also belong. At present,
Rev. M. Pirnat takes care of the parish. Five Sisters and two lay teachers instruct over 300
children in their own school.
The religious conditions among the Slovenes are very good in this parish. The youth and
adults are organized into church societies. The Rev. M. Pirnat also serves the Slovenes in the
surrounding area. Before him, our countrymen were visited by various missionaries most of
all by the Rev. J. Solnce. The majority of the Slovenes are in St. John's Society #14 of the
KSKJ, or the Society of St. Martin of the JSKJ.
Chimney Rock. A few dozen Slovenes work in a mine but the work is not
steady.
Coalsville. There are about 20 Slovenes here, three families and ten men.
According to the report of Mr. I. Robnik, the first to come was A. Bassstl from Macici pri
Celju in January 1906. This fellow countryman now has a saloon. The others are coal
miners. All are from Stajersko. Since there is no Slovene priest, the religious conditions go
to an English school. There are no societies.
East Helena. The first Slovenes came here when the smelter was opened in 1888.
The majority came from Dolenjska, and some from the Priimorje. In 1903 there were 20
families and over 100 single persons. Some Slovenes have become wealthy and have their
own homes. Accord to "Glas Naroda", there are about 70 families of Slovenes. The
Slovenes built the Church of St. Cyril and Methodius where an English priest comes to say
Mass every Thursday, and the Rev. M. Pirnat hears confessions. The Slovenes belong to the
Benefit Society of St. Cyril and Methodius #45 KSKJ, and St. Alloysius #43 JSKJ. The latter
has 27 male and 12 female members.
Ekalaka, Custer County. About 16 Slovene families have beautiful farms.
Great Fall. This is a beautiful, large city of 13,948 inhabitants. There are up to 60
Slovenes who are employed in the smelters. Among them are many old settlers who came
here 30 years ago. There are many coal mines near the city where there are a few Slovenes.
Some of them also are on farms. St. Joseph Society #69 KSKJ has 28 members. it is said
that the Slovenes and Croatians bought a site for a church and put up a foundation, but there
is no money to finish the construction.
Hoffman-Melrose. There are a few Slovenes in both localities, but they are not
permanent residents.
Klein. It is almost exclusively Slovenes who work in the coal mine. There are up
to 60 of them on an average. They are joined together in Society #132 of the SNPJ.
McWinadeshu. An unsigned report states that there are over 500 Slovenes here who
are ore miners and innkeepers. Some have their own homes. From a religious standpoint,
they belong to a parish in Meadville, and to societies in Butte.
Red Lodge. There are about 100 here who work in the coal mines and have two
societies, one is St. Barbara and one is SNPJ.
Roundup. In this little town there are only a few Slovenes. More of them are a
mile away at No. 3 Trbovlje. There are only Slovenes here, the majority of whom have their
own homes and also their own band. West of this region, more fellow countrymen have
settled on farms.
Stockett. Only two Slovenes are working in an ore mine but in the surrounding area
there are several Slovene farmers.
Washoe. M. J. Pucel reports that fellow countrymen L. Campa, J. Kernc, A.
Jelovcan and others settled here in 1906. Currently, there are eight families here who have
their own houses on Company land, and 15 single persons. All work in the coal mines.
They cannot develop since the Company has the entire economy in its own hands. They go
to church in Red Lodge and since there is not even a Slovene priest, the religious life is
"more poor than good". All belong to Societies in Bear Creek, namely #58 JSKJ and the
"Bear Creek Slovenes" of the SNPJ.
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