The Life of Andrew Dolosic

Joseph Dolosic is seated.  From other photos,
I assume that Andrew Dolosic is on the left
and Anton Dolosic on the right.

I have conflicting birth dates for Andrew Dolosic. According to his World War I draft registration card, he was born on 2 Nov 1875. While the card doesn't give his birthplace, he lists himself as an alien who is a Yugoslav (Austrian) citizen. Importantly, Andrew Dolosic signed the card (giving his name as Andro Dolosic) so it can be presumed that he gave the information himself.

The other date I have is 15 Nov 1879. This information was given on Andrew's death certificate. The information was provided by his wife Katherine Dolosic who, obviously, was not present at his birth. Presumably, however, she would have celebrated Andrew's birthday with him every year. Still, however, as Andrew gave the information on his draft card himself, I think that is the more reliable date.

Between 1903 and 1904, Andrew immigrated from Croatia to the United States. The 1920 United States census lists the immigration year as 1903. The 1930 census lists the immigration year as 1904.

Around 1910, Andrew married Katherine Crnkovich. Katherine had two daughters already, Katherine and Matilda. The 1910 census shows Andrew as married, however, both the 1920 and 1930 census but Katherine's (Andrew's step-daughter) birthdate in 1909. Further investigation is needed to clarify this point.

In 1913, Andrew and Katherine had a son, Andrew, Jr. He was followed by two other sons, Edward, in 1914, and Anton in 1917.

In 1917, according to his draft registration, Andrew lived at 208 Ohio Street in Joliet, Will County, Illinois. He remained at this address through at least 1930. Both the 1920 and 1930 census put him at this location.

In 1919, Andrew and Katherine's fourth son, John, was born. In 1923, their last child, Thomas, was born.

Over his life, Andrew worked as a laborer at steel and munitions plants and as a bridge worker. At the time of his death, on 15 Oct 1945, Andrew lived in Joliet at 315 N. Chicago Street. Andrew died of colon cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. I don't know where Andrew is buried.

Further Evidence of the Sije - Dolosic Connection

Thomas Dolosic (1895-1927)

One of the problems I have had as a genealogist is that I inherited quite a bit of material from relatives and connections before I had an established filing system.  (Of course, I am still tinkering with my system and am hardly as organized as I should be.)  One of the symptoms of this problem is that I sometimes stumble across copies of records that I thought has been reviewed and referenced in my GMP (Genealogical Management Program) but, upon further review, somehow escaped notice.

In a previous post, I listed the members of the Dolosic family.  I further explained that, despite being told that the family came from Delnice, Croatia, I think that any record-search should begin with Sije, Croatia, a much smaller town about seven miles from Delnice.

A passenger record from the S.S. Pannonia sailing from Fiume, October 19, 1912, and arriving in New York in November 1912, shows a Toma Dolusic, 17 years old, male and single.  His profession is listed as laborer.  His last residence is given as Sije, Hungary, which is also listed as his place of birth.  His father, Tomo Dolusic, also of Sije, is listed as his nearest relative in his home country.  His final destination is listed as Anton Dolusic, 915 Scott Street, Joliet, Illinois.

This record, presumably containing information given first-hand from Thomas Dolosic, further solidifies my theory that the Dolosic family is from Sije, Croatia.

(Further information is that Toma was 5 feet 5 inches, with a dark complexion, black hair, and black eyes.  Also, interestingly, was admitted to the Ellis Island hospital.  He was later discharged.

Toma was traveling with a boy of 10, Vinko Violic, also born in Sije, and going to join his father Vidic Vinko, also at 915 Scott Street, Joliet, Illinois.  His final destination is listed as Romeo, Will County, Illinois.)

[Source:  Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; (National Archives Microfilm Publication T715, 8892 rolls); Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives, Washington, D.C; Roll: T715_1971; Line: 26; Page Number: 208]

Where Did the Dolosic Family Come From?

To the best of my knowledge, the first Dolosic immigrants to America were six of the seven children of Toma Dolosic and Theresa Grguric.  The seven children are:

• Veronica Dolosic
• Johanna (Dolosic) Bridick
• Andrew Dolosic
• Anton Dolosic
• Joseph Dolosic
• Josephine (Dolosic) Sporcic
• Thomas Dolosic

Of the seven children, all but Veronica immigrated.  Note, however, that because she didn't immigrate, the only record I have of Veronica's existence and name is a letter written to me by my great-aunt Gladys (Dallas) Visintine.  Aunt Gladys' parents died when she was very young, but it is entirely possible that one of her aunts (both of whom lived in the area) told her about a sister left behind in Croatia.

The same letter than informed me of Veronica Dolosic's existence places the Dolosic family at Delnice, Croatia.  Delnice is a town in Gorski Kotar region of Croatia.  It is the highest town in Croatia and has a current population of approimately 4700 people. It is about 27 miles to the port of Rijeka (formerly known as Fiume), Croatia.

Delnice, Croatia

Several documents, however, lead me to believe that Sije, Croatia, rather than Delnice is the actual hometown of the Dolosic family.  Sije is a much smaller village about seven miles due east of Delnice.

The death certificate of Andrew Dolosic lists "Sije, Croatia, Jugoslavia" as his birthplace.  It is important to note that Andrew wife Katherine Dolosic is the the informant on the death certificate.  It is unknown if she would be aware of the town of Andrew's birth.  This information, however, is coordinated by the death certificate of Anton Dolosic.  Anton and Andrew's younger sister Josephine is the informant on Anton's death certificate.  She gives "Shije, Yugoslavia" as the birthplace of, not only Anton, but also his parents "Thomas Dolosich" and "Theresa Grgurich."

The fact that Katherine's information is corroborated by Josephine's makes me think that Sije is the most likely family home of the Dolosic family.  Presumably, Josephine was born and grew up in the town itself.  While she doesn't have first-hand knowledge of her older brothers and parents births, it is not unreasonably to assume that she would know if the family had lived in Sije for more than a few years before her birth.  Furthermore, given the size of Sije (a 2010 Croatian census puts the population at 21), it is not unreasonably to assume that people from Sije would give the name of the much larger, very close town of Delnice.

The next step is ordering the church records for the Catholic church in Sije.