Early Family History

It is impossible to know what brought our ancestors from Germany (or Austria or Hungary), or what route was taken, but it is believed to have been via Austria, through Hungary and then into this fertile area in Croatia, Croatia, south-east of Zagreb.  The difficulty of tracing the route is magnified by the fact that during the Hapsburg-Lorraine rule of Austria (roughly 1270 to 1860 AD), and later during the Ausgleich (Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (1867-1918), boundaries and borders between the Central European countries (Austria, Germany, Croatia, Italy and Hungary) were in a constant kaleidoscope of change.

All we know for sure is that in the mid 1850-1900 era, they were all in and around a small farming community called Sokolovac, Croatia. The little town of Sokolovac was about 20 kms from the city of Daruvar and approximately 100 kms south-east of Zagreb. It was situated between the Ilova and Toplica Rivers. The land was very fertile and canals between the rivers served to regulate underground water levels, providing underground irrigation. Climate resembled very much that of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. All types of fruits, grain, vegetables, sugar beets and corn was grown in the Sokolovac area. Croatia is known for its production of beans, corn, rye and wheat. The quality of wheat grown is surpassed only by that grown in Manitoba, Canada. Also plums and grapes were grown in abundance and Croatia is known for its plum brandy, Slivovitz. Farms made their own liquor, also from local grown fruit.

In Sokolovac, farmers lived in the villages and farmed land around and away from the villages. Field work was largely done with horses and by hand up to the 1930-40s. Building houses, butchering and many other such jobs were done communally, where a number of families would get together and get the job done. Each village would have their own sheepherder, cattle-herder, goose-herder, etc. These herders would take everyone’s stock out to the marshlands in the mornings and return them to their respective owners at night. The religion in the village was Roman Catholic. German and Hungarian were the principle languages spoken in Sokolovac, however, children were taught Krovatish (Croatian) in schools, therefore nearly everyone in the village was fluent in all three languages.

Entertainment was visiting after work with the neighbours, and on weekends, everyone went dancing. The music was provided by local orchestras, who it is said, were actually quite good. Music was a large part of everyone’s enjoyment, which meant groups of young people would get together and sing as they walked, worked, etc. As for their weekend “dances”, everyone in the family attended, from the eldest to the youngest. The seniors would also gather in their groups and sing their old favourites. There was also some baseball played, and of course, the everlasting local pub - for men only. Basically, they knew how to work hard, but also took time to play and relax.

Because there was limited opportunity for expansion in the Sokolovac area as all arable land was already owned, divided and subdivided, the promise of the wide open spaces in the “new land of milk and honey” beckoned more and more of the adventurous and stout-hearted. Many came to the Americas (Canada, the USA, Brazil, etc.), made some money and returned, while others fell in love with the new country and sent for their families. For the ones who chose to stay, life was basically simple, but good.

Then World War II happened!

Submitted by Katherine Emma Cust