my great grandmother

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curious67
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my great grandmother

Post by curious67 »

I am trying to determine if there are any records for my great grandmother in Italy. We believe that she passed through Ellis Island between 1885 and 1890. She then married my great grandfather from Slovenia in Evelyth, Minnesota around 1905. (His name was Jacob Kapla)

Her name was Johanna Otolani. She came to America with a sister named Francis Otolani, but of course these names were likely altered during passage or upon entry.

Thanks to all in advance for your help.
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suanj
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Re: my great grandmother

Post by suanj »

hi, by 1930 census:
1930 United States Federal Census
about Johanna Kapla Name: Johanna Kapla
Home in 1930: Clinton, St Louis, Minnesota
View Map
Age: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1891
Birthplace: Slovenia
Relation to Head of House: Head
Race: White
Occupation:

Education:

Military Service:

Rent/home value:

Age at first marriage:

Parents' birthplace: View image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Johanna Kapla 39 widow, naturalized 1909
Jack Kapla 19
Julia Kapla 15
Joeseph Kapla 12


the oldest son death:
Name: Jacob Kapla
Gender: Male
Burial Date:
Burial Place:
Death Date: 15 Dec 1945
Death Place: Clinton, Saint Louis, Minnesota
Age: 35
Birth Date: 1910
Birthplace:
Occupation:
Race:
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Jennie Kapla
Father's Name: Jacob Kapla
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Johanna Attolani
Mother's Birthplace:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: B02568-7

System Origin: Minnesota-EASy
Source Film Number: 2243500
Reference Number: 13876

the Johanna maiden name is spelled differently... so the right spelling is a mystery... you can add more details?
regards,
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johnnyonthespot
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Re: my great grandmother

Post by johnnyonthespot »

Here is the 1930 census quoted by suanj above:

Image

Click once to enlarge; click again for maximum magnification.

Please note that, if this is the correct Johanna Kapla, that she was born in Slovenia and both her parents were Slovenian as well. Also, she lists her year of immigration as 1909. Slovenia has had a complex history and was, at times, claimed by Italy (WWII, for example); see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia. Nevertheless, as Johanna claims Slovenia as her birthplace, I suspect that to be more accurate than Italy.

Can you confirm or deny that this is the correct family?
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johnnyonthespot
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Re: my great grandmother

Post by johnnyonthespot »

Having researched a few resources, my impression is that the Otolani surname is present in modern-day Slovenia, thus adding to the probability that Johanna was not in fact Italian.

http://www.datoteka.com/Slovenia-Yellow-Pages/o.html

http://www.knjiznica-domzale.si/UserFil ... 202010.pdf (Google translation of same document http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... rmd%3Divns)

http://sl-si.facebook.com/people/Romana ... 1467124234
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curious67
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Re: my great grandmother

Post by curious67 »

Thank you suanj and johnnyonthespot for your helpful and quick responses. Suanj, you indeed found her, as the names of her offspring are those of my grandfather (Joseph Kapla) and his siblings.

Is the surname Otolani not Italian? My grandfather had said that she was of Italian descent, but that he did not know if she had been born in Italy.

Again, thank you both for your help!
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adelfio
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Re: my great grandmother

Post by adelfio »

Could the name be possible Ottolini instead. Surname in the Piemonte
area

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johnnyonthespot
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Re: my great grandmother

Post by johnnyonthespot »

There are some similar names, most/all of which have a doubled "t". For example, Ottolini. See http://www.gens.labo.net/en/cognomi/gen ... e=OTTOLINI and try other spellings in the box labeled "Cognome" at the upper left.

You can find some other examples on this page http://www.cognomiitaliani.org/cognomi/ ... 0013op.htm

If this is an "old" name, anything is possible. The northeastern corner of Italy and the surrounding countries have seen border changes over the centuries.
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Re: my great grandmother

Post by suanj »

well I found a clue:
Johanna sister was Franciska OTOLANI born in Austria/Slovenia arrived in USA in 1910 and joining at sister Jvana Kapla in Eveleth, Minnesota ( Jvana, Ivana= Johanna, Jennie):
First Name: Franciska
Last Name: Otolani
Ethnicity: Austria, Slovenian
Last Place of Residence: Podstran, Austria
Date of Arrival: Feb 03, 1910
Age at Arrival: 24y Gender: F Marital Status: S
Ship of Travel: Argentina
Port of Departure: Trieste
Manifest Line Number: 0004


pag 1 http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0004

pag 2 http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0004

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Re: my great grandmother

Post by suanj »

Jvana Otolani arrival:

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
about Juana Otalani
Name: Juana Otalani (Jvana)
Arrival Date: 17 Mar 1909
Birth Year: abt 1892
Birth Location: Austria
Birth Location Other: poduroje

Age: 17
Gender: Female
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: Slovenian
Port of Departure: Triest
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Martha Washington

pag 1
Image

pag 2
Image

joining at friend Jakob Kapla in Eveleth, Minnesota

now the problem is the right spelling of birth town... :shock:
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Re: my great grandmother

Post by suanj »

really, the surname of Jacob ( Jakob) was Kaplja, changed in Kapla; Jacob was alive in 1918:

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
about Jakob Kaplja
Name: Jakob Kaplja
County: St Louis
State: Minnesota
Birth Date: 18 Jul 1884
Race: White
FHL Roll Number: 1675783
DraftBoard: 4

Image
living in Iron Township, that is also the birthplace of him son: Joseph Kapla;
Jacob was already naturalized:

Minnesota Naturalization Records Index, 1854-1957 about Yakob (Jakob) Kaplja
Name: Yakob (Jakob) Kaplja
County: Virginia
Reel: 20
Code: 238
Volume: 7
Page: 56

previously of Iron Township, the family lived in Fayal Township; the info by a stillborn Kaplja:
Name: Stillborn Kaplja
Gender: Male
Burial Date:
Burial Place:
Death Date: 11 Jan 1914
Death Place: Fayal Township, St. Louis, Minnesota
Age: 0
Birth Date: 11 Jan 1914

Birthplace:
Occupation:
Race:
Marital Status:
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Jack Kaplja
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Johanna Tolany (Otolani)
Mother's Birthplace:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: B02109-5
System Origin: Minnesota-EASy
Source Film Number: 2138912
Reference Number: 12704


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Re: my great grandmother

Post by suanj »

the 1910 census:
1910 United States Federal Census
about Jack Kople Name: Jack Kople
Age in 1910: 24
Estimated Birth Year: 1886
Birthplace: Austria
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Austria
Mother's Birth Place: Austria
Spouse's Name: Hannah Kople
Home in 1910: Eveleth Ward 2, Saint Louis, Minnesota
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of immigration: 1907
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Jack Kople 24
Hannah Kople 19
Image

neighbors: Joe Kople( Kapla/Kaplja) and the wife Francis, that maybe was the sister of Johanna..

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
about Joe Kouplia Name: Joe Kouplia
County: St Louis
State: Minnesota
Birth Date: 19 Mar 1885
Race: White
FHL Roll Number: 1675782
DraftBoard: 2

Image

as you can read the surname is mispelled in the records, but I am positive that in origin was Kaplja...
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Re: my great grandmother

Post by suanj »

I believe that Jvana and Franciska( Johanna and Francis) coming from:
Podrečje, Domžale county, Slovenia
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