Category Cronin/Shonka Line
While researching a previous post about the Cronin family (This native land of mine – a journey), I came across three news articles that I think are worth documenting. The stories all involve Will and Susan (Burke) Cronin of Minden,… Continue Reading →
This post is about an amazing photograph that captures William Cronin Sr. (left) embarking on a three-month journey back to his homeland, Ireland, with his son and fellow farmers from Minden, Nebraska. Based on the newspaper article below, I believe… Continue Reading →
The follow is an excerpt from article published in the Omaha World-Herald on May 8, 2021. Above are articles published in Aug-Sept 1952 in the Alliance Times-Herald/Hastings Daily and Columbus Telegram. The ‘miracle child’ is Connie Finney, the mother of… Continue Reading →
In an earlier post, I described the journey of the Maul, Sinner and Hamburger families from Russia to Nebraska (A Sinner, a Hamburger and a Tsarina). These “Volga Germans,” even after centuries living in Russia, never lost their German identity…. Continue Reading →
In an earlier post (Russian the Irish) about the Cronin family, I noted the journey of my wife’s 2nd great grandparents from Massachusetts to Nebraska in 1879. Part One of this post provides a brief glimpse into William Cronin Sr.’s… Continue Reading →
Map: 1894 Logan Township, Kearney, Nebraska – (Located on the on northwest edge of Minden) Shows the location and # of acres for two plots of land (240 acres) farmed by William Cronin Sr. The 80-acre plot indicates the location of… Continue Reading →
In 1937, my daughter’s great grandfather, Glenn Thomas Shonka Sr., played one season of minor league baseball in the Northeast Arkansas Baseball League (Class D) for the Jonesboro Giants. Class D would be the equivalent of today’s rookie leagues. Glenn… Continue Reading →
George Anton Shonka (1874-1965), my daughters maternal great-great grandfather, was the son of Matej and Mary (Hajny) Shonka (Sonka). Matej (aka “Mathias”) and Mary immigrated to the United States in 1869 from Bechyně, Tabor, Bohemia, a region now part of… Continue Reading →
Lucile Lydia Bame was born on May 25, 1917, in Schuyler, Nebraska. She married Glenn Thomas Shonka on May 25, 1939. Lucile was the daughter of Vaclav Bame (1868-1950) and Katherina Fendrich (1877-1966). Following her graduation from Schuyler High School,… Continue Reading →
Fendrich Family (3 children not pictured) The following is a brief post on Vaclav and Anna (Voboril) Fendrich and their daughter Katerina. Vaclav and Anna are my daughter’s maternal 3rd great-grandparents. Included are a copy of Anna’s obituary and Katerina’s… Continue Reading →
