Nikola Malenica¹ (M)
b. 2 October 1884, d. 28 February 1942
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     Nikola Malenica was born on 2 October 1884 at Split, Dalmatia.²

Nikola at age 26 arrived as an immigrant aboard the SS Columbia sailing from Trieste, Italy on 22 October 1910 at Ellis Island, New York, New York.³ Nikola Malenica was also known as Nick Malenica. Nikola (cousin, son of Jakov Radja's father's sister) of 10801 Burley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois assisted in the immigration of Jakov Radja in 1921. He sent a registered letter (return address 909 Indianapolis Blvd Whiting, Indiana) to Jakov (in Ogroje Donje) containing a deposition dated 23 September 1920 wherein he swore that he was 36 years old of the above address, a cousin of Jacob Radja, a resident of the USA since 21 October 1910, employed by the By-Products Coke Corporation at South Chicago, Illinois and earns $180/month and has cash savings of $1000, that he will provide all traveling expenses for Jacob (sic), that he will provide for and support Jacob Radja so that he will not become "an object of public or private charity or a charge upon the institutions of the United States" and prays that he be permitted to land in the United States. On 26 November 1920 the property in Porter County owned by Peter and Domena Glavurtich was transferred to Nikola Malenica for an undisclosed amount of money.⁴ He filed a Declaration of Intention for Naturalization on 6 May 1921 at Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois. The declaration shows him as a laborer of 5ft 9in in height at 160 pounds with medium complexion, brown hair and grey eyes. Born in Split Austria. Currently residing at 10718 Mackinaw Avenue, Chicago.² Believe we have a picture here of Jakov Radja with cousin Nikola Malenica. He filed a Petition for Naturalization on 17 March 1925 at US District Court, Chicago, Illinois. The petition shows him as a laborer, residing at address 11223 Greenbay Avenue, Chicago, not married. His Certificate of Naturalization No. 2208686 was issued 26 October 1925.⁵ He witnessed the naturalization of Philip Martin Granich on 23 September 1926 at Chicago.⁶ Andrija Marasović, Ivanica Marasovich, Edward Joseph Marasovic, Sister Mary Andrew Marasovich Order of Carmel, Joseph August Granich, Florence Barbara Granich, Marie Evelyn Granich, Genevieve A. Granich, Lorraine Rose Kovack, Unknown Padzich, Nikola Malenica, Marija Ivanica Kovack, Mate Kovačević, Zora Granich, Joseph Melvan, Joseph Komar, Joseph Hrstich, Mate Hrstich, Petar Koljanin, Mary Hrstich, Anna Hartman, Dorothy Josephine Granich, James Kovack and Mary Furlan attended the wedding of Jakov Radja and Draga Marasović on 4 May 1929 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Croatian Catholic Church, 2864 E. 96th Street, Chicago, Illinois.^1,7,8,9

Nikola Malenica is shown as head of household on the US census of 14 April 1930 at Liberty Township, Indiana, as Nick Malenica. He was listed as a single white male, 45 years old, owning the farm of unknown value, not owning a radio set, living on a farm. He is shown as having immigrated in 1910 and has been naturalized, born in Jugoslavia with mother and father born in Jugoslavia. Before coming to the US the native language was Slovak. He did not attend school in the previous six months and cannot read or write but can speak English, was employed and occupation was 'farmer' in farming, was not a veteran of any war or expedition.¹⁰


Nikola married Frances Matonovich.¹¹ He died on 28 February 1942 at St. Margaret's Hospital, Hammond, Indiana, at age 57.^12,13 Nikola's obituary appeared in the Hammond Times, Hammond, Indiana, on 1 March 1942.¹² He was buried on 4 March 1942 in the Saint John - Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery located in Hammond, Indiana.^12,13

Last Edited=8 Feb 2008