Andrija Marasović (M)
b. 22 November 1873, d. 14 April 1954
Pedigree
Family_Line=M
Res_Rqrd=Y

     Andrija Marasović was born on 22 November 1873 at Split, Dalmatia, son of Mihovil Marasović and Domenica Marasović. The family name was really Maras but the Austria-Hungary empire forced all to add the "ovic" to their names. The Maras are believed to be major land holders somewhere. His baptism certificate, hand written in Split, dated 17 October 1901, and signed by the pastor's assistant shows his birthday and parents as shown. A godfather was shown as Ante Popovic-Dageta.^3,4,5,6 Andrija Marasović was also known as Andrija Marasović.⁷

Andrija married Ivanica Prkić, daughter of Mikovila Prkić and Anica Sedlar, on 2 March 1897 at Split, Dalmatia.^7,8,9 He Andrija Marasovic was a baggage handler on trains. Used to get lots of tips. At age 25, Andrija became the father of Zora Marasović on 6 March 1899 at Split.^{10,11,12,13,14,15} At age 29, Andrija became the father of Draga Marasović on 3 March 1903 at Split. She was given the name 'Draga' (diminutive is Dragica) which was name of a Serbian queen; because Caroline's father liked everything Serbian.⁸ At age 30, Andrija became the father of Marija Ivanica Marasović on 17 August 1904 at Split.^10,16,17,7

Andrija arrived as an immigrant aboard the SS Pretoria on 12 March 1907 at Ellis Island, New York, New York. Listed as married male, 33 years old, laborer from Spaloto of Austria nationality, Dalmatian race; destination: St. Louis, Missouri, never in the US before, able to read and write, passage paid by self with a ticket to final destination, with $25 cash. Going to join cousin Ivan Marosovics at 2 1/2 K 1801. Shown as 5ft 9in height, tan complexion with brown hair and eyesand no identifying marks, not a polygamist or anachist and in good health and not deformed or crippled.¹⁸ Andrija got work cleaning railroad engines in a roundhouse for Iron Mountain Railroad. That was the only job he ever held in St. Louis. The family lived 3 blocks from his job. Daughter Draga got caught once stealing coal from the rail yard and chased away by a RR man. The RR man not knowing who she was gave her coal buckets to Andrija as a gift.
He and Ivanica Marasovich lived in October 1907 at 1801 South 2nd Street, St. Louis, Missouri, with Draga Marasović, Zora Marasovich and Marija Ivanica Marasović.¹⁹ At age 35, Andrew became the father of Edward Joseph Marasovic on 2 January 1909 at 1822 South 3rd Street, Saint Louis, Missouri.¹⁰ He lived in 1911 at 1621 South 2nd (rear), St. Louis, Missouri, with Draga Marasović, Edward Joseph Marasovic, Marija Ivanica Marasović, Zora Marasovich and Ivanica Marasovich. Spelling of name 'Andrew Marasofitch' in St Louis city directories is wrong, but believe we have the correct Andrew. Andrija is listed as a laborer. Family members are not listed. Could not find Marasovich name in St Louis city directories of the same time frame.^{20,21,22,23,24} At age 40, Andrew became the father of Annie Marasovich on 23 March 1914 at Chicago, Illinois.²⁵ He returned to Austria-Hungary 14 April 1914 but couldn't get his job back. (Andrija just made it back on the Lusitania which got sunk on the return trip.) His passport (issued in the name of Franz Joseph I; Kaiser of Austria) for the return trip is dated 18 May 1914. The whole family had left St. Louis and stopped in Chicago to say good-bye to "Teta" (translation: aunt) Antoinette Koljanin (Ivanica's sister). Pete Koljanin owned a bar on Indianapolis Blvd. on Chicago's East Side. He didn't need to go into the Austrian army because his mother needed support.Andrew left the US because he thought the living was better in Austria-Hungary since he had worked for the government railroad. Returning to Chicago he got a job at Atchison Steel (Republic) in 1914. Then family went to St. Louis and the old job and then left St. Louis again 6 July 1917 then to Whiting Indiana. Couldn't get a job there so went to South Chicago and a job in the steel mill. Andrew never owned a car. He got around by streetcar.²⁶

Andrija arrived as an immigrant aboard the SS The Vaterland on 13 June 1914 at New York. Listed as married male 41 years old, farm laborer, able to read and write, nationality Austria, ethnicity Dalmatian, last permanent residence was Split, Austria, nearest relative in Austria is brother Kikvlaj Marasovic of Split. Final destination is South Chicago, Illinois; has a ticket to final destination, paid for by self. Has $30 cash. Has been in US before in South Chicago, Illinois (1907-191?). Going to join wife Jovanna Marasovic at 10???? Superior Ave South Chicago Illinois. Height of 5ft 8in with fair complexion and brown hair and brown eyes. No identifying marks and born in Spalato, Austria and not a polygamist or anachist and in good health and not deformed or crippled.²⁷ He was car worker in a foundry circa 1920 at Chicago.²⁸ He and Ivanica Marasovich lived circa 1920 at 9120 Mackinaw Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, with Draga Marasović, Marija Ivanica Marasović, Edward Joseph Marasovic and Annie Marasovich. From the census, it appears to be a multiple unit home with at least four families; all with origins in Croatia.²⁸

Andrija Marasović is shown as head of household on the US census of 5 January 1920 at Chicago as Henry Marasovich. Listed as 46 years old, renting home, year of immigration 1910, petioned for naturalization, able to read and write, born in Croatia, father and mother born in Croatia, speaks English, occupation 'yard man in steel mill'. Enumerated with the head of household was/were Jennie Marasovich, Draga Marasović, Marija Ivanica Marasović, Edward Joseph Marasovic and Sister Mary Andrew Marasovich Order of Carmel.²⁹
On 27 January 1921, Andrew and Jennie Marasovich secured title of Lot 14 (10732 Avenue O) from Ernest and Augusta Schrul for $2,000.³⁰ On 27 January 1921, Andrew and Jennie Marasovich secured a mortgage for Lot 14 (10732 Avenue O) for $1,000 from Friendship Building and Loan Association of Chicago. Payments were to be $2.50 on every weekly Monday for the principal plus $5.83 on the first Monday of every month for the interest. The interest rate was 7%. This loan would take about seven and a half years to pay off.³¹ Andrija Marasović and Ivanica Marasovich lived at 10732 Avenue "O", Chicago, Illinois. On 3 April 1924, Andrew and Jennie Marasovich secured title of vacant Lot 15 (next to 10732 Avenue O) from widower Anton Zima for $300.³² On 12 December 1924, Andrew and Jennie Marasovich secured title of vacant Lot 13 (next to 10732 Avenue O) from bachelors David S. Boshes and Lucien Breadwell for an unknown price.³³ On 10 April 1925, Andrew and Jennie Marasovich secured a mortgage for Lot 14 (10732 Avenue O) for $1,200 from Friendship Building and Loan Association of Chicago. Payments were to be $3.00 on every weekly Monday for the principal plus $7.00 on the first Monday of every month for the interest. The interest rate was 7%. This loan would take about seven and a half years to pay off.³¹ 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.^34,35,36,37 Andrija and Ivanica lost $3,000 when their bank went out of business in the early days of the Great Depression.³⁸

Andrija Marasović is shown as head of household on the US census of 17 April 1930 at Chicago as Andrew Marasovich. Listed as 57 years old, owner of home with a radio and does not live on a farm, married at age 22 years, has not attended school or college in last six months, shown as having immigrated in 1907 and naturalization petition applied for, born in Yugoslavia as was his father (mother born in Illinois), he can read, write and speak English, employed as a laborer in a steel mill, not a veteran. Spoke Croatian at home before immigrating. Enumerated with the head of household was/were Jennie Marasovich, Edward Joseph Marasovic and Sister Mary Andrew Marasovich Order of Carmel.³⁹
He filed a Declaration of Intention for Naturalization on 8 July 1936 at US District Court, Chicago, Illinois. He is shown as a laborer, age 62, fair complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair, height 5 feet 10 inches, weight 170 pounds, residing at 10732 Avenue O Chicago, Illinois. He gave his birthday as 25 September 1873 in Split, Yugoslavia.⁴⁰ He was employed by a local steel mill making molds, 'hot tops', carrying his own clay and sand circa 1937 at Chicago.⁴¹ Andrija Marasović was also known as Andrew Marasovich. Andrija used to crush enormous amounts of grapes with his feet to make wine.⁴² He filed a Petition for Naturalization on 9 March 1939 at Chicago. He is shown as a laborer, reesiding at 10732 Avenue O Chicago, Illinois. He gave his birthday as 25 November 1873 in Split, Yugoslavia. He states that he has lived in Cook County, Illinois since Spring, 1917.⁴³ He was naturalized on 12 July 1939 at Chicago certificate shows height of 5'11" at 182 pounds.⁴⁴ He was listed as a steel mill laborer on his death certificate.³ He and Ivanica Marasovich were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with family members on 2 March 1947 at Chicago.⁴⁵ He died of Cerebral Hemorrage due to senile arteriosclerosis (appears to have died at home) on 14 April 1954 at Chicago at age 80.^5,3 He was buried on 19 April 1954 in the St Mary's Catholic Cemetery located in Evergreen Park, Illinois.⁴⁶

Last Edited=27 Jul 2009