I should choose myself since I certainly know most about where I was over time, and since I just added a new place for myself in history. But in order to refocus myself on my genealogy, I'm going to choose the Hodick family. Some will be speculation, some will be known.
Edward Hodick is believed to have been born in October of 1867. Oral family history told the tale of his birthplace as Bavaria. However, the 1900, 1910, 1920,and 1930 U.S. Census records identify Austria/Bohemia as his place of birth.
A passenger list for the ship Pennland in 1885 lists an Edward Hodick, age 18, traveling to "Tomhicker" Pennsylvania with a Franz and Anna Hodick and other Hodick children. It is believed but not proven that this Edward Hodick was my great-grandfather.
We do know that as of Census time in 1900, Edward Hodick and his wife Justina and their four children were living in Washington Township in Crawford County, KS. Edward's occupation was listed as coal miner. The family remained in Kansas at least until 1910, as this year's Census finds the family in Frontenac, also in Crawford County, KS. Interesting to note is the fact that Edward's occupation in this year was listed as a farmer; most other records indicate that Edward was a coal miner. Their oldest son, William, married a Clara and lived for a while in Frontenac. It is believed that at some point he made his way back to PA, then went off to California.
By 1918 the Edward Hodick family was living on Prospect St. in Nanticoke, Luzerne County, PA.
1920 finds Edward and family on Front Street in Nanticoke while in 1930 they were found on Center Street. At some point between these two census years, Edward owned a hotel business, possibly on Market Street.
At some point after 1930, the Hodick family, at least in some portion, migrated to Niagara Falls, NY.
To this date, members of the Hodick family remain in Northeastern PA. Their offspring from Mary, my grandmother, spread out from there to Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia.
Kansas ca. 1900-1915. Edward Hodick, believed to be third from left as you look at the picture.
The Hodick family in 1918, Nanticoke, Luzerne Cty, PA. Sitting in front: Sylvestina (Vesta), Edward Jr. Sitting in the middle of second row: Edward and Justina Hodick. Standing in back on either side, l-r: Mary (my grandmother) and Susan. Unidentified males: William, Joseph, Anthony, Thomas and John.
