Martin Delač - 1747 Painters Run Road

5th Cousin 2x Removed

Martin Delač is not the first Delač in Beadling.  He isn't even the most interesting one - that would be his elder cousin Joseph.  But he did live the longest!  

Martin's first arrived on 14 Dec 1904 on the Ship Zealand.  In an earlier post, I advised not to be confused with the two Martins.  Jokes on me!!!  They are the same person.  The big clue is in the Naturalization record.  The source of the confusion?  Joseph Delac.  There are two.  One is Joseph  Delac b. 1867 who was first in Beadling.  The second is Joseph Delac b. 1880 who is the brother of Martin and second in Beadling.  On the passenger list, Martin is traveling with a young Joseph Delac b. 1892.  Both are going to see Joseph Delac - brother and father.  And in little tiny print is the word nephew.  As we know by now, relationships are sometimes close, but not always correct on these passenger lists.  And since Martin is born in 1877, he could be the brother to either Joseph, but only Joseph 1867 has a son Joseph about that age.  Oy!

Martin's first trip with young cousin

Martin Delač was born 11 Nov 1877 in Nova Sela, Kostel, Slovenia house number 5.  He was the first son and 2nd of 7 living children born to Martin Delač and Maria Kezele.  Sometime before Jul 1907, Joseph went back to Slovenia for a visit and on 21 Jul 1907 Martin married Helena Spiletič from nearby Banja Loka.  (secret Cetinski) A year and a half later, their first child Helena was born.  

On 24 Jul 1910 he along with what seems like all his friends and family traveled back to the US,  arriving on the ship Philadelphia with a destination of Beadling.  

Martin Delac, wife Helen Spiletic, daughter Helen.  Brother Anton Delac on the bottom.  Cousins all on rest of this section.

Brother Joseph Delac with new wife Maria Delac and her younger siblings.  Mathias Cetinski wife and child and  George Skender wife and child.

Martin missed the 1910 Census, but we know he was already established.  I suppose he saved his money well because he is the first Delač to purchase a home, which he did in 1912.  This is the start of the Delach cluster of homes and large farm on current street numbers 1747 and 1749 Painters Run Road.  The plot was purchased from Ambro Lira who owned the 6 acres.

This location is currently a carwash.  1747 Painters Run Road

Between 1908 and 1918, he and Helena had five children:

1. Helena Delac  (born in Slovenia) 11 Nov 1908
2. Martin Joseph Delac  2 Dec 1910
3. Joseph Anthony Delac  12 Oct 1913
4. Marion Mathilda Delac  29 Dec 1915
5. John Anthony Delac  30 Mar 1917

Nothing indicates Martin lived a less than honorable life.   There are no found articles in the paper except his obituary, he owned his home and was friends with the Bridgeville Justice of the Peace James McMillan; whom he listed as his destination when he arrived with his wife and young daughter in 1910.   He, like everyone else, was a coal miner for the Pittsburgh Coal Company.  (his son, Martin Jr.  on the other hand, is well documented)  

On 25 Jun 1915, Martin's Naturalization Petition is approved by James A. McMillan and H.T. May.  Henry May lived on Upper Road next to Martin Curl.  Henry is the father of my Great Uncle William Arbes wife Naomi May.  Aunt Omi was a great lady.  I remember her fondly.

On 12 Sep 1918, old Mathias registered for the WWI draft.  Not two months later his wife, Helena Spiletič Delač died on 9 Nov 1918, a victim of the flu epidemic.  She left 5 children under the age of 10.  The youngest, John, was only two.  

In 1920, Martin was a widow, a coal miner and a Slovenian speaker from Yugoslavia. He lived next to his brother Joseph and his family and near Ursula Cetinski and Mathias Selan.

In 1930, Martin was a widow, a coal miner and a Slovakian speaker from Czechoslovakia.  He lived next to Thomas Lea (Lira?) on McMillan Road.  He owned that home as well.

In 1940, Martin is still a widow but retired.  He is now a Granish speaker from Austria and back on Painters Run Road.  Maybe I read the road incorrectly on the 1930 Census.   The surrounding homes have begun to fill with non-Delachs.  He is the neighbor of his brother Joseph,  Abraham Lira, Alfred Carmini and Joseph Stampfel. 

Finally, in 1942, Martin registered for the WWII draft along with his son Martin Joseph Jr.  Martin has acquired the middle name Joseph as well.  Middle names are not common in Slovenia.

Martin passed at the age of 80 in the home of his son Louis.  His daughter Helena Pesavento completed the death certificate.  It lists his address as 1437 Painters Run Road.  It took me a while, but I found this address.  It is now 1437 Cook School Road, which is a part of the 8 acre supplemental section of the massive farm owned by Louis and his wife Nellie (Davic).   This parcel has a ravine access from the Painters Run cluster.  

Martin and Helen are buried at St. Barbaras in Presto.

Pedigrees