I have begun transcribing 1920 Census data for areas of the Pacific Northwest region with concentrations of Slovenes. The first sheet is for the Black Diamond, WA area with the above listed Slovene surnames. Kren and Lamshek may not be Slovene since there are notations over the original "Austrian", indicating "L C" for the Mother Tongue, but I have listed them because they were boarding with Slovenes.

This information is available on the new Slovenian Genealogy Society International (SGSI) Pacific Northwest Chapter Homepage located at:

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/SGSIpnw/

I'd love to see a copy of that Spokane, WA Slovene Community History, and maybe even transcribe it to the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the SGSI's website, assuming your cousin(?) is willing.

HI,
MY GRANDPARENTS EMIGRATED FROM LJUBLJANA IN LATE 1800'S.
ENTERED USA AT RYKERS & SETTLED IN CHEWELAH/"JUMP-OFF-JOE LAKE" AREA (BELOW SPOKANE).
GRANPARENTS: MATTHEW TOMSE (CHANGED TO "TOMSHA" @ RYKERS)

b.1873 d. 1941

FRANCES TROPMPUSH: b.1884 d. 1968
CONCEIVED (16) CHILDREN, INC. 2 SETS TWINNS(DIED AT BIRTH)
11 SURVIVED TO ADULTHOOD
GREAT-GRANDPARENTS:BLASIUS TOMSE b. 02/03/1842 d.06/26/1916

MARIA A. : b.05/14/1850 d.05/08/1918
THE SLOVENE COMMUNITY HERE IS STILL LARGE. A COUSIN? PUBLISHED A FAMILY HISTORY OF AREA APPROX. 10 YRS. AGO. I HOPE YOU CAN MAKE USE OF INFO. GOOD LUCK! ANNETTE TOMSHA

The best on-going source that I have found on the origin of Slovene surnames is the series of articles by Janez Keber in Slovenija magazine. A few of these are available on-line through links on my Gorsha Family Homepage under Genealogy Resources. For the others, you would have to find a library with a subscription. For back issues and future issues, I would suggest your own subscription. It's a fine quarterly magazine with a website also available through a link on my family website.

Whatever information that you can provide on the Spokane, WA Slovene community, please communicate it through my email address: gorsha@juno.com

I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT RESPONDING SOONER. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING A FAMILY CREST & HAVEN'T BEEN BACK HERE.
I WILL BE CONTACTING MY DAD (HE HAS THE INFO YOU NEED)
AND POST ASAP. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ACQUIRE A HISTORY FROM
THE AUTHOR, OUR FAMILY WOULD BE HAPPY TO AT LEAST LOAN OUT OUR COPY. IT IS FASCINATING READING & GREAT PHOTOS (LOTS).
SINCERELY, ANNETTE TOMSHA P.S. WHERE WOULD I GO TO LOOK UP SURNAME ORIGINS & MEANINGS?

i am so sorry about not reading/responding to messages posted recently. i had surgery(hand) & haven't been on computer for awhile. thank you for response, yes i've read the quarterly & Mr. Kebers' articles-very good. i have received one other response from Ljubljana, & he was unaware of any attached name origins. i'll keep looking & thanks for advice. my father has misplaced archive(book) but will have your info (Washington Slovenes) by end of week.
thanks again, annette tomsha

My ancestors were Slovenians, surname TOMSE.
My great grandfather was Jakob Tomse, born 7 Jul 1877, died 21 Mar 1944.
A brother of him, I don't know the given name, went to USA, probably to Milwaukee.
Would be very glad, if someone knows something about this familiy in USA.

Eveline:

My great grandfather was Blasius or Blasus Tomse. He was born 1845 in Lake Bled, Slovenia. He married Maria Novac and they came to US in 1883. Blasus died in 1916 in Valley, Washington and Maria died 1918 also in Valley.

My grandfather was Jakob James Tomse, born 1875 in Lake Bled, married Maria Torker in 1907 in Valley, Washington. They owned a farm there and raised 9 children, including my mother.

Let me know if you think there is a connection with your ancestors.
Thanks
Juliana Tomse Black

I am also descended from Blasius Tomsha through his son Frank who married Margaret Torkar, and their son Frank b. 1915. I just found densus records in Stearns Co MN for 1865 in Brockway Township that were recently submitted. They show Tomsha as Domsa. I also recognize several other family names that settled in Valley WA.

Blasius and Maria Tomse were my great grandparents on my mother's side. Their daughter Katherine was my grandmother. She married Joseph Strojan and their first child, Mae, was my mother. I have quite a bit of information about the Tomsha and Strojan families in the USA and a partial tree of Strojan ancestors in Slovenia. I would be happy to share my info with anyone connected to these families.

HI John. We hooked up years ago and exchanged information.
Nice to hear from you again. I don't have anything new, just what I posted in June about our family showing up as Domsa in the Brockway census. If you remember Frank was my grandfather, and his son Frank Albert was my father. The only sibling of my dad's still living is my aunt Margaret Tomsha Ivey. I haven't heard from Louis, last I heard he went to CA? Have you been in touch?

Patti Tomsha Brown...in Texas

Hi Patti,
I apologize for not remembering you. I failed to check my Tomsha e-mail mail box where I keep all pertinent past e-mails. I have recently been in touch with Juliana Tomse Black and we have exchanged GEDCOMs. It appears that nobody has been able to trace the Tomse's and Novak's before Blasius and Maria in Slovenia.
No I haven't been in touch with Louis Tomsha.
Take care.

John

My name is William P Stroyan and I am the son of Frank J Stroyan, valley, WA. My grandfather was Lucas Stroyan who married Mary Tomsha, when she died he married Johanna Tomsha her younger sister. I would like a copy of your family tree. It sounds like we are related. My grandfather came from Ljubljana, Yugoslavia.

Thanks to Judy Petchnick Warwick, I have been able to post a digital copy of an old photo of 45 coal miners of the Denny Clay Co.'s Taylor, Washington operation taken on February 26, 1905 on my Pacific Northwest Regional Chapter of the Slovenian Genealogy Society International website located at:

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/SGSIpnw/

where the photo can be found under the heading 'Washington - Taylor' or specifically at:

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/SGSIpnw/images/TaylorWaCoalMine...

If anyone can identify any of the men pictured, many of whom were Slovenian, please contact me with the information at gorsha@juno.com

Gary L. Gorsha, B.S., M.S., President,
Pacific Northwest Regional Chapter
Slovenian Genealogy Society International

Lukas STROJAN did not come from Ljubljana he same from Krainberg aka Kranj about 15 miles WNW of Ljubljana.

Robert

Hi Robert,
I'm the grandson of Lucas Strojan's brother Joseph. I can't find you on my tree as it stands today. I would be interested in sharing my Strojan and Tomsha info with you.
Hope to hear from you soon.

John

There would be no reason to find me in your family tree as I am not related to STROJAN :) I am just someone who enjoys this and tries to help out whenever I can.

Robert

Thanks Robert. Appreciate the info.

John