For all those searching for subject names:
Try searching for surnames: Kochan, Kochanski, Kochansky, Kochanek, etc. Many (most?) Kohans have had a spelling change either in Europe or here in the United States so many of the immigrants were entered on the ships' manifests under the spelling which includes the "c" and later had is dropped. (Ask me how I know!)
; ^ ) Jerry
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Re: Kohansky, Kohanek, etc.
Going crazy trying to find info on g-father, Charles Kohan, 1884-1953, Exeter, PA. before my trip to central europe this summer. Tried Karol Kochan ..keep hitting dead-ends. Same for g-mother: Mary Arvai Kohan.d-1953.
Appreciate any help. Sincerely, Grace Kohan
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Re: Kohansky, Kohanek, etc.
Hi Grace:
My father, Bernard (Bronislaw) Kohan, came to this country in 1904 at the age of 13. He came with his mother, Rozalie, and father, Urban Kohan and 5 younger siblings from Uhorniki (Ugornyky), Ukraine. Urban was from Krosno, Galicia and Rose was from Rogi, Galicia where my father was also born. They bought land near Uhorniki in 1896/1897 and farmed there until 1904.
Upon arrival in the USA they went to Streator, Illinois where Urban met with his brother who was already there.
I have not searched the Galicia, Ukraine or Polish records for information prior to their coming here so I am unfamiliar with any relatives they left there. The last member of my father's generation died in February, 2004 so my source of information here has dried up. I do know that during and after WW II my father and his siblings sent money, food and other goods to their cousins in Poland. Just who these cousins were and what town(s) they were living in is a mystery to me. I also know there was correspondence between the two families all through the Cold War. It seems nobody thought to keep those letters.
I have concentrated just on the history of my grandparent's family from their arrival in the USA as this project was started to keep track of the Urban/Rose Kohan family as an aid to those in later years who may wish to know more about their American cousins. We are now in our 6th generation here and are scattered from Washington and California in the west to Florida in the east and all points in between. I am sorry to tell you that we have nobody in Pennsylvania, nor have we had, to my knowledge. Should you find any European connection between your family and mine I would appreciate hearing about it. I have some information regarding the name and would be glad to share it. Let me know if you would like to have it.
Good Luck,
Jerry Kohan (Age 72) Byrdstown, Tennessee
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Re: Kohansky, Kohanek, etc.
Jerry, Thanks so much for replying. I'm going a little bit nuts trying to find info on my g-parents before visitng poland this summer. Just found they used the KOCHAN spelling in the 1930 census. Now I'm having trouble finding Charles (Karol?) Kochan in immigration records. It's quite a journey isn't it! Best wishes, Grace
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Re: Kohansky, Kohanek, etc.
Grace: Have you tried the following link: http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/eidb/ellis.htmlI used the regular Ellis Island site to find my father's name and information as I assume you already have. Did you use the "Sounds like" feature? That is what it took for me before I came up with my father's family's manifest. It helps if you know the city, town, village from where they came. Good Luck, Jerry
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