nancy ann cole

Female

Whittier, CA

United States

Profile Information:

What surnames are you interested in researching?
Hanslian-----Hranka-----Whallon-----Wallace---Kinkade-
Howard----Harr----Lorenz---Van Duesen---Rice---
What countries and other locations are you interested in researching?
germany---austria---moravia----usa---scotland--Ireland--netherlands-
What is your level of genealogy knowledge?
Intermediate Family History Researcher
If you are a genealogy expert, what are your specialties?
started in finding my husbands family right after we were married in dec. 1949. he was adopted, and didn't have any family, as his adopted dad and wife were murdered by her brother in 1945. i have not only found most of his family, but went to the ones living homes, and stood at his fathers grave in okla. and moms cemetery in arkansas, and put headstone in that cemetery for her. also replaced headstone on his gr. grandfathers grave in alabama.followed the trail of tears 2x looking for his grandmothers grave just to find out that she wasn't of indian heritage like we were told by his sis who we found in 1951.
Do you have a genealogy website or blog or belong to a Genealogy Society?
nanacole@verizon.net

Comment Wall:

  • Gena Philibert Ortega

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    Mar 25, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Hello, Nancy: I was looking for new developments in "Hranka" genealogy, and discovered this Genealogy network. I was surprised to read your posting. We may be cousins, because I am a grandson of Cyrill, and all the brothers and sisters you listed are the brothers and sisters of my grandfather.

    Jun 2, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Hi Nancy: Thanks for the additional information. I am learning little snippets here and there. BTW, our whole Hranka clan came from Moravia. They immigrated from a little village called Kuzelov. You can "Google Earth" to see it from the air. It is a pretty small village. Grandpa came to Canada, and settled in Windsor, Ont., (right across the border from Detroit). Talk to you later.

    Jun 3, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Hi Nancy: I never heard that story. If you have any more details that you would like to share with me, please do. But this explains why Uncle John was so concerned with the cottage and property that they had over in Kuzelov.

    Jun 6, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Hi Cousin: Yes, I have some pics of Grandfather Cyril Hranka. I will have to dig through them and send you some. What happened with the farm was that the Communist Party got control of the government in 1948, and under the communist system, everything belonged to the communist party (or the goverment), and there was no such thing as private property. But I guess they did let people live in the houses the were in. My parents took myself and my sister to the Czech republic in 1973. We went to visit cousins and tour the country. We made it to Kuzelov also.

    Jun 7, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Hi Nancy: I don't think there were any Hrankas left in Kuzelov when we were there in 1973. The house was there, and there was some poor lady living there, taking care of her elderly parents. I hate to say this but the house was not in great condition. Needed a lot of repair work. Here is where I left off yesterday. When Uncle John heard that we were going there for a visit, he quickly gave my Mother "Power of Attorney" to sell the house and to bring the money back to him in American Dollars. Well, my mom was not going to risk going to jail (over there) for Unc. If he wanted the money he was going to have to do it. BTW, Is there any body named Lorenz in our family in N.Y. ?

    Jun 8, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Good morning, Nancy. I just read your comment to me. Relax, I haven't heard anything bad about the Lorenzs. Its just that your branch of the Hranka family was somewhat of a mystery. I knew that your Grandmother Agnes married a Bill Rice and that they had 2 children. When we were visiting NYC in 1963 I heard about them. I never knew that your Uncle Bill Rice had ever been married (and divorced). BTW, God bless you for taking care of your (late) aged parents. I hope that they were healthy until the end. Did Uncle John ever for for your Mom and Dad in the drycleaning business? I am finding your family's history very fascinating. Gotta go now. Good night. Your cousin Tom

    Jun 9, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Hi Nancy. I was half way done writing a message to you, and I don't know where it went. The last part was -- after the war, I guess Uncle John went to work as a doorman at a hotel (The Commodore). Good night for now. Tom

    Jun 10, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Hi Nancy: The beginning half of the last e-mail was: Uncle John studied to be a furrier. Then he moved to the U.S. In the 1930 census, he was working in a dry cleaner's, and I thought that it might be your parents' place. Thanx for your e-mail. My e-mail is lablazer@mnsi.net
    Grandfather Cyril married his sweetheart in Kuzelov. Her name was Anna Janas. They had 4 kids. My mom was born there, and so was my Uncle John. The other 2 brothers were born in Canada. A favour to ask: can I post my 1st email to you on "The Wall" so that others can see that distant cousins can meet. Don't want to give away too much

    Jun 12, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Hi Nancy: About that Facebook -- I actually meant that I wanted to put my initial response on the Czech open part so that our other Czech friends can see that 2 distant cousins connected. Here is a piece of trivia. My mother was born in Kuzelov in House no. 56, and my grandfather Cyrill was born there too. All his siblings (incl. Agnes) were born there also. I checked my notes, and I saw that 1 sister, Marina stayed in Kuzelov.

    Jun 14, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Hello again, Nancy: This is part 2. This is a legend in our side of the family. Your grandmother's father - George had come over to the U.S. to make money. I understand that he went to work in the coal mines in Pennsylvania. One letter that he wrote back to Czech. said that he was now crippled. ( a mining accident?). The family never heard from George Hr. again. Uncle John came over to the U.S. to look for him. They never found out when George died, or where, but we believe it was in Pennsylvania. Cousin Rose looked into this a bit, but could not find anything. Have you heard this story? Good night for now.

    Jun 14, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Hello, my 2nd Cousin: I just wanted to post my introductory comment to you on the Czech Group here, in Genealogywise. I don't have a Facebook account, so I am not sure whose account you saw there. What an unusual story about your relative. Wow. I am surprised that you are researching Pennsylvania records. I also am searching there for my wife's family. One member came over from Germany in the 1780's. We never met Marina in the Cz. republic. I think all the Hrankas died out there. We met lots of my grandmother's descendants in Kuzelov. Agnes & Cyril's gr parents' name was Thomas Hranka.Got to go for tonight Talk to you soon.

    Jun 15, 2010

  • Tom Vajdik

    Good evening, Nancy: What an experience to be able to visit the ole homestead in Oklahoma -- and to have the current owners let you come to take some pictures -- Neat!
    Gr. Grandfathr married a Mariana. She stayed in Kuzelov, and died in 1946. I think Gr. grandpa George was sending money back to the old country, and maybe saving up a nest egg. My mother wrote some notes and said "(her) Grandfather George emigrated to the US in about 1900. Worked in Lansford Pa. coalmines. They never heard from him again. G' night for now.

    Jun 16, 2010