Person:Frank Smola (1)

Address: 918 O'Brien Street/Millvale, Pennsylvania/USA

The 1900 census shows Frank Smola renting a home at 349 William Street in Millvale, Pennsylvania. He lived with his wife, Mary (Maria), and three children, Frances (8), Frank (6), and Elsie (2). The census records say he was age 34 at the time of the census and was born in October, 1865 in Austria. He was actually born in Bohemia which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the time. Both of his parents are listed as born in Austria. The 1900 census also said he had been in the United States for 18 years, having emigrated in 1882 (at age 16 or 17). He had been married to Mary for 11 years in 1900 and was already a naturalized citizen. He was able to read, write, and speak English. According to Herbert Faeth, the husband of Frank's youngest daughter, Evelyn, Frank could speak English, but very little.

By the 1920 census, Frank and Mary owned their own home (mortgage) at 918 O'Brien Street in Millvale. They now had nine children living at home with them - Elsie (21), Elmer (18), Robert (14), Selma (14), Joseph (11), Edward (9), James (7), William (5), and Evelyn (5). Frances and Frank appear to have left home by this time. Frank is now listed as age 50 and Mary 48. If the 1900 census is accurate, then Frank should be 54 or 55 in 1920, and Mary should be 49 or 50. Similarly, the ages of the children do not appear to be correct. Elsie should be at least 22. Evelyn and William were born in 1913 and should be six or seven by the 1920 census. Frank is listed as having immigrated to the US in 1894 and naturalized in 1902. This also conflicts with the 1900 census, which is probably more accurate. (Frances was born in 1891 or 1892 in the US, not Bohemia.) Perhaps one of the children answered the questions for the census taker. Frank is listed as working for the Caninsfactor (sp?) Railway Company as a wage laborer.

Maria died before Frank. Herbert Faethwas present at his funeral.

1. ↑ Hamburg Passenger Lists, April-June 1882.

   Passenger #240. Lists previous residence as Zleschitz, Austria.

2. ↑ Birth Certificate for Evelyn Smoller Faeth.

   father, Frank Smola, age 48

3. ↑ St. Wenceslaus Roman Catholic Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. St. Wenceslaus Chruch Records 1871-1976.

   Birthplace found in baptismal record of daughter Elsie, October 17, 1897

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Death Certificate for Frank Smola.
5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Pittsburgh City Directory, 1890. (Name: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: J. F. Diffenbacher, 1890;).
6. ↑ Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Marriage License Docket
   Vol 8, p 314.
7. ↑ New York Passenger Arrival Lists, 1882
   M237, roll 454.

   Passenger #238 on steamship Albingia, departed Hamburg, arrived New York City July 5, 1882

8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T623)
   1900, roll 1369, ed 452, sheet 20 B, line 61.
9. ↑ ^9.0 9.1 United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T624)
   1910, roll 1296, ed 163, sheet 11A.
10. ↑ ^10.0 10.1 United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625)
    1920, roll 1513, ed 255, sheet 2.