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 KOVATCH.net
      connecting the Kovatch clan...
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My name is Alexander Kovatch.  My father was named Alexander Kovatch and so was his father and his grandfather.  My father's family all seemed to congregate in Scranton Pennsylvania after they made it to the U.S. sometime around 1907.  They added a 't' to the spelling of their last name to avoid confusion with the mail so other spellings of my last name include Kovacs and Kovach.  We are all of Carptho-Rusyn decent -- an enthiticity without a homeland.  There are many good links to learn about the Carpatho-Rusyns on the "resource page" or you can read a nice summary (here).

Here is a family tree of my immediate ancestors (data not shown for living relatives):

(1) Alex Kovatch (b. 1881 in Turycja, Austria; d. 1933 in Scranton, PA)
+Anna ??? (b. 1886 in Turycja, Austria; d. 1931 in Scranton, PA
    (2) Alex ("Kingfish") Kovatch (b. 27 Nov 1906 in Turycja, Austria; d. 24 Mar 1994 in Scranton, PA)
    +Anna Koval (b. 07 Nov 1907 in Dunmore, PA; d. Apr 1981 in PA)
        (3) Alexander Kovatch (b. 31 Jul 1931 in Scranton, PA; d. 18 Feb 2003 in Denver, CO)
        (3) George Kovatch ( living )
        (3) Joseph Kovatch ( living )
        (3) Bill Kovatch ( living )
    (2) Mike Kovatch (b. Abt. 1911 in PA)
    +unknown spouse 
        (3) Dolores Kovatch ( living )
        (3) Ann Marie ("Sissy") Kovatch ( living )
    (2) John ("Shy") Kovatch (b. Abt. 1912 in PA)
    (2) Nicholas ("Crutch") Kovatch (b. 21 Sep 1920 in PA; d. 05 May 1969 in PA)
    +Julia Nasco (b. 11 Aug 1924; d. 26 Jul 1998)
      (3) Michael Kovatch (b. 1 Aug 1945 in Scranton, PA, d. 27 Mar 1999)
      (3) Judith Kovatch (living )
      (3) Juliana Kovatch (living )

Besides seeing the tombstones in Minooka, PA at the St. Mary Byzantine Cemetery I have also found some interesting census reports from 1910, 1920 and 1930 for the city of Scranton in Lakawanna County Pennsylvania. The 1910 census has my grandfather (Alexander, his father Alexander and his mother Anna). The 1920 census lists Alex, Anna, Alex Jr. and his next two brothers, Mike and John. The youngest son was not born yet but his name was Nicholas.

My grandfather, Alex Kovatch, lived on Capouse Ave. and owned a junkyard there in Scranton, PA.  He liked gambling, particularly cards and horses and was known around the town as "Kingfish."

My grandfather and his family are from a town named Velyka Turycja Ushordska Zapa, Turii Remety.  It might also be known as Nagyturjaszog, which was the Magyar/Hungarian name for the Rusyn village of Velyka Turycja, sometimes called simply Turycja.  (see map below or click on it to expand to full screen)


The city of Ungvar, now Uzhorod, is in the yellow area. Just to the northeast -- colored reddish-brown -- is the district labeled Perecsenyi after its principle town of Perecsen, today's Perec'yn, on the west bank of the Ung/Uz' River, across from the point where the east-to-west flowing Turja River joins it. Five miles east of Perecyn is Turjaremete/ Turji Remety/ Turja Remeta, at the point where the smaller Turica (=Little Turja) River joins the Turja from the north. A couple of miles up the Turica is the village of Nagyturjaszog, which was the Magyar/Hungarian name for the Rusyn village of Velyka Turycja, sometimes called simply Turycja.

Browse around the other documents that I have here and send me an email (alex@kovatch.net) if you have more information about my family tree.  I am looking for information on my grandfather's familiy, specifically who his grandfather was and the maiden name of his mother.

Thank you so much.
       Alexander Kovatch