Leonard Raymond Meeks and children

Leonard Raymond Meeks was born on 30 Jan 1899 in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, USA. He died on 16 Jun 1991 in Orrville, Wayne Co., Ohio, USA. He married (1) Helen Louise Stenger or Hynes was born on 24 Apr 1902 in Massillon, Stark Co., OH. She died on 20 Apr 1928 in Summit Co., OH. Leonard married (2) Hattie E. Judson between 1934-1936. She was born in May 1888 in Medina Co., OH. She died on 26 May 1965 in Barberton, Summit Co., OH. Leonard married (3) Abbie Grace Beardsley, daughter of Samuel Limon Beardsley and Lucretia McCormick on 10 Sep 1968 in Summit Co., OH. She was born on 12 Sep 1902 in Washington Co., OH. She died on 10 Jan 1985 in Summit Co., OH. He married (4) Olivia Adeene Grunning, daughter of Edward Grunning and Clara Knudston on 14 Feb 1990 in Wayne Co., OH. She was born on 19 Jul 1912 in Madison, Dane Co., WI. She died on 02 Mar 2001 in Wayne Co., OH. Leonard Raymond Meeks and Helen Louise Stenger had the following children:

1. Howard Emerson Meeks married Kathryn Barbara Vodopia, daughter of Anton Vodopia and Anna M. Tandaric on 23 Feb 1946 in Barberton, Summit Co., OH.

 2. Jeanette Elizabeth Meeks married (1) John Charles Komara on 17 Aug 1977 in Nevada, USA. She married (2) Richard Hiram Holm, son of Elmer Holm and Nora Secrist on 29 Apr 1944 in Summit Co., OH

3. Rhea Mae Meeks married Victor John Casserman, son of Jacob Casserman and Jennie Branisel on 17 Sep 1949 in Summit Co., OH

I would really love to know more about this family, especially Helen. I don't have much information about her.

1920 Stark County, Ohio census

The Tandaric family is listed on line 75 of the 1920 Stark County census. Matt or Mata is listed here as Nat. Their son in law, George, and daughter, Mary, are listed just below them. They had another daughter, Anna a twin of Mary, who was married and lived in Summit County Ohio. They had a son, Joseph, who was born after this census in 1922.

Mata/Matt Tandaric was born 09 Aug 1879 in Velika Grljevac, Croatia and died on 16 Mar 1953, probably in Stark Co., OH. He married Bara/Barbara Markovic on 25 May 1903 in Tanovcj, Yugoslavia. I don't know where Tanovcj is, as I have not been able to find it in Croatia or Yugoslavia. Barbara was born 22 Mar 1880 in Velika Grljevac, Croatia., which is on the coast of southern Croatia.

They had six children:

1. Anna M. Tandaric, born 04 Aug 1904 in Velika Mlinska, Croatia; died 15 Jun 1981 in Summit Co., OH. She married Anton Vodopia on 11 Aug 1919 in Navarre, Stark Co., OH.
2. Mary A. Tandaric, born 04 Aug 1904 in Velika Mlinska, Croatia; died 20 Feb 1994 in Navarre, Stark Co., OH. On 25 Nov 1918 she married Misko Vugric, who later changed his name to George Frank Benkovich.
3. Frank Tandaric, born 14 Aug 1911 in Barberton, Summit Co., OH; died 05 Nov 1998 in Allegheny Co., PA.
4. Catherine Tandaric, born 18 Jul 1913 in Brewster, Stark Co., OH; died Aft. 1981. She married Maseric.
5. Mildred Tandaric, born 18 Mar 1918 in Brewster, Stark Co., OH; died Aug 1987 in Stark Co., OH. She married George Vissoc.
6. Joseph A. "Joe" Tandaric, born 19 Jan 1922 in Brewster, Stark Co., OH; died 15 Nov 2001 in Stark Co., OH.

Anna Tandarić Naturalization records

Certificate of Arrival, stating that Anna came to Ellis Island on 21 Oct 1910. I haven't been able to find any other immigration records for her or her parents or twin sister, Mary.
Petition for Naturalization for Anna Tandarić Vodopia

SS Caronia

The SS Caronia left Liverpool, England on Jul 5, 1913 and arrived at Ellis Island, New York on Jul 13, 1913.

This was a 19,687 gross ton ship, length 650ft x beam 72.2ft, two funnels, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 18 knots. There was passenger accommodation for 300-1st, 350-2nd and 2,000-3rd class. Built by John Brown & Co, Glasgow for the Cunard SS Co, she was launched on 13th July 1904. Her maiden voyage between Liverpool, Queenstown (Cobh) and New York started on 25th Feb.1905 and she continued this service until commencing her last voyage on 2nd May 1914. On 2nd Jun.1914 she commenced the first of two Liverpool - Queenstown - Boston sailings and was then converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser. In 1916 she was fitted as a troopship and on 3rd Jul.1918 resumed Liverpool - New York sailings. On 12th Sep.1919 she made her first London - Halifax - New York sailing and on 8th May 1920 resumed Liverpool - Halifax - New York route. She started Hamburg - Southampton - Cherbourg - New York voyages on 27th Apr.1922 and resumed the Liverpool - Queenstown - New York route on 18th Nov.1922. Her first Liverpool - Quebec sailing took place on 1st May.1924 and on 20th Nov.1924 she returned to Liverpool - Boston and/or New York voyages. Transferred to the London - Southampton - Cherbourg - New York route on 21st Aug.1925 and continued sailings from London in the summer months and from Liverpool in winter. Her final London - Havre - Southampton - New York voyage commenced 12th Sep.1931 and in 1932 she was sold for scrapping at Blyth, but was resold to Japanese interests and renamed TAISEIYO MARU for her final voyage to Japan via the Cape. She was scrapped at Osaka in 1933.[North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,p.156-7]

Anton Vodopia naturalization records

Declaration of Intention. It states that Anton came to the United States on the Carmania, it was actually the Caronia.

Petition for Naturalization.

Anton Vodopia Ellis Island record

I finally tracked down immigration and naturalization records for Anton Vodopia! Anton (line 6) left Liverpool, England on the S.S. Caronia on Jul 5, 1913 and arrived at Ellis Island, New York on Jul 13, 1913. The passenger list says that he intended to join his uncle, Vid Vojkovic in New York. Anton was in the Summit Co., OH census in 1920 with his wife, Anna.

Draft registration for Anton Vodopia

This is the draft registration form that Anton Vodopia completed on June 5, 1917 in Ohio. It's hard to read, but here's what I can make of it:

Section 1 name, Tony Vodopia; age 24
Section 2 address, Barberton, Ohio
Section 3 birthdate, June 7, 1893
Section 4 is asking is they individual is a U.S. citizen, or alien, etc.
Section 5 birthplace, Kaniska Iva, B????, Croatia
Section 6 says if not a citizen, what country are you a citizen of, which looks like Austria
Section 7 present occupation
Section 8 employed by (Babcock & Wilcox Company) where employed (Barberton)
Section 9 dependent information (none)
Section 10 married or single (single) and race (Caucasian)
Section 11 is about military service, and I can't read this one
Section 12 claim exemption from draft and reason (can't read this one either). Signature on the bottom

The next page is for physical description, and this says tall, stout, blue eyes, and brown hair.

The Vodopias

This is Anton (form of Anthony) Vodopia and his wife Anna Tandarić. Anton is holding his grandson, David Meeks, the little boy in the middle is their grandson, John, and Anna is holding Marsha, their granddaughter.

Anton was born 7 Jun 1893 in Croatia. He died 29 Sep 1961 in Barberton, Ohio. His parents were Blaz Vodopia and Kata Vojković. I don't have much information on Blaz and Kata. Kata had a brother named Vid Vojković who came to the United States.

Anna Tandarić was born 4 Aug 1904 in Croatia. Her parents were Mata/Matt Tandarić and Barbara Marković. I believe Barbara had a sister named Marica Marković who married Mader. They had three children, Jana, Evica, and Josip.

She died 15 Jun 1981 in Barberton, Ohio. According to the 1930 Summit Co., OH census (click on the image below), Anton came to the United States in 1913, Anna came in 1910, and Anton worked as a machine operator in a boiler factory. They had 3 children, Kathryn, Mary, and Anna Barbara "Babe". It also says they were both born in Yugoslavia, but in 1930, all of Croatia was a part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. They came from Croatia to the United States through Ellis Island, NY and were married in August 11, 1919 in Navarre, Ohio. Anton was born in Kaniska Iva, Croatia and Anna was born just about 10 miles (or 16 km) from there in Velika Mlinska, Croatia.