Hungarian Community

[1] “Foreigners in Indiana,” Terre Haute Tribune reprinted in Bedford Weekly Mail, May 17, 1907, 3, Newspapers.com; Department of Commerce and Labor, Thirteenth Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1910: Statistics for Indiana (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1913), 598, 614, census.gov; Department of Commerce, Bulletin: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920, census.gov; Department of Commerce, Fourteenth Census of the United States: Color or Race, Nativity, and Parentage of Occupied Persons, census.gov; U.S. Department of Labor, Annual Report of the Commissioner General of Immigration to the Secretary of Labor, June 30, 1920 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1920), 183-185, HathiTrust, James H. Madison, Indiana through Tradition and Change: A History of the Hoosier State and Its People, 1920-1945 (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1982), 15; Susan Papp and Joe Esterhaus, Hungarian Americans and Their Communities of Cleveland (Cleveland State University, 2010), electronic edition accessed Press Books at the Michael Schwartz Library, https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/hungarian-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland/.

Many Hungarians immigrated to the United States between 1880 and 1920 looking for economic opportunities in the industrializing nation. By 1910, over 14,000 Hungarian immigrants settled in Indiana with 452 in Vigo County. By 1920, 6.2% of Indiana residents were born in Hungary.

[2] “Hungarian Miners,” Indianapolis Journal, June 2, 1889, 4, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Incorporation” Indiana Tribune, August 4, 1906, 4, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Wanted,” Indianapolis News, December 22, 1906, 19, Newspapers.com; Department of Commerce and Labor, Bulletin of the Bureau of Labor, No. 72, September 1907, (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1907), 420, census.gov; Terre Haute City Directory: 1908 (Terre Haute: Moore-Langen Printing Co., 1908), 484, AncestryLibrary.com; “Articles of Incorporation,” Hammond Times, November 30, 1910, 5, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Benson is New Head,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, October 24, 1914, 8, Hoosier State Chronicles; Bicycle Cop Gets Quick Results in Robbery Case,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, March 21, 1915, 3, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Help wanted,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, September 21, 1916, 10, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Flag Raisings Today at Local Factories, Terre Haute Daily Tribune, April 10, 1917, 5, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Labor Agent Arrested,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, April 27, 1917, 17, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Help Wanted,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, May 11, 1918, 9, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Leonard M. Eyke,” Terre Haute Saturday Spectator, March 27, 1937, 26, NewspaperArchive.com; “Section II: Hungarians in America” in Hungarian Americans and Their Communities of Cleveland, Papp and Esterhuas, eds., https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/hungarian-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland/chapter/the-great-immigration-1870-1920/; Cleveland State University, Hungarian Americans of Cleveland, “B: Labor Conditions,” table, accessed Cleveland Memory, http://www.clevelandmemory.org/hungarians/pg108.htm.

In addition to working mining and railroad jobs, many Hungarian immigrants to the city worked for Terre Haute Malleable & Manufacturing Company organized and incorporated in 1906.

[3] “Dead Hungarians,” Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, April 4, 1891, 5, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Many Killed by Bursting Boilers,” Pittsburg Press, December 20, 1901, 1, Newspapers.com; “Fifty Bodies Still in Mine,” Miners Journal, January 29, 1904, 1, Newspapers.com; “Foreigners in Indiana,” Terre Haute Tribune reprinted in Bedford Weekly Mail, May 17, 1907, 3, Newspapers.com; Beverly N. Sparks, “Brave Rescuers at the Darr Mine Face to Face with Awful Death” and C. H. Gillespie, “Disaster Blamed on Company,” Pittsburg Press, December 22, 1907, 1, Newspapers.com; “Nine More Bodies Taken from Monongah Mines Making the Total Recovered 52,” Daily Telegram, December 9, 1907, 1, Newspapers.com; “Threatened War Between Miners Not So Critical,” Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram, March 31, 1909, 2, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Fatal Accidents in Vigo County,” table, and “Serious Accidents in Vigo County,” table, in “Summary of Accidents, 1913,” Second Annual Report of the State Bureau of Inspection (Indianapolis: Wm. B. Burford, State Printer, 1914), HathiTrust, 404-06; “Will Intern Austrian for War’s Duration,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, June 25, 1918, 1, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Aliens Leave by Wholesale,” Greencastle Herald, April 10, 1920, 4, Hoosier State Chronicles.

[4] “Hungarian Branches,” Indiana Socialist Party Bulletin, July 1, 1913, 2, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Federal Authorities Probe Clinton Case,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, June 14, 1919, 1, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Now on Trail of East Chicago Reds,” Indianapolis News, October 13, 1919, 1, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Issues Injunction Against Molders,” Indianapolis Star, Mary 26, 1923, 5, Newspapers.com; “Labor Troubles Ripe in Three Indiana Cities,” Hammond Times, August 17, 1935, 6, Newspapers.com; “Plant Is Bombed in Terre Haute,” Evansville Press, October 10, 1935; “Alex Hollo,” obituary, Terre Haute Tribune, June 4, 1953, 2, Newspapes.com; “Agreement Ends Malleable Dispute,” Terre Haute Tribune, June 3, 1960, 18, Newspapers.com; “Malleable Parley Accord Reported,” Terre Haute Star, June 3, 1960, 1, Newspapers.com; “Alexander Kosco,” Terre Haute Tribune, January 6, 1962, 2, Newspapers.com; “Malleable Union Meets Wednesday,” Terre Haute Tribune, July 31, 1962, 12, Newspapers.com; “Foundry Union Head to Conduct Local Meeting,” Terre Haute Star, July 31, 1962, 16, Newspapers.com; “Final Offer at Malleable; May Suspend,” Terre Haute Tribune, August 3, 1962, 1, Newspapers.com; “James Farkas,” Terre Haute Tribune, August 31, 1962, 2, Newspapers.com; Partial Transcript of Interview with Frank Koos, 1968, Private Collection of Laura Beth Loudermilk, copy in IHB marker file; Mark Bennett, “’I’m Here Because of Them’ – Historical Marker to Celebrate Terre Haute’s Hungarian Community,” Terre Haute Tribune-Star, October 28, 2023.

In response to dangerous working conditions, low wages, and discrimination, many Terre Haute workers of Hungarian origin joined unions and some joined Socialist organizations. Many local Hungarian workers joined Local Union No 265 of the International Molders and Allied Workers Union which negotiated with Terre Haute Malleable & Manufacturing Company for better conditions and wages and held meetings at Hungarian Hall.

[5] R. L. Polk and Co’s Terre Haute City Directory 1912-1913 (Terre Haute: Moore-Langen Printing Co., 1912), 66, AncestryLibrary.com; R. L. Polk and Co’s Terre Haute City Directory 1915-1916 (Terre Haute: Moore-Langen Printing Co., 1915), 222, AncestryLibrary.com; “Notes of Local Lodges,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, December 14, 1914, 9, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Hungarians Elect,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, December 7, 1915, 6, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Hungarian Benefit Society Enjoys Outing,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, June 18, 1916, 9, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Red Cross Donations,” Terre Haute Tribune, May 2, 1948, 26, Newspapers.com; Curt Bridwell, “What Terre Hauteans Read in the Newspapers of 40 Years Ago,” Terre Haute Tribune, December 11, 1949, 73, Newspapers.com.

Terre Haute residents of Hungarian origin formed the Hungarian Sick and Death Benefit Society in 1909. It was also called the First Terre Haute Hungarian Sick and Death Benefit Society and the Verhovay Society. Before the construction of Hungarian Hall, Terre Haute city directories show that the Society met at 1640 Maple and then at the “First Terre Haute Hungarian Society Park” at 22^nd and Linden where the Hall would be located. A December 14, 1914 article in the Terre Haute Tribune stated that the Society also met for a time at the home of Steve Wegh at 1540 (probably meaning 1640) Maple Avenue. The same article also stated the organization had about 200 members and was affiliated with the national organization of 20,000 members. A December 20, 1914 article ran photos of the Society officers and noted that it was also called the Verhovay Society; Alexander Steele served as president. A 1916 Daily Tribune article noted that the Society was founded in 1909 and began holding an annual picnic in 1916.

[6] “Hungarian Position in War in Europe” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, August 21, 1914, 5, Hoosier State Chronicles; “New Citizens Are Sworn In,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, November  15, 1914, 2, Hoosier State Chronicles;  “Citizenship Applications of Four Are Turned Down,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, November 14, 1915, 21, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Hungarian Benefit Society Enjoys Outing,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, June 18, 1916, 9, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Four File Declarations,” Terre Haute Tribune, April 17, 1917, 9, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Seeks Citizenship,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, May 24, 1917, 16, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Hungarians Dedicate The American Flag,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, June 9, 1917, 7, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Eight Are Admitted to U.S. Citizenship,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, June 30, 1917, 2, Hoosier State Chronicles; Joe Bakk, Inducted Terre Haute September 20, 1917, Indiana World War I Service Records Cards, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, accessed From the Page; “Gets Army Uniform Too Soon, Says Court,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, January 31, 1918, 11, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Hungarians Raise Flag,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, June 6, 1918, 10, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Bulgarians Are Loyal,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, July 5, 1918, 18, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Big Celebration Saturday,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, July 23, 1918, 12, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Loyal Hungarians Pledge Allegiance,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, July 28, 1918, 9, Hoosier State Chronicles; “Loyal Hungarian Citizens Gather On Steps of Post-Office to Renew Their Oath of Fealty to the U. S. A.,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, July 30, 1918, 1, Hoosier State Chronicles; Andrew Baltesu, Inducted Terre Haute, August 29, 1918, Army Serial Number: 4720165, Indiana World War I Service Cards, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, accessed From the Page; “Asks Citizenship; Enlists,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, October 30, 1918, 10, Hoosier State Chronicles.

[7] Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, Ward 7, Harrison Township, Vigo County, Indiana, April 8, 1930, Sheets 1A, 1 B, 2A, 2B 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, National Archives and Records Administration, AncestryLibrary.com; U.S. Department of Commerce, “Table 25: Citizenship of the Foreign-Born White Population 21 Years Old and Over, By Sex and Country of Birth, For Cities of 25,000 to 50,000: 1930,” Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, Population 2, 480, GoogleBooks.

By the 1930s, several Hungarian immigrants had established grocery stores and other businesses in Terre Haute. Many Hungarian immigrants lived in the area around Hungarian Hall at 22^nd and Linden. An examination of the 1930 census records of this area shows that most Hungarian immigrants were still working in mining and manufacturing industries and for railroad companies. However, some had started small businesses, including quite a number of grocery stores, but also butcher shops, general stores, dry goods stores. Others worked for local businesses as mechanics, merchants in retail shops, and laborers at smaller factories. Several women worked as housekeepers for private families while others worked in the family shops or as waitresses, stenographers, and bookkeepers. A comparison with data from earlier census records shows that these Hungarian immigrants were quickly becoming citizens and learning English while moving into more middle-class occupations. By 1930, 2,137 of Terre Haute’s 2,265 residents of Hungarian origin spoke English, providing them with expanding employment opportunities.

[8] Passenger Record: Ferencz Koos, May 1, 1907 Arrival Date, Ellis Island Passenger Records, ellisislandrecords.org; Passenger Record: Julianna Majoros, December 3, 1910 Arrival Date, Ellis Island Passenger Records, ellisislandrecords.org; Frank Koos, Draft Card K, Registration Card, June 5, 1917, Pender County North Carolina, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, National Archives and Records Administration, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; Fourteenth Census of the United States, Burgaw Township, North Carolina, January 26, 1920, 17A, Lines 39-40, Bureau of the Census, National Archives and Records Administration, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; Polk’s Terre Haute City Directory 1922 (Indianapolis: R. L. Polk & Co., Publishers, 1922), 403, AncestryLibrary.com; Polk’s Terre Haute City Directory 1924 (Indianapolis: R. L. Polk & Co., Publishers, 1924), 423, AncestryLibrary.com; Polk’s Terre Haute City Directory 1925 (Indianapolis: R. L. Polk & Co., Publishers, 1925), 334, AncestryLibrary.com; Photograph of Frank Koos Grocery and Meats, n.d. [circa 1929], Private Collection of Laura Beth Loudermilk, copy in IHB marker file; Fifteenth Census of the United States, Ward 7, Terre Haute, Vigo County, April 8, 1930, 4A Lines 44-45, Bureau of the Census, National Archives and Records Administration, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; Sixteenth Census of the United States, Ward 7, Terre Haute, Vigo County, April 2, 1940, 1B, Lines 64-64, Bureau of the Census, National Archives and Records Administration, accessed AncestryLibrary.com; Indiana State Board of Accounts, Certificate in Lieu of a License to Operate a Store, December 29, 1931, Private Collection of Laura Beth Loudermilk, copy in IHB marker file; Polk’s Terre Haute City Directory 1947 (St. Louis: R. L. Polk & Co., Publishers, 1947),269, AncestryLibrary.com; Partial Transcript of Interview with Frank Koos, 1968, Private Collection of Laura Beth Loudermilk, copy in IHB marker file.

Hungarian immigrants Frank and Julian Koos established a grocery store at 2401 Maple in Terre Haute by 1925; a photograph shows it was named Frank Koos Grocery & Meats, but city directories and census records show Julia mainly ran the store while Frank worked as a miner and then farmer.

[9] “Loyal Hungarians Pledge Allegiance,” Terre Haute Daily Tribune, July 28, 1918, 9, Hoosier State Chronicles; Polk’s Terre Haute Indiana City Directory 1929 (R. L. Polk & Co., Publishers, 1929), 224, AncestryLibrary.com; “Mardi Gras Carnival,” Terre Haute Tribune, January 25, 1948, 29, Newspapers.com; Terre Haute Tribune, June 13, 1948, 23, Newspapers.com; “Voters’ Registration,” Terre Haute Tribune, September 11, 1948, 2, Newpspaers.com; Advertisement, Terre Haute Tribune, January  16, 1949, 32, Newspapers.com; Terre Haute Tribune, July 21, 1949, 15, Newspapers.com; “Weddings and Engagements,” Terre Haute Tribune, October 24, 1949, 5, Newspapers.com; “Registration Ready,” Terre Haute Tribune, March 17, 1950, 18, Newspapers.com;  Advertisement, Terre Haute Star, April 24, 1950, 16, Newspapers.com; Advertisement, Terre Haute Star, April 27, 1950, 11, Newspapers.com; “Notices,” Terre Haute Star, October 20, 1950, 37, NewspaperArchive.com; “Recently Married,” photograph, Terre Haute Tribune, November 25, 1951, 92, Newspapers.com; “Joint Birthday Party,” photograph, Terre Haute Tribune, February 3, 1952, 82, Newspapers.com; “Democrat Meeting,” Terre Haute Tribune, October 22, 1952, 1, Newspapers.com; Curt Bridwell, “What Terre Hauteans Read in the Newspapers of 40 Years Ago,” Terre Haute Tribune, December 21, 1952, 68; “Agreement Ends Malleable Dispute,” Terre Haute Tribune, June 3, 1960, 18, Newspapers.com; “Final Offer at Malleable; May Suspend,” Terre Haute Tribune, August 3, 1962, 1, Newspapers.com; “Myers Addresses Crawfordsville Republicans,” Greencastle Daily Banner, November 1, 1968, 1, Hoosier State Chronicles; Tom Roznowski, An American Hometown (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2009), 82-84; Brian M. Boyce, “TH’s Hungarian Hall Honored for 100 Years of History,” Terre Haute Tribune-Star, October 12, 2009, www.tribstar.com; Mark Bennett, “’I’m Here Because of Them’ – Historical Marker to Celebrate Terre Haute’s Hungarian Community” Terre Haute Tribune-Star, October 28, 2023, www.tribstar.com; “Our Hungarian History,” Hungarian Hall, www.hungarianhall.com.

By c. 1918, members of the First Hungarian Sick and Death Benefit Society established Hungarian Hall at 2049 N. Linden (21^st and Linden) Streets. The earliest mention of a Hungarian hall at 22^nd and Linden comes from the Terre Haute Daily Tribune in 1918. This may have been an earlier building than the current structure. Secondary sources claim Hungarian Hall was built in the early 1920s. According to Terre Haute City Directories the Society met at the “Terre Haute Hungarian Society Park,” at the southeast corner of Linden and 22^nd Streets as late as 1929.

Keywords

Immigration and Ethnic Group