Meet Your Ancestor: Josephine (Zbin) Gregg

Josephine Zbin

Meet "Mom"

born December 7, 1915, at home on Berea Road in Westpark, Ohio daughter of: Paul Zbin (born January 25, 1883, in Hloza, Austria-Hungary (Czechoslovakia); died January 22, 1958, in Lakewood, Ohio) and Mary Louise (Novotny) Zbin (born June 4, 1895, in Hloza, Austria-Hungary (Czechoslovakia); died February 7, 1951, in Oceanside, California) married Donald Cecil Gregg on December 31, 1935, in Bay City, Michigan Donald and Josephine had eleven children: Donald, Carolyn, Joan, Douglas, Melvin, Denis, John, Robert, Susanne, Janet, and Gregory died November 23, 2006, at Community Health Partners West in Lorain, Ohio buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Vermilion, Ohio

Mom's parents, Paul Zbin and Mary Louise (Novotny) Zbin, both immigrated from Czechoslovakia (previously Austria-Hungary). They meet in Lakewood, Ohio, and are married on July 17, 1911, in Lakewood. Shortly after the wedding, Mary returns alone to Hloza in her native Czechoslovakia to visit family. While there she discovers she is expecting a child. On May 8, 1912, Paul and Mary's first child, Paul, is born in Hloza. Close to Paul's first birthday, Mary packs up their things and returns to the United States to be with husband Paul.

Mary and toddler Paul sail from Germany and enter the United States through Ellis Island on May 27, 1913. Reunited, the young family takes up residence on Berea Road in Westpark, Ohio, a small community near Cleveland. While living in Westpark, Paul and Mary have daughters, Anna (March 30, 1914) and Josephine (December 7, 1915); both born at home.

In early 1918, the family moves to Lark Street in Lakewood where Paul works as a crane operator. While there, daughter #3, Margaret (March 28, 1918) and son #2, Emil (February 8, 1923) are born.

In 1923 the family moves to Kimball, Ohio. A year later they buy a 40-acre farm on West River Road in Vermilion, Ohio, where they remain until 1938. During that time, Grandma and the kids operate the farm in Vermilion while Grandpa and son Paul stay with Slovak friends in Lakewood where their jobs are. On weekends they visit the farm. The youngest children are born while in Vermilion--Mary (September 8, 1924) and Albert (June 4, 1927).

Paul and Mary often use phonetic spelling . . . Mom's name as "Jozefine" and Paul as "Pal." Grandma uses "Mary" and "Maria" interchangeably.

Mary applies for U.S. citizenship on April 9, 1935, Paul applies on April 11, 1936. Grandma lists their marriage as July 17 while Grandpa lists it as August 17, and both are consistent. Their Marriage Certificate indicates July 17 is correct. [So when husbands forget their anniversary, remember--it's in their genes.]

On Mom's birthday, December 7, 1937, Grandma takes her Oath of Allegiance for U.S. Citizenship. Nice birthday present! Grandpa takes his Oath on May 19, 1939.

In 1938 the farm in Vermilion is sold and all move back to Lakewood to a home on Lakewood Avenue. The family is together again after 14 years of separation.

Grandma dies February 7, 1951, at age 55 from leukemia while in the hospital in Oceanside, California. She had gone to California to visit a friend. Grandpa dies January 22, 1958, in Lakewood, from stomach cancer. Grandpa and Grandma are buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Cleveland.

Mom dies November 23, 2006, at Community Health Partners West in Lorain, Ohio. She is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Vermilion.
 Read: Josephine Gregg's Obituary