Bio: Korenchen, Andrej & Ana

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Korenchen, Kink, More, Cesnik, Laykovich, Popovich, Katschke, Risshy, Patarini, Debevec

----Source: Family Scrapbook

My grandfather, Andrej Korenchen was born on November 14, 1847 in Bistra, Austria. He died May 27, 1926 in Waukegan, Illinois. Grandmother, Ana Kink was born on July 15, 1848 in Stara Vrhnika, Austria. She died January 27, 1932 in Waukegan.

Andrej and Ana were married in Austria. Seven children were born to this union: five sons and two daughters, all born in Bistra, Austria. They came to Chicago in the late 1800's, settled in the Slovenian neighborhood around 22nd Street and Damin Avenue. They lived there a number of years and then moved to Waukegan.

My father Andrew Korenchen II was born on November 24, 1873 in Bistra, Austria. While in Europe he was farmed out to a cabinet maker at the early age of five and spent most of his early teens living with this family, learning this trade. He came to the United States with his father and worked in Chicago until they could send for the rest of the family.

In the year 1900 an uncle of mine arranged for his sister to come and meet my father and marry him so my father sent money for boat fare to the United States. Her name was Karoline More. She was born on September 11, 1887 in Grcarice by Dolenja Vas, Slovenia to Lawrence and Pauline More. She was farmed out to people and took care of children, from the age of six until the time she came to the United States. Her father was an invalid and her mother had to go and dig some kind of roots used for medical purposes. It was a very hard life and she was hungry a lot of the time. Two weeks after she arrived they were married. They settled in the same place as all the other Slovenian families, around 22nd and Damin.

Their first son Andrew III was born on October 27, 1902 in Chicago. In 1904 and 1906 a boy and a girl were born but died soon after birth. Shortly after that they moved to Waukegan, Illinois. My dad worked as a carpenter for 14 and 16 hours a day for $4.00 a week. Their two daughters were born here; Caroline on September 11, 1912 and Frances born on March 7, 1913. Frances died on April 5, 1935 in Chicago.

My father built a beautiful home in which they lived until moving to Willard. A Mr. Cesnik came to Waukegan selling land in Willard so dad decided he'd like to farm. He bought forty acres about 1/4 mile north of town on the main highway. About 1914 we moved to Willard and dad started to build the house and barn. We all stayed with the Laykovich family until our house got to the point where we could move into it. It was half finished when we moved in.

We were in it just a short time when a tornado came and took everything from the foundation up; quite a trauma. It was many years before mother got over it - no one really got hurt except I received a six inch cut on my leg. Here we were, no home, no money. The farmers took up a collection, and it was enough to put up a make-shift building, a house and barn. Dad had to go back to Waukegan to earn enough again to make a new start. Mother farmed with us children. He would work in Waukegan and come home in the summer to help with the harvesting and this is the way it was for many years.

John Korenchen was born on September 25, 1919 in Willard. Three or four years after John was born, dad was able to stay home full time again. Dad did a lot of carpenter work in and around Willard. I remember that he built the steeple on the old church.

John married Angela Popovich in 1942. John and Angela farmed with the folks until dad died on July 20, 1947. The farm was sold and John and his family moved to Chicago. John died in March 1981.

Andrew Korenchen III married Ruth Katschke in 1946. Andrew passed away in Chicago on February 10, 1973.

I, Caroline married Frank Risshy in 1933. Frank died on February 21, 1963. In June 1971 I married Morris Patarini.

Mother came to live with me but couldn't get used to city life so she went back to Willard where she had a little cottage built. She lived there until her health failed in 1956, then came back with me to Chicago.

She passed away on March 21, 1958 and was brought back to be buried beside dad. The home is now owned by Frank and Agnes Debevec.

Submitted by: Caroline Patarini