Genealogy of Nick M. Gombash

Documenting my ancestors and helping others with their research.

The Gombás-Tóth Family

Sándor Gombás
b. 21 Feb 1872, Büdszentmihály, Hungary
d. 2 May 1931, Venango Twp, Butler Co, PA
bu. Old Annandale Cemetery, Cherry Township,
Butler County, Pennsylvania

Father: József Gombás
Mother: Zsuzsánna Gulyás

m. 13 Mar 1895,
Büdszentmihály, Hungary

Eszter Tóth
b. 22 Sep 1874, Tiszadob, Hungary
d. 4 Apr 1950, Lore City, Guernsey Co, OH
bu. Old Annandale Cemetery, Cherry Township,
Butler County, Pennsylvania

Father: Károly Tóth Á.
Mother: Mária Tóth

Children:

Eszter Gombás
b. 26 Nov 1895, House #1041, Büdszentmihály, Hungary
d. 14 Dec 1895, House #1041, Büdszentmihály, Hungary
Sándor Gombás (Alex Gombash) (m1. Emma Hido)
b. 7 Nov 1896, House #1041, Büdszentmihály, Hungary (m2. Catherine Anna Grządziel)
m1. 19 Aug 1916, Kittanning, Armstrong Co, PA
m2. 6 Sep 1922, Joliet, Will Co, IL
d. 4 Jan 1968, Wheaton, DuPage Co, IL
Balázs Gombás (Robert Gombash) (m. Pearl Boda)
b. 11 Mar 1898, House #1041, Büdszentmihály, Hungary
d. 5 Oct 1934, Butler, Butler Co, PA
József Gombás (m. Klára Kovács)
b. 31 Oct 1900, House #1041, Büdszentmihály, Hungary
m. abt 1950, Hungary
d. aft. Nov 1951, Hungary
Zsuzsánna Gombás (Susan Gombash) (m. Stephen Dudash)
b. 19 Feb 1904, Congo, Perry Co, OH
m. 17 Sep 1921, Niles, Trumball Co, OH
d. 22 Nov 1967, Emlenton, Venango Co, PA
Julius Gombash
b. 2 Feb 1906, Butler Co, PA
d. 6 Aug 1906, Venango Twp, Butler Co, PA
bu. Old Annandale Cemetery, Cherry Township,
Butler County, Pennsylvania
Esther Gombash (m. Paul P. Rader)
b. 3 Sep 1910, Deegan, Butler Co, PA
m. 13 Jun 1936, Wheeling, Ohio Co, WV
d. 12 Feb 2000, Tucson, Pima Co, AZ
Sophie Gombash
b. 13 May 1912, Deegan, Butler Co, PA
d. 24 Sep 1912, Venango Twp, Butler Co, PA
Elizabeth Gombash "Betty" (m. Albert Dudash)
b. 15 Nov 1913, Goff, Butler Co, PA
d. 12 Jan 1948, Tucson, Pima Co, AZ
Dallas Paul Gombash "Casey" (m. Mary M. Drotar)
b. 10 May 1916, Mayport, Armstrong Co, PA
m. 9 Jul 1946, Niles, Trumbull Co, OH
d. 2 Jun 1983, Tucson, Pima Co, AZ
Julia M. Gombash (m1. Michael Mayors)
b. 31 Jul 1920, Goff, Butler Co, PA (m2. Rex D. Dotson)
m1. 9 Sep 1939, Lore City, Jefferson Co, OH
d. 22 Jun 2008, Tucson, Pima Co, AZ

Chronological Timeline:

Before Sándor Gombás was married to Eszter Tóth, he had likely served in the military. The conscription law of 1868 in Hungary required all men to serve for three years. Sándor being 23 years old at the time of his marriage to Eszter Tóth is an indicator he may have served for several years.

This may align with several large DNA matches to us Gombash cousins who descend from a woman named Mária Szatké. She was born on 4 Sep 1894 in Nyíregyháza, the largest town directly to the east of Büdszentmihály. She was the illegitimate daughter of a woman named Anna Szatké. The military conscription office and barracks for the district covering Büdszentmihály was in Nyíregyháza, which also happened to be the county seat. Our DNA indicates that the descendants of Mária Szatké statistically fit into the generation of Sándor Gombás as half-cousins. I believe Mária Szatké to be the illegitimate daughter of Sándor Gombás, before he married Eszter Tóth.

Anna Szatké had another illegitimate child named István [Stephen] in 1891, but it’s unclear whether Sándor Gombás is also the father of this child.

Anna (40) and Mária ‘Szotki’ (18) later emigrated through the port of Antwerp, Belgium aboard the SS Zeeland on 18 May 1912. The ship arrived at the port of Ellis Island, NY on 29 May 1912. They had last been residing in Boldogasszony, Hungary and their nearest relative was Anna’s brother, Károly ‘Szotki’ in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. They were traveling directly to Anna’s uncle, Imre Nagy, in Lackawanna, NY.

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TH-GSW2-V

Mary Szatké was later married to John Sapper on 11 Mar 1919 in Summit County, OH and she died on 31 Dec 1974 in Akron, Summit County, OH. Our DNA matches through this branch primarily carry the surname Sapper.

Sándor Gombás and Eszter Tóth were married on 13 Mar 1895 in Tiszadob, Szabolcs County, Hungary. The marriage record states Sándor Gombás was a farmer [földműves] residing in Büdszentmihály house #1041. He was of the Reformed faith, 23 years old and single. Eszter Tóth was a single daughter of Károly Tóth Á, residents of Tiszadob house #17. She was of the Reformed faith and 20 years old. The witnesses to the marriage were farmers Mihály Ényi and Sándor Porkoláb. A notation in the far right column of the marriage record states Sándor was born on 21 Feb 1872, while Eszter was born on 22 Sep 1874.

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-9D93-S7

Sándor Gombás emigrated through the port of Bremen, Germany aboard the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse on 1 Jul 1902. The ship arrived at the port of Ellis Island, NY on 9 Jul 1902. Sándor was listed as being 30 years old, married, a laborer and from B. Szt. Mihaly. He was traveling directly to brother-in-law Janos Suhy [Szuhay] in Butler, PA. His nationality was Hungarian and his race was Magyar [Hungarian]. He had paid for his own passage and had $2.00 in his possession.

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9T4-GHV5

Seven months later, Eszter Tóth emigrated through the port of Bremen, Germany aboard the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse on 2 Feb 1903. The ship arrived at the port of Ellis Island, NY on 9 Mar 1903. Eszter was listed as being 28 years old, married and from Büd. Szt. Mihaly. She was traveling directly to her husband, Sandor Gombas, in Butler, PA. Her nationality was Hungarian and her race was Magyar. She had paid for her own passage and had $4.00 in her possession.

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-8165-CQW

We know that Sándor and Eszter continued to reside in America for some time, as Susan was born in Congo, OH [or Venango Twp, Butler County, PA] in 1904 and Julius was born & died in Butler County, PA in 1906.

The death certificate for "Julius Gombias" states he was 6 months old and passed away from cholera on 6 Aug 1906. He was buried in the same Annandale cemetery on 7 Aug 1906, where his parents would be buried several decades later.

We also know from Susan’s birth registration in Hungary that Eszter and Susan had migrated back to Europe sometime between 1 Apr 1907, when a birth extract for Susan was certified by a consulate, and when Eszter registered Susan’s birth on 20 May 1907 in Büdszentmihály.

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-617Z-DJ

Two years later, Eszter Tóth along with three of her children — Sándor, Balázs and Zsuzsánna Gombás — emigrated through the port of Fiume, present-day Rijeka, Croatia, aboard the SS Ultonia on 16 Oct 1909. The ship arrived at the port of Ellis Island, NY on 9 Nov 1909. Eszter was listed as being 34 years old, married and a housewife. Sándor waas 11 years old, Balázs was 9 years old and Zsuzsánna was 5 years old; all were listed as ‘child’ and Zsuzsánna was listed as “US born.” They were last residing in Büdszentmihály and the passenger manifest states their nearest relative was their mother-in-law & grandmother in Büdszentmihály, “Gombás Józsefné” — Mrs. József Gombás. Their nationality was Hungarian and their race was Magyar. The tickets for this trip were paid for by their husband & father, Sándor Gombás, who was residing in Keisters, Butler County, PA. Eszter had $160.00 in her possession and she stated she had previously been in America from 1903-1907 in "Boyerson". It further states that Eszter was 5’3” with grey eyes, brown hair and had a dark complexion. On the same passenger manifest, only four lines below the Gombás family, was the Hajdú family also from Büdszentmihály: Zsófia, with daughters Irma [Emma Hido] and Eszter. The manifest states they had no close relatives back in Hungary and they were traveling directly to their husband & father, András Hajdú [Andy Hido], in Deegan, Butler County, PA.

NOTE: The locality of "Boyerson" that is listed on this manifest is using the Hungarian suffix of -on, a locative ending that generally means “on” or “in/at” depending on context; essentially meaning 'in Boyers.' Boyers was formerly a large mining community in Marion Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TQ-M3PY

The 1910 federal census shows the Gombash family was enumerated within Cherry Twp, Butler County, PA on 10 May 1910. They appear as Oliver Gumbach [Alex Gombash (37)], Esther (35), Alec [Alex (14)], Balos [Robert (12)] and Susie (6). Alex was a coal miner and it states he had been married to Esther for 15 years. Everyone was born in Hungary, apart from Susan who was born in Pennsylvania. The son Alex (14) appears to already be working in the coal mines. The father Alex (37) stated he was an alien, indicating he hadn’t filed paperwork to become naturalized.

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RJC-DPS

Alex Gombash filed his declaration of intention to become naturalized on 7 Jan 1913 at the Butler County, PA Court of Common Pleas. He stated he was 41 years old and employed as a coal miner. He was white with a fair complexion, 5’4”, 159 lbs and had brown hair and eyes. He stated he was born on 21 Feb 1872 in ‘Mihaly, Hungary’ and was residing in Boyers, Butler County, PA. He had emigrated aboard the SS Kaiser Wilhelm through Bremen, Germany and arrived at Ellis Island, NY on 8 Jul 1902. Alex signed his name at the bottom of the form as ‘Alex Gombásh.’

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSM1-J7W2-1

The 1920 federal census shows the Gombash family was enumerated within Venango Twp, Butler County, PA on 13 Jan 1920. They appear as Alex Gombash (47), Ester (45), Alex (23), Robert (21), Susie (16), Ester (9), Elizabeth (6) and Dallas (3 9/12). Father and son Alex, along with Robert, were all working as coal miners. All of the children, including Alex (23), are listed as being single; we know he was already married to Emma Hido at this time. Susan and the children younger than her were born in Pennsylvania, while the elder family members were born in Hungary. It states Alex had filed his papers for the naturalization process, which at the time would have also naturalized his wife and children. Those laws would eventually change and any foreign-born children were required to become naturalized themselves. Alex (23) appears to have never done that, claiming he was born in Pennsylvania the remainder of his life. Their household in 1920 also had two boarders living with them: Mike Pota and Joe Mastus, both natives of Hungary and neither names are from the original villages in Hungary. These boarders were simply other men working in the coal mines that contributed money towards the household.

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RXB-DJL

Alex Gombash was hurt while working in the coal mines sometime around 1929, which resulted in a kidney injury. This injury would ultimately cause his death two years later. There is no record of his injury within the Registers of Mine Accidents for the Bituminous Districts, 1899-1972 by the Pennsylvania Records of the Department of Mines and Mineral Industries.

SOURCE: [death certificate, cited further below]
SOURCE: https://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r45_MineAccidentRegisters/r45-14BituminousAccidentRegisters1925_1932.htm

The 1930 federal census shows the Gombash family was enumerated within Deegan, Venango Twp, Butler County, PA on 25 Apr 1930. They appear as Alex Gombash (58), Esther (55), Dallas (14) and Julia (10). Alex appears to have stopped working and still remains an alien, having not completed the naturalization process. Joe Mastus, the boarder living with them in the 1920 federal census, is living directly next door to them.

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRZR-SYH

Alex Gombash died on 2 May 1931 in Venango Twp, Butler County, PA. His death certificate states he was the husband of Esther Gombash and that he was born on 22 Feb 1872 in Hungary to Joseph Gombash and Susie “Guiash.” There are four causes of death: “chronic myocarditis, anemia, pyelonephritis” and the contributory cause “traumatic injury to kidney mine accident - 2 yrs.” He was buried on 5 May 1931 in the Old Annandale Cemetery in Annandale, Butler County, PA.

The 1940 federal census was enumerated on 22 Apr 1940 in Tiltonsville, Warren Twp, Jefferson County, OH. Dallas Gombash (23, PA) appears with his mother, Esther (65, Hungary), brother-in-law Paul “Raider” (35, OH) and sister Esther (29, PA). Dallas was employed as a coal miner and Paul was employed as a wireman in a steel mill.

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9M1-SDK8

Esther Tóth Gombash died on 4 Apr 1950 in Lore City, Guernsey County, Ohio, in the home of her daughter Julia Gombash Mayors. Her death certificate states she was a widowed housewife whose usual residence was in Emlenton, Butler County, PA. She was born on 22 Sep 1874 in Austria Hungary to Charles Toth and Mary Toth. Her cause of death was listed as “aortic valvulitis due to syphilis probably” for several years. She was buried on 7 Apr 1950 in Old Annandale Cemetery in Annandale, Butler County, PA.

An obituary for Esther Gombash was published in The News-Herald of Franklin, PA on 6 Apr 1950:

“Mrs. Esther Gombash, 75, widow of Alex Gombash, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Michael Mayors, Lore City, O., at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. Mrs. Gombash was born in Hungary on Sept. 22, 1874. She is survived by three sons: Alex Gombash, Caretta, W. Va.; Dallas Gombash, Warren, O., Joseph Gombash, of Hungary and three daughters: Mrs. Susan Dudash, Emlenton, R. D. 2; Mrs. Esther Rader, Warren, O., and Mrs. Julia Mayors, Lore City. Friends may call at the Armstrong Funeral Home, Clintonville, today and tomorrow. Services will be held Saturday at 2:30 p.m. with Rev. H. C. Patterson in charge. Interment will be made in the old Annandale Cemetery.”

Lost uncle József Gombás

When Eszter immigrated with the children in 1909, József was not present on the manifest and did not live in America with the rest of his family. Family stories say that József was left behind with his paternal grandmother, Zsuzsánna Gulyás, with hopes of them both ultimately joining the family in Pennsylvania. It's unclear what happened, however, Zsuzsánna Gulyás would eventually pass away on 11 May 1921 in Büdszentmihály house #1283.

On 21 Dec 1922, the newspaper Egyetértés published an article about our uncle József Gombás. This is my translation:

"He Found His Parents After Twenty-Five Years.
József Gombás, a resident of Büdszentmihály, had not seen his parents since he was one year old. He searched for them everywhere, but could not find any trace. Then last year, he received a letter from America—inside was a photograph of his parents. His parents, who now live comfortably in the state of Pennsylvania, invited him to come and join them. Overcome with longing to see them again, Gombás deserted from the army in hopes of traveling to America. However, he was unable to obtain a passport and eventually returned voluntarily to military service. Yesterday, the military court brought him to trial for the crime of desertion. Taking the mitigating circumstances into account, the court sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment."

Two days later, on 23 Dec 1922, the newspaper Reggeli Hirlap published another article:

"He Found His Parents After Twenty-Five Years. Our Debrecen correspondent reports by telephone: József Gombás, a resident of Büdszentmihály, had not seen his parents since he was one year old. Last year his parents informed him that they live in Pennsylvania and are well-off. József Gombás was so overcome with longing for his parents that he deserted from the army. However, he did not succeed in obtaining a passport and voluntarily returned to service. The military court sentenced him to three months of imprisonment."

SOURCE: https://adt.arcanum.com/

Egyetértés, 21 Dec 1922, page 4

Reggeli Hirlap, 23 Dec 1922, page 6

Two years later, on 18 Oct 1924, the Bűnügyi Körözések Lapja [Criminal Investigations Journal] published an article regarding a court case involving József Gombás:

"[Case] 11,908 Gombás József was sentenced by the Royal Court of Nyíregyháza for the crime of theft to six months in prison, five years loss of official capacity, and the suspension of his political rights for the same duration. Description: Born in Büdszentmihály. 23 years old, Reformed (Calvinist), unmarried, day laborer, father: Sándor Gombás, mother: Eszter Tóth, hair and mustache: chestnut-brown, eyebrows: brown. No other data.
Royal Court of Nyíregyháza."

SOURCE: https://adt.arcanum.com/

On 17 Mar 1928, the Bűnügyi Körözések Lapja [Criminal Investigations Journal] published another article regarding a court case involving József Gombás:

"[Case] 2363. Gombás József is strongly suspected of having in Tiszadob bought a calf from Dávid Szilágyi and a pig from Gyula Bíró, giving them a deposit of 100,000 korona, and saying that he owned real estate. He requested and received a postponement for paying the rest of the purchase price, but did not pay and instead left for an unknown place. Description: Place of birth: Büdszentmihály; citizenship: Hungarian; date of birth: 1900; religion: Reformed; marital status: unmarried; occupation: farmer; build: medium height; hair: dark chestnut-brown; eyebrows: brown; mustache: black; last clothing: light-gray coat with coffee-colored fur collar, gray trousers, black boots, coffee-colored cap. The accused most recently resided in Tiszadob.
Royal Court of Nyíregyháza."

The publication Kismaros község története [History of the village of Kismaros], by Ottó Míves, mentions our uncle József Gombás:

"The history of Börzsönyliget, which can be traced back to a very short past, inevitably includes a list of some of the names of the new “occupiers.” The first were: engineer János Szekeres, MÁV employee Gusztáv Makk, József Gombás and Frigyes Molnár — the parish priest of the Rókus Chapel.

NOTE: In 1938, Count Károly Károlyi began dividing his land into 2,307 plots of farmland, creating what is now Börzsönyliget.

There is a prisoner record for József Gombás from 1951, which shows he was married to Klára Kovács for a year [1 ev]. They were residents of Börzsönyliget, a settlement then belonging to Szokolya in Pest county, Hungary. The record states he was born on 31 Oct 1900 in Büdszentmihály to the late Sándor Gombás and late Eszter Tóth. He had reached the 6th grade, spoke Hungarian and was a Hungarian citizen. He was physically described as being 165 cm [5'4"], with an oval face, grey heir, a high forehead, brown eyebrows and eyes, a regular nose and mouth with missing teeth, a trimmed moustache and pointed chin. It further describes him as being in good health with one dependant [spouse] and no children. He was previously a soldier but presently employed as a farmer who possessed land, with one house. His monthly average income was 400 forint.

The Budapest Criminal Court charged him with concealing a weapon and brought forward on 8 Jun 1951 at the Budapest County County Prison to serve his sentence. The sentence was 5 months long, as well as a 2-year loss of office and suspension of the exercise of his political rights, and he was released on 3 Nov 1951. A note states he was previously detained from 13-16 of Feb 1950.

NOTE: This arrest may align with the political climate in Hungary during this time. The Red Army [Soviets] occupied Hungary in 1944 and the country fell under a communist regime, which ultimately led to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

SOURCE: https://archives.hungaricana.hu/en/lear/Fogoly/47754/

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS

Left: "Uncle Dallas + Grandma Gombash at dad's grave - May 2nd, 1940." Dallas "Casey" Gombash and his mother Eszter Tóth, at the cemetery on the 9th anniversary of Sándor Gombás's passing.

Right: "Grandma Gombash 66th birthday 9/22/1940." This is Eszter Tóth and she is likely in Tiltonsville, Jefferson County, Ohio, where she was residing with children Dallas and Esther on 22 Apr 1940 during the federal census.

Two Below: Eszter Tóth sometime between 1940 and her death in 1950, likely in either Tiltonsville or Lore City, Ohio. She appears slightly older these last two photos.