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History of Cambria County, V.3

268 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
REV. JOHN MARTVON, pastor of St. Stephen's Slovak Roman Catholic Church, Cambria City, was born January G, 1857, in Hrustin, Hungary, son of John and Theresa (Zilinec) Martvon, the former of whom followed the occupation of a farmer.
    John Martvon was thoroughly educated in his native land, passing four years at the Gymnasium of Trstena and three at that of Levoca. He studied philosophy and theology at Spis, and there received ordination April 15, 1881. During six years thereafter he ministered as assistant pastor at churches situated at Hrusov, Kluknava, Jablonka and Lipnica. In 1890 he set sail for the United States, and on July 25, of that year, landed in New York. Thence he proceeded to Cleveland, Ohio, where he took charge of the Slovak congregation of the church of St. Ladislaus, fulfilling the duties of that office over two years. At the end of that time he was transferred to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and placed in charge of the congregation of which he has been the guide for the last twelve years, having entered upon his pastoral duties in March, 1894.
    The broad and liberal basis upon which the work of Father Martvon is founded and the spirit of kindliness by which it is animated are demonstrated in the fact that since he assumed charge of the congregation it has become representative of no fewer than four different nationalities, Greeks, Croatians, Poles and Magyars meeting and co-operating in a spirit of brotherly love. At first the Greeks, Croatians, Poles and Magyars with the Slovaks formed one congregation. Now they each have a congregation of their own, making five from one.
    In 1895 a comfortable and attractive parsonage was erected, and in 1897 the work of the church was re-enforced by the building of a convent to which was attached a parochial school. The congregation also purchased the property adjoining the convent at a cost of fifteen thousand five hundred dollars, and on this land the erection of a new church is contemplated. In 1895 Father Martvon introduced into his parish the Sisters of St. Francis, and since that time the school under their charge, which was organized with a force of two teachers and an attendance of sixty children, has increased to seven teachers and four hundred and fifty pupils. This fact is illustrative of the aggressive policy of Father Martvon and his able coadjutors and of the rapid and abundant results already accomplished which contain in their fulfilment encouraging hopes for future achievement.

    REV. JULIUS CSUCSKA, an able clergyman of the Greek Catholic denomination, in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is one of the most widely known and respected preachers in that section of the state. He resigned the important position of professor and vice-president of the Greek Theological Institution at Unghvar to accept this call to work in America.
    The laboring class of Hungary, though they may resign almost all the customs of their native country and adopt those of the land to which they have emigrated, cling with devotion to the faith of their forefathers. This is practically exemplified in the Greek Catholic congregation which has been formed in Johnstown. This congregation was organized in 1895 and there were but fifteen families that joined in the movement at that time, led by John Jerabinctz, Andrew Bohla and Stephen Staroschak. They erected the first church ever built in this county for the so-called Greek rites. This was a small, frame house located in Power street, Cambria City, and was under the direct supervision of the first pastor, Rev. H. Dzubay. The small congregation rapidly outgrew their place of wor-


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