Croatia in America: Nikola and Mary (Peris) Beg

by Sam Begg

In the early years of the twentieth century, the Croatian community in Rankin thrived.  Through continued immigration and births, the size of the population grew quickly.  Mary and Nikola Beg contributed to the growth on a steady pace. Mary had arrived with their first child, Helen, who was born in Croatia some six months after Nikola left.  

Nikola had arrived in America in 1897.  His older brother George, the second son, had emigrated one year earlier.  Nikola left Mary, now pregnant, living in the house with his parents.

Nikola Beg worked hard building a life for his growing family.  He was active in the growth of the Croatian Church in Rankin [editor note - Amy is assuming St. Mary's not St. Nicholas?]  He was a member of the Croatian Lodge.   The comfort with ones own helped immigrant society cope with a world where they were and would be for their entire lives, outsiders.  Nikola had other dreams. If he would be an outsider, his children would not be.  He wanted a life where his children would be part of America, not part of Croatia in America.

Marry arrived in America with Helen.  The family grew with the births of:

• Julia 1901
• Mary 1902
• Frank 1905
• Twin boys 1907 (one died at 9 months, one died at 11 months)
• Ann 1908
• Emil 1910
• Joseph 1920

He also wanted a house built on a hill.  It may not have been possible to get fully away from the 
sights, sounds, and smell of the mills, but it was possible to put some distance between his family and the mills.  Nikola bought a small house on Buena Vista Street, in Swissvale, PA. It was in sight of the mills, not far from Fleet Street, in Rankin, but it was on a hill.  His neighbors were a mix of immigrant families. English, German, Swede, Italian, Hungarian, but not one other Croatian family.  He left the comfort of the little Croatia for a community that represented America.  It was still, basically, immigrant America, but we are a land of immigrants.




Read also:

Croatia to America: Mary Peris (Nikola Beg's wife)