Tomo Šafar AKA Tomaš, Thomas, was born on 30th November 1878 in Zablatje, Imbrijovec, Croatia[1], to Ivan Šafar AKA Joaness (1823-1902)[2] and Barbara Posavec AKA Bara (1846-1895)[3].
He had three sisters Marija, Catharina, and Kata, two brothers, Stjepan and Blaž, two halfsisters, Bara and Eva, and a halfbrother, Ivan.[4] He lost his mother at the age of sixteen.
He married on 26th January 1902[5], Tereza Tkalec AKA Theresia, born on 29th May 1880[6] in Zablatje, Imbrijovec, Croatia, to Mijo Tkalec (1851-1913)[7] and Eva Dudaš (1859-1941)[8].
His father died about a month after his wedding.
Tomo immigrated to the USA on SS Frankfurt, sailing from Bremen, Germany on 1st February 1903, and reached the port of Baltimore, Maryland, the USA on 14th March 1903.[9]
His wife comes to the USA on SS Carpathia, sailing from the port of Fiume (Rijeka), Croatia on 9th May 1905 and reached the port of New York (Ellis Island) on 26th May 1905.[10]
Tomo and Tereza lived in Coitsville, Mahoning, Ohio, the USA where he worked as a laborer in Tube works, and his wife run the boarding house.[11] Three of their 4 children were born in Ohio, the USA; daughter Slava, born in 1907, sons Stefan, born in 1908, and Martin, born 1909.
Their 4th child, daughter Jalža, was born in 1911 in Zablatje, Croatia.[12]
Tomo lived with his brother in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, the United States in 1920 where he worked as a laborer in a steel mill, by that time his wife and children were back in Zablatje, Imbrijovec, Croatia.[13] His naturalization was done in 1918 in Pennsylvania, USA.
Tomo died on 20th April 1964 in Zablatje, Imbrijovec, Croatia.[14]
[1] “Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : 6 April 2015), Tomaš Šafar, Roman Catholic (Rimokatolička crkva), Imbrijovec, Births (Rođeni) 1847-1885 Births (Rođeni) 1858-1869 Marriages (Vjenčani) 1858-1884, image 73 of 273; Arhiva Hrvatske u Zagrebu (Croatia State Archives), Zagreb.
[2] FamilySearch, “The FamilyTree,” database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 13 May 2018), Ivan Šafar (L4QY-82M), Vitals.
[3] FamilySearch, “The FamilyTree,” database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 13 May 2018), Barbara Posavec (L4QY-DQ1), Vitals.
[4]FamilySearch, “The FamilyTree,” database, Ivan Šafar (L4QY-82M), Family Members, Spouse and children.
[5] “Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : 6 April 2015), Tomo Šafar and Treza Tkalec, Roman Catholic (Rimokatolička crkva), Imbrijovec, Marriages (Vjenčani) 1885-1912 Deaths (Umrli) 1847-1884, image 64 of 215; Arhiva Hrvatske u Zagrebu (Croatia State Archives), Zagreb.
[6]“Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKMG-3YNQ : 1 March 2021), Theresija Tkalec, 29 May 1880; citing Baptism, Imbrijovec, Croatia, reference 99, Arhiva Hrvatske u Zagrebu (Croatia State Archives), Zagreb; FHL microfilm 5,484,425.
[7] FamilySearch, “The FamilyTree,” database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 13 May 2018), Mijo Tkalec (L4QB-63M), Vitals.
[8] FamilySearch, “The FamilyTree,” database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 13 May 2018), Eva Dudaš (L4QB-64Y), Vitals.
[9] “Maryland, Baltimore Passenger Lists, 1820-1948,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CSF-1SR : 19 February 2021), Tomo Safar, 1903; citing Immigration, Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, NARA microfilm publications M255, M596, and T844 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL film 1,454,818.
[10] “New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JFQP-TJ7 : 2 March 2021), Terezija Safar, 1905.
[11] “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLX8-G91 : accessed 24 March 2021), Tom Safar, Coitsville, Mahoning, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 78, sheet 29B, family 337, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1211; FHL microfilm 1,375,224.
[12] “Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : 16 July 2014), Jalža Šafar in the household of Ivan Šafar, Roman Catholic (Rimokatolička crkva), Imbrijovec, Church Census (Stanje duša) 1907, image 139 of 237; Arhiva Hrvatske u Zagrebu (Croatia State Archives), Zagreb.
[13] “United States Census, 1920”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6T2-138 : 3 February 2021), Thomas Safar in entry for Stephen Safar, 1920.
[14] “Croatia, Church Books, 1516-1994,” database with images, FamilySearch, Tomaš Šafar, Roman Catholic (Rimokatolička crkva), Imbrijovec, Births (Rođeni) 1847-1885 Births (Rođeni), under Notes (Opaske).