George Vergis

NOT A DIRECT ANCESTOR George James Vergis is not in my direct ancestry. He is 2 steps removed in the following ways: Husband of Ruth M. Wilson Sister of John Thomas Wilson Daughter of Bert Winiford Wilson and Clara Mabel Wimer

Georgios D./J. Vergetakis was born on 3 July 1900 and raised on a farm outside Iraklion, Crete. His father's name was Giorgios Vergetakis, likely with first name Dimetrios (i.e. Dimetrios Giorgios Vergetakis). The son Giorgios had brothers and sisters, "names unknown, but likely good Greek names like James, John, George, Michael, Mary". World War I began in 1914, and in that year Giorgios was sent to America, alone at age 14. As the eldest son and family name bearer, his family thus hoped to keep him safe. They, as with many Greeks, believed strongly in the importance of handing down the family inheritance and name from father to eldest son. Giorgios faced being drafted into the Greek army, so his family sent him away to safety in America, possibly investing some of what would have been his inheritance in the project. Arriving in Philadelphia in 1914, he was too young to fight in the U.S army in WWI (and too old by WWII).

In Greece,it is believed, many of his family were killed by the Turkish Army during WWI. As the war ended in 1918, Greece declared war on Turkey, invading Turkey only to be driven out at huge cost in 1922. In WWII Germany invaded Crete. There were photos of some of Giorgio Vergetakis’ relatives as resistance fighters, posing with their rifles. Many were killed by the German army, along with many Greek civilians. From America Giorgio sent care packages to his family during WWII, but after the war the correspondence eventually stopped.

Georgios, arriving in Philadelphia in 1914, may have known other Greeks in western Pennsylvania. He found work in steel mills around Tarantum, Allegheny County,PA near Pittsburgh; and later in Butler, Butler Co., PA. He met Ruth M. Wilson presumably in Oil City, Venango Co., PA. They signed a marriage license in New Castle, PA, but it expired before they were married. They later went to West Virginia to marry, presumably because there was no waiting period there. They had four children, all born in Oil City, PA. At some point Giorgios D. Vergetakis shortened & Anglicized his name to George James Vergis. This may have been a gradual process, as some insurance receipts list his wife Ruth as "Ruth Vergetakis". They moved to Franklin, PA in 1944, and opened a shoe shine and hat-cleaning shop and pool room. Eventually they owned a restaurant, the family living in an apartment above." A meatloaf dinner with mashed potatoes and coleslaw cost as much as $3.65, coffee included." Many family papers were lost in a fire that destroyed the building in 1962. George died in 1974, and is buried in the Franklin Cemetery at Franklin/Rocky Grove, PA.
(These biographical notes provided Jan. 2015 & ongoing by Michael Vergis, son of George and Ruth Wilson Vergis. Please see Source Notes section below regarding naming customs and assumptions.) |}

	Date	Location	Notes	Sources
Birth	20 July 1900	near Iraklion, Crete
Marriage	license 15 Nov. 1934, New Castle PA	marriage, West Virginia	To Ruth M. Wilson (divorced ~1951))
Death	26 Feb 1974
Burial		Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, PA

Children

(children with George J. Vergis)

Name	Gender	Date of Birth	Birthplace	Spouse	Notes	Sources
living Vergis	M	~1936
John Vergis	M	31 Oct 1937	Oil City, Venango Co., PA	unmarried
living Vergis	F	~Jan, 1940
living Vergis	M

Places of Residence

Location	Dates	Notes	Sources
farm near Iraklion, Crete, Greece	1900-1914	born & raised
Philadelphia, PA	1914	Port of entry, US immigration
S. Canal St., Brackenridge, Allegheny Co., PA	12 Sept 1918	works in steel mill
4th Ave., Tarentum, Allegheny Co., PA	April 1930	merchant, clothing store
Oil City, Venango Co. PA	Jan. 1935	marriage to Ruth M. Wilson
Lancaster St., Oil City, Venango Co., PA	Apr. 1940	with wife, 3 children
310 13th St.,Franklin, Venango Co., PA	1944-1974	own/live above Arcade Restaurant & billiards hall, 13th St.

Photos

Mother & 3 sisters of George Vergis

At home on a farm near Iraklion, Crete, Mary Vergetakis and three daughters (mother and sisters of George Vergis).

Ed Wilson & nephew Mike Vergis, ca 1943 on Bert Wilson farm

The children of Ruth and George were born in Oil City, PA. In this photo ca. 1942-43, the youngest child is visiting the home of maternal grandparents Bert and Clara Wimer Wilson in Nickleville, where Ruth's brother Ed either still resides or is visiting.

Ruth at business entrance, possibly 310 13th St Franklin ca 1944

Ruth and George moved to Franklin in 1944. They opened a business at 310 13th St. that at first included hat cleaning (see signs in both windows), shoe shine stand, and billiards. Note cigarette ads of the era in the righthand window, for Camels, Chesterfields, and Philip Morris. The "Call for Philip Morris" boy in bellhop uniform partially appears in upper left of the window.

other side of doorway, note "hats cleaned" sign

Vergis children on 13th St., Franklin,PA ca. 1953.

Eloise & Russ Wilson & nephew John Vergis, Seattle 1977

Gravestone of John Vergis, Franklin Cemetery

Sources

Ref. Num.	Description	Image of original
3	WWI Draft Registration Card, Georgio Dimetrios Vergetakis Georgio Dimetrios Vergetakis, Permanent address: S. Canal, Brackinridge, Pa.; age 18, born 20 July 1900; Citizenship: Greece; currently employed as mill worker, at Allegheny Steel Co., in Brackinridge, PA. Next of kin listed as a cousin, John Humas, S. Canal St., Brackinridge. p. 2 Height: tall, Build: medium, Eyes: brown, Hair: black. No obvious physical disqualifications. Signed A. R. Day, Sept. 12, 1918. (Document available for viewing on Ancestry.com) (Please see Source Notes section below)
4	1920 United States Federal Census
5	1930 United States Federal Census Tarentum, Allegheny Co. PA, date of census April 1930. George Vergis listed as a boarder with 12 others in the home of Charles & Ida Custead, 4th Ave, Tarentum. George is age 29, single, able to read & write, he & both parents born in Greece, native language is Greek, but also speaks English. Arrival year 1916 & was naturalized. Occupation: merchant in a clothing store.
7	Marriage Application, License, Minister's Return dated 30 Jan. 1935, Wheeling West Virginia. Application: Husband George Vergis, age 34, born in Greece, residence Oil City PA. Wife Ruth M. Wilson age 22, born Slippery Rock PA, residence Oil City PA. Dated 30 Jan 1935. Marriage License to George Vergis and Ruth M. Wilson, dated 30 Jan. 1935. Ministers Return of Marriage, 30 Jan. 1935, Wheeling West Va. signed by Paul W. Nesfer. Certification at bottom of page holding these three documents signed by Raymond J Falland, Clerk of Court.
8	Marriage Certificate for George Vergis and Ruth M. Wilson, 30 Jan. 1935 in Wheeling, WV, signed by Paul Nesfer, Minister, St. James Lutheran Church. Image supplied by son Mike Vergis, Feb. 2015.
9	1940 United States Federal Census Enum. Dist 61-43, Oil City, Venango Co., PA, page 27. Census date 25-26 Apr 1940. Lines 7-11: George J. Vergis, age 34, head, married, b. Greece, employed in billiard room, private business; Ruth M., age 29, wife, married; James, age 4, son; John, age 2, son; Mary, age 3 mo., dau. George Vergis born Greece; others all b. PA.
10	1947 City Directory Franklin PA, pg. 260, line 4 - Vergis Geo J (Ruth M) billiards h310 13th.
11	Obituary of George Vergis,The Derrick, pg.16, Wed.27 Feb. 1974. George J. Vergis, 73, of 310 Thirteenth St., ...died Tuesday (i.e. 26 Feb. 1974), Oil City Hospital. He was born 21 July, 1900 in Crete, Greece, a son of James George and Mary Vergis. He came to the United States when he was 16 years old and settled in New York City. He moved to the Franklin area in 1945. Formerly a business owner in Oil City, Tarentum, and New Philadelphia, Ohio. Member first United Presby. Church. Survived by three sons... ,one daughter..., six grandsons, three granddaughters,and three sisters living in Greece. Funeral service in Frank S. Huff Chapel, Sunday (i.e. 3 Mar. 1974), Rev. Jack Kyle of Polk State School & Hospital, officiating. Burial Franklin Cemetery. Note: Some items of content conflict are questioned by family member)
12	Obituary of John G. Vergis, from collection of Peg Kahle, Oil City Derrick. Dr. John G. Vergis of Rome, NY and formerly of Franklin, died at 1:54 am Friday, 10 Feb 2006 in UPMC Northwest, Seneca. Born 31 Oct 1937 in Oil City, son of the late George and Ruth Wilson Vergis. He was a 1955 graduate of Franklin HS. He attended Defiance College in Ohio and later Temple Univ. in Philadelphia where he earned a degree in Optometry. He served in the US Air Force, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant while serving at Lackland AFB in Texas. He practiced optometry in Franklin until 1980 when he moved his practice to Rome and Whitesboro, NY Surviving are two brothers: Dr. James Vergis and wife Rosemary of Wycombe and Michael Vergis and wife Joan of Rome, NY; and a sister: Mary Denk and husband William of Dublin, OH; and a special friend: Deborah Sartain of Rome, NY. Several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles also survive. He was preceded in death by his father in 1974 and his mother in 2004. Services at the Hile-Best Funeral Home, Seneca, Cranberry Twp. at 2 pm on Monday, Rev. Jack Kyle, retired Presbyterian pastor, officiating. Interment in the Franklin Cemetery.
14	Michael G. Vergis correspondence, Jan. 2015, ongoing. Giorgio Vergetakis b. 3 July 1900 on farm near Iraklion, Crete; probably was first son. His father was Yimmin Giorgios Vergetakis, (translates as James George Vergetakis). Immigrated to U.S., port of Philadelphia, in 1914, age 14. (per Phila. Historical Soc. listing; also on the ship was an Andreas Vergitakis). No further information on relationship,if any, of Andreas Vergitakis. Naturalization paper dated 18 June 1926 Worked in steel mills in Pittsburgh/Tantarum PA, and Butler PA. First marriage license 15 Nov. 1934, New Castle PA; married in West Virginia. Resided Oil City until 1944, where all 4 children born. Died 1974; buried in Franklin Cemetery. Notes on importance to Greeks of naming tradition, through line for first sons.
15	FindAGrave.com George J. Vergis 1900-1974 "Son of James George & Mary Vergis. He came to US in 1916, settled in NYC then moved to Franklin in 1945. He owned Arcade Restaurant on 13th St. in Franklin. Born 21 July 1900, Crete, Greece. Died 26 Feb 1974, Oil City PA. Buried Franklin Cemetery. Photo. Note:Page has data (arrived in US 1916, settled in New York City; moved to Franklin 1945) at variance with ours. Page's author used information from the George Vergis obituary.

Source Notes

NOTES ON GREEK NAMES,SPELLINGS, ANGLICANIZATION

• Greek name "Demitrios" is technically linked etymologically to Jacob, but is often translated to English as James. See Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_%28name%29): "James (and so Jim and Jimmy) are anglicized from the Greek name Dimitri as used by the Greek diaspora in the USA, even though the names are etymologically unrelated."
• Georgios Vergetakis' name is seen in some records as "Georgio". In Greek the final "s" is silent; it was dropped by some record makers. The "s" at the end of the surname "Vergetakis" was also silent, but the name was eventually anglicized to "Vergis" where the "s" is pronounced.

PRIMAGENITURE IN GREEK NAMING: SURNAME & GIVEN NAME

• (Per Mike Vergis): First sons were expected to carry the family name forward, but not only the surname. At least in this family, the given name also goes forward, but reversing the order of first and middle name in alternating generations. It is believed here that Demitrios was the middle name of our 1914 immigrant Giorgios, later changed to James (see source note above). His name appears in some records as Georgios D. Vergetakis; in later records as George J. Vergis. He went by the name George. Extension of this logic back to the previous generation suggests that his father's first name could have been Demitrios. Thus (Demitrios) Georgios Vergetakis' son was named Georgios Dimetrios Vergetakis ; the grandson was James George Vergis, like his grandfather.

NOTES ON THE SOURCES

• Source 3, Draft Reg. - "Cousin John Humas" , A memory of Mike Vergis, son of George Vergis: " I have a memory of someone visiting us, just one time that I know of; my father told me it was Uncle John and he lived in Pittsburgh. I (Mike) was perhaps 7, 8, or 9 years old but I recall that Uncle John gave me a ride on a motorbike that had a sidecar. I sat in the sidecar and he drove around Franklin for a while. It is that motorbike ride that makes me remember him, and how my father acted. He cooked a really big meal for Uncle John, seemed delighted to see him. I don't think I ever saw my Dad so cordial and attentive, waiting on him, all the adjectives, before or after. It left an impression on me for sure. The odd think is my brothers have no recollection of this Uncle John; only me. It could be why my brother is named John; and/or he could also be named after (maternal Uncle) John Wilson.
• Source 3, Draft Reg. - Birth Date of George Vergis, Source 1, Draft Registration has birth date 20 July, 1900; Source 7, son Mike Vergis has birthday as 3 July, 1900. Mike Vergis: "My memory associates my father's birthday with the day before 4th of July. I've also seen 20 July somewhere, and on his Certification of Death the birth date is 21 July." Note: This site will use the 20 July, 1900 date, as given by George Vergis at age 18, rather than as remembered later by family members.
• Source 5, 1930 census: Census taker has year of naturalization as 1916; Per Mike Vergis the Naturalization paper is dated 18 July 1926. Census lists George as a merchant (could indicate sales staff or owner?) in clothing store. Per Mike Vergis, George at one time owned a hat-cleaning shop, which may or may not be this reference.
• Source 11, Obituary of George Vergis says George was 16 yrs. old at time of entry into the U.S., and that the port of entry was NYC. This is contested by Source 14 Mike Vergis, son of George, who says he was age 14 at time of entry (1914) at Philadelphia. Mike says that his mother, Ruth Wilson Vergis, would have provided the information in the obituary but that her information would have been a guess at the age, and that perhaps she and George both believed that all immigrants came through Ellis Island. George was very young at time of arrival, landed in a big city, and almost immediately was transported to western Pennsylvania to work in the steel mills. He was quite young, with limited English, and what city he landed in may have made a minimal impression at the time, and been forgotten. Four years later, on his draft card, he lists the name of a cousin, John Humis, who seems to share the same address. This family may have been his contact when he arrived, and may have seen to his transportation west and finding work in the mills. They may have spoken Greek at home for a time. What the child remembered could well be incomplete.
• Source 10, City Directory Franklin PA, address 310 13th appears to be for home and a business (billiards). Source 14, son Mike Vergis says of it, that his family lived upstairs over the business at 310 13th Street. He believes the family moved from Oil City to Franklin in 1944. "The Arcade" business included a hat cleaning service, shoe shine stand and six billiard tables. Later, "Arcade Lunch" had a diner, pinball machines and 3 billiard tables. Finally, "Arcade Restaurant" had 12 dining tables, lunch counter, ice cream counter, billiard and pinball machines in back.
  Elizabeth Ann Wilson, niece of Ruth Wilson Vergis, remembers visiting the family as a child and teen-ager. The restaurant occupied the front room, the billiards a back room, and the residence was upstairs. George was the cook, and Ruth managed the dining area.