George Vergis

Immigrant 1916

 

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 Dimetrios Vergetakis was born on 20 July 1900 in the village of Krousonas, which is about 25 miles south of Iraklion, Crete. His father's name was Dimetrios Vergetakis and his mother’s name was Maria. They were farmers. Their son Georgios had 2 brothers and 4 sisters. Their names were Giannis, Michalis, Athina, Katerina, Kristali, and Kyrgiakoula.
Georgios arrived in America in September 1916 at the Port of New York and was processed through Ellis Island. Another Greek immigrant, Andreas Vergetakis, had immigrated in 1908. It is possible that he was a relative and that Georgios stayed with him in NYC for a couple of months.
Georgios then was sent to Brackinridge Pa. near Pittsburgh, to work in the Allegheny Steel Mill where a relative, John Humas, was working and lived with his wife Pelagia and two children, Michael and Nicholas. Georgios possibly lived with them for a time. He worked there for two or three years before moving again, possibly wishing to leave heavy industrial work. In New Philadelphia, Ohio he worked for another Greek immigrant, George Polis, who owned a shoeshine and hat cleaning business. Georgios lived and worked in New Philadelphia for 3-4 years, before returning to the Pittsburgh area to start his own shoeshine business in Tarentum PA, near Pittsburgh.
Sometime, during the Great Depression, he had a shoeshine concession at the train station in Butler, Pa. He also worked as ticketing agent. Later Georgios moved to north to work at the Oil City train station as the ticket agent. There he met his future wife, Ruth Mabel Wilson, a clerk at the station selling train tickets, newspapers, cigars, candy, and other concession items. Georgios and Ruth were married in January 1935. Early insurance receipts list wife Ruth Vergetakis.
At some point Giorgios Dimitrios Vergetakis shortened & anglicized his name to George James Vergis. They had four children, all born in Oil City, Pa. They moved to Franklin, Pa. in 1945, and opened a shoeshine & hat-cleaning business with concession stand, arcade, & billiards. The business evolved into a restaurant with the family living in an apartment above. Ruth's family were of the Presbyterian faith, while George came from a Greek Orthodox background. The children went to Catholic schools and church. All four went to college and on to professional careers.
In January 1963 a fire started in an adjacent store and cause damage to the restaurant and apartment. Many family papers and pictures were lost, but George did reopen the restaurant. George & Ruth divorced and Ruth remarried. George died in 1974, and is buried in the Franklin Cemetery at Franklin/Rocky Grove, Pa.
These biographical notes were provided Jan. 2015, by Michael Vergis, son of George & Ruth Wilson Vergis and edited by EWW of this website, niece of Ruth Wison Vergis, as documentation became available. (Please see Source Notes section below, regarding naming customs & assumptions.)

	Date	Location	Notes	Sources
Birth	20 July 1900	near Iraklion, Crete
Marriage	30 Jan 1935	Wheeling, West Virginia	To Ruth M. Wilson (divorced ~1951))
Death	26 Feb 1974
Burial		Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, PA

Ancestry chart segment

 Generation 2             Generation 3             
 
                                                   
                                                    
                             +-- Dimitris Vergetakis
                             |  (dates unkn)  
Georgios Dimitris Vergetakis +                            
 (1900-1974)                 |                               
                             +-- Maria Unkn
                                (dates unkn)

Sources:

Children

(children with George J. Vergis)

Name	Gender	Date of Birth	Birthplace	Spouse	Notes	Sources
James G. Vergis	M	~1935	Oil City, Venango Co., PA	Rosemary G. O'Donnell	d. 11 Sept 2016
John Vergis	M	31 Oct 1937	Oil City, Venango Co., PA	unmarried
living Vergis	F	~Jan, 1940	Oil City, Venango Co., PA
living Vergis	M		Oil City, Venango Co., PA

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).

Michalis Vergitakis, and wife Irini

Photo of Mikalis Vergitakis and wife. Surname of Irini unknown. Photo & names forwarded to Mike Vergis, son of George Vergis from "cousin" in Crete. Language difficulties, so possibly from 2nd cousin once removed..

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.]]

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

Ruth and George moved to Franklin in 1945. They opened a business at 310 13th St. that at first included hat cleaning (see photo, 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. (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). Imigrated alone to U.S. at age 14. Immigrated to U.S., port of Philadelphia, (per Phila. Historical Soc. listing) 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/Tarantum 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. Number of & names of siblings of Giorgio Dimetrios Vergetakis/George Vergis, from correspondence with a cousin, Nikos Vergitakis, in Heraklion, Crete.
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.
16	Nikos Vergetakis of Haraklion, Greece, 2018 correspondence with Michael Vergis, son of George Vergetakis/Vergis (this page). Per Nikos, John Vergetakis was his grandfather and a brother to George D. Vergitakis (this page), and four sisters: Athena, Kristali, Kyrgiakoula, & Katerina.
17	Certificate of Arrival, Ellis Island Dept of Labor, Bureau of Immigration, Ellis Island, NY. Name of alien: Vergietaquis, Giorgios. Date of arrival: Sept 19, 1916. Manner of arrival: Patria. Issue No. 111384, Date Jan 26, 1926.
18	Naturalization Declaration of Intent, US Dept. of Labor, Naturalization Service, Western District of Pennsylvania District Court, Date 4 Oct, 1923, Pg.2774, No. 93498 Georgis Vergetakis, age 23, occupation Shoe Stand, color white, complexion dark, height 5 ft 6 inches, wt. 175 lb., hair black, eyes brown, no distinctive marks. Born in Crusona, Greece on 20 July 1900. Residence 332 Fifth Ave., Tarantum, PA. Emigrated to the US from Piraeus, Greece on the vessel Patria; last foreign residence was Cruseona, Greece. Not married.Renounces allegiance to present government of Greece. Arrived at port of New York on 9th of Sept. 1916. Is not an anarchist, not a polygamist etc. Intends to become a citizen & reside permanently in the US. Signed Georgis Vergetakis
19	Naturalization Petition, No. 64766, 18 Mar. 1926, Georgis Vergetakis Resides 332 Fifth Ave. Tarantum PA. Emigrated from Piraeus Greece on 7 Sept 1916; arrived New York 19 Sept 1916 on the Patria. Declared intention to become a citizen of the U.S. on 5 Oct 1923 at District Court, Pittsburgh Pa. Not married. Allegiance to U.S., renounced Greece. He is able to speak English. Has resided in the U.S. for at least 5 yrs, & in Pennsylvania for at least 1 year before date of Petition. Attached for filing: Declaration of Intent No. 93498. Signed Georgis Vergitakis. Witnesses: Harry Stewart, salesman, residence Tarentum, & Edward Riddle of Tarentum.
20	Naturalization Oath, 18 June 1926. Order of Court admitting petitioner Georgis Vergitakis to citizenship.
21	Ella Wilson Notes, a timeline history of the early years of her marriage to John T. Wilson. John graduated from high school in 1936. He stayed with (his sister) Ruth, while working for George Vergis at the bus station in Oil City.

BIOGRAPHY 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. The name was eventually anglicized to "Vergis"; the "s" is pronounced.

PRIMAGENITURE IN GREEK NAMING: SURNAME & GIVEN NAME

• (Per Mike Vergis): First sons were expected to carry the family name forward. Often, the father's given name also goes forward, but reversing the order of first and middle names in alternating generations. It is believed here that Demitrios, later changed to James (see source note above), was the middle name of immigrant Giorgios Vergitakis. His name appears in some records as Georgios D. Vergetakis; in later records as George J. Vergis. He went by the name George. His first son was named James George Vergis. Extension of this alternating generation naming logic back a generation suggests that Georgios' father's first name could have been Demitrios. Thus (Demitrios) Georgios Vergetakis' first son was Georgios Dimetrios Vergetakis. The name-line grandson was James George Vergis (as was perhaps his grandfather).

CORROBORATING DATA

• Andrea Vergitakis, Male age 21, arrived at Port of New York 25 Nov. 1908 on a ship of the Regina d'Italia series, possibly built in Genoa 1905.

SOURCES NOTES

• Source 3, Draft Reg. - "Cousin John Humas" . A memory of Mike Vergis, son of George Vergis: " I remember someone visiting us, just once that I know of; and my father told me it was "Uncle John" who lived in Pittsburgh. I was perhaps 7- 9 years old and 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, before or after. It left an impression on me for sure. The odd thing is my brothers have no recollection of this Uncle John; only me. He could be why my 2nd brother is named John.
• 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, and on his Certification of Death the birth date is 21 July." Ed.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 has year of naturalization as 1916; Naturalization paper is dated 18 July 1926. Census lists George as a merchant 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 , was provided by wife Ruth Wilson Vergis, says George was 16 yrs. old at time of entry into the U.S., and that the port of entry was NYC. George was young at time of arrival, landed in a big city, and almost immediately transferred to western Pennsylvania to work in the steel mills. He was quite young, with limited English. 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.
• 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.