Mihelich Family and Farm History

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Mihelich Family and Farm History History of the Joseph and Margeta (Sečen) Mihelich families and historic farm / house in Paw Paw, MI

Calumet - 2026 vs 1908. Joseph Mihelich is 3rd row, far left, outside. William Mihelich is in here somewhere, also.
09/21/2026

Calumet - 2026 vs 1908. Joseph Mihelich is 3rd row, far left, outside. William Mihelich is in here somewhere, also.

Not actually related to our families, but great grandma Margaret Sečen’s first husband was Stephan Verbanac - who was ki...
09/19/2026

Not actually related to our families, but great grandma Margaret Sečen’s first husband was Stephan Verbanac - who was killed in a mine accident in 1900. I found out this weekend that he had (at least) 2 brothers who emigrated to Calumet, also. Which is interesting, because Stephen was good friends with William Mihelich (they travelled and arrived together in Calumet from Croatia). And it makes me wonder if Margaret kept in touch with them at all, as the families were so intertwined (one of Margaret’s sisters also married a Verbanac, and I’ve found Miheliches who married Verbanacs in Croatia, also).

My great grandfather’s mine employment card. There is some unknown and interesting information here.Before starting to...
09/18/2026

My great grandfather’s mine employment card. There is some unknown and interesting information here.

Before starting to work in the mines in 1900, his last employment was farming in Minnesota. Given he emmigrated to the US in 1895, this helps fill in gaps in where he was before he shows up in Calumet records.

He worked in the mines from 1900 until 1904 - after he had married Margaret (Sečen) Verbanac.

In 1900, he did not speak English and was still going by his Croatian name - Josip Mihelic.

When he started working for the mines in 1900, he was living with his brother William, as evidenced by the address. Sometime during his employment, he moved to an unknown 1561 address. Possibly after he married.

The left-most part of this new park (looking from the road) is 325 5th St, Calumet, where Joseph and Margaret ran the sa...
09/17/2026

The left-most part of this new park (looking from the road) is 325 5th St, Calumet, where Joseph and Margaret ran the saloon and raised the kids from 1908 to 1918. My grandmother, Elizabeth, and Dorothy were likely born upstairs here. This a beautiful green space the village just recently developed.

I have been up in Calumet all week - a combination vacation, working on my house here, and doing some more research. I...
09/16/2026

I have been up in Calumet all week - a combination vacation, working on my house here, and doing some more research. I know I’ve been quiet for some time, but LOTS TO COME.

But we will start with this one: William Mihelich (Joseph’s brother) move to Paw Paw around 1920 with the rest of family. But his first wife - Mary (Brozovich) died in Calumet in 1916. When William died in 1941, he was burried in Calumet with her, and his daughter, Annie (who died just shy of 7 years old).

Coincidentally, they are burried almost next to Stephen Verbanac (his best friend with whom he emigrated here). After Stephen’s death in a mine accident in 1900, William’s brother would Mary Stephen’s widow.

Congratulations, Diane, but I don’t think I’ll be able to attend - I won’t be born for a few more years.
02/06/2026

Congratulations, Diane, but I don’t think I’ll be able to attend - I won’t be born for a few more years.

Went out to St. Mary’s cemetery Christmas (and took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather). Uncle John - the 2nd o...
01/02/2026

Went out to St. Mary’s cemetery Christmas (and took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather). Uncle John - the 2nd oldest of my great grandparents Joseph and Margaret’s children - died at the farm his senior year of high school due to a burst appendix. This was at least the 3rd child great-grandma had lost (after one with her first husband, and Aunt Clara - the last of her children). Uncle John’s tombstone was covered in much moss and scale, so I did the best I could to clean all of the Mihelich family’s stones off - I plan to go back in the spring and do a better job. I always thought the marker faced the grave, but here I see it’s on the opposite side of the marker. Also, look at how desolate and “unkempt” the cemetery was in 1925 (last picture). First picture is of Margaret and Aunt Dorothy (who would have been 7) - assuming this was taken in 1925. If it was later, this would be Aunt Helen.

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52077 38th Street
Paw Paw, MI
49079

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