Frank Grabner (originally France Grabnar) was born to Jože Grabnar and Jera Bašelj on April 6, 1883 in Gorenje Kamenje (Mirna Peč parish), Slovenia at the address Gorenje Kamenje 1.

Gorenje Kamenje is a settlement in the hills north of Novo Mesto in southeastern Slovenia. The entire Municipality of Novo Mesto is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Southeast Slovenia Statistical Region.

Frank left Slovenia for the land of opportunity in the spring of 1903 at the age of 20. According to the Ellis Island records, Franz Grabnar sailed from Havre, France aboard the S.S. La Lorraine on April 4, 1903. Frank arrived to Ellis Island, New York on April 11, 1903. Single. Laborer (occupation). He was not able to read or write. He was in possession of $6. Franz and three of his Slovenian companions (Johann Cesar - relative) were traveling together to join a friend, I. Gaimk (?), residing at 709 Haugh Street, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Frank did not know his exact birthday; therefore, after arriving to the United States he adopted the birth date of October 6, 1884.

Angela Pregelj was born to Jožef Pregelj and Marija Bajec on February 17, 1890 in Polje Col (near Col), Slovenia. Col is a settlement on the edge of a karst plateau overlooking the Vipava Valley in the Municipality of Ajdovščina in the Littoral region of Slovenia.

When Angela was seven years old, her parents purchased a farm at Srednja Kanomlja No. 29 near Idrija on the hill above the Ovčjakarica Creek. Angela spent her childhood at this farm, which parents named "Pri Ipavcu". In 1910 the house address "Srednja Kanomlja 29" changed to "Gorenja Kanomlja 48".

According to the 1910 U.S. Census records (April 15, 1910), Angela immigrated to the United States in 1910 at the age of 20.
 

Angela did not know her exact birthday; therefore, after arriving to the United States she adopted the birth date of May 6, 1890.

According to the 1910 U.S. Census records (April 15, 1910), Angela resided at 710 Holmes Avenue, Indianapolis with her sister’s (Mary Mervar / Marija Pregelj). Mary immigrated to Slovenia in 1906 and in 1909 she married Anton (Tony) Mervar in Indianapolis.

At the time the Census records were taken, Anton and Mary Mervar, had a newly born baby girl, Emma, seven boarders (Slovenian immigrants - molders employed by a local foundry), and one single, 19-year-old female servant of the boarding house - Angela Pregel. She wasn’t able to speak English; Slovenian was her only spoken language. She was able to write and read.

Frank Grabner and Angela Pregelj married on May 8, 1911 in Indianapolis. Men of honor: Anton Lumber, Anton Mervar, and Frank Zunk.

Frank and Angela Grabner had eight children:

1. Caroline (February 2 or 3, 1912 - July 23, 1998)
2. Frank (September 2, 1913 - September 19, 1936)
3. Emma (July 24, 1915)
4. Angela (November 5, 1917)
5. Anthony (May 23, 1920 - September 21, 2000)
6. Everett (May 1, 1924 - June 1965)
7. Dorothy (December 9, 1926)
8. Mabel

Caroline (also Karolina, Carolina, Carolyn) Grabner was born on February 2, 1912 and baptized at Holy Trinity on February 11, 1912. At that time the family lived at 729 Holmes Avenue, Indianapolis. Caroline’s god parents: Anton and Maria Mervar. Caroline M. Grabner died on July 23, 1998. She resided in Brownsburg. SSN: 303-05-7851.

Frank (also Franciscus) Grabner was born on September 2, 1913 and baptized at Holy Trinity on September 28, 1913. The family resided at 919 Ketchem Street, Indianapolis. Frank’s god parents: Anton and Maria Mervar. Interestingly, on the day of Frank’s baptism a Holy Trinity Church priest incorrectly spelled Frank’s last name as Grobnar (the word “grob” means a grave in Slovene). Frank was tragically killed in auto wreck on September 19, 1936 just two weeks after his 23rd birthday. He was buried on September 22, 1936 at St. Joseph Cemetery, Indianapolis. Priest: P.P. Hartman. 

Emma Anna Grabner was born on July 24, 1915 and baptized at Holy Trinity on August 1, 1915. The family lived at 3511 (?) Garden Avenue, Indianapolis. Emma’s god parents: Anton and Maria Mervar. She was named Emma after Emma Mervar – the daughter of Anton and Mary Mervar.

Angela Maria Grabner (also Angellam Mariam) was born on November 5, 1917 and baptized at Holy Trinity on November 25, 1917. The family resided at 3511 Garden Avenue, Indianapolis. Angela’s god parents: Anton and Maria Mervar.

Anthony M. Grabner was a U.S. veteran: S SGT US Army Air Forces World War II. Calvary Cemetery at 435 West Troy Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225. SSN: 309-12-7490.

In 1929 Frank was a molder. Angela and Frank resided at 1148 Sharon Avenue, Indianapolis. In 1930 they still resided at the same address. After Frank’s death, in 1934, 1935, and 1936 widowed Angela lived at 910 N Holmes Avenue. In 1936 Carrie (Carol), Emma, and Frank Jr. lived with her. In 1937 through 1940 Angela lived at 755 N. Warman Avenue, Indianapolis. From 1943 until at least 1956: 1757 Beeler Ave, Speedway, Indiana (?).

In 1945 Angela employed by Am Paper Stock Co.

Frank Grabner, Sr. contracted tuberculosis and was treated at the Sunnyside Sanitarium, which opened in 1917 near Oaklandon (now part of Indianapolis) as an outgrowth of the pulmonary department of Wishard hospital. Sunnyside provided state of the art care and treatment for tuberculosis patients. It continued in operation until 1969 when new treatments for tuberculosis made the hospital and its treatments obsolete. For a short time after closing, it held patients from the nearby VA hospital. Demolished in 1977.

Frank Grabner died of tuberculosis at Sunnyside Sanitarium on October 18, 1934. Age: 50. He was buried on October 20, 1934 at St. Joseph Cemetery in Indianapolis. Holy Trinity Church Priest: Joseph Somes. At the time his family resided at 909 N. Holmes Avenue, Indianapolis.

“Children Get Ice Cream as Mother Goes to Jail”, The Indianapolis News, Monday, July 18, 1932 · Page 7

“Sergeant Edwin Kruse and squad “fraternized with the enemy” Saturday afternoon following a liquor raid. The police went to the home of Mrs. Angela Grabner, age forty-two, 1148 Sharon Avenue, and seized eleven quarts of beer, four gallons of corn whisky and a five-gallon still. Mrs. Grabner explained that she had been selling whisky to support her eight children, ranging in age from five to twenty. The police loaded the liquor into a truck, sent it to police headquarters, then bought a half-gallon of ice-cream at a nearby drug store and returned to give a party for the children at the Grabner home. The mother, who was taken to City Prison on the return trip will be tried in municipal court Wednesday on a charge of operating a blind tiger.”

A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. Such establishments came into prominence in the United States during the Prohibition era (1920-1933, longer in some states). During that time, the sale, manufacture, and transportation (bootlegging) of alcoholic beverages was illegal throughout the United States.