Janez Mavsar (also Mauser, Mausar) was born on December 6, 1855 in the village of Dobindol, Slovenia, to the family of Janez Mavsar and Katarina Kapš. Janez was christened the same day.

Dobindol is a small village under the township of Uršna sela. It is located a short distance west of the town of Uršna sela and southwest of the city of Novo Mesto.

Janez’s profession prior to marriage was a "¼ Hüblers Sohn". He resided in the village of Dobindol in house No. 4.

The explanation for "¼ Hüblers Sohn": The Austrians developed the word "hube" for a farmhouse with land. ¼ hube = 1.4 acres. Hübler - a man who owns a hube. In the German language the word "sohn" means son. Thus "¼ Hüblers Sohn" is a farmer’s son who owns 1.4 acres.

Ana Kozoglav (also Anna Kosoglav) was born on June 4, 1864 in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, to the family of Jožef Kozoglav (also Josef Kosoglav) and Ursula Maverh (also Meiner). Ana was christened the same day.

Her occupation or social status before marriage was a "Kaischlerstochter" and she lived in the village of Šentjošt in house No. 19.

Family house No. 19 in Šentjošt, Slovenia

Šentjošt is located north of the town of Stopiče and southeast of the city of Novo Mesto.

"Kaischlerstochter" literally translates to (kajžarski hči or cottager's daughter). The word "Kajžar" translates to "cottager". In the German language the word "tochter" means daughter. Kajž - owning a small house (kajža), but no land around it. Cottager - day laborer who owned a small house with enough land around it for a small garden and a few small farm animals. Most of the population consisted of day laborers scratching out a marginal existence.

Janez Mavsar met his wife, Ana Kozoglav, in the village of Šentjošt, where she was born and raised. Janez Mavsar (30) and Ana Kozoglav (21) married on February 14, 1886. After marriage Janez moved from Dobindol to Šentjošt and moved in Ana’s house No. 19. Janez’s occupation or social status after marriage was a "Kajžar".

Janez purchased a farm property in Šentjošt from Mr. Jožef Hribar, who lived in the nearby town of D. Težka Voda. Click here to see a copy of the purchase agreement. Janez was a stone mason or brick man.

Janez served in the army and at the age of 42 fulfilled his obligation and was released from service on December 31, 1897. Click here to see his Military Document dated December 31, 1897.

Janez Mavsar died on June 12, 1929 at the age of 73 from pneumonia.

Ana Kozoglav died on July 5, 1933 at the age of 69. While records from Slovenia indicate that she died from a heart attack (srčna kap), relatives from Slovenia say that Ana died by chocking on a piece of food. After working for a while in the field (farm) she took a breakfast break with her granddaughter, Marija Hočevar (Furar). There were no adults around to help Ana and she died helplessly in front of her little granddaughter.

Both Janez and Ana are buried at the Šentjošt cemetery by the St. Anton Church.

All nine children of Janez and Ana were born in the village of Šentjošt in the house No.19:

1. Janez/John Mavsar (December 12, 1886 - October 23, 1918)
2. Martin Mavsar (September 22, 1888 - January 27, 1964)
3. Anton Mavsar (May 11, 1891 - May 25, 1895)
4. Ana Mavsar (July 24, 1893 - May 27, 1895)
5. Marija Mavsar (August 19, 1896 - April 11, 1914)
6. Jožef Mavsar (born April 9, 1899)
7. Karolina Mavsar *Lampic* (August 22, 1901 - April 1, 1980)
8. Alojzij/Louis Mavsar (February 25, 1904 - August 21, 1939)
9. Terezija Mavsar *Hočevar* (October 2, 1907 - April 3, 1950)

Family photo, circa 1915

On the photograph above, left to right (top row): Alojzij (Louis), Janez Mauser, and Karolina. Botom row: Ana Kozoglav and Terezija in Slovenia. Circa 1915.

All three sons of Janez and Ana - Janez (John), Martin and Alojzij (Louis), immigrated to the United States and settled in Haughville, Indianapolis. Janez (John) Mavsar immigrated to the U.S. in 1902, Martin Mavsar in 1905, and Alojzij in 1921. The two daughters stayed in Slovenia. The youngest, Terezija, was born years after her brothers Janez (John) and Martin immigrated to the U.S. and thus she never met them. Terezija stayed at home with her parents and eventually inherited the land and the house. Karolina moved to Ljubljana.

On the photograph above, left to right (top row): Janez Mauser, and sons-in-law Ivan Lampic and Anton Hocevar. Bottom row: Ana Kozoglav, Karolina with a child, and Terezija.

Martin corresponded with his family in Šenjošt and sent to them parcels with gifts. Martin’s son, Carl, for instance, was the confirmation sponsor of one of the Hočevar boys in Slovenia. For that occasion he sent a nice looking new suit to the child soon to be confirmed. Everyone in Slovenia enjoyed looking at the suit, and after the child outgrew it, his younger brother, Janez (John) Hocevar wore it. John still (2005) remembers how the suit looked.

Click here to see images of Janez Mavsar and Ana Kozoglav.