Josef (also Joseph) Mervar was born on March 20, 1879 in the village of Škrjanče, Slovenia to Franciscus Mervar and Marija Šmajdek.

At the age of 20 Joseph left his home, Gostilna na Hribu (Inn on the Hill) near Škrjanče, for the Land of Opportunity. He was the first of four children of Franciscus and Marija to immigrate to the United States.

According to Ellis Island records, Joseph Mervar departed from Havre, France on the ship S.S. La Normandie on February 17, 1900. He arrived at the port of New York on February 27, 1900. Joseph was single. His final destination in the U.S. was Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was in possession of $25.

Joseph was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1907.

On September 23, 1909 Joseph married Marija (also Mary) Gerbeck (also Gerbek, Habick, Gerbic, Gerbec) in Marion County, Indianapolis. She was born on January 6, 1889. Joseph was 30 and Mary 20. Maria was from Srednje (Sredna gorica), Primorsko, Slovenia. Mary and Joe Mervar married in Cleveland (according to Stanley Mervar).

Germanized form of Slovenian Gerbec, Grbec or Gerbic, nicknames for a hunchback, from grba "hunch".

Joseph never spanked children, Mary did. Kids used to hide from their mom under the buffet. Mary Gerbec’s aunt was in the United States and she sponsored Mary for entry into America. Aunt’s husband was Joseph Gerbec (also Gerbich) and he owned a grocery store in Indianapolis.

According to the WWI Draft Registration Card C-(12 September 1918), Joseph and Mary lived at 714 N. Holmes Avenue, Indianapolis. Joe was a naturalized citizen of medium height, medium build, had brown eyes and brown hair.

Joe’s place of employment was his home. His occupation was - huckster. A huckster (aggressive salesperson): somebody who uses aggressive methods to sell or promote something. Another definition for huckster is a retailer: somebody who sells small articles, especially a street peddler.

Joseph and Mary owned and operated Mervar Grocery and Poultry at 960 North Holmes Avenue for 60 years.

According to the 1920 Fourteenth Census of the United States, Joe and Mary lived with five children (Albert, Pauline, Stanislav, Elania maybe Valeria, and Mary) at 960 Holmes Avenue, Indianapolis in their owned, mortgaged home.

Two boarders also lived in the house - employees of the iron foundry.

A widowed brother-in-law, Joseph Reposh, immigrant from Slovenia, also lived with the Mervars. Joseph Reposh immigrated to the U.S. in 1910 and he had three children at the time of the census (January 9, 1920) living with him: son Francis (4 8/12), son Joseph (3 4/12), Pauline (2 2/12). Mr. Reposh was 33, naturalized in 1915, worked as a molder at the iron foundry.

In 1920 Joseph and Mary Mervar were able to speak English, and they were able to read and write. Joseph was a merchant at a grocery store.

According to the 1930 Fifteenth Census of the United States Joe and Mary, lived with seven children at 960 Holmes Avenue, Indianapolis in their owned $4,000 home. They did not have a radio set. Able to read and write. Able to speak English. He was a store keeper in a poultry store.

Mary was born in Italy, but she was a Slovene and spoke Slovenian. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1907 (also 1908). She was able to read, write, and speak English. Naturalized. She was a housewife - did not work.

Albert - son, 18 years old, single. Occupation - apprentice (pattern shop). Pattern -model used for making a mold: a wood, plaster, or metal shape used to make a mold for casting in a foundry.

Pauline was 17, single, employed as a sorter in a paper mill. Stanislaw (Stanley) was 16, attended school. Valeria was 14, attended school. Mary was 12, attended school. Joseph was 9, attended school. Theresa was 3.

All together they had more kids, but first two twins died as infants:

1. One twin child was born and died on May 4, 1910
2. Second twin child was born and died on May 4, 1910
3. Adalbert (Albert) Mervar (April 3, 1911)
4. Maria Paula (Pauline) Mervar *Turk* (June 23, 1912)
5. Stanislav Franc Mervar (November 1, 1913)
6. Valeria (approx. 1916)
7. Josepha Alvira Mervar (January 15, 1916)
8. Mary (Mitzy) A. Mervar *Marks* (March 26, 1918)
9. Joseph M. Mervar (approx. 1921 - April 2, 2002)
10. Teresa Mervar *Finn* (approx. 1927)

First two children were twins. They were born and died on May 4, 1910. They were buried on May 5, 1910 at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. They died at the age of 2 hours.

Albert Mervar was born on April 3, 1911. He was baptized at Holy Trinity Church on April 6, 1911 by Rev. B. (Bonaventure) Cicek O.M.C. His godparents: Martin and Josephina Mauser.

Pauline Mervar was born on June 23, 1912 and baptized on June 30, 1912 at Holy Trinity Church by Rev. B. (Bonaventure) Cicek O.M.C. Her godparents: Anton and Maria Mervar. She married Joseph Turk.

Stanislav (Stanley) Mervar was born on November 1, 1913. He was baptized on November 16, 1913 by Rev. B. (Bonaventure) Cicek O.M.C. in the Holy Trinity Church. His first communion was on May 23, 1920. Married Alma Monfreda on June 28, 1941 at Holy Trinity Church. Witnesses: Carl Mauser and Emma Monfreda.

Mrs. Mary Marks Mervar of Grand Prairie, Texas. She married Albert Marks. They also lived in Akron, Ohio.

Mrs. Theresa Finn Mervar of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Married Martin Finn.

Mrs. Otto Breinlich.

Joseph M. Mervar, Jr. died at the age of 81 in Indianapolis on April 2, 2002. He worked 35 years for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, retiring in 1976. He was a Coast Guard veteran of World War II. Wife - Mary L. Stanish Mervar; children Joseph A., Dennis M. Mervar, Trena M. Loudermilk, Terrie R. Click, Lenora Trapp, Lorisa Cooper.

Mr. Mervar used to have a horse and a carriage. Finally, when he got rid of his horse, he purchased an old truck, that looked like a tank. The truck leaked a lot of oil. To solve the problem, Mr. Mervar hung a can underneath the truck and would pour oil that accumulated in the can back into the engine.

One time Mr. Mervar ran into a guy near the Slovenian National Home. He damaged the man’s truck. The angry fellow got out of the truck. Mr. Mervar said "do not worry, I will take care of it" and handed the guy $0.50 cents.

All Slovenians made homemade wine. They grew their own grapes. When Joe Mervar was in business he and Stanley used to sell grapes. Sometimes they sold until midnight. They went from house to house. They knew everyone in Haughville by delivering their groceries with their horse and wagon. Joe would go into houses and drink wine while Stanley waited on the wagon. Sometimes Joe would be soused after all the deliveries. When he arrived home the kids would take off his shoes and socks as he fell into bed.

When Joe visited and drank, Stanley guarded the wagon so the young locals would not steal from the wagon. One time when he leaned over to push someone away who was trying to steal some fruit, it was Stanley who got punched in the nose! They sold potatoes, turnips, lots of apples, grapes during wine season, eggs, and poultry (sometimes live chickens - which Stanley frequently killed upon request). Sometimes they would kill the chickens at home, place in boiling water and defeather and then gut, before selling them. They (kids especially) would check the eggs for quality.

Don Bozic remembers going to Joe Mervar’s place. They used to kill chickens there by twisting their heads off. Chickens would run around the yard without heads.

Stanley Mervar remembers people having big gardens and chickens running around. Everyone had an outside toilet - there was no inside plumbing. On Halloweens he and his friends would scare people as they went to their outhouses at night. Older guys in the neighborhood used to play ballinch (similar to bowling). There was a tavern on every corner in Haughville. There was even a movie theatre - 15 cents per movie (Pixie). It was very common to have borders. Most families had a border - primarily newly arrived Slovenian immigrants.

Mervar’s in Slovenia - Louie, Joseph, Frank, Tony, John, Josephine and Maria. John was the youngest and stayed in Slovenia, along with Louie and Maria. Louie married a Croatian woman in Slovenia and had a business with 30-35 employees. He was the wealthiest one. Tony was the second wealthiest. When the Communists came to power, they lost everything. Joseph came directly to Indianapolis from Slovenia. The Lokars came to Joe Mervar’s house from Pennsylvania to visit. One of their daughters was very pretty. They would sleep upstairs at 960 Holmes. Normally a couple of them would come (mother and daughter). When Joseph first came to the US when he was young he would go from one state to another to work at odd jobs - mines, etc. This was before he married in October 1903. Joseph Gerbec and his wife brought Joe Mervar’s wife (Mary Gerbec) to the U.S.

Joseph Mervar, Sr. died on April 19, 1962 at the age of 83. He was buried on April 23, 1962 at the St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Fr. Edward Bockhold.

Joseph’s wife, Mrs. Mary Gerbeck Mervar, died on December 17, 1977 and was buried on December 20, 1977. 1421 N. Concord Street. Age 87.