George John Augustine was born in Polány, Hungary, of German parents. His father, John Joseph Agoston, was a farmer and froze to death while driving his horse and wagon to his home from town. John Joseph’s oldest son, Fabian, who lived in town, asked him to spend the night because it was snowing so hard, but Great Grandfather Agoston wanted to get home to his family. When the horse pulled up to the house, Great Grandmother Agoston saw that he was frozen. They got him into the house, and put him next to the fire. As he began to thaw, he lost his fingers and toes and died shortly after that, George was a little boy of 6 years old and his younger brother Michael was 6 months old. Being farmers, the family had to work just to eat. His brother Fabian left to go to America, and said good bye to his mother, brothers and sister. When he had earned enough money he sent for the next family member to come to the United States of America. When George’s time came to leave for America, he tearfully said goodbye to his mother. They knew this was the last time they would see each other. He took a train to Vienna and then boarded the ship to America. In his travels, he somehow hurt his foot and it became infected. Someone on the ship helped him and nursed the foot until it was better. It was the year 1900. He was 16 years old when he landed at Philadelphia.
He lived with his brother Fabian and his wife, in Philadelphia. He was a tailor’s apprentice. He then moved to Baltimore where he became a baker’s apprentice. He married Josephine Lindner in 1906, they had 4 daughters. Josephine died in 1923 of consumption.
See picture of George and Josephine - probably at their wedding (with brother Mike.)
He married Anna Marie Blosl on June 30, 1924, and remained married until Anna’s death in February 1968. George died on May 11, 1968. Together they had 7 children. George and Anna were married at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church on Wolfe Street. Their sponsors were Gulielum Pross and Albert P. Gollery. They were married by Rev. Henry Schorp C. ss. R
He lived a good life. He loved his children and would have done anything for them. He never made much money, he made the children’s clothes and could make one chicken last for two meals. He loved his God, His church and his adopted country. He was very proud that he was a citizen of the United States, and happy to be able to vote. He became a citizen in 1925.
It took very little to make him happy. When his Grandchildren came along, they were the apple of his eye.
All of his family moved to America except his brother Vincent & sister Elizabeth.He never saw his mother again. He had 9 daughters and 2 sons. He is at rest in Holy Redeemer Cemetery, 4430 Belair Rd, Baltimore, MD
Mary Ellen Guthrie Augustine
February 1997
Without the help of Louise Augustine Lynch, this genealogy would not have been possible.
Anna Marie Blosl married George John Augustine, after the death of his first wife Josephine. At the time of Anna and George’s marriage, he had 4 daughters by his first wife. Anna came to the United States when she was 9 months old, in 1882 and became a citizen in 1895. She was baptized on November 30, 1890.
Before she was married she was a servant for a private family. After her marriage she raised her 4 step daughters and 7 of her own children.
She was born in The Kingdom of Bohemia, which is in Austria.
She was the sweetest woman I ever knew. She loved a good time and was a party girl at heart. She was a good mother and wife, she loved her Grandchildren and her church. She loved Jesus and prayed everyday. She was active in her Church, St. Michael’s Wolf Street, and in the Sodality. She enjoyed going on bus trips, Bingo, Golden Age Club and any parties that she was invited to. She went to Mass every day.
(whose notes were these?)
Information from Certificate of Naturalization for George John Augustine May 5, 1925: Petition Volume 66, Nmbr 7850 Age 41, 5 feet, 3 inches, White color, complexion fair, hazel eyes, brown hair, no distinguishing marks. Minor children: Marie 17, Pauline 15, Josephine 11, Leda 8, Eileen 3, all in Baltimore, MD. Address: 24 South Ann St, Baltimore, MD.
See George John Augustine’s naturalization certificate 1925. (“Leda” should read “Rita.”)
