Mary Larko 1882-1968 Wife of George Gdovin

Mary Larko was born on March 13, 1882, in Also Szlovinka, Bánya District, Szepes County, Kingdom of Hungary (present day Nižné Slovinky, Košice Region, Slovakia). Her father was Stephen Lyorko, and her mother was Mary Roskovianuch. She was baptized Maria Veronica Lyorko on March 19, 1882, in the Greek Catholic Church. She married George Thomas Gdovin on February 5, 1898, in DuBois, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. He was born on December 24, 1876, in Nagy Folkmar, Szepes County, Kingdom of Hungary (present day Velky Folkmar, Košice Region, Slovakia), a son of Georgius (Slovak Juraj) Gdovin and Anna Klein. He was baptized on December 26, 1876, in the Roman Catholic Church. George and Mary had 10 children in 17 years: George Thomas Jr., Helen Marie, Albert James, James “Henry,” Elizabeth, Steven, Leonard, Mary Margaret, Martha Louise, and Joseph Leo. Mary died on April 26, 1968, in Binghamton, New York. George died on December 12, 1919, in Universal, Indiana. Per a notice in the local newspaper, “George Gdovin, Jr., shot and instantly killed his father during a family quarrel at the home last night. The victim had been abusing his wife and the boy took the mother's part. This action was followed by the father leaving the house. He returned with an ax and after knocking in the door started after the boy, declaring he would kill him. Fearing for his life and that of his mother, the boy grabbed a shot gun and shot his father in the head. Gdovin, Jr., who will be 21 years of age next moth, has not been arrested. His act is held justifiable by the citizens of this place who know the facts. The said man had been mistreating his family for days and was of a mean disposition in his home affairs.” (Source: “Universal Man Slain by Son in Quarrel” [Terre Haute Tribune, Terre Haute, Indiana, 13 Dec 1919], p. 1, col. 1.)

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