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[Willyeye]

My name is Willy Istvan. Translated from Hungarian to English, my name, Willy Istvan, would actually be Willy Stevens/Stephens. My great-grandfather, Michael Istvan, had a brother, Paul Istvan, who left Austria-Hungary in 1907 and emigrated to America. Unfortunately, by 1920, contact had been lost with him. My family spent the past 85 years trying to find Paul Istvan and was unsuccessful. Recently, I found the Ellis Island passenger record for Pal Istvan: he arrived on 24 Apr 1907. In the process, I found out that another brother of Paul and Michael, Imre Istvan, also came to America in 1907, but he apparently returned to Austria-Hungary within a few years. Both Paul and Imre listed their last city of residence as Benicanci. Benicanci is a village that was located in the Slavonia region of Austria-Hungary, in what is present-day Croatia. Both Paul and Imre also list their place of birth as Krendia/Krndija, a village that is fairly close to Benicanci, Paul's date of birth being 20 Nov 1888.
 
After searching census records, I found that Paul Istvan was listed on the 1910 census as Paul Stephens, age 20, and living in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, NJ. In the 1920 census, Paul Istvan is listed as Paul Stevens, age 33, and still living in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, NJ. Paul is now married to Esther Sabol, born in 1897 in Austria-Hungary. Their children are Julia, born 1914 in NJ; Esther, born 1916 in NJ; Frank, born 1917 in NJ; Paul, born 1919 in NJ. By 1930, Paul is listed as Paul Istvan, age 41, and still living in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, NJ. His wife Esther Sabol is listed as age 33, born in Hungary. Daughter Julia is not listed, so she either passed away before 1930 or was married by the age 16 or 17. The remaining children are listed as follows: Esther, born 1915 in NJ; Paul Jr., born 1917 in NJ; Frank, born 1918 in NJ; Elizabeth, born 1922 in NJ.
 
I have been unable to locate this family after the 1930 census. And therein lies my dilemma: I don't know which surname they went by after 1930: Istvan, Stevens or Stephens. It is most likely Istvan, as that was the name they used in 1930. I am desperately trying to find these "cousins" for my father, and he is not getting any younger. Also, the chances are getting a bit slim that Julia, Esther, Paul, Frank or Elizabeth are still alive.
 
So, I am looking to find any children of Paul Istvan, who was born about 1917 in Perth Amboy, NJ, and Frank Istvan, who was born about 1918 in Perth Amboy, NJ. And then of course, the daughters, Julia, born about 1913, Esther, born about 1916, and Elizabeth, born about 1922, would most likely have gotten married and would therefore have different surnames; but then, their children would likely know whether their mother's maiden name was Istvan or Stevens/Stephens. I would greatly appreciate any help finding these long-lost cousins.
 
Willy Istvan
wai057@aol.com

[Betty]

The Social Security Death Index lists exactly 100 people named Istvan for whom they have records.  One is for Paul Istvan, born 3 June 1911, and died in July 1978 in Fairfield, CT.  A number of the other Istvans also died in Fairfield CT.  I think you might narrow your search to that location for a while.

For instance, could you get an obituary for Paul Istvan from a Fairfield newspaper?  It might lead you to the mortuary and they keep records.  If all these people were related, the mortuary would probably know about it, and might know where current survivors are.

Have you checked the city directories for the Istvan name?  That can be very helpful.  How about Fairfield phone directories?

I didn't look for people who died in Perth-Amboy, NJ in the SSDI list.  If you have not searched it already, just Google SSDI, give only the surname for the search, and look through the whole list to see if you can find a name that looks likely - and follow it up.

Good luck with it, and I hope we'll soon hear that you found your folks.

Betty

[JeanP]

I wonder if you've exhausted research via land/deed recordings.  As nearly as I can tell Paul owned his house in both 1920 and 1930.  The address was identical and the designation was O for both censuses.  Surely if the family moved from the house the property would have been sold and a land transaction recorded.  Looks like everything newer than 1998 can be accessed online but everything older has to be accessed in person at the County Deed Room of the Middlesex County Clerk's Office. It is located at 75 Bayard Street. Deed Room has indexes available for view dating back to 1784.
 
I also found it interesting when viewing the street level view of Chester Street in Perth Amboy that just at the end of it was an enormous cemetery.  A little googling around shows it is probably St. Mary's but that abuts the much larger Alpine Cemetery.  If Paul happened to have died in Perth Amboy these might be logical cemeteries to investigate.
 
Best wishes
Jean

[Charlene797]

They were still in Perth Amboy in the 1940s
1940 City Directory shows Paul Stevens (lab), Paul Jr, Esther, Julia (maid), Betty (maid) and Frank living at 220 Meade
1942 City Directory shows Paul Stevens (lab), Julia (slswn-saleswoman?), and Philip living at 220 Meade
1945 City Directory shows Paul Stevens (lab), Julia (slswn) and Philip (USA) living at 220 Meade
1947 City Directory shows Julia living at 220 Meade
1949 City Directory shows someone else living at 220 Meade and none of the Stevens in Perth Amboy.

I also found a WWI Draft Registration Card for Paul Stevens, born 20 Nov 1888 living on Chester St in Perth Amboy.  born Krendia, ?.  wife and 2 children
Another WWII Army Enlistment card for Paul Stevens Jr, born 1919 New Jersey, residence Boston MA.  Enlisted 14 April 1944. Married.

The Paul Istvan from Connecticut I believe is the son of Stephen and Julia Istvan. They all appear in 1930 census for Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut. Stephen born about 1878 in Hungary.  This Paul was born in Conn.