Christian’s paternal grandfather is
Stephen Yelich, now in his eighties and very proud of his grandson Christian. Stephen still lives in Gary, Indiana where he was born to Christ Yelich and Anne Leshanovich. Christ (the great grandfather of baseball sports star
Christian Yelich) was listed from Serbia in his 1922 US Emigration records. Mim Bizic (Pennsylvania, USA) and Mike Stojakovic (Canada) have information that leads them to believe that Christ was originally from Orašje or other areas near Trebinje, Hercegovina. FamilySearch.org has records of
Krsto Jelić that seems to fit well into this scenario and meaning of the name. Krsto's arrived in the USA in 1908. Later using the name Christ Yelich, his US Census records can be found in 1930 and 1940 (see links below). Most likely he was born in 1888 and had six years older brother, Jovan Jelić (used name John Yelich later).
Krsto Jelić, New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island) 1908
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXPZ-S4H1922 Naturalisation record
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939N-GH9R-9?i=3580&cc=18388041940 US Census
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MB-J6DZ?i=11&cc=20002191930 US Census
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9R4L-KXN?i=19&cc=1810731Mrs. Anne L Yelich
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK4D-HLNBIt appears that
Krsto Jеlić (Chris Yelich) personally new
Karl Malden’s father, Petar Sekulovich. Peter Sekulović and Krsto Jеlić, both worked in the same period at
Cloverleaf Dairy as milkmen in Gary, Indiana (see an old photo of milk delivery from that time).
I wonder if Petar and Krsto debated while drinking milk, whose son or great-grandson will be more famous? Whose nose was bigger was probably not much of a debate.
I did not see any evidence that Yelich and Sekulovich arrived together in America. US Emigration records list Peter Sekulović from Bileća above Trebinje in Hercegovina.
Cloverleaf Dairy (see an old photo from that time)
http://www.cloverlanddairy.com/images/delladora.jpgPetar Sekulović (Karl Maldenćs father) records linking him to Bileća, Hercegovina
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JFH1-LW5Karl Malden (Mladen Sekulović)
http://www.hercegovinapromo.com/biografije-poznatih-hercegovaca-karl-malden-mladen-sekulovic/Steven’s mother, Anne was born in New York, the daughter of
Luka and Ljubica Lešanović/Leshanovich. Both Luka and Ljubica listed
Belgrade, Serbia as their birthplace. Luka arrived first тo Ellis Island, NY in 1909. His wife Ljubica Lesanovic/Lešanović arrived two years later to NY, listed also as Serbian from Belgrade.
Anne Leshanovich and Christ Zelich marriage
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9M-3N9Xhttps://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXBY-5YHhttps://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJGG-TJ9Christian’s paternal grandmother is Rosalie “Rose” Sammy (the daughter of Louis Sammy and Raina/Irene Theodoreoff/Theodoroff). I could not confirm Louis' national origin, some people claim Russian, others Croatian. Raina was of Bulgarian nationality.
Christian’s maternal grandfather is Mineo Dan Oda. Mineo is Japanese.
https://ethnicelebs.com/christian-yelichThank you FamilySearch.org for collecting data and to
The British Serb Magazine - Britić for investigating the origin (Poreklo) of Christian Yelich and connection to Petar Sekulović.
http://www.ebritic.com/?p=684049Also, many thanks to Mimi Bizic, educator and Serbian cultural icon from the Pittsburg area.
https://www.babamim.com/Да ли се нешто зна о Херцеговцу, Крсти Јелићу? Браћа Јелић (Јован и Крсто) су можда живели у околини Требиња … могуће Орешје Површ а можада и даље западно у Орешје Попово. Њихова емиграција за Америку је била у периоду 1905-1908 године из луке Antwarp, Belgium и луке Le Havre, France.