Index
Introduction
Hamparzoom Poochigian Dolabjian
Almast
"Alice" Poochigian Boyajian Melkonian
Ardashes
"Mike" Khachadoor Poochigian
Bagdasar
"John" Kazanjian Poochigian
Bedros Sahag Poochigian
Boghos
"Paul" Minas Poochigian
Dickran
"Dick" Hagop Poochigian
Garabed Sahag Poochigian
Guiragos Kevork Poochigian
Haratune
"Harry" Sahag Poochigian
Kerop Poochigian
Kevork
"George" Bedros Poochigian
Khatoon
Poochigian Topjian Poochigian
Mardiros
"Martin" Mikael Poochigian
Mesrop "Dick" Khachadoor Poochigian
Mikael Sahag Poochigian
Sahag
"Sam" Harutune Poochigian
Sarkis Yeghasar Poochigian
Tevatoros
"Tom" Minas Poochigian
Vartan Khachadoor
Poochigian
Garabed
"Charles" Melkon Topjian
Over one hundred years ago, our Poochigian
ancestors began migrating to America from Perri, Kharpert in historical Armenia. They left
their homeland to escape the massacre of the Armenian people by the Ottoman Turks. Leaving
Turkey was just the first step of what was a long and hazardous journey to America.
Each Poochigian who headed to America
began his/her journey on foot, donkeys, mules or wagons from Perri, through the rugged
mountains, to a seaport such as Samson on the Black Sea. According to Dickran
"Dick" Poochigian (b. 1921) some, like Vartan Poochigian (1883-1951) and
Hovageem Melkonian (1881-1967), walked from the old country through Manchuria, China and
Russia. Some Poochigians travelled to the United States and reached America's shores by
steamships or sailing vessels.
Many Poochigian arrivals are recorded in
surviving ship passenger lists. Ship manifests, along with family histories and old
census, Bible, birth, death, naturalization, citizenship, church, military, property, and
newspaper records, add rich biographical and genealogical details to the history of our
Poochigian family migration to America. However, identifying our ancestor's historical
documents can be very challenging because there are inconsistencies in family legends and
reported facts, particularly relating to birth years and ages. Our family history will
stand the test of time if it is based upon known or proven facts and evidence.
Although there are inconsistencies in
documented data, the dates in this report are as they are shown on the original sources.
However, some dates such as birth years do conflict because our ancestors who were born in
Armenia often did not know exactly when they were born. Birth dates shown on death records
tend to be less reliable sources than dates on Birth records because the source on a death
certificate is a second person. United States naturalization and citizenship papers are
considered important documents because the actual person signed the papers under sworn
oath.
Mikael Sahag Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1896
Mikael (1880 - after 1900), son of Sahag Mardiros,
first arrived in the United States in 1896. According to the 1900 Census, Mikael, also
called Mihran, worked as a waiter and lived with several Armenians in a boarding house on
Common Street in Lawrence City, Massachusetts.
In the early 1900's, many
Armenian males lived in crowded boarding houses along Common Street, and worked tirelessly
to earn money to bring their wives and families to the United States. Most Armenians in
Lawrence worked with wool and cotton as laborers in the textile mills. Others cooked,
cleaned, and worked as day laborers.
Mikael returned to
Armenia, and the Turks massacred him along with other Poochigian family members.
Bedros Sahag
Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1900
Bedros Sahag Poochigian (1876-1960), son of Sahag
Mardiros, traveled to America in two stages. Bedros left Perri, Armenia in the late 1890's
with the intention of sending for his wife Bahare Marderosian Poochigian (abt. 1876-1903)
and two sons, Kevork (1896-1981) and Hovannes (abt. 1898-1900), who he left behind in
Armenia.
Bedros first traveled to
Greece where he worked in Piraeus as a shoemaker to earn his passage to America. According
to the SS Statendam Ship Manifest, Bedros paid his own passage to America and
arrived at the Port of New York at the age of 24 on September 6, 1900. Bedros said that he
was going to join a relative, his "brother, Mihran [Mikael], at 90 Common
Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts.
When Armenians arrived in
New York, most were too poor to open a business or purchase a farm. In 1900, Bedros
arrived with only $3.50 according to the SS Statendam Ship Manifest. Immigration
reports, dated 1912 say, "of the 14,583 Armenians arriving between 1889 and 1907, the
average capital cash holding at dockside was $31.67, which was hardly enough to pay rent
and buy food for a family for a month."
Before Bedros could afford
to send for his family, his wife, Bahare, and son, Hovannes, died in Armenia. According to
Bedros's grandson, George Poochigian, Jr., "Hovannes died when he choked at the age
of about two. Bahare starved to death and died with a broken heart." Bedros and
his son, Kevork "George", were reunited after 14 years when Kevork arrived in
America in 1913 and traveled to Fresno, California.
In Bedros's early years in America, he
worked in the coal mines in the eastern part of the U.S., and later in the gold mines in
San Bernardino County, California.
When Bedros earned enough
money, he purchased a grape farm on Armstrong Avenue in the Lone Star area in Fresno,
California. Bedros settled in Fresno because land was inexpensive and other Armenians had
found success in farming in the San Joaquin Valley as early as 1881.
Historical records show
that Bedros was the first Poochigian to settle in Fresno, California. Dick Poochigian (b.
1921) says that Bedros sponsored and helped many family members and Armenians migrate to
America. According to the book titled "The History of the
Armenians of Charsanjak, in 1956, Bedros Poochigian was one of the best
representatives of the older generation from Charsanjak."
On May 2, 1908, Bedros
married Mariam Chooljian Simonian (1883-1955) in Parlier, near Fresno, and they had seven
children, Vaughn (1909-1996) Annie "Anne" 1911-1995), Araxie "Roxie"
(1913-1968), Ruby (1914-1980), Vasken "Bill" (1917-1986), Servart
"Grace" (1919), and Vartkes "Vernon" (1920), who were all born in
Fresno.
Garabed Sahag Poochigian
Ship Arrival - Before 1901
Garabed (abt.1875-after. 1909), son of Sahag Mardiros,
arrived in America through the Port of Boston before 1901. He returned to Armenia; and at
the age of 33, Garabed re-entered the United States in 1909 [indicating he was born about
1876].
According to the SS La
Bretagne Ship Manifest, Garabed re-entered the U.S. for the second time through the
Port of New York on February 6, 1909. The SS La Bretagne Ship Manifest describes
Garabed with brown hair and chestnut eyes, and shows his occupation as a Cultivator.
Garabed said that he was going to join a relative in the U.S., "cousin, Harutian
Nordigian, 9 Orchard Street, Worcester, Massachusetts." When Garabed
arrived in the U.S. in 1909, he left behind his "Wife, Zaman Pachigian, Harpout,
Armenia."
Garabed later went back to
Armenia, and before he could return to America, the Ottoman Turks killed him and his
family.
Harutune "Harry" Sahag Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1907
Harutune (1885/1891-1918), son of Sahag Mardiros,
was later often called "Harry" after he immigrated to the United States.
He arrived in New York on the SS La Touraine on July 27, 1907. He sailed
from Havre, France on the same steamship as his cousins Kerop Yeghasar Poochigian
and Tevatoros Minas Poochigian and brother, Hamparzoom Poochigian Dolabjian, all
originally from Perri, Armenia.
According to the SS La
Touraine Manifest, Harut was 22 at the time of his arrival in 1907. [indicating he was
born about 1885]. Harut paid his own passage and arrived in America with $30.
The La Touraine
Manifest describes Harut as married with chestnut hair, chestnut eyes, and 5 feet, 1
inch. His nearest relative in Armenia was "Mariam Pouchigian at Perry, Turkey, and
he was travelling to join a "Brother in law, Ohanes Koozoian, on North 39th
Street, New York."
On June 24, 1913, Harutune
filed his U.S. Declaration of Intention to become an American Citizen, as "Harutune
Poochigian born in Perry Armenia on the 15th of December 1891." In his
Declaration, he continues to say, "I emigrated to the United States of America
from Havre, France on the vessel La Touraine; my last foreign residence was Perry, Turkey.
It is my bona fide intention to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any
foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty and particularly to Mohammed Sultan of
Turkey. I arrived at the port of New York in the State of New York, on or about the 27th
day of July 1907. I am not an anarchist; I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the
practice of polygamy; and it is my intention in good faith to become a citizen of the
United States of America and to permanently reside therein So Help Me God."
Although Harutune survived
the massacre, he was died in Fresno, California on July 25, 1918. His wife, Mariam
Koozoian (1886-1953), and sons, Sahag "Sam" (1907-1952) and Suren
"Frank," born in 1914, survived Harutune. Prior to Harutune's death, Mariam and
Sahag were reunited with Harutune, after a six-year separation, when they arrived in the
U.S. from Armenia in 1913. Harutune purchased a grape ranch on Armstrong Avenue in the
Lone Star area in Fresno, California. They had two other children, Vasken (1916-1916) and
Servart (1918-1918) who both died as infants in Fresno.
On August 2, 1997,
Harutune's son, Suren "Frank" Poochigian was amongst the 100 family members who
attended the Poochigian Family Camp & Reunion at Shaver Lake, California. Frank
proudly said in a taped family history interview, "I'm the oldest Poochigian
here."
Kerop Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1907
Kerop Poochigian (1885 - aft. 1907), arrived in New
York on the SS La Touraine from Havre on July 27, 1907. Compagnie Generale
Transatlantique built the La Touraine, a French Line, in 1899, and many Armenians
sailed on the steamship from Havre to New York from 1900 to 1922.
According to the SS La
Touraine Ship Manifest, Kerop said that he was going to join a relative in the United
States, "brother in law, B. Olopiguian, West 39th Street, New York."
Kerop's nearest relative in Armenia was "Aghavani Pouchiguian at Perry,
Turkey."
The Ship Manifest describes
Kerop at age 22 [indicating his birth about 1885] as a married male with chestnut hair,
blue eyes, and 5 feet 3 inches in height.
Tevatoros "Tom" Minas Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1907
Tevatoros "Tom" Poochigian (1890 - 1982), son of Minas Boghos
Poochigian traveled from Turkey to America with a group of Poochigians and other
Armenians. Tevatoros's daughter, Grace Poochigian French (b. 1916) remembers her father
talking about his trip to America. Grace says, "My father was the youngest of the
group who traveled together from Kharpert to New York." She recalls her father
saying, "The Poochigians had to hide behind rocks so the Turks could not find them.
They walked through Turkey during the night and slept during the day to escape from the
Turks."
Tevatoros Poochigian, also
called Teva or Tom, arrived in New York on the SS La Touraine from Havre on July
27, 1907. In Tevatoros's early years in America he helped build the Holland Tunnel
that goes from the West Side of Manhattan Island, New York to the eastern edge of New
Jersey. The tunnel, which opened in 1927, was the world's first, longest underwater
mechanically ventilated tunnel.
As a Holland Tunnel
construction worker, also known as "sandhogs," Tevatoros faced great danger. The
greatest danger the workers faced was the bends. Workers had to pass through decompression
chambers, much as divers do coming up from deep water.
Hilary "Gary"
Poochigian (1943), Tevatoros's grandson, says, "My Grandpa use to talk about his hard
labor job working on the Holland Tunnel. He broke rocks with a sledgehammer and sweat
profusely in the extreme heat. Grandpa told us about how blood gushed out of his nose and
ears."
On July 13, 1913, in the Borough of
Manhattan, New York, Tevatoros married Aznive "Agnes" Avakian (1894-1984), also
from Kharpert. Aznive arrived in New York from Havre, France on the SS Chicago
on July 13, 1913. According to the SS Chicago Ship Manifest, Aznive was going to
join her "betrothed, J. Poochigian in Thomsonville, Connecticut" when she
arrived in America.
Teva and Aznive had two children,
Minas "James" Pasha (1914-1996) born in Thomsonville, Connecticut and Grace
Lillian Poochigian French (b. 1916) born in Buffalo, New York.
The Fourteenth Census of the United
States, 1920 - Population taken in Binghamton City, Broom County, New York on January
10, 1920 shows Tevatoros, called Toros M. Poochigian (33) living at 162 Beethoven
Street. Listed with "Toros" are his wife, Agnes M. (25);
son, Minas T. (5); daughter Grace T. (3 1/2); brother, Paul M. (18); lodger, Dick [Dickran
Hagop] Poochigian (30); and lodger, Mike [Ardashes Khachadoor] Poochigian (25).
Teva and Aznive opened
their home in New York to many Poochigian family members. They all lived together under
one roof, and Tevatoros, Paul, Dick and Mike Poochigian worked together in the factory at
Endicott-Johnson Shoes. Endicott-Johnson had a reputation for treating their employees
well, and company benefits included a free pair of shoes for everyone in the employee's
family.
Hiliary Poochigian (1943)
recalls Teva's talks with him, and says, "Grandpa's life changed drastically after he
went to work at the shoe factory. He could finally afford to feed and clothe his family
and had money to buy his first car."
Tevatoros later moved with his family to
Fresno, California, and finally settled in the Los Angeles area. On May 27, 1957, he filed
his United States Petition for Naturalization to become an American Citizen,
as "Tevatoros Poochigian born on May 10, 1890, in Harport, Turkey." In
Tevatoros's Petition, he states, "My lawful admission for permanent
residence in the United States was at New York, New York on July 27, 1907 on the La
Touraine."
In the Petition for
Naturalization, Tevatoros describes himself as a male with a dark complexion, brown
eyes, black hair at a height of 5 feet 1 inch and weight of 127 pounds. In his
Naturalization papers, Tevatoros petitioned that his name be changed to "Tom
Poochigian." He signed his Oath of Allegiance in the U.S. District Court
Southern District of California on May 27, 1957.
Teva died in Montebello, California in
1982 and Aznive died in Montebello in 1984.
Hamparzoom Poochigian
Dolabjian
Ship Arrival - 1907
Hamparzoom Poochigian Dolabjian (1887-1965), stepson
of Sahag Mardiros Poochigian, arrived in America in 1907 according to the 1920
Census. Ship arrival records show that Hamparzoom arrived in the United States
through the Port of New York on the SS La Touraine on July 27, 1907. Hamparzoom,
originally from Perri, Kharpert, Turkey, settled in Fresno, California just before 1920.
According to Hamparzoom's
grandson, George Kaloostian, Hamparzoom was only one year's old when his birth mother,
Anna Zakoian Dolabjian, married Sahag Poochigian. Sahag raised Hamparzoom like he was his
own son.
In the early 1900's Hamparzoom married
Aghavni Manoshakian. They had two children, Asadoor and Marie (1906-1981) in Armenia.
Hamparzoom is shown in the 1920 Census as
a married male (37) who is living alone. His occupation is shown as a Farmer and he
owns his farm according to the Census. According to Hamparzoom's grandson, George
Kaloostian, Hamparzoom and Aghavni were separated for many years after the Turkish
massacres in Armenia.
Hamparzoom purchased a grape ranch on
Armstrong Avenue in the Lone Star area in Fresno, California. Hamparzoom passed away in
1965 in Fresno, California, and Aghavni died in 1981 in Fresno.
Mardiros "Martin" Mikael Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1912
Mardiros Poochigian (1894-1989), son of Mikael Sahag, was often
called "Martin" after he immigrated to the United States. Mardiros arrived
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the Haverford from Liverpool, England, on January
26, 1913. John Brown & Co Ltd., Glasgow built the Haverford for the American
Line in 1901. After Mardiros Poochigian's voyage to America on the Haverford in 1912, the
ship was used for British transport during World War I. In 1917, the ship was torpedoed by
a German submarine off the West Coast of Scotland and was scrapped in 1925.
Mardiros filed his United
States Declaration of Intention as "Mardiros Poochigian, AKA Martin Poochigian,"
with Turkish nationality" on September 28, 1943. He filed his United States of
America Petition for Naturalization on October 19, 1945. Both the Declaration and
the Petition describe Mardiros as a white male with a dark complexion, brown eyes,
black hair, 144 pounds and a height of 5 feet, 9 inches.
In Mardiros's Petition
for Naturalization, he says, "My occupation is Rubbish hauling. I was born on
December 15, 1894 in Perry, Turkey. Mardiros continues to say, "My last place
of foreign residence was Perry, Turkey. I emigrated to the United States from Liverpool,
England. My lawful entry for permanent residence in the United States was at Philadelphia,
Pa under the name of Mardiros Poochigian, now Martin, on August 13, 1972 on the SS
Haverford."
In The Fourteenth Census of the United
States: 1920 - Population taken in Fresno, California, Mardiros Poochigian is shown as
the Head of the household, and his occupation is a Farmer who owns his own farm. Listed
with Mardiros, 26, a single male from Harpoot, Armenia is Mary [Mariam] Poochigian, 34,
Aunt; Sahanan [Sahag], 14, Cousin; and Suren [Frank], 5, Cousin. The 1920 Census shows
that Mardiros migrated to the United States in 1912; Mary [Mariam] and "Sahanan"
[Sahag] migrated to the U.S. from Harpoot, Armenia, in 1913, and Suren was born in
California.
Mardiros married Arousig
"Anne" Soukesian (b. 1905) from Kars, Turkey (Russia) on October 1, 1921 in
Fresno, California. Arousig arrived in New York from Bremen, Germany on the SS Bremen
on May 22, 1907.
Mardiros and Arousig had
three children: Sirvart (1922-abt. 1922) born in Fresno and Margaret (b. 1927) and Gilbert
(b. 1928) born in Los Angeles, California. Mardiros died in Fresno in 1889, and is
survived by his wife Arousig "Anne," who lives in Fresno, California.
Ardashes "Mike" Khachadoor Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1912
Ardashes Poochigian (1893-1970), son of Khachadoor Mardiros,
arrived in America in 1912 according the 1920 Census taken in Binghamton City, New York on
January 10, 1920. Minnie Poochigian Caton says, "Once Uncle Ardashes arrived in
the United States, he was always called "Mike" and his legal papers indicated
this."
According to the Census,
in 1920, Ardashes (Mike) and Dickran (Dick) Poochigian (1889-1977) lived with Tevatoros
Poochigian and his family in Binghamton, New York and worked at the Endicott-Johnson Shoes
factory.
Ardashes married Victoria
(1900-1976) in the early 1920's and had two children, Khachadour "Albert"
(1923-1976) and Margaret. They lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they raised
their children. Ardashes died in 1970; Victoria passed away in 1976.
In an interview in August, 1998, Margaret
Poochigian Palouian (b. 1928), Ardashes's daughter, said, "My father saved Auntie
Nazlie's life and the lives of other Poochigians. He helped them escape from Turkey and
come to America." Margaret continued to say, "He was very loving and liked to
take care of everybody. He would do anything for his kinfolk."
In an interview with Haig
Palouian, Margaret's husband, in August, 1998, Haig recalled, "Ardashes was a
wonderful, wonderful guy. His wife, Victoria was also wonderful. Ardashes really loved his
grand children. He liked to take them for walks and to the ice cream store."
Guiragos
Kevork Poochigian
Ship Arrival - Abt. 1912
Guiragos Kevork Poochigian (1870-1915) travelled to the America around
1912. Minnie Poochigian Caton (b. 1925) says, "My grandfather, Guiragos
Poochigian, came to the United States around 1912 and returned shortly to Armenia, Turkey
and was murdered by the Turks."
According to the book titled
"The History of the Armenians of Charsanjak,"
Guiragos Poochigian is called one of the "most well-known representatives of
Charsanjak." Guiragos, who was born and educated in Perri, Charsanjak, was one of the
first Armenians captured by the Turks during the 1915 genocide. He was put in jail
and tortured. In spite of the torture, Guiragos survived until he was eventually
killed, along with 15 other Armenians, on the Mouzour Bridge.
According to "The
History of the Armenians of Charsanjak," because of his hard work and honesty,
Guiragos Poochigian gained the respect and love of the people from Perri and also the
Armenians in disporea. Prior to World War I, Guiragos was a leader in educating the
new generation in Perri. He also kept a close eye on the liberation activities going
on at the time and kept in contact with well-known Armenians in disporea.
Guiragos Poochigian was the
son of Kevork Poochigian. Guiragos and his wife, Badaskan Ohanian, had one
child, Bagdasar (John) Poochigian (1893-1963) who was born in Perri, Charsanjak.
Following Badaskan's death, Guiragos married Margret Michaelian, and they had three
children: Armenouhy Poochigian Kalafian/Medzigian (1903-1994), Souren Poochigian
(1912-1957) and Kegham Poochigian (1914-1981), who were all born in Perri, Charsanjak.
Kevork "George" Bedros Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1913
Kevork Poochigian (1896-1981), son of Bedros Sahag, arrived in
America as "Kevork Pootrigian" on the Steamship Dominion at
Portland, Maine on January 26, 1913. After Kevork immigrated to the United States, he was
often called "George."
The Steamship Dominion
was originally built in 1893 by Harland & Wolff of Belfast as the "Prussia"
for the German Hamburg - America Line. Between 1908 and 1915, the Steamship Dominion
carried passengers between Liverpool, England and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it was
scrapped in Germany in 1922.
The Fourteenth Census
of the United States: 1920 - Population taken in Fresno County, California, shows
Kevork called George Poochigian (24) living with Bedros and Mary Poochigian on Armstrong
and Jensen Avenues in Fresno.
According to the 1920
Census, George was the son of Bedros, and he was born in "Harpoot, Armenia."
The Census shows that George had Alien Status in 1920, and he first
arrived in the United States in 1913.
In January 1923, Kevork
made a Declaration of Intention to become an American citizen in the Superior Court
of Fresno, California. Kevork moved to Los Angeles in the mid 1920's and refilled his
United States of America Declaration of Intention in Los Angeles, California on
October 14, 1932. He filed the Declaration as "Kevork Bedros Poochigian
born in Perry, Turkey on December 20, 1896."
In his Declaration
of Intention he says, "My last foreign residence was Perry, Turkey. I
emigrated to the United States of America from Liverpool, England. My lawful entry for
permanent residence in the United States was at Portland, Maine under the name of Kevork
Pootrigian on January 26, 1913 on the vessel 'Dominion' . . . So Help Me God."
In Kevork's Declaration,
he shows his occupation as a "Groceryman," and describes himself as
white with a medium complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair, 165 pounds and a height of 5
feet, 6 inches.
On March 25, 1935, Kevork
filed his United States of America Petition for Citizenship in Los Angeles,
California and took his Oath of Allegiance on July 12, 1935.
Kevork married Dickranouhi
Sagerian (1904-1996) on November 4, 1922 in Fresno, California. Dickranouhi migrated from
Adabazar, Turkey and arrived on the SS Pannonia at Boston, Massachusetts in April or May
1921. Kevork and Dickranouhi had three children: John George (b. 1923); Queenie Phyllis
(b. 1925) and George Bedros Jr., (b. 1934). Kevork passed away in Montebello, California
in 1981, and Dickranouhi died in Whittier, California in 1996.
Recently, in 1998,
Kevork's son, John Poochigian (b. 1923), along with John's wife, Ellen Keshish Poochigian
(b. 1925), and cousin, Ruth Poochigian (b. 1946) traveled to Kharpert and the village of
Perri, the place where their fathers were born. Ruth is the daughter of Boghos
"Paul" Poochigian (1905-1949).
Boghos "Paul" Minas Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1913
Boghos Poochigian (1905-1949), son of Minas Boghos, arrived at the
port of New York from Havre, France on the SS Chicago on June 29, 1913. At the age
of 8, Boghos traveled to America with Aznive Avakian, the betrothed (wife to be) of
Boghos's brother, Tevatoros, who was already in New York. After Boghos immigrated to the
United States, he was often called "Paul."
According to the SS
Chicago Ship Manifest, Boghos was going to America to join his "brother, T.
Poochigian, Box 407, Thomsonville, Connecticut." The SS Chicago was a
French ship built by Chantiers Ateliers de St Nazaire in 1908.
The SS Chicago Ship
Manifest shows that Boghos Poochigian and Aznive Avakian were "Held for Special
Inquiry" for four days after they arrived in New York on June 29, 1913. Grace
Poochigian French (b. 1916), the granddaughter of Aznive and niece of Boghos, says,
"They held Boghos and my grandmother on the ship because Boghos was not travelling
with his own mother. They were going to send Boghos back until my father went to the ship
and convinced them that he was going to marry my grandmother, and they were going to take
care of Boghos." Tevatoros and Aznive raised Boghos just like their own son in New
York.
Boghos "Paul" went to work at a
very early age. He worked at the Endicott-Johnson Shoes factory in New York along with
other Poochigians: Tevatoros (1890-1982), Ardashes (1893-1970), and Mesrop (1885-1964).
Grace Poochigian French
(b. 1916) recalls her father Tevatoros talking about Paul's work when Paul was very young.
Grace recalled, "They had to put a box under Paul's feet so he was tall enough and
looked old enough to work."
On February 19, 1935,
Boghos filed his United States Declaration of Intention as "Boghos
Poochigian born on June 2, 1905 in Harpoot, Turkey." In Boghos's Declaration,
he states, "I emigrated to the United States of America from Havre, France and my
lawful entry for permanent residence in the United States was at New York under the name
of Boghos, Puchigian on July 29, 1913."
In Boghos's Declaration
of Intention, he describes himself as a white male, with medium complexion, brown
eyes, black hair, 5 feet, 4 inches, and 150 pounds.
On August 20, 1937, Boghos Poochigian
renounced his citizenship to the Republic of Turkey in his United States of America
Petition for Naturalization and he took his Oath of Allegiance to the U.S.A. In
Boghos's Petition, he shows his birth as June 2, 1905 in Harpoot, Turkey, his
residence in Los Angeles, California, and his occupation as a Grocery Clerk.
In the 1920's, Boghos
headed west to California. "He first went to Reedley and then to Los Angeles where he
opened a produce stand called the East Ninth Street Market in downtown Los Angeles,"
says Boghos's daughter, Janice Poochigian Oetken (b. 1943). Janice continues to say,
"My father met my mother, who was living in Fresno, in the early part of 1930. My
father drove to Fresno every weekend for two years and courted my mother before they got
married in Fresno."
Boghos "Paul"
and Serpoohi "Dorothy" Shamdanjian (1910-1991) were married on July 23, 1932 in
Fresno, California. Serpoohi, born in Constantinople, Turkey, arrived in New York on the SS
Olympic on December 10, 1913.
Paul and Dorothy had three children,
Ernest Paul (b. 1940), Janice Elaine (b. 1943) and Ruth Lorraine (b. 1946), who were all
born in Los Angeles. When Paul died in Los Angeles in 1905, Dorothy and the kids moved to
Mooseheart, Illinois. Dorothy passed away in Fresno, California in 1991.
Sarkis
Yeghasar Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1913
Sarkis Poochigian (1892-1974), son of Yeghasar Boghos, arrived in
New York from Havre, France on the SS Rochambeau on November 11, 1913.
The SS Rochambeau
was built by Chantiers & Ateliers de St Nazaire, St. Nazaire in 1911 for Compagnie
Generale Transatlantique, a French line, and was scrapped in 1933.
According to the SS
Rochambeau Ship Manifest, Sarkis was 20 and single when he arrived in New York in
1913. Sarkis lists his birthplace as Perri in Ottoman Armenian Turkey and his occupation
as Farmer.
The Ship Manifest describes Sarkis
with brown hair, brown eyes and 5 feet 3 inches in height. Sarkis left behind his "mother,
Khatoun Pouchigian in Perri, Turkey." He was traveling to join "Kerop
Pouchigian [his brother] at 107 1/2 Clinton, Binghamton, New York."
Sarkis and his cousin,
Mesrop (1885-1964) volunteered as Armenian Legionnaires under the French flag and the
leadership of General Antranig during World War I. They were called "Gamavour"
or volunteers.
Dickran "Dick"
Poochigian (b. 1921) said, "Sarkis and Mesrop [Dick's father] were the two
Poochigians who volunteered to fight the Turks with the French Army during World War
I." Dickran explained, "more than 2,000 Armenians went to fight the Turks.
"Sarkis got part of his thigh blown off when he went back to fight in Armenia,"
continued Dick. According to the Zoryan Institute, France, Sarkis Boojikian,
Legionnaire #835, was born in Perri/Kharpert, and he was recruited into the Legion
D'Orient from Binghamton, New York. (See "Sarkis Boojikian" http://members.aol.com/Gaghjayan/legionb.htm
)
Sarkis Poochigian married
Osanna Shakarian (1902-1972), and they had two sons, Bergh Sarkis (1921-1945) and Ben
Sarkis (b. 1924).
Sarkis and Osanna's son Bergh died during
World War II. According to a Fresno newspaper article dated June 1945 and titled, Fresno
Soldier Gives Life in Okinawa While Fighting, "The war department has notified Mr.
and Mrs. Sarkis Poochigian, who live on Willow Avenue and Highway 99, their son, Private
Bergh Poochigian, 24, was killed in action on Okinawa June 12th. He was with the 27th
Infantry Division."
The newspaper article
dated June 1945 continues, "Poochigian entered the Army last August and was sent
overseas in January. He took his training at Camp Roberts. Before entering the service he
was employed in the Mare Island Shipyard. Prior to that he worked in the Fresno Service
Body Works. A native of Fresno, he graduated from the Fresno Technical High School.
Besides his parents, he is survived by his widow, Mrs. June Poochigian, and a daughter,
Janet June Poochigian of Vallejo, and a brother Dan Poochigian, Fresno."
Sarkis Poochigian passed
away in Fresno, California in 1945 and Osanna died in 1972.
Sahag "Sam" Harutune Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1913
Sahag Poochigian (1907-1952), son of Harutune
"Harry" Sahag, arrived in America in 1913 according the 1920 Census. After Sahag
immigrated to the United States, he was often called "Sam."
In 1920, Sahag, his mother
Mariam, and brother Suren "Frank" were living with Mardiros Poochigian on his
farm in Fresno, California. They went to live with Mardiros after Sahag's father,
Harutune Poochigian died in 1918.
Sahag married Anna
Thomasian (1908-1977) on May 15, 1937. Sahag and Anna had a son, Harry Sam (b. 1938)
in Fresno, California. They owned a farm on Jensen Avenue in Fresno.
Sahag passed away on May
25, 1952 in Fresno.
Bagdasar "John" Kazanjian Poochigian
Ship Arrival -
1913
Bagdasar Kazanjian Poochigian (1893-1963), son of Guiragos Kevork
Poochigian and Badaskan Ohanian, arrived on the SS Haverford in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
on August 6, 1913. According to his daughter, Minnie Poochigian Caton (b. 1925),
Bagdasar was met by his cousin, Ardashes Poochigian, who arrived in America in 1912.
"After my dad arrived in America, his name was always John," says Minnie.
Bagdasar's middle name, Kazanjian, is the family name of the Poochigians before the
name was changed from Kazanjian to Poochigian in the early 1800's.
Bagdasar married Sarah
DerGarabedian on January 12, 1912, in Perri, Armenia, says Minnie Poochigian Caton in an
interview in February, 2000. She continues, "Shortly after my mother and father
were married, my father left to establish residency in the United States. He planned
to send for my mother; however, this did not happen and they were separated from each
other until my mother arrived in the United States in 1925. Then I was born." They
had two children, Armenouhy (Minnie) Poochigian Caton (b. 1925) and Arsen Poochigian
(1930-1982), who were both born in Binghamton, New York. Sarah worked at the
Endicott Johnson Corporation shoe factory according to her daughter, Minnie Poochigian
Caton. At one time, Bagdasar considered moving to California where many Poochigians
had already settled. "Bagdasar came out to California and stayed about one year, but
he went back to New York" says Dick Poochigian (b. 1921) in an interview in 1997.
Bagdasar passed away in 1963
in Binghamton and Sarah in 1967 in Binghamton.
Garabed
"Charles" Melkon Topjian
Ship Arrival - After 1913
Garabed Topjian (1897-1987), son of Melkon Topjian
and Mariam Poochigian, arrived in America sometime after 1913. When he left the
village of Perri in Turkish occupied Armenia, he left his pregnant wife, Hirepseme (Helen)
Besherian Poochigian (Abt. 1897 - Abt. 1962), son Melkon Jr. (Abt. 1913-Abt. 1920) with
the intention of sending for them to join him. Sadly, both Melkon Jr., and the baby
boy died before Garabed and Hirepseme were later reunited in New York.
After Garabed immigrated
to the United States, he was often called "Charles." Garabed and Hirepseme
had two daughters, Mary Topjian Price (b. 1921) and Amy Topjian Goshgarian (1925-1997),
who were both born in New York and a third son, who did not survive. The Topjian
family later moved to Fresno, California, where Garabed thought of going into farming as
his Poochigian cousins had done. Instead of becoming a grape rancher, Garabed became
a very successful tailor in Fresno.
Mesrop "Dick" Khachadoor Poochigian
Ship Arrival - Before 1914
Mesrop Poochigian (1885-1964), son of Khachadoor Mardiros, arrived
in New York before 1914. After Mesrop immigrated to the United States, he was often called
"Dick."
In an interview with
Mesrop's son, Dickran Poochigian (b. 1921) in 1997, Dickran said "to make his
passage, my father shoveled coal and fired boilers on a steamer across the Atlantic Ocean.
Because they didn't wear dark glasses, my father had swollen, 'pink' eyes. When he arrived
in New York, they put him on Ellis Island for about six months because of his problem with
his eyes. From Ellis Island, Mesrop went to Binghamton, New York." Dick continued to
say, "my father later worked in a silver buffing mill in Bridgeport,
Connecticut."
Dick explained, "my
father, Mesrop, and Sarkis were the two Poochigians who volunteered to fight the Turks
with the French Army during World War I. According to the Zoryan Institute, France, Mesrob
Boojikian, Legionnaire #834, was born in Perri/Kharpert, and he was recruited into
the Legion D'Orient from Binghamton, New York. (See "Mesrob Boojikian" http://members.aol.com/Gaghjayan/legionb.htm)
Mesrop married Rebecca
"Agavni" Nervanian, and they had one son, Dickran "Dick" Poochigian
(b. 1921.) In 1997, Dick Poochigian, when thinking about his childhood, said,
"I was born in Frank Poochigian's barn where I lived with my father and
mother." Frank Poochigian added, "Dick was right next to the cows, a mule
and a horse." Dick continued, "Barns were built for animals. There
were no tractors. The hay loft was in the back and they partitioned off a section to
make a room where we lived. I wore Frank's old hand-me-down clothes. Bedros
Poochigian and his family lived next door in their tank house." "Nine months
after Dick Poochigian was born, they found out my mother had Tuberculosis" Dick
Poochigian continued to say. Mesrop died in 1964 in Fresno and Rebecca passed away in 1972
in Fresno.
Dickran "Dick" Hagop Poochigian
Ship Arrival - 1914
&
Khatoon Topjian Poochigian
Ship Arrival - Abt. 1920
Dickran Poochigian (1889-1977), son of Hagop Mardiros, arrived in America
in 1914 according the 1920 Census. Dickran left Armenia with the intention of sending for
his wife Khatoon Topjian Poochigian (1897-1987), who he married in 1911, and their
daughter, Araxie Poochigian (Abt. 1912-1917). Unfortunately, Dickran and Khatoon
lost contact with each other and were not reunited until seven long years later in New
York. After Dickran immigrated to the United States, he was often called
"Dick."
Khatoon Topjian Poochigian, daughter of Melkon
Topjian and Mariam Poochigian. (Mariam Poochigian was a second cousin of Dickran
Poochigian because their grandfathers, Boghos Poochigian and Mardiros Poochigian were
brothers.) After Dickran travelled to America, Khatoon and their daughter, Aznive, left
their village of Perri in Turkish occupied Armenia. They travelled with Vartan Poochigian
(1883-1951), Almast Poochigian Boyajian (1889-1966) and Almast's children, Boghos Boyajian
(Bef. 1907- Abt. 1997) and Nazlie Boyajian Kojigian (1908-1990) to Yerevan. Vartan
dressed in a disguise as a woman and escorted Khatoon, Almast and their children to
Yerevan. As they travelled, they struggled to find food and survive. Roxie
Poochigian Elmassian (b. 1924) recalls her mother Khatoon talking about how hungry they
were during this period. Roxie says, "They had nothing to eat. They ate
roots and grass to survive. My sister Araxie was so weak and she was not strong
enough to survive a flu epidemic. My mother said she cried over the loss of Araxie
until her next child, Ruby, was born in 1921." Roxie Poochigian Elmassian was
named after her older sister, Araxie, who died at the age of about 5 years old.
Khatoon, Almast and their
surviving children later went to France and lived in an orphanage. Vartan, along
with Hovageem Melkonian (1881-1967), walked from the old country through Manchuria, China
and Russia to Japan. They worked aboard a Japanese ship to pay for their passage to San
Francisco, California, in 1920.
The Census taken in 1920
shows Dickran Poochigian, along with his cousin Ardashes Poochigian (1893-1970) living
with Tevatoros and Aznive Poochigian in Binghamton, New York. Dickran, Ardashes,
Tevatoros and Paul Poochigian all worked at the Endicott-Johnson Shoes factory.
Dickran and Khatoon had
lost contact for seven years. During the seven-year period, Dickran never gave up
hope and he continued to search for Khatoon in notices published by the AGBU in New York.
An AGBU center in France sent a list of Armenian survivors in French orphanages to the
AGBU center in New York. Dickran located Khatoon's name on the list, and he sent for
her. Dickran and Khatoon were finally reunited when Khatoon arrived at Ellis Island
in late 1920 or early 1921. Upon her arrival in New York, they travelled by train to
Fresno, California, where other Poochigian family members had already settled.
"Dickran first worked on the Koligian ranch on McKinley Avenue," says Dick
Poochigian (b. 1921) in an interview in 1997. Later, Dickran and Khatoon purchased a grape
ranch close to the ranches of other Poochigian family members in the Lone Star area
in Fresno.
Dickran and Khatoon had
four more children, Ruby (Koohar) Poochigian Hamparzoomian (b. 1921), Jack Hagop
Poochigian (1922-1997), Roxie (Araxie) Poochigian Elmassian (b. 1924) and LaVerne
(Varsenig) Poochigian Sarkisian (b. 1931), who were all born in Fresno, California.
Dickran passed away in 1977 and Khatoon in 1987 in Fresno.
Almast "Alice"
Poochigian Boyajian Melkonian
Ship Arrival - 1920
Almast Poochigian Boyajian Melkonian (1889-1966),
daughter of Khachadoor Poochigian and Anna Eknoian arrived in New York about 1920.
After Almast immigrated to the United States, she was often called "Alice."
Almast, along with her
children Boghos Boyajian (Bef. 1907- Abt. 1997) and Nazlie Boyajian Kojigian (1908-1990),
travelled with Khatoon Topjian Poochigian (1897-1987) and Vartan Poochigian (1883-1951)
from the village of Perri in Turkish occupied Armenia to Yerevan in about 1914.
Almast, Khatoon, and their surviving children later went to France and lived in an
orphanage. Vartan, along with Hovageem Melkonian (1881-1967), walked from the old
country through Manchuria, China and Russia to Japan. Vartan & Hovageem worked aboard
a Japanese ship to pay for their passage to San Francisco, California, in 1920.
Hovageem Melkonian, along
with Vartan Poochigian, arrived in San Francisco, California on the West Coast of the
United States on January 14, 1920. They sailed on the S.S. Tenyo Maru from Yokohama,
Japan, on December 29, 1919. According to the ship manifest of passengers on the
S.S. Tenyo Maru, Hovageem (spelled Ovagim) was 38 and is listed as an Armenian
who was born in Harpoot, Armenia. His occupation is listed as a "laborer,"
and he was able to read and write Armenian and English at the time he arrived in the
United States. Hovageem's last permanent address is shown as "Vladivostok,
Siberia, Russia," and the name of "the nearest relative or friend in the country
whence alien came" is the "American Red Cross, Vladivostok, Russia."
Hovageem's final destination is shown as "Fresno, California" and the name of
the relative he was going to join is listed as his "Uncle Bedros Putigian
(Poochigian), P.O. Box 402, Fresno, California."
"Mesrop Poochigian,
Almast's brother, brought Almast to America in 1920" says Dick Poochigian (b. 1921),
Mesrop's son, in an interview in 1997. During the Armenian massacres, Almast Poochigian
Boyajian's husband was killed. Almast and Hovageem Melkonian were married several
years later in Fresno, California around 1923. Almast and Hovageem Melkonian settled on a
farm near other Poochigians in Fresno, California. They had one child, Suren Melkon
Melkonian (1926-1929) who was born in Fresno. Almast passed away in 1966 and
Hovageem in 1967 in Fresno.
Vartan
Khachadoor Poochigian
Ship Arrival -
Abt. 1920
Vartan Poochigian (1883-1951), son of Khachadoor Mardiros, arrived
in San Francisco, California on the West Coast of the United States on January 14, 1920.
He sailed, along with Hovageem Melkonian and Rupen Shirinian, on the S.S. Tenyo
Maru from Yokohama, Japan, on December 29, 1919. According to the ship manifest of
passengers on the S.S. Tenyo Maru, Vartan Poochigian (spelled Putigian) was 42
and is listed as an Armenian who was born in Harpoot, Armenia. His occupation is
listed as a "butcher," and he was able to read and write Armenian and English at
the time he arrived in the United States. Vartan's last permanent address is shown
as "Vladivostok, Siberia, Russia," and the name of "the nearest relative or
friend in the country whence alien came" is the "American Red Cross,
Vladivostok, Russia." Vartan's final destination is shown as "Fresno,
California" and the name of the relative he was going to join is listed as his
"Uncle Bedros Putigian (Poochigian), P.O. Box 402, Fresno, California."
When Vartan left his
village of Perri, in Turkish occupied Armenian around 1914, he escorted his cousins
Khatoon Topjian Poochigian (1897-1987), Almast Poochigian Boyajian (1889-1966), Almast's
children, Boghos Boyajian (Bef. 1907- Abt. 1997) and Nazlie Boyajian Kojigian (1908-1990)
to Yerevan. Vartan dressed in a disguise as a woman and escorted Khatoon, Almast and
their children to Yerevan.
Dickran "Dick"
Poochigian (b. 1921) said in an interview, " Vartan Poochigian and Hovageem Melkonian
walked from the old country through Manchuria, China and Russia. They were young guys
trying to get away from the Turks." Dick continued, "They knew they were
going to get massacred by the Turks, so they started walking. Vartan, along with
Hovageem Melkonian, walked east all the way to Russia. It took the young men nine months
to walk through Vladivostok, Siberia, Russia to Yokohama, Japan, where they boarded the S.S.
Tenyo Maru to San Francisco. With the generous help of the American Red Cross, Vartan
and Hovageem survived their ordeal and safely made their way to Japan and America. Vartan
worked as a "butcher" and Hovageem worked as a "laborer" aboard the
Japanese ship to pay for their passage to San Francisco, California on the west coast of
the U.S.A.
When Vartan left the
village of Perri, he left a wife and two young children he intended to send for when he
arrived in America. Sadly, Vartan later learned from a former neighbor from Perri
that his wife and children were captured by the Turks and they died on a "death
march," explained Margaret Poochigian Conkle in an interview in August, 1997.
In his 1997 interview,
Dick Poochigian explained, "In the 1920's, Vartan went to Cuba to find a wife. There
were a lot of single Armenian girls in Cuba, and they couldn't get into America. The only
way they could get into America was to marry an Armenian who lived in America. Vartan went
to Cuba, married [Seranooch Zakarian] and brought her over." Margaret Conkle
asked Dick Poochigian, "What did Seranooch look like?" Dick responded, "She
was beautiful and was a real jewel. She was kind and she use to cater to me.
She had a voice and could sing. Dick continued, "I lived with them in a red house on
the corner of Church and Fowler in Fresno for about 2 1/2 years. Seranooch use to
cough a lot and she died of Tuberculosis [in 1929]."
On June 12, 1939, Vartan
married Adrine Anbasagian in Fresno, California. They had three children, Margaret
Poochigian Conkle (b 1940), Vartan JonvartJon Poochigian (b. 1942) and George Nazaret K.
Poochigian (b. 1943), who were all born in Fresno, California. They were raised on a
grape farm on Fowler Avenue in the Sunnyside area of Fresno.
Vartan was naturalized
(Certificate No. 2476101) on January 12, 1927, in Fresno, California.
According to Adrine
Poochigian's Petition for Naturalization, 1935, Adrine arrived in New York, New York, from
Cherbourg, France, on the Europa on March 18, 1938. Prior to travelling to America,
Adrine's last place of residence was Paris, France. At the time of Adrine's arrival in the
United States in 1938, her name was Adrine Bebrossian, from her previous marriage. She had
one son, Jan (Jean) Antranis Varoujan (Koyoungian) Sayan (b. 1927) who was born and
continued to live in Paris, France. The two witnesses of Adrine Poochigian's Petition for
Naturalization in 1953 are Mrs. Mary Poochigian, Housewife, Route 3, Box 372, Fresno,
California, who first met Adrine in June, 1939, and Mr. Hovagim Melkonian, Farmer, Route
1, Box 86, Sanger, California, who first met Adrine in June, 1939. In 1953, Adrine
described herself as 35 years old, female, white race, white color, , light complexion,
Armenian nationality, blue eyes, dark blond hair, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 120 lbs. and with
a scar on her right cheek.
Vartan passed away in 1951
in Fresno, California, and Adrine died in 1997 in Fresno.
Last Updated 07/09/2000 |