Enoch Strike
and
Martha Balonis

The Hooks of Mount Carmel Pennsylvania

Enoch Strike

Wife Martha Balonis

Daughter Elsie Strike

Elsie's husband ?????

Son Frank Strike

Franks's wife ?????

Son John Strike

John's wife ?????

Son Andrew Strike

Andrew's wife ?????

Son Peter Strike

Peter's wife ?????

Son Anthony Strike

Anthony's wife ?????

Daughter Cecelia Strike

Cecelia's husband Edward Hook

Daughter Anna Strike

Anna's husband George Zushin

Son Albert Strike

Albert's wife ?????

1900Census — Enoch and Martha get married in 1892 at 22 years old.
A later census document shows they imigrated to America that same year.
They were living in Coal Township, PA. adjacent to Shamokin.
Although it shows them both being born in Poland the Polish-Lithuanian union had ended many years before.
When they were born LIthuania it was indeed controlled by Russia.

1900Census — The Strike fanily begins on line 12. The kids listed are Ella, Andrew, Frank, Peter and Anthony ranging in age from less than one to seven. It' difficult to discern exactly where they lived. Best guess is at 529 West Third Street, the South side, in the Fourth Ward of Mount Carmel. Ella's age is shown as 7. On the census 10 years later she is again shown as being 7..

1900Census — Apparently it was not a good idea to challange Enoch. There no indication that he did time in jail back on November 2nd, 1905.

1900Census — Baby Nellie dies in 1907 having lived for just a few days past one year of age.

1900Census — The Strike family begins on line 14 of this 1910 census.
They lived in unit 8 of Donahue's Row in Mount Carmel PA.
The home waS too small to accomodate 10 people, bu it did.
Enoch's age was listed as 10 years bend his true age.
Andrew and Peter's birth place wqas incorrectly list as Lithuania.
Cecelia's name was listed as Celia.
Peter, a coal miner at 16, then was a police officer most of his life.
The immagration date of 1895 is wrong and is probably the reason the birth place of Andrew and Peter is incorrectly listed as Lithuania.
Enoch could speak English but Martha never learned.

1900Census — Son Paul dies when 6 months old on February 11. 1911. The brevity of this item makes the newspaper seem heartless.

This loss and a third loss, see below, explains why there is an unusual 7 year gap between Albert, the youngest child, and John.

1900Census — Son Charlie (First letter of name is questionable), dies on July 23rd, 1913 two months before second birthday.

1900Census — The Strike family begins on line 81 of this 1920 census.
All 10 family members are living in the home at 425 East 7th Street.
The children's ages range from 25 down to 5.
The father's name is listed as Ignatious Straigis.... The actual Lithuanian name.
Cecelia's name is listed as Tuefila.
All the working children are listed as laborer execpt Cecelia listed as Cigar Maker.
The youngest child was born when Martha was 46 years old.
The parents were born in Lithuannia and all the children in America.
Enoch and Martha probably married about 1894.
Ella, who would be 17 in 1920 is no longer listed and possibly died. Perhaps due to the incredible world wide flu epidemic about 1917
All the children spent their lives in Mount Carmel, except John in nearby Kulpmont.

1900Census — Enoch

1900Census — Martha

1900Census — By 1930 only Peter, Albert, and Anna are the only kids still living in the 7th Street home.
Albert, the baby of the family, would ultimately marry and move out.
Anna who was married to George Zushin continued to live in the home before taking up residence with her husband in their own home.
Peter continued to live in the home for the rest of his life, marrying, taking care of his mother and raising four children there.
Enoch and Martha are shown to have imigrated to America in 1892. That appears to be a valid date.

1900Census — Enoch dies January 10th, 1936. Working underground all your life to support a family of eight requires a significant amount of fortitude and grit. A remarkable legacy for his decendents.

1900Census — Martha dies on November 29th, 1945. It's difficult to imagine the decades long burden associated with giving birth to 11 children and raising eight. Contemplating her hardships should make life's current difficulties seem far less significant.

1900Census — Martha and Enoch were burried in the peaceful Holy Cross Lithuanian Cemetary on the top of the mountain on the road to Merriam.

1900Census — The Strike reunion on August 15th 1940.These reunions, through the years were always well attended They coincided with Lithuanian Day which was widely recognized throughout the Anthracite coal rtegion. Later, the reunions were held at Lakewood park. As Eenoch and Martha's children began to pass, and almost all their granchildren departed Mount Carmel, the reunions ultimately ended.

1900Census — Later there was a one time revival reunion in Kulpmont PA..