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Stegersbach (Szentelek)
Village of 2250 residents in the Güssing district.

Largest community of the Güssing district in 1930, consisting of the core village plus areas called Steinriegel, Schoada, Vorstadt, Hühnerzipf, Steinbach, Bergler-Häuser, Schinderische Häuser, Graben and Zigeunerlager.

Village name first mentioned in 1289 ("Stegraifebach"). Stegersbach had a "Dreißigstamt" (customs office; the "Dreissigst" was the 30th part of the value of the goods). From the time of the Croatian settlement (16th century) until 1861 Stegersbach consisted of two separate communities, each with a "Richter" of its own. In 1650, Michael WENSITS was Richter of Croatian Stegersbach, while Thomas RATH was Richter of German Stegersbach.

Population of German Stegersbach in 1693: Richter: Hans SAUERZOPF; Geschworene: Hans KRAMMER, Hans PITTERMANN, Mert ROTTN; families: ROTTN (4), FENDL (3) [note: probably should read: PENDL], KRAMMER (2), FASCHING (2), JANOS (2), SAUERZOPF, IVANCSICS, PIERHERR, LADNHOFFER, SCHUSTER, EKKNHAUER, PITTERMANN, FRELIG, LASINGER, REIHLING, WAGNER, MERER; Söllner in the vineyards: KRASSL, FRONDL; Söllner in the German vineyards ("Burgauer Bergen"): FAIGL, POSCH, BAUMGARTNER, MILLHAUSER, RUSS, HIRSCHNECK, SEEDL, HERBST, TAUHER, KHOH, GASMUK, HESSL, HIRSCHPECK; Söllner in "Neudauer Bergen": TRAGNIN, RUSS, HOANDL, SPANNER, CSAR; Söllner in the "Bersi" or "Berti-Bergen": SUMMER, SCHALK (3), WOLFART, TRAGNER, KAUFMANN, CERFUSS, HOFFNER, REICHHARDT, GASZNER (2), PIKKL, RING, GAJTER, KAPPLER (2), ROART, GOGER, SCHWARTZ, NEUBAUER.

Croatian Stegersbach in 1693: Richter: Paul KRATICS; Geschworene: Vida BARSICS, Mikola POPOFCSICS, Jure JAKOVICS; families: VUKOVITS (7), NOVAKOVICS (3), BARSICS (2), CSENCZ (2), KATICS (2), MURLASICS (2), IFKOVITS (2), DERKITS (2), KRENCZ, FABICS, POPOFCSICS, JAKSICS, BERKOVICS, RADMOVICS, ZIDARICS. German Stegersbach in 1750: Richter: Hans WAGNER; Geschworene: Michael GRAF, Lorenz WAGNER, Michael RATHEN, Matthias KERN; families: WAGNER (3), KRAMMER (3), PITTERMANN (3), RATHEN (2), RATTEN (1), RATH (1), PRÜCKLER (2), PRÜKKER (1), MARISICS (2), PEISCHL, MAINDLER, JANOS, KOLLOCS, FURCH, PAULL, KERNHÄUSL, ZVITKOVICH; Söllner without farms: TRUIBER, CHRISTIANICS, DORN, WEINGRÜLL, SCHABHÜTTL; Croatian Stegersbach in 1750: Richter: Michael DERKITS; Geschworene: Miko ZWITKOVICH, Miko IFFKOVICH, Ive MARISICS, Ive PIPLICS; families: IFFKOVICH (6), VUKOVICH (6), MURLASICH (6), DERKSIC (4), NOVAKOVICH (3), PIPLICH (2), RADAKOVICH, BARSICH, MUSSICH, KATICS, FRIENICS, FABSICS, POPOFCSICS, ZVITKOVICH, SIFERICH [note: probably should read SIDERICH], WAGENHOFFER, ZWICKL; Söllner without farms: PAINB (?), MAINDLER, DERKICS, PAULL, NOVAKOVICH, SCHINDL, FABSICS.

The 1750 only list the subjects of Count BATTHYANY. At the same time, a part of German Stegersbach belonged to Count SZECHENY, according to an Urbarium of 1756 namely the following families: RATHEN (4), SAUERZOPF (2), KRAMMER (2), KATHÖFFER (2), PEISCHL (3), TSCHAR (2), HOBEL (2), KERN (2), FUIK, GRAFF, KUNST, BAUMGARTNER, TRETTNER, TUNST, JANOS; also a part of Croatian Stegersbach, with the following families: NOVASEL (8), MURLASICS (7), DERKICS (6), GRAFF (5), CZVITKOVICS (2), JUSICS (3), GANGL (2), IVANCSICS (2), SIDERICS (2), IFFKOVICS (2), KAPESKY (2), MOLNAR, SCHREINER, KATICS, PRUDL, PENDL, GRAFFICS, POPOFCSICS, MARINICS, RADAKOVICS.

Especially the Croats owned many horses and worked as carters, they travelled as far as Triest and Fiume.

Cholera (epidemic disease) in 1832. Amongst other casualties, a whole family died out (Eva JUSITS died 9 Sep 1832, 68 y; Anna JUSITS died 10 Sep 1832, 16 y; Theresia JUSITS died 12 Sep 1832, 18 y; Florian JUSITS died 12 Sep 1832, 46 y). In 1849 80 inhabitants died of Cholera from 8 July to 24 August.

Stuhlrichter (szolgabiro) of Stegersbach were Johann PHÜLÖPP (1862-68) and Franz LAKY (1869-71). Afterwards Stegersbach was again part of the Stuhlrichteramt Güssing. Notaries: 1858-90 Matthias HOBEL, followed by Anton KOJTAR, Ernst KOTNICSKY, BORIK, and Adolf RACZ. Post office since 1868, directed by Heinrich LEDERER, later by Anna KAISER, then by Viktor KARDOS.

Leopold STÖRCK appears to have been the first physician in Stegersbach. Births of his children can be found in the birth records 1852-56. Later physicians: 1858 Dr. WALTER, ca. 1866 Andreas PFEIFFER, 1888 Dr. Alexander GRUBER, later Dr. Stefan HALASZ, Dr. Sigmund SCHÖNBERGER, Dr. Koloman SZENTPETERY, Dr. Bernard NEUMANN, in 1930 Dr. Josef STOPPER and Dr. Franz FUCHS. First pharmacist of Stegersbach (since 1882) was Josef GANGL, followed by Julius DOBO and Alois KOTTAS, in 1930 Eugenie KOTTAS, Alois' widow.

In 1874 the whole "German part" of Stegersbach (52 houses and the St. Antonius chapel) burned down.

The mill currently (1930) owned by Julius TECHET.

The gypsies' camp consists of 27 huts, inhabited by 37 families with 117 persons. Their surnames: SARKÖZI, HORVATH, GUSSAK can be found in the church records of Stegersbach since 1770. Some of them always were musicians. They are totally ignorant of religious education. [translator's note: one night during WW II the gypsies' camp was surrounded by police and/or military, the inhabitants brought into concentration camps. Very few returned.]

The local BATTHYANY estate was - like in Rauchwart - sold to Comtess Theodora KOTTULINSKY in 1892 (from Prince Alfred de MONTENUOVO, son of Prince Wilhelm de MONTENUOVO and Comtess Juliane BATTHYANY). The Stegersbach estate was also subsequently sold to the same Budapest bank. The bank sold the land to local farmers in small pieces.

Inhabitants: 1503 (1499 Catholics + 4 Lutherans) in 1812, 1849 (1844 C + 5 L) in 1832, 2573 (2542 of them Catholics) in 1930 (in 476 houses). Ca. 600 Stegersbach natives living in America in 1930. Ca. 100 casualties in WW I.

In 1624 Stegersbach had had a Lutheran pastor (Georg WERNER). Catholic priests: Peter SZENTELEKY (1698), KUSELI (1753), Peter GROSZ (1757), Paul PUNTZ (1758-63), Georg BUKLETICS (1763-88), Josef KLEMENT (1788-1813, born in St. Michael), Georg TEKLITS (1813-46), Josef VARGA (1846-70), Franz SCHWARZ (1870-99), Stefan OSZTOVITS (1899-1906), Karl BRAUN (1906-).

Teachers: Michael CVITKOVICS (1698), Stefan KLUPAITZ (1757), Johann GROFF (GRAF; died 1771), Karl NEMLOVIL (died 1790), Georg RIEDL (1796), Johann ENGER (1801-08, from Gerersdorf), Mathias SVETICS (1809-12, from Rehgraben, helped by son Johann), Matthias MAYERHOFFER (1812-17), Kaspar MAYERHOFFER (1817-23), Josef BUTKOVITS (1832), Johann WEHOFSITS (1837-85), Johann KNOR (1885-1908), Rudolf FUMITS (1908-17), Alexander LUIF (1917-). The teachers also served as notaries until 1858. In 1930 Alexander LUIF was head teacher, the 2nd to 5th teachers were Andreas MEDEK, Josef SCHARNAGL, Stefan STIPSITS, Karl SCHNEIDER and Margarete HOCHLEITNER-MOSER. Known earlier 2nd (etc.) teachers: Johann JANISCH (1862), Karl KAISER sr. (1864-74), Karl KAISER jr. (1884-1906).

A secondary school was established in 1918, teachers in 1930: Josef BLOHMANN, Josef HOCHLEITNER, Hans LEIERER, Elisabeth SCHARNAGEL (nee SCHUMMEL).

Source: Dr. Josef Loibersbeck's series "Um den Eisenberg", published in "Volk und Heimat" 4-8/1958; summarized and translated by Albert Schuch 10 Nov 1999

Family History Library microfilms:
Catholic: Római Katólikus Egyház, Szentelek [FHL INTL Films 700730 - 31}
Civil: Szentelek (Vas). Anyakönyvi Hivatal [FHL INTL Films 700584 - 95]

In 1899-1904: Small community of 2958 inhabitants; chair district Német-Ujvár; Court of Justice in Szombathely; district court Német-Ujvár. Has voluntary fire-brigade.

Businesses & Proprietors:
Bank- u. Creditinstitute (Bank & Credit Institution): Aushilfsverein der Gemeinde Szent-Elek u. Umgebung als Genossenschaft, r. GmbH; Szt.-Eleki takarékpénztár részv. társ. (Sparcassa)
Gutsbes. (Estate Owner): Gräflich Kottolinzky'sche Herrschaft
Regalienpächter (Royal leaseholder): Gemeinde
Spezerei u. Gemischtwarenhdl. (Spice & Groceries Dealer): Friedrich's Leopold Sohn, auch Engrosshdl. in echt Steirisch Kleesamen u. Frucht (also Wholesale trader in genuine Styrian clover seed and fruit); Popofcsits Paul

Source: Leuchs Adressbuch, Band 18: Ungarn, Kroatien und Slavonien, 1899-1904, 9.Ausgabe
(Leuchs' Directory, Volume 18: Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia, 1899-1904, 9th Edition)

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