Our immigrant forebears were from Scotland, Ireland, and France. From the s until the s, they settled in Washington state and created livelihoods homesteading a dairy farm, working in the timber industry, and establishing confectionery stores on both sides!
By the time our family arrived in the Santa Clara Valley, my father was a doctor ready to enter private practice. While we treasured our fruitful rural life in Saratoga, we were not part of the vast enterprise producing stone fruit and nut crops that were enjoyed around the world.
This immigration wave peaked in and extended until WWII. Bronzich, Cristich, Kucich, Matovich, Miletich, Miljevich, Novakovich, Spaich, Stepovich, Yakich, Yelavich and Zicovich were all family farmers in Saratoga who grew French prunes, apricots, cherries, almonds, and walnuts within a few miles of our home. In the greater Santa Clara Valley, there were many other Croatian immigrant farmers, including the Mariani formerly Mariani-Marianovich , Bonacich, and Mardesich families.
In , early Croatian settlers in the American East and South left for the goldfields of California. They worked as goldminers, bartenders, saloon keepers, restaurant owners, fruit, liquor and fish suppliers.
When mining collapsed, they purchased farmland and were among the pioneers who established vineyards and orchards. The Slavonian Benevolent American Society of Santa Clara County , organized in , listed the Croatian family names, place of origin, and arrival date.
