I was born in Mobile, AL of a railroad family. My dad, Sam Shelby, was a commercial agent with the Gulf Mobile & Ohio RR (GM&O). My mother worked at the GM&O where they met. My maternal grandparents are Clovis Ellis, a fireman & engineer with the GM&O for over 50 years, and Amalie Franelich Ellis. Amalie was from "The Grove" where her father, Nicholas Franelich, owned Mobile's only general store. I'm sure all of the Franelichs in and around Mobile are related to me. The Franelich patriarch was Thomas who came from Croatia, which at that time was part of the Austrian-Hungary Empire. Franelich, meaning son of Frank, is native to the Istra Peninsula of Croatia. I am willing to share any info I have and would appreciate any info you have.

I was born in Mobile, AL of a railroad family. My dad, Sam Shelby, was a commercial agent with the Gulf Mobile & Ohio RR (GM&O). My mother worked at the GM&O where they met. My maternal grandparents are Clovis Ellis, a fireman & engineer with the GM&O for over 50 years, and Amalie Franelich Ellis. Amalie was from "The Grove" where her father, Nicholas Franelich, owned Mobile's only general store. I'm sure all of the Franelichs in and around Mobile are related to me. The Franelich patriarch was Thomas who came from Croatia, which at that time was part of the Austrian-Hungary Empire. Franelich, meaning son of Frank, is native to the Istra Peninsula of Croatia. I am willing to share any info I have and would appreciate any info you have.