Born 15th October 1868 in Stakcin, Snina, Slovakia to Maria Kosztyo (father unknown). We know his date of birth thanks to his naturalisation papers dated 1915. We also know from them that he left Bremen in Germany on or about the 16th September 1891, arriving in Baltimore about the 3rd of October though he didn't remember the name of the ship (this seems to be a common 'failing' amongst naturalisation applicants), of the five vessels that left Bremen and arrived at Baltimore between 24th September and 22nd October, he doesn't appear on any of the passenger lists.

The first evidence we have of him in the US is the 1905 New York State census, he is shown living at 158 East Tioga Ave, Corning along with his wife Anna and the first five of their children. His occupation is listed as pot maker. 5 years later they had moved across the road to number 75, his half brother Charles (Vasil) was living at 158. Unsurprisingly the family name was mispelt, in 1905 it was "Losty" and in 1910 "Costi" and the enumerator of the Federal census has them as being Italian instead of Austrian (Stakcin was part of the Austro Hungarian Empire until 1918 so a lot of Imigrants from the area were "labelled" as being Austrian).

The 1915 New York State census was conducted in April, several months before Michael's naturalisation was confirmed, so 'Michael Hurst (or Kurst as the handwriting is bad) as he is listed is still shown as being an alien along with Anna and sons Michael and John, and daughter Mary, all of whom are shown as having been born in Austria. This is somewhat confusing as prior to this all the children were shown to having been born in the U.S. Forty eight year old Michael is shown to be a labourer. They are living at 75 East Tioga so we know this is our family, Michael, Anna and all 9 of their children.

In 1916 Michael Koszty was appointed one of the three directors of the newly formed St. Mary's Greek Catholic Austro-Hungarian Congregation (known as St Mary's Orthodox Church). In 1917 the church was completed on the newly renamed Sunset Drive in Corning (as of 2025 the building was still standing though the church has now moved to Canada Rd, Painted Post). The Church's website has a parish history which interestingly recounts how around 1895-1900 there was an influx into Corning, of Carpatho-Russians mainly from the town of Stakcin.

When the 1920 Federal census was taken the family was still living at 75 East Tioga Ave, 'Michail' was unemployed but all 5 children of working age were employed at the glass factory. Michael died the following year on 16th October, the day after his 53rd birthday and is buried in St Mary's Cemetery, Corning

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