Parisville/Paris Township
Parisville/Paris Township The Oldest Polish Settlement in Michigan (Founded 1855/1856) Parisville Museum Sketch by Marilyn Rutkowski. Cabin circa 1875 by Charles Ciechanowski-Chinoski-Chase March 2019 1 A Special Thanks The following people have made invaluable contributions to this document: • Roger Laske • Evelyn Osentoski-Clor • Richard Clor • Jackie Rutkowski-Gracey • Janis Stein • Norma Glaza-Novick • The late Donald Lucien Susalla • The late Stanley & Marilyn Miklasz -Rutkowski 2 Contents 1. Problems in Poland 2. Poles in America 3. Emigration from Poland to the Parisville Area 4. Where is Parisville Located? 5. A Stopover in Canada 6. The Founding of Parisville 7. Early Purchasing of Land in Paris Township 8. The Move to Their New Property 9. Early Pioneer Life in Paris Township 10. St Mary’s Catholic Church 11. Huron County Ravaged by Fire: 1871 12. Huron County Ravaged by Fire: 1881 13. Parisville Becomes a Town (Again) 14. Parisville Today 15. References 16. Appendices 3 1. Problems in Poland Introduction • In the mid-19th Century, Michigan was experiencing a rapid rate of expansion. A large part of this growth was due to a significant influx of immigrants, primarily from Europe. • Conditions in many parts of Europe, especially Poland, created an incentive for Europeans to seek a “better life” in America • Between 1772 and 1795, Poland was partitioned by Prussia, Russia and Austria. By 1795, Poland, as an independent nation, no longer existed. • This overrun of Poland, by other nations, caused many problems for the “Polish” people, including the following: • They had the culture of a foreign power imposed upon them, • They were, often, not allowed to openly practice their religious beliefs, • They were, often, not allowed to teach their children their native language in schools.
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