Newslettr.TI
P olish Genealogical Soc iety of Minncsota NEWSLETTr.TI
VOLUME 6 AUTUMN 1998 NUMBER 3
Upcoming events: lln thils issue q q q
Upcoming events...... page 1 ANNUAL MEETING President's Letter Saturday, November 7, 1998, 10:00 a.m. by Greg Kishe1...... p. ) At the Minnesota (ienealogical Society Library's meeting room Kirchen Buch fi.ir die Pfarre 5768 Olson Memorial l{ighway, Golden Valley, UN SS+ZZ Floetenstein ...... p. ! (See directions to MGS in the advertising insert in this issue) Letters to the Editor: After the election of officers and directors for 1999 (a slate of Thanks for help at the MGS Library candidates will be announced via a separate mailing), we will Writing to Poland have a research session using the many new materials we have A journey back in time added to our library collection during the last year. These Can you help?...... p.4 inclucle Slownik nazwisk ancl other materials on the origins and Origins of the Laskowski and meanings of Polish narnes, gazetteers (including Slou,nik Kalka Surnames geograficznl,), topographic maps, and our Church and Local by Paul Ku1as...... p. 6 I Iistory Collection. Bring your research and your questions and Poland changes its Provinces again.....p. 7 we will all help one another! The Bulletin Board, ...... p. 8 Letters to the Editor, continued...... p. 8 PGS-MN will have a table for book sales, Two Minnesota parishes founded by membership, and questions and answers at two German-speaking Catholics from events in 0ctober: West Prussia by Paul Ku1as...... p. 9 The Dakota County Genealogical Society's,,()enealogy From Slownik geograficznI...... p. 10 Resource Fair" and from dos Saturday, October 10, 1998, 10:00 a.m. ro 3:00 p.m. Gerneindelexikon.fir Dakota County Historical Society Museum Kdnigreich Preusen:... .p. 10 130 Third Avenue North, South St. Paul, MN Map of the Flcitenstein area...... p. 11 Call (651) 451-6260 fcrr directions Grosse Ile: Canada's version of Ellis Island Polish Heritage Day, sponsored by Polish Eagle White by Shirley Mask Connolly...... p. L2 Sunday, October 18, 1998, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Family trails weekend: Morrison County P.W.E. Meeting Hall, 165-13th Avenure NE., Minneapolis Families Reunion The Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesotars by Genny Zak YieLey...... p. 14 American Annual Polish Soup Festival will be held Oct.23, at 6:30 PM Fighters Remembered...... p .15 at the Intemational Institute, 1694 Como Avenue in St. Paul. Library Corner....Book Reviews lior more information, call PACIM at (612) 378-9391. More short takes at the PGS-MN Library MARK YOUR CALE,NDARS FOR THESE FUTURE by Greg Kishel...... p. 17 MEETINGS; MORE DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED: Holocaust videotapes available...... p. 1 8 Saturclay, January 16, 1999,10:00 a.m. at the MGS Library. Missing Branches: Saturday, I.-ebruary 20,1999,10:00 a.m. at the MGS Library. Qreries...... p. 18 Saturday, March 20,1999: PGS-MN will again parricipare in New members...... p. 1 8 the MGS's annual "Branching Out" meeting with three Renewed members...... p.20 presentations. St. Joseph's Catholic Church...... p. 20 *** * * ** * *** * * * ** * ** ** ** * rc* Page2 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Autumn 1998
Po lirt Gn ealogica I So c i e ty dlWinrcsota
A Branch of the Minnesota Genealogical Society
5768 Olson Memorial Hwy. Golden Valley, MN 55422 (612) se5-e347 http://www.m tn. orglmgs/branches/poli sh.html
Officers President's Letter by Grcg Kishel Greg Kishel ...... President (e-mail: [email protected]) Autumn comes, and most of us have children and grand- Terry Kita (6t2-927 -07 t9)...... Vice President children retuming to school. Whatever their abilities, most of Joanne Lisson (672- 489 -7781,)...... Secretary them are faced with stem academic challenges at one time or Barbara Rockman (672 - 49 3 -8465)...... Treasurer another. This little commonplace of modem lif-e fumishes a W. (612-378-1739) Kornel Kondy ...... Past President theme for us genealogists at this time of the year. Mary Ellen Bruski (612-588-3801)...... Director Every time I deliver my introductory presentation on Genny Zak [Geley (6L2- 42 4- 37 47)...... Director Polish genealogical techniques and resources, I am approach- Margare t Kowalewski (5 07 - 45 4- 6L 49)...... Director ed by a listener who begins by protesting, "Well, I don't Cornrnittec Chairs know how to speak or write in Polish..." This usually accompanies the production of something written in the Mary Ellen Bruski (612-588-3801)...... Membership Polish language--an obituary or memorial card of American Greg Kishel...... Program & Publicity origin, a transcript of a birth or marriage entry from a Terry Kita (672 -927 -07 19)...... Research European source, a fbreign military record, or the like. It is Paul Kulas (672- 427 - 4523)...... Library & Newsletter tbllowed by the statement that it is too ditficult to push one's Mary Ellen Bruski (e-mail: [email protected]) & genealogy beyond the immigrant generation, and how the Kathleen Matelski ...... Website speaker just doesn't know how to begin. The striking thing about this is the frequency with which I can parse something of value to the questioner out of the Polirt Ge n ealoghal Society offered material--I, with my limited grasp of Polish o1fMi n n en to fVcanslcttcr vocabulary and grarnmar, gained only in mid-life. I've been able to send a t'ew newcomers otf with the start they wanted, Nerrletter Staff whether it's a lead to a place of family origin in Poland. the sumarne c'rr occupation of a collateral or direct ancestor, or Paul Kulas (672- 427 - 4 5 23)...... Editor the name of an Ilast Coast or Chicago parish that might holcl W. Kornel Kondy...... Contributing Editor helptul records. I can't claim to have given pivotal help to Genny ZaklGeley...... Printing anyone yet. Ilowever, there's no doubt that a small Mary Ellen Bruski...... Labels Polish-English dictionary, an idea of the structure of Polish Greg Kishel, Barbara Rockman & grarrunar, and a willingness to patiently review ditficult Genny Zaklieley...... Mai1ing handwriting are all that is needed to break many barriers. So the message this time around is simple: Don't be afraid The Polish Genealogical Socieqv of Minnesota Newsletter is published ouarterlv in Sorins. of the Polish language. Yes, some aspects of the grarrrnar are Summer, Autumn and Winter. Submission of difficult tor Americans. The seven possible forms for nouns, items for publication is encouraged. Deadlines changing with associated prepositions and with use in the for inclusion of submitted material are March 1, sentence, are a bit tiresome to memorize; the system sure the way June 1, Sept. 1 and Dec. 1 respectively. A11 isn't English handles il.s nouns. C)n the other hand, articles, letters, book reviews, queries, news one docsn't really necd to mcmorizc thc noun cases to gain items, advertisements, etc. should be sent to: an et-fective understanding of them tbr our sort of research. Paul Kulas, PGS-MN Newsletrcr, 120ffi West The PGS-MN library collection contains several genealogical River Road Champlin, MN 5531G2145 translation guides; all of them have a section on the or to e-mail: [email protected]".us rudiments of Polish greilnmar, as applied Lo the old recclrds we pore over. Also, there are good charts outlining the case @ 1998 Polish Genealogical Society ofMinnesota endings and their uses in the introductory Polish instruction books that one can now find in paperback at any good Autumn 1998 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesoa Page 3
bookstore. With this knowledge and an understanding example, will be scheduled only with a minimum of the verb conjugations--which in most respects are registration of twelve students. The moral is clear: We not more complicated than those in Spanish or F'rench u,ill have this valuoble instuction available to us only --one get oan the gist ofthe basic genealogical source if we support ond use it, and in good numbers. materials in our ancestors' tongue. The acquisition of even a little facility with the The use of an instruction book should prompt a Polish language is a tremendous empowerment for further leap, though: why not take a classroom course genealogical research; anyone who's gained some will in conversational Polish? Leaming to speak a foreign attest that it greatly speeds up the review ofrecords, language out loud is the very best way io intemalize and enables one to pluck out the right ones. It also real-lit'e sentence structure, and in much less time than gives a sense of empowelment; just knowing that one it takes by rote memorizing in solitude. It's also a has this extra tool is enough to keep one plugging muc! more powerful way to sense the different way of aheacl in research, even after fruitless hours, iust from viewing the world that is built into the structure of the assurance that non-recognition won't stand in the gv-gry language. Too, it's much more fun leaming with way of success. Finally, there's the broadening effect. f'ellow students who are in the very same situation-- All of the teachers of these classes love the hiitory and matriing mistakes and achieving success. F-inally, you culture of Poland, recognize that they are inseparable may not flnd the leaming as difficult as you think--if tiom the essence of the language, and insert a healthy during you childhood heard the language spoken by dose of them into the discussion. parents or grandparents, you may retain a t'eel for the So my message this time isn't complicated: don't be pronunciation and the rhythm of the language even if putoff by the language just because it's foreign; "go yoq have no conscious memory of a single wordl back to school," invest a little time into studying it, and We in the Twin Cities are fortunate to have several you will be surprised at how quickly your understand- options tbr stuclying conversational Polish in a class ing grows and your research prospers. Zyczg szczgscia! setting. --I wish you good luck! PGS-MN Past President Komel Kondy continues to teach his introductory and intermediate-level classes at Como Park High School, for the community education p{ograry in the St. Paul school system. He's just start- ed the fall quarter, and Community Ed will still take registrations at (651) 293-8522. (I enrolled in Komel's class in the spring of 1991 our of a desire for a midlife intellectual challenge. He invited us students to an early PGS-MN presentation. That reviverl my old but unrealized curiosity about genealogy. I took Komel,s class for three years, one thing led to anclther, ancl now I am situated in your Society, as you find me.) _ We are very fortunate to have continuing college- level conversational Polish language instruition at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota, thanks to the tireless advocacy of instructor Professor I-eonard Polakiewicz. This fall Beginning Polish is offered in an extension (evening) course, and an intermediate-level class is offerecl in the momings. More information can be obtained by calling (612) Q.4-3331. Finally,--Polish conversational courscs in the evening are also ottered in Minneapolis at the Norlheast Community School ((612) 627-3058) and Logan park Community Center ((612) 789-@45). Taughiby active members of the Polish-American Cultural Institute of Minnesota like Chet Rog, these classes have been a staple in "Norcleast" for years now, they're perennially Kirchen Buch fiir die Pfarre Floetenstein: gopular, and have been a powerful meihani,sm to keep This copy of the first page of the parish register at F-lcjten- the Polish-American community knit together. stein, copied by Rev. Peter Hackert, proves that the 19th All of these courses will be available only with century parish records do exist. It indicates births re- enough demand to merit the schools' investment of corded from 1814 to 1846, marriages from 1814 to 1845 faculty and money. The University's courses, fcrr and deaths from 1815 to 1865 (See srory on page 9). Polish Genedogical Society of Minnesota Autumn 1998 A journey back in time rutr- b.tlg editnr,"##tHl,ffi#,i?ffii'iffi"iiTtffi , -=<'f iltV dO },;edo;ktmq: wanted to sce ivtrat my mom's village in the ".,H;1?'##u*H:."iflI:3il[?;It:11ffi;:i''"Oh yes, the cottage on top of the hill." Climbing up a Thanks for hetp at the MGS tibrary lffiilY;iilSfitrf*fiH**Tj.:1,',r".:iLlf,o *., I can't thank you enough for your help on July 9th but could tell me much. He showed me the house my at the new MGS library. You were so kind in helping mother left when she went to America in 1902, at age my wife and I find information. We were impressed 15, as well as where my grandparents lie buried. with your knowledge and sources of information about Kornel Kondy, Minneapolis, MN Poland. Editor's note: This letter was originally printed in Recently on the Intemet I made contact with a the July,1998 issue of Good Age.When Kornel v,as person with my sarne sumalne and it tumed out to be a researching ancestors in Massachusetts, a local news- relative. He, in tum, wrote a cousin in Poland who paper asked its readers to u,rite about vacations they provided me with a wealth of information about my had taken. Kontel' s letter was one chosen grandfather's family and all the way back to my great- for publicatiott. great-great grandfather. He even gave me the address of our family farm. I continue researching the Can you help? JARMUZ sumamein Juncewo, Poland (near Znin) and the HAUSTEIN sumame in Austria. I hope you can help me. I have been once to the old Your PGS-MN Newsletter is great! I have gained MGS l-ibrary and found and copied from the l,enius alot in just the short time that I have been a member. Genealogical Gazetteer of Galicia a map of Galicia Thank you for all that your group does. Sincerely, administrative districts (1906-1914 Page D9). I believe Michael Jarmuz, mjarmuz@ pressenter.com the #12 Nowy Targ would be the Polaczyks homeland. Editor's note: Polish nights at the MGS library are On an older map of the German Empire 1817-1918, on the secondThursday of each month. PGS-MN the area was I believe Saxony. Enclosed you will find members can receive individual help with their ship records. Now Mary Polaczyk had been marriecl 3 sons who also research problems at that time. Be sure to make good before to a Hudoba and she had 2 or ciune to Mpls. Maybe the 2 sons from Jacob came with use of this opportunity. them. By 1888-89 directory they were all in Minne- apolis living at 7ll NE, Sibley. Thel{udoba boys were: Writing to Poland Alexander, F-rank and Jacob. [{ow can I obtain the mailing addresses of the I checked many of the Minneapolis and St. Paul following Catholic parishes in Poland: Dziadowa directories from 1882-1920. Also, I checked the Kloda, Trebaczow and Nowa Wies Ksazeca? These census for 1890, 1895,1900, 1910. parishes are shown on Map D-5 in Roman Catholic Jacob, Mary, their children, grandchildren and even Parishes in the Polish People's Republic in 1984. some of the great grandchildren attended and were Jan Bias, Vadnais Hgts., MN members of the iloly Cross Church in NE Minnc- Editor's reply: You can address your letter to apolis. My parents were married there. I found the in the group photo of the Dziadowa Klodo as follows: Holy Cross Church book and Fratemity of St. Anthony of Padua 1886-1911 found P arafia Rzy m sk o - kato li c ka Grandfather Jacob and also a great picture of the 56-504 Dzindowa Kloda, Poland. Great church. The church is really beautiful. I found no other For the other tv,o parishes substitute 63-643 information though. Trgbaczdw and 63-631 Ksi4ieca. Please NowaWiei The newsletters are great especially the features of notice the Polish diacritical marks on the place names the church histories. I even found my Great Grand- that you listed.The Polish zip codes were obtained father Kasimier Podgorski listed in the first from a Polish zip code directory available in the parishioners of St. Adabert's Church (Spring 1995 Polish Collection at the MGS library. I suggest that issue, page 11). Exciting. you write in Polish. Pleose let me know if you get any I have also included The Podgorski tamily group results. Before you write, however, you should check sheet. I need to know how to proceed to find where in to see ifthe recordsfrom these parishes have been Posen this family came from. This was allthe were filmed by the LDS Family History Library. information on the parents death records and they Autumn 1998 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Page 5
not oitizens ancl before the aliens had to sign up, I Twardowski and I don't think Ladislaus can be believe. Now would the children have to be translated as "Lancelot." Under the "Pater" (father) naturalized since they came here with the parents and heading it reads as follows: "Jacobus facobi Polaczyk were under age. They were in the same books of et Theresioe natoe Bryn??ska (it is difficult to read passenger lists as the Polaczyk's: arrived from Bremen because of the legitimus operarius." I port to New York on Jan. 5th 1882. No other fold) filius would translate this as: Jacdb,the legitimate son of information on that list. They settled in St. Paul, MN. the laborer Polaczyk and Teresa, rnaiden Where is Grosspeterwitz? Where is Jacdh Questions: (born (lnder Catharina? Do you think the passenger lists list my narne with the ruilne) Bryn??ska. the lamily/ How can I proceed to get records in Poland? "Moter" (mother) heading: "Marianna Mathai For the Podgorski's--how do I tind where they came Klikuszowski et Arutae natoe Sienka legitimafilia trom in Posen? I am unable to read l-atin or Polish. So agricola" translates as: Marianna, the legitimate when I was at MGS in 1997,lcouldn't figure out the daughter of the farmer Maciej Klikuszowski and Slownik Cieograficzny. Will you or someone be at the Anna, maiden narne Sienka. Under Patrini MGS Library to help do my Polish research the seconcl ( go dp are nt s ) : " J ac obus P odkonow ic z C iv i s C at ha rina Thursday in October (8th)? F-roncisci Gieteryfiski uxor molitoris," translates as: We just got our lirst computer and am leaming the townsmanl citizpn J acdb Podkonowicz and slowly... is compatible,2 years lt IBM old, Windows Katarzyna the wife of the miller Franciszek 95, CD ROM. We pian to get the family tree maker Gieteryfiski. Across the bottom of both the Pater and program. We need to leam more to go on intemet. But Mater columns is v,ritten: "Obst. Catharina Bednarz." we do have Juno (like E mail) barbmark 1 @juno.com (obstetrix) The Newsletter box index is great! I have #9896 by This I translate as: The midwife was my name and address. Is my membership due now? Kataruyna (C athe rine) B ednaru. Most sincerely, Barbara Walsh, Alexandria, MN This document provides o wealth of information. It Editor's reply: Thank you for ),our interesting letter. indicotes the place of boptism as Now,y Targ (l would You certainly have done quite a bit of research. You check to see if the LDS Family History Library has ruise o number of questions v,hich I w,ill try to on$rer filmed the records of this parish).lt also provides the as best I can. nonrcs of three generations -- the name of the child Let me start with the Certificate of Baptism of (Wtadyslaw Bronislaw Polaczyk), the names of his Indislaus Polaczyk (see portion printed above). F-irst porents (Jakob Polaczyk and Marianna Klikuszowski) of all, he v,as baptized in Noy,r- Targ in the Diocese of and both sets of grandparents (Iok6b Polac4,ls l Krak6u.,. The Polish "Nowy Targ" ond the Latin Teresa Bryn??ska and Maciej Klikuszowski I Anna "Neoforiensis" ittdicate the sante pluce.'l'hey botlt Sienka). You are luclq to hat'e this dorument in y6r, translate to English as "Neh, Market." The region possession. "Galiciae" is Galicia which u:as the Austrian occupied As far as the ship lists (from Germans to America by part of partitioned Poland. Noh,y Targ is in u,hat is Glazier and Filby?) are concerned -- I'm not sure you now, southern Poland in the Pro,r,ince of Nov'y Sqcz have identified the right people.The first list indicates (see map of the provinces of Poland on page 6). that the occupation of Jacob Pav,lahsckv'as that of T'here are, I think, a few, errors v,ith the translation tailor (l'm guessing at the meaning of the abbreviation of the baptismal certificate that you prot,ided. The "TLR" here) and that he came from Saxony. Saxony is narne of the priest doirtg the baptism is Ignatius Letters to the editor, continued on page 8 Page 6 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Autumn 1998
We received the following letter from a member: Origins of the LASKOWSKI Enclosed please lind my personal check in the amount of $20 to cover the cost of researching the names of and KALKA Surnames my two grandlathers, LASKOWSKI and KALKA. by Paul Kulas What you had to say about the name MUCHLINSKI in the Spring 1998 issue of the Newsletter was {as- your We continue our offer to research Polish cinating, and I hope you'can tum up such interesting surnarnes n Polish Surnannes: Origins and Meanings material about the Laskowski and the Kalka names. and in Slownik nazwisk wspdlczsSni,e w polsce The former is probably a well-known name in Poland, uiywanych. Send your request to: Paul Kulas, editor, but the latter is probably lesser known. My matemal PGS-MN Newsletter, 12008 West River Road, grandfather Albert Kalka was bom in Kadlub, locatecl Champlin, MN 55316. Include $10.00 per sumarne. in Silesia I believe, around 1850. My patemal grand- Make check payable to PGS-MN. father Anton Laskowski was bom in a village in the Map 1 (at left): Distribution of the Kalka surname in present day Poland according to Slownik nazwisk.. . Note: Rzesz6w province in southeastem Poland and Krak6w province in southem Polancl are r45 not shown on the map at left. or Grrfr There were seven people with the Ittdlq.*l 58 Kalka sumame in Rzesz6w province and four in Krak6w ltrr Gorr provincc in 1990. o t2 FrdomO
Sumfio o 61 o 422 \ Opoa. .4,( o\ Bl.rYolo.( 1 es1 .j 389 0 G.rrfr Map 2 (at right): ftr.ilo9o.rll op".-n o'\ 680 Bhlr l Distribution of the Poderhe I !&rrGOrr r77 Laskowski surname in I o ; present day Poland i 500 ?0e'l accordingto Shwnik i l"T\. vi nazwisk... lz+ll' ./^*-] ozrmtc 'l u est 207 250 o o i:-i, @ ) -'t
rrr- () \ t:,57/ No$ry Sqc, l./-.--'*'r Autumn 1998 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota PageT Brodnica area (formerly Strassberg, West Prussia) lives in the woods." It was conunon in Poland for free around 1834. I shall be anxious to hear what your peasant farmers to go to remote areas which were not research has to tell me. Many thanks for your effbrts. yet permanently settled and to establish a t-armstead for Sincerely, Gilhert [. Laskowski, 8306 Cherry Valley themselves and for their descendants. They literally Lane, Alexandria, Y A 22309-2 1 I 8. went out and "lived in the woods" -- not unlike our According to lloftman?s Polish Surnames: Origins Polish immigrant ancestors who settled in previously and Meanings the Laskowski sumame is derived from undeveloped areas in this county to establish a farm the Polish word /as which means "forest, woods" or were there was only wildemess before. I suspect that from the word lasak which means "forest-dweller." the ancestor who first used the Laskowski sumame lloffman cites Nazwiska Polak6u,by Kazimierz was one of these free peasant farmers. Rymut as the source of this information. According to Hoffman's Polish Suntames: Origins You are correct in stating that Laskowski is a and Meanizgs the Kalka sumame is derived from the well-known Polish sumarne. According to Slownik Polish word kolai which means "to soil" or from the Nazw,isk.. . by Kazimierz Rymut, the name Laskowski word kalka which means "tracing paper, calque." appeared 25,425 times in a govemmental agency's Hoffman citesNazwiska Polal
New Polish provinces. The map at left shows the new pomorskie provinces approved by the Sejm warmi6sko- (the lower house of the Polish zachodnio- mazurskie parliament) on July 18, 1998. pomorskie The Sejm voted 326-45-41for the measure. President podlaskie kujawo- Aleksander Kwasniewski pomorskie signed the bill into law on July 27, 1998. The legislation transfbrms Poland's 49 existing provinces into sixteen new ones wielkopolskie (Compare the maps of existing provinces on page 6 with the map of the new provinces at left). On August 7, 1998 the govemment decidecl that there dolnoSl4skie (powiaty) lubelskie will be 308 counties in Poland. Sixty-tive cities will have county status. These changes will take effect on January I, 1999. For more information see: malopolskie http://hum. amu.edu.pl I -zbzw I ph I pr a I plpro.html Page 8 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Autumn 1998
Library (in the microfiche cabinet) ancl in the per- manent collection of the LDS F'amily l{istory Center in Crystal (lilm numbers: GS 920,957 to 920,972). We regularly publish translations from this ret-erence work and we do so again on page 10 in this issue. But it is not the only source where you can llnd infbrmation of this sort. On page 10 we introduce another such The Buffietun lBoardl resource : G e meindelexiko n fiir das Kiinigreic h Preusen [Community Directory for the Kingdom of The Polish Genealogical Society of America will Prussial. If your ancestors came from what was present its 20th Anniversary Conference on October Prussia, you should become tamiliar with this work. It 16-18, 1998 at the Ramada l{otel O'Hare in Rosemont, too is on microfilm in the pennanent collection clf the IL. The conference theme is "Poland and Polonia: One LDS Family History Center in Crystal (film numbers: People, Many Nations." Contact: Bemadine Saelens, GS 806,636 for Posen, GS 1,187,921 for West and 277 Gladys Avenue, Elmhurst, II- 60126 or phone: East hussia and GS 1,183,537 for Silesia). 630- 833-1355 for more information. Letters to the Editor, continuedfrom page 5 THOSE OF YOU who have ancestors from the former quite a distance Nov'y Targ and if your German occupied part of partitioned Poland (or from from Jak6b anywhere else Germans settled in Europe, for that Polacry-k h'asn't a tailor, I very- much doubt that this is matter) should becorne familiar with Deutsch- the right reference. With regard to Anna Polasik on F remdsprachige s (fremdsprachis-deutsche s) the second list -- it doest't list oll of her children and Antwerp was definitely not a usuol port of exit O rtsname nverzeio chn l's [German-foreign language for (foreign language-German) place name changesl. This Polish emigrants. comprehensive directory, which was published in As far as locating tlrc Podgorski fanily in Posen is 1931, gives both the German name and the vemacular concerned -- Hove you checked tlrc church records at name of villages in areas lost by Germany after World St. Adalbert's Church concerning this.family (the War I (or of villages settled by Germans in other family group sheet also mentions St. Cosintir's)? I countries in Europe). If you have the narne of the have found that clrurch records (especially the German village where an ancestor was bom and you marriage records) often give the place of origin in need the Polish narne (or vice-versa), this reference Europe.The Archdiocese of St. Poul and Minneapolis you. work will give it to Countries included in this has microfilmed the records of all churches in the work are: Italy (includes villages mostly in the south diocese.These are available reseorch at the Tyrolean area), Switzerland (mostly French place for archdiocesan archites -- call Patrick Anzelc, Archit,es names), Alsase-Lorraine, France (listed separately (612) (The form Alsace-Lorraine), Luxembourg, Belgium- Assistant, at 291-4429 for an appointment Holland (listed together), Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, cost for researching these recot'ds is $8.00 o day). Lithuania, Russia, Poland (West Prussia, East Prussia, While there you should also check the lloly Cross Posen and Upper Silesia in one listing), Czecho- records regarding the Polaczyk records (Holy Crcss slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Rumania. This records are also available on microfilnt at the resource does not give Polish names of villages in M irute sota II i storic al S oc ie ty ). (iermany areas lost to after World War II (though I am I don't know if foreign-born children of aliens need sure such a work exists--if a reader knows of it, please to be noturalized. Perhaps one of our readers knot+,s. inform the editor). This work is on microfilm in the Grosspeteru,itz is apparently in Saxony and I don't perrnanent collection of the LDS Family l{istory think that was the home t,illage of your Jac6b Center in Crystal (film number: GS 583,457).If it is Polaczyk. Catharina is a personal given nonte. and not not in the LDS FHC nearest you, it can be ordered a place nante.'I'|rc best woy to get the records fiom the Family llistory Library in Salt l-ake City. of Polish parishes is through an LDS Fantily History READERS OF THIS NEWSLETTER by now should Center. be familiar with Slownik geograficzny krdlestwa Regarding the MGS Library on October the 8th -- polskiego i innych krajdw slowiafiskich [Geographic Someone knowledgeable from our organization u,ill be Dictionary of the Former Kingdom of Poland and tlrcre so that u,ould be a good night to t,isit. Good luck Other Slavic Landsl. It is the classic Polish gazetteer on your research. and probably the best source to find a description of 'the #9896 oil your address label indicotes that you your Polish ancestral village as it existed in the 19th are paid through 1998 and that you joined in 1996. century. This work is available both in the MGS Your 1999 dues are due on I .Ianuary 1999. a
Autumn 1998 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Page 9 Two Minnesota parishes 1885. There are many references to European origins in founded the parish records. Iror example a marriage record for by G erman-speaking C atholic s 21 February 1911 states that: Paul Roggenbuck, the son West Prussin of Peter Roggenbuck and Theresa Sporr, was baptized from in Flcitenstein married Maria Komeschke (spelled by Paul Theodore Kulas Komiski in the margin of the record) of the parish in Prechlau, the daughter of Joseph Komischke and Anna Two neighboring parishes in the Diocese of New Schultz. Ulm, the Church of Saint Joseph in Rosen and the Plans for organizing the Catholic church of St. James Church of Saint James in Nassau, were founded were made on February 9,19U., for approximately primarily by German-speaking Catholic immigranrs twenty-five Catholic families in the area. Among the from the area around Flcitenstein (Koczala in Polish), pioneer Catholic families around Nassau were John, West Prussia. This area is in what is now Stupsk Fred, August and Reinhold Albrecht; Peter and John province, Poland. Elmhurst, Illinois seems to have been Kanthak; John, James and William Rourk; Joseph and an intermediate stopping point for many of the early [.-ranli Trojahn; Peter and Albert Roggenbuck; Albert settlers. Pilatzki, Michael Mason, Fred Martin, Gustav and I have a particular interest in this area (both in Reinhold Stoick; Albert, Paul, Theodore and Franz Minnesota and in Poland) because my wife's grand- Schuelke; Fran, August and William Nitz; George and parents, Konstantin Drobny and Susanna Henlia, were Frank Nado; Paul Sandau, James Finigan, Martin van early settlers in Rosen. Although the early settlers of Garvin, Herman Hueser, Alben ToEke, S.E. Spanton, this area were German speakers, many of their John lJspan, and Martin Wemer. The WPA church sumarnes (like Drobny and Henka), betray Slavic record survey indicates that "Most of the settlers came origins (Droby means "small" in Polish -- though from Illinois and originally from Flottenstein, Ger- Konstantin was a very large man). many." The land for the church was donated by John P. I am particularly indebted to Rev. Eugene Hacken Kanthak and for the cemetery by Albert Schuelke. (he also traces his ancestry [Hackert and Stolpman] John Kanthak (according to F-ather Hackert) was for back to Flcitenstein and to the early settlemenl in this many years a parish trustee and "sole caretaker, janitor, area) for information in this article. Thanks to him usher, and collection counter." One story has it that he parish histories and other items conceming Rosen and (John K.) actually put on vestments when conducting Nassau and other parishes in the l)iocese of New Ulm funerals in absence of a priest. Father Hackert quotes are now in our Church and Local History Collection at his father as saying "John Kanthak made himself a the MGS Library. special collection basket on a long handle. It had two The early settlers of the Rosen community who compartments. The upper compartment had a trap door, helped to form a parish were about twcnty families: activated by pulling a trigger in the handle. This made Theodore, Bemard and F-rank Stolpman; Nicholas, it possible for John to inspect each individual con- Simon and John L. Karels; Martin and Leopold Stoick; tribution, then trigger it into the lower compartment and Albert Hoffman, Peter Hackert Sr., Jacob Volkenant, move on to the next person." Valentine Kelzer, Frank Adelman, Albert, Paul and Parish sacramental records date tiom April 19C)4 Peter Kanthak; August Spors, John and Peter Roggen- (filrn number: 1710898). Earlier records are found in buck, and Andrew and Eamest Meier. On26 June 1889, St. Michael's parish in Madison, MN and in Franz Stolpman and wit'e conveyed three acres of land Immaculate Conception parish in Watertown SD. to Simon Karels, Valentine Kelzer and Peter Hackert, Again there are many records which indicate European Trustees of the German Catholic St. Joseph Con- origin. For example a marriage record on 6 November gregation of Yellowbank to be used for a church, 1911 indicates: John Schtilke of Stegers, West Prussia, Igclory and cemetery. The church of St. Joseph of the son of Theodore Schiilke and Anna Meier, and Yellowbank was incorporated on January 29, 1890. fne baptized at Stegers, Diocese of Pelplin, Germania Pastor was Rev. Peter Rosen (the community would married Anna Kanthak, daughter of Peter Kanthak and later be named after him). John Karels and John Anna Maulolf, baptizecl in Flcitenstein, Diocese of Kanthak were the first trustees. Pelplin, Germania. The parish sacramental records (filrn #'s 17lOB97- There are very limited records for Flcitenstein that 9^8, on permanent loan at the LDS Family History have been fikned by the LDS Family History Cenrer. [n Center in Crystal) begin in 1904. The first page of the fact, some sources indicate that pre-WWII records of records has the following note: "Records piior to April the parish were destroyed. However Father Hackert, on 1904 to be found in the Church records of St. Michael,s a trip to Flcitenstein, did actual research in 19th century p?rirh IVladison, Minn." However, beginning on page parish records (see picture on page 3). These records do 1 1 of the birth records are birth records of the parish indeed exist. Somehow, someway, the early records of copied from St. Michael's records beginning f October F-lcitenstein need to be microfilmed. Page 10 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Autumn 1998 UNFAMILIAR TE,RMS: From S lownik ge ografrcznyi nrurgo: also called nuirg, measule of area = about KOCZAT,A .56 hectare, or about 1.3 acres. skojec, sftor.'ancient Polish monetary units, lD4th translated by William F. Hoffman of a grzyvna (vinually impossible to define in modem KOCZAI,A, in German Fldtenstein, in documents economic terms). Vlie se nsteyn, is a church-owned village in Czfuch6w soltys: in ancient Polish villages settled with county, on the stream Hamer that flows from the German-law charters, a hereditary position as head of a nearby lake to the river Brda, near the Pomeranian rural administrative affairs, the head of the aldermen's border. Its area encompasses 19,679 ntorga's,wtth court; from the 16th century on appointecl fbr set 359 buildings, 169 houses; there are 1,227 Catholics period of time by the lord of the village. and299 Protestants. There is a parish church, a school, v,l6kt: also called a lan, measure of area, originally and a post office in the village. a full-sized farm; the size of a wt6ka varied greatly The village of Koczala was originally an estate depending on what part of Poland and what time frame owned by nobles. In 1366 Aleksander Stange -- with you're talking about, but generally it was equal to the knowledge and permission of the Cztuch6w about 16.8 hectares. Teutonic Knights Commander Heinrich von Thaba and of his brother Paul Stange, lord of Strzeczow -- and from Gemeindelexikon fiir das handed over his village Vliesen-Steine, covering 60 Preusen: wl6ka's, to the soltys Herman with a charter based on Kiinigreich Cheknno law. The sohys was to have every lfth FLOTENSTEIN wl6ka, every 3rd penny in legal fi.nes, and half the rent Editor's note: The Gemeindelexikonfiir das from the tavem. ln addition he had the right to catch Kdnigreich Preusen [Community Directory for the fish in the village's lake and streams for his own table, Kingdom of Prussial is a useful gazetteer for those and if there was a mill established there, he was to whose Polish ancestors came.from the Prussion set aside 4 have the right to free milling. Stange occupied portion of portitioned Poland. It is especially wl6ka's for the church. "From the rest, after 9 exempt useful because it gives the location of both Catholic years the settlers are to give us 14 skot's and perform 1 and Protestant churches.The irtformation in this day of road maintenance work annually. As for the found work is listed in columns.The colunm headings were sohys, he shall be ready to respond to our sulnmons, b), Kulas. armed and riding a horse valued at 6 marks. The sohys translated John and farmers shall also give the Archbishop a tithe of 2 Province: West Prussia skojec per wl6ka." In 1378 Petzch Stange issued a Provincial district : Marienwerder charter to a mill in the village of Vliesenstein, to which County (kreis): Schlachau he added a meadow, 6 morga's of farmland, and an District court: Baldenberg additional wt6ka. "For this the miller Geroslaw shall District military office: Konitz pay 10 marks from the mill, and 15 hens for the Name of cornmunity: Flotenstein wt6ka." It is not known when or how this village Number of inhabited communities: 7 passed from private ownership. See Dreger's Odpisy, Total area: 4,741.8 (in hectares) manuscript in Peplin. Average property tax per hectares: 1.42 From the diocesan outline of its holdings we excerpt Inhabited dwellings: 233 the following: the parish of Koczala numbers 2,260 Other inhabited structures (includes huts, tents, ships, souls, and is named for St. Mary Magdalene, under the wagons, etc.):2 goverrrment's patronage; it is not known when it was F-amily households of 2 or more: 381 endowed and consecrated, but the culrent church was Single person households: 9 built in 1695, and it has had a Sobriety Fratemity since Total population as of 1 December 1905: 2,003 1858. There is a branch church in Starzno. The Males:936 villages of the parish are: Koczala, l-dcie, Bielsk, Active military people: 1 Steinforth, Hamer, Pflastermtihl, Darzno, Stara Brda, Protestant: 270, German speakers: 270 Rummelsberg, Reinfeld, and Schwessin. Parish Catholics: 1,726, German speakers: 1,7O5, Polish schools: a 2-class one in KoczalawirhZ3T Catholic speakers: 20, another language:1 children, one in Starzno with 44 children, one in L4kie Jews: 7 with 53. About 80 Catholic children attend Protestant Protestant church located at: Flotenstein schools. In earlier times there also were two more Catholic church located at: Flcitenstein branch churches in this parish, in Darzno and in Lakie. Civil records located at: Flcitenstein [Rev. Frdrychowicz, Vol.IV, p.236] City or police district: Flcitenstein Autumn 1998 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota
Map of the Fliitenstein (Koczala) area, the area of origin of many of the early settlers of Rosen and Nassau, Minnesota. Fldtenstein is circled in the center of the map. AIso circled are the villages belonging to the Catholic parish at Fltitenstein according to Slownik geograftczny. . .: Starsen (Starzno), Lanken (t akie) Biilzig (Bielsk) Steinforth, Hamer, Pflastermiihl, Darsen (Darzno), Neubraa (Nowy Brda) (Slownik indicates Stara Brda [Old Brda], but that is not on the map), Rummelsberg (iust on the north edge of the map), Reinfeld, and Schwessin. Stegers (Rzeczenica) lies just to the south of this map. Source: Karte des Deutschen Reiches [Maps of the German Empire]. Map # l2T,Baldenburg (Bialy 86r). Map is based on the Prussian land survey of 1877 conducted by the Empire Office of Land Surveys. ,
Paget2 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Autumn 1998
GROSSE ILE: _In looking through the church records for the years Canada's Version of Ellis Island 1866 and 1868, I noted the following "possibly" (2) Polish or Prussian looking name: by Shirley Mask Connolly Moeske, Jean, born on May 29,1866 and baptized Many North Americans readily recognize ELLIS on the 31st . Parents were August and Johanna Moeske IILAND and its significance as thegateway to the who were passengers on the ship, The Star of Hope. U.S., but few realiie that GROSSE fi-e is the The godparents were Ferdinand Abraham and Anne Canadiql equivalent. Only recentty has it opened up to 4and. The baby died June 1, 1866. (Nore: The Star of the public as a tourist attraction. Unfortunately we do Hope sailed from Hamburg on April 12, 1866, and not have a lovely lady of world fame (the Stafue of arrived in Qu6bec on June 6th). libety) to guard over the harbor and emigration Klisch, Francis, died on Jule 3, 1866 in the facility, bu! we do have alarge Celtic crosl high on quarantine hospital on Grosse Ile. The child was 3 Telegraph Hill. This symbol is a grim reminder of the years and 6 months old. The parents were Jean Klisch thousands of kish emigrants who arrived on the coffin and Marie Anne Kavinska. The witnesses were louis ships in the famine years aroun d 1847, and who would t{aron (?) and Francois Gagnon. (This child might never make it beyond the cgmeteries on the island. have arrived on the same ship - The Star of Hope?- or However, althou-gh Grosse ile is most remembered in the Horain which came in from Hamburg just about terms of Irish Immigration, it is important to the the same time. The Horain or Hyram? was in Qu6bec history of all emigration to Canadaprior to 1921. This City on June 5th). extends to include many of the first-Prussian and In 1868 there were a number of Polish - Prussian Polish emigrants who would come to the United States looking names entered in the records. They were as well. Those destined for the midwest and states immigrants on ships that brought Kashubihn settlers border4g on the Great lakes, often took the St. who would settle in Renfrew and Renfrew County, Lawrence route. Ontario. A number of these Kashub Poles ^- Qu6bec continried Grosse Ile is an island, located in the upper St. on into the Great Lakes and would settle in the United Lawrence River, some 48 kilometers downstream from States. I extracted the following names and details for Qu6bec City. At this location, a quarantine station was the year 1868: erected in 1832. It was built in response to a cholera Foyet, Julia Anna who died on June 3, 1868 in the epidemic that was brought in wittrthe many new Quarantine Hospital was 11 months old and was immigrants. The diseape swept the cities of Qu6bec buried on June 7, I868. She was a passenger on the and Montr6al. Grosse Ile was selected as a site because ship, the Gutenberg. (3) of its isolation. Quarantine was a necessary measure to Golla, Anna, was buried on June 7, 1868. She died prevent the spread of disease to inhabitanti of the in the Quarantine Hospital at the age of 7 months. No country. date of death is given. She was a passenger on the A quarantine station would continue to be a Gutenberg. necessity in the years to come. This was especially so Tieretowski, Wilhehn, was buried on June 28, during the typhus epidemic of the mid 1840's. It c-ame 1868. He died at sea. He was two years old and a to Canada with the boatloads of pitiful, starving Irish passenger on the Leibig. (4) immigrants. Official records show that in 1847, the Matetzski, Albert, was buried on June 28, 1868 year the Irish famine reached its peak, about 8ffi0Irish and had died at seil on the27th. He was two years old passengers were buried at sea en route to Canada and and a passenger on the Leibig. over 5000 Irish immigrants {ied and were buried in Weinywiski, Anna, was buried on June 28, 1868 unmarked graves on Grosse Ile. and had died at sea on the26th. She was two years old Eleven years later, the first Polish immigrants sailed and a passenger on the Leibig. up to Grosse Ile. They arrived on a ship called the Kenyson, Frantz was also buried on June 28, 1868 Heinricfu. Twenty nine burials were recorded on and had died at sea on the 26th. He was 6 years old Grosse Ile that year, but none of the names seem to and had been a passenger on the Leibig. match the first Polish families. The Prussian Poles kept' Lemenski, Anastasia was buried on June 30, 1868. coming. In 1862 a typhus outbreak accounted for 67 She had died in the Quarantine Hospital, but no date of burials (58 of these were new immigrants), but there is death was given. She was 18 months old and a no nominal record of the deaths forihe vears from passenger of the Leibig. 1859 to 1865. In 1866, 1867, 1868 and i869, over 100 Struski, Jacob, was buried on June 30, 1868, and more immigrants were buried on the island. Some of had died in the Quarantine Hospital. He was 6 months their names are recorded in the burial records of the old and a passenger of the Leibig. Roman Catholic church of St. Luc de Grosse tle, Cte. Olski, Marie A., was buried on June 30, 1868, and M^ontmagny. (1) Unfortunately the years 1867 and had died in the QuarantineHospital. She was 6 months 1869 are missing. old and a passenger ofthe Leibig. (5) Autumn 1998 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Page 13
Ziferont, Anna, was buried on July 10, 1868. She Grosse ile is open to the public as a historic national ryas 5 ll2 years old and a passenger oh the ship, the site developed by Parks Canada. Ferries run regularly Georgina.(6) from Berthier-sur-Mer, which is less than 30 m"inutei Ze_nnen, James, was buried on July 10, 1868. He east of the Qudbec City bridges. Look for it just south wry_2 !Q_$uyt old. The ship was the Georginn. of Montmagny on a map of Qu6bec. You can not take _- ryL4IyI(, MARTIN was buried on July-18, 1868. cars to the island - guided tours are included in the cost He had died in the Quarantine Hospital. tie was24 of the ferry (per adult, about $35.00 Canadian, plus paul years old and a passenger on the Franz de taxes). The season runs from June to Septembei 1st. Armesen. (7) For further information and reservations, call His.faqlly moved into Ontario and eventually 1-888,476-7734. The island of Grosse ile was closed to settled in tlugqty rownship. He is the only posiiive the public for many years and consequently, shrouded identification I have made-from these early burial in mystery. It has the largest mass grave in Canada. records. The Roman Catholic Burial Records are Today the site provides an interesting way of learning missing for the years 1869, 1870, 1872 and 1875. But more about the story-combine of emigration to North America. after 1870, there is another source of nominal records You might want to your visit to the island, available. There is a list of Deaths on Grosse ile with a tour of some of the other 21 islands in the 1870 from to 1913. (8) t tooted through this list and L'Isle-aux-Grues Archipelago. It would be a wonderful extracted the following "possibly" Prulsian or polish way of experiencing some of what must have type names: (9) confronted our ancestors as they sailed through the YEAR NAME/RELIGION GRAVE# Canadian gateway to North America. 1870 Anna Milan Growkloski, Protestant. 1872 (1) Froq the Archives National de Qu6bec, on microfikn, St. Luc Maria Weidner, Protestant de Grosse Ile, births, malriages and deaths, 1834-1875. I had it sent Maria Wilkoiski, Catholic lom th9 ANQ in Qu6bec City to Hull, Qu6bec's regional b,ranch of Auguste Santerre, Catholic the Archives Nationales du Qudbec. The microfilm number I was Maria Knaster, Catholic given was msm#2257. (2) Remember that these Victor Robishaw, Catholic entries were made by French Canadians who likely found it difficult to undersiand an
Gregory C. Banas, 12305 W. Lawn Lane, Laurie Hess Erdman,8240 Angus Ave, Inver (irove Hagerstown, MD 217 40-1054, e-mail: gcbanas@ [Its, MN 55077, e-mail:[email protected] is hotmail.com writes: "This letter and enclosed check is researching ERDMANN, HINTZMANN, to join the Polish Genealogical Society of MN. The KWASNIEWSKI in the West Prussia area: Dirschau, Polish Embassy in Washington, DC answered my Preussen-Holland, Danzig and in Webster, Day e-mail to them and recommended your organization. County, South [)akota An e-mail response from Mary Ellen Bruski gave me instructions on how to join. I am in the very beginning John Felcyn, 1304 W. Med.l,k. Dr., #322, Plymouth, stages of research into my family tree. The sumarne MN 55441 is researching the FELCYN surnarne. BANAS is the one I am the most interested in. Another is BUSH, but I have no other information on any Veronica S. Freihammer, 1301122nd Ave NE, Rice, location for that narne. As for 'Banas,' I do know they MN 56367 is a new member. were from the Krakow/Carpathian Mountains area of Poland. I am fonunate that an aunt of mine does have Bonnie Holtzman, 8501 Cortland Rd., Eden Prairie, in her possession the original bifih certificates from MN 55344 is a new member. Poland of both my great-grandparents. Once I have that, I would most certainly like to share any Linda Huggard, 9663 Virgil, Redford M[48239- information I get. I am hoping to locate relatives in 1415, e-mail: [email protected] is researching both Poland and in the US. Thanks for your time." BLAZEJEWSKI in the Prussian province of Posen and in Duluth, MN and WALKOWSKI in Russian Poland Jerome Biedny,6909 West 82nd St., Bloomington, ancl in Houghton, MI. MN 5 543 8, e-mail : Jay_Biedny@ ellerbebecket.com is researching BIEDNY, FLIDA in Poznan and Cecelia McKeig, 19723 - 12th Ave NE, Federal Dam, DOBOSZ, BARNAS in Galicia and all in Buffalo, MN 56641-97M is researching WITKOWSKI, NY. Z,ELINSKI in northem Poland--Gdansk, Torun and in Wisconsin and northem Minnesota. Dorothy A. Breza, 522I Capitol St. NE, Fridley, MN 55421is a new member. Mildred Moellers, 8250 Hemlock Rd, Fayette,IA 52142-9144 is a new member. Elizabeth Pierzina Brown, 7 49 l 2 Investment St., Rodecr, C494572, e-mail: [email protected] is Candy Nagel,709 - l}th St. No., Sauk Rapids, MN researching PIERZINA, SOCFIER in Morrison Co., 56379 is researching PRZYRIIJ,A, SCHALWIG in MN and CZtsCH, BARON Wright Co., MN and all in Falkenburg, Oppeln (immigrated in 1881) and in Pierz, or near Kallanowitz. Also JANUSZEWSKI in Morrison Co., MN; GRITTNER, MATUSZ,EK in Morrison Co. She writes: "I'm searching for my Tilkrwitz (1881) and in Yrerz, Morrison Co.; great-grandparents who lived north of Opole in PESCHEI-, MISCHKE in Ellgutt and Schidlow, Kollanowitz, Poland. I'm searching for two families Fallienburg, Oppeln (14 July 1880) and in Buckman, who lived there. One is the PierzinalGalla t'amily and Morrison Co.; KRYCH. AKASKY in the district of the other the Czech/Baron family. Mathaus Pierzina Sulwalki (after 1901) and in Platte Twp. Morrison Co.; Autumn 1998 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota Page 19
GAMROTI I, MARSOLEK in Hirshfelde, Schalkowitz Chicago the family established their home on barren (1891) and in North Prairie, Morrison Co.; LITKE, prairie of Lincoln County on a fony acre homestead in DRIEDZIELEWSKA in Gdansk and in Mcleod Co., Section 12, Royal township in 1880. Their children MN (Litke also in Morrison Co. and Alberta, Canada; were: Mary (Mrs. Ilenry Knuffle of Tacoma, WA), KACHMARZINSKI, I,UGGERT in Steuin (Poznan) Stanley of Marshall, Anne (Mrs. Paul Presinger of immigrated in 1867, and in Mcl-eod Co. and Morrison Corona SD later Milbank), Pauline (Mrs. S. Andrzejek Co., MN. She asks: "Do you have any information on of Ivanhoe), Agnes (Mrs. Henry Lutzwiek of Ivanhoe), 'The Polish National Church of America' in Platte Joseph of Ivanhoe, John of lvanhoe, Paulana (Mrs. twsp. in Morrison Co., MN? Last summer I assisted C.C. Spanton of Ivanhoe), Cecelia (Mrs. Mikael the Morrison Co. I{istorical Society by indexing the Chlapkowiak of Ivanhoe), Victoria and Rose." three cemeteries which belong to this church. Some of my ancestors were founding members of this church in Corrine L. Schultz, 750 1st St NW, Wells, MN 56097 Platte twsp. The Weyerhauser museum in Little Falls, writes: "I would like to please become a member of the Morrison Co., MN has this information available to Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota. I found you the public." on your web page. Enclosed is my $15.00 for membership. The names I'm interested in are Morris R. Olson, 2508 Cedar Crown Dr., KULLAKULA, SCHULTZ, MUELLERMILLER \4tl"pqka, MN 55305 is researching SHMINTEK/ and VOGELSANG. Kulla, Miller and Schultz are from SCHMINTEK, ARNDT, DREGER, HENSCHEL/ the Pozen or Mecklenberg areas. Thank you." I{ENSEL in the Province of Poznan in Poznan, Rogayno, Skoki, C)bomiki, Boruchowo and in Sophie Skiba, 7841 Long Lake Road, Mounds View, Faribault County, MN. MN 55112-6207 is a new member.
Jeanette Peterman, 26607 River Rd, Cloverale, CA Donna Skovran, 150 Woodland Drive, Bumsville, 95425, e-mail: [email protected] is a new member. MN 55337-2730, e-mail: [email protected] is researching SWALINKAVICHUWOT-ENKIEW ICZI Alice Schalek, R.R.l, Box 52, Ivanhoe, MN 56142 is ZOLINKEZOLENSKE^/ALINKAICH (all are a new member. She writes: different spellings of the sirne sumarne), PAVLAK, "Grandparents : Andrew CHLAPKOWIAK and NOVAK, STRAUBE in Prussian Poland--the Poznan Mary CHIRNAK. Mary Chimak was bom Dec.2l, area, in Silver Lake, Mcleod county, MN, possibly in 1849 in Poland. She came to America in 1885 residing New York and in Kitchener (previously called Berlin), in Manistique, MI for six years. Mary married Martin Waterloo county, Ontario, Canada. STARZAK in 1867. They lived in Limestone Township. They had three children: Rose (Mrs. Patricia Waletko Smith, 19755 Country Rd., Rogers, Stanley Chlapkowiak), Katie (Mrs.John F. Jerzak) and MN 55374, e-mail: [email protected] is Agnes (Mrs. Joe Machnikowski). Marrin Starzak died researching the WALETKO sumame. and Mary married Andrew Chlapkowiak in 1898. They had eight children: Joe, Rose, Mary, Victoria, Karen B. Whitmer,T(21 Blaisdell Ave., Richfield, Nick, Frank, Mike and Stanley. After Andrew died she MN 5 5423, e-mail : whitmerj@ aol.com is researsching rnoved to Taunton, MN. Stanley CHLAPKOWIAK in former East and West Prussia and in Ohio and was bom 17 July 1881 in Wausau, WI to John and Minnesota. Agnes Chlapkowiali. He was six years old when he came to the Northwest section of Lincoln County in Richard J. Wett, 1396 Baldur Park Rd., Orono, MN 1887. Stanley farmed the land until moving to 55391, e-mail: [email protected] is researching Marshall n 1927. Stanley worked for a nuriery and PANKOWSKI, PETER in Chicago,IL. balery. Rose STARZAK was bom 3 September 1895 to Martin and Mary Starzak in Manistique, MI. Bob Zapolski, 1511 Arden Vista Court,Arden Hills, Remembering talking to my Dad. He m-entioned MN 55 1 1 2, e-mail: [email protected] parents as Andrew and Agnes Chlapkowiak (name was writes: "I am searching for information on my shortened to Chlub). Grandfather and know very little about his background _ _Qrgdparenrs: John J. POPAWSKI and Josephine and the family background in Poland. His name was BORKOWICZ. Josephine Borkowicz was Uom t0 Benjamin ZAPOLSKI. His daughter said he told February 1852 and John J. Popawski Sr. was bom 21 them that he came from Tajno or Lajno, Poland but I June 1845. Both were bom in German Poland. was told that his birth certificate (it is losr) said Josephine and John were married in their native land. Barglow, Poland. I found Barglow and Tajno (close to 9-n9 y"* later they immigrated to America locating in each other) in the Suwalki region of Poland. My guess Chicago where they lived for 10 years. Leaving Missing Brancltcs: continured on page 20 Page20 Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesoa Autumn 1998
Missing Braacbcs: continured from page 19 here. The other sister was named Helen Zapolski and she came from Poland to Superior, WI when she was is that he was actually bom or baptized in Barglow but around 20. She married a WENDOLOSKI. I do not probably lived in the smaller town of Tajno or Lajno. know his name, but they had three sons -- Louis, He gave three different birth dates on dift-erent things Bernard & Joseph. Once again, I have never had that he filled out so we are not sure which is correct. contact with anyone from this side of the family but They are: 3115186,4121184, &.311587. His mother my aunt has and again, no luck on any Poland details. I died when he was very young and he was raised by his am looking forward to researching my ancestry any father and stepmother until he came to America as a hopefully you can help steer me in the right direction." young teenager (without his parents someone said with an uncle). [Ie said his parents nalnes- were Dan Zinda, 1115--6th Ave, I)eWitt, IA 52742-1155 Stanley (could be Stanislaw) Zapolski and Jozefa e-mail : 7 3 412.2}00@compus erve. com is researching (Josephine?).We have two last names for his mother ZINDA in Holloway, Swift Co., MN and in Ivanhoe, and they are PUCYTOSKI and PUCRSZTOWSKICH. Lincoln Co., MN and PETROWSKI/PIOTROWSKI The last one does not seern like a Polish nalne or any in Holloway, Swift Co., MN and in Flastings, Dakota nationality from what I can see. I also do not know if Co., MN. the last narne is his birth mother or stepmother. He had two sisters that we know of. Vladja (could RENEWED MEMBERSzThe following are renewed be Wladyslawy) Zapolski and she came to America members who indicated more complete areas of and lived with an aunt in Connecticut until she married research than was previously published. Kajten BACKItrL. She died in Massachusetts at age 28. She had two sons, Peter Backiel and Mitch Suzanne Greenslit, fIC 86 Box 2800, Merrifield, MN Backiel, and2 daughters, Lucy Backiel Schiltz and 56465 is researching POLASHIK/PALASI{IK name Helen Backiel Novak. I have never had any contact in Poznan (maybe the Bydgoszcz or Gniezno areas). with any of these people but an aunt that lives in They came in 1864 and settled in Chicago (before the Minnesota visited them once. They told her that they fire, ergo no records) and then in Sobieski, Morrison did not have the records of Poland either so we are lost County, MN.
Minnesota Genealogical Society Non-Profit Org. P olis b Ge ne alogic al S o c iety U.S. Postage ofMinnesota Paid P.O. Box 16069 St. Paul, MN St. Paul, MN 55116, - 006,9 Permit No.5090
St. Joseph's Catholic Church Rosen, Minnesota This parish was founded by German-speaking Catholics from West Prussia (See story on page 9).