PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Elaine — Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:39 pm

Author: Elaine

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:39 pm

Oops! Forgot to mention that one of the descendents of my grandfather's brother came to meet the family for the first time in the Native Costume of the Highlanders. That particular family lives in Chicago, IL with several other members of the Leja Family. Their daughter asked me why we didn't invite our grandparents' sister's descendents! All we knew about her was she got married and moved to wherever her husband was from. Now most of her descendents live in Chicago also! I am awaiting more information on that portion of the family! MORE STORIES!!! MORE PICTURES!!! So happy here!

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Elaine — Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:34 pm

Author: Elaine

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:34 pm

Thanks Shellie! Now when I take a few moments to actually read it like everyone else, I'm amazed on how much work went into it. LOL Without the help of all the relatives that wrote stories and sent in photos, and of course, Bogdan, with his share of doing the Leja Family Tree from the relatives in Poland. Combined with the American Leja Families, we have a HUGE family!
Had one relative, who pretty much never met his father's (my cousin) side of the family....always wished for a "large" family. When he came to the reunion, he stood back and said, "ALL of these people are MY relatives!" LOL And it was just a small portion of the people on the tree (about 180/200 is all). When I asked him if the family is big enough to fulfill his dream, he laughed and said YES! And it's still growing! LOL

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Shellie — Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:25 pm

Author: Shellie

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:25 pm

Elaine,
I'm all smiles as I read your message! I"m so glad that your memory book was such as success. Congratulations!!!

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Elaine — Sat Aug 13, 2011 3:27 pm

Author: Elaine

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 3:27 pm

Shellie!
Hello! Hello! Hello!
It has been almost a month since our Leja Family Reunion, and I must admit that the memory book was a complete success! We had different sections for everyone to look into. The first one was The Jacob Leja Family: with wedding/military photos of the 18 kids he had. Didn't have a photo of Anna Wajda, as we haven't found one yet. But we had a sketch of the church they got married in. As for Louise Mazur, a sketch of their church where the marriage took place, as well as their wedding photo. The 2nd section was of Jan Leja, who was my grandfther (Jacob) brother, with stories & wedding photos of his wife Victoria Chmiel and their 4 kids. 3rd section were documents that we had in our possession, 4th section were 63 pages of photos of everyone we could possibly find as far as Jacob, Jan, their combined 3 wives and 22 children....there were photos dated in the early 1900's. Last, but not the least, 73 pages of our Leja Family Tree. 1 page each of the Wajda and Mazur families.
Needless to say, my "baby" Aunt came up to me and told me that was the best present anyone could've given her....the meory book! So, all the work that was involved was worth it! Had many other compliments on the book also. Sitting here with a very big smile on her face!
Take care....just wanted to bring you up to date was all.
Elaine

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Shellie — Mon May 16, 2011 8:20 pm

Author: Shellie

Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 8:20 pm

Elaine,
I just found out that I have a Bonk in my family tree, but not sure yet where in Poland they came from. I'll get back with you as soon as I find out more info!

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Arlene Vic — Sun May 15, 2011 3:07 pm

Author: Arlene Vic

Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 3:07 pm

am not sure if Tom Bak is relating to this person. I know Tom by working with him 10 years ago. I haven't seen him since. I do Iknow his parents and we used to live block away in Chicago, IL.

Tom Bak
7871 Gamay
Gurnee, IL 60031

There are lot of Bak living in Illinois and other states. Hope this help.

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Shellie — Sat May 14, 2011 11:12 pm

Author: Shellie

Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 11:12 pm

Hi Elaine,
I sent you a private message about the record for Jacob Leza. It states that he was from Germany, so I wonder if this is the correct record.

You mentioned earlier in this thread that your ancestors were from Stare Bystre. Stare Bystre is mentioned in The Nation in the Village, the book we are currently reading in our book club. There is also a photo in the book of some peasants preparing to go to harvest. If you would like to learn more about the book and our book club, check out this link: http://forum.polishorigins.com/viewtopic.php?t=750

Shellie

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Elaine — Fri May 13, 2011 9:20 am

Author: Elaine

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 9:20 am

Shellie...
Can you help me out one more time, please? Because we've had our accounts hacked into 3 times in less than a year, I'm afraid to "join" anything.

This is in regards to my grandfather, Jacob/Jakub Leja. we have found on this link, the ship and date of arrival to America. If you don't have an account, that's ok. My cousin is away on vacation that usually helps me on this. http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=ROOT_CATEGORY&rank=1&new=1&so=3&MSAV=0&msT=1&gss=ms_f-2_s&gsfn=Jakub&gsln=Leza&uidh=000

Thank you again for all of your help in making our Memory Book for the reunion a success. Without you and Bogdan, I would still be digging.

Thanks,
Elaine

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Elaine — Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:29 am

Author: Elaine

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:29 am

Thanks, Shellie....will look into it and see if it's possible!!!! As Bogdan has mentioned to me Wajda is a common name, but I don't think Mazur is quite as common as Leja and Wajda. thanks!!!

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Ute — Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:43 am

Author: Ute

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:43 am

Elaine wrote:

To the best of our knowledge, Stare Bystre. At least that's where Anna Wajda passenger list said on Ellis Island when she came on July 5, 1900. Here is the link: http://www.ellisisland.org/search/passRecord.asp?MID=04818730930237497248&FNM=ANNA&LNM=WAJDA&PLNM=WAJDA&CGD=F&bSYR=1876&bEYR=1886&first_kind=1&last_kind=0&TOWN=null&SHIP=null&RF=9&pID=604240130287

She was visiting her brother Jan Wajda in Mt Pleasant, PA, where she met my grandfather, Jacob Leja. We think it is possible that the Lejas and the Wajdas knew each other before coming to America.

Elaine,
I don't know if you've seen this yet and if it helps, but there was a Wayda/Mazur posting by Stacey Garstecki at the Malopolskie Message Board in 1999 - http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.wayda/1/mb.ashxA
“Looking for information on my great-great grandmother Anna Wayda. She was born May 13, 1889 in Poland. She married Joseph Mazur. I only know the name of one child Rose Julia Mazur. I know they had more children. Please e-mail me with any information at: ...“
Ute

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Shellie — Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:38 pm

Author: Shellie

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:38 pm

Elaine posted the following message on the Czarny Dunajec thread and I thought it would be good to reply to it here:

Shellie!
Hope all is well with you and yours. Just have a quick question and didn't know how else to get ahold of you. Are there any records of people leaving America, like the ones listed in Ellis Island of the arrivals?
I'm trying to find out when my grandmother, Louise Mazur, left (we think it's 1896 when she was 3. She is the one that was born in Cleveland, OH, all records were destroyed in a fire where she was baptized. I was hoping it would tell me possibly where she might've lived with her parents, of course, in Poland for 13 years.
Hope you have a wonderful Easter!
Elaine

Hi Elaine! I am so glad to hear from you. This question has come up before, but I'm not sure if records of outbound passengers are available online. I will be sure to reply again if I do find a source for you.

About your grandmother's birth - Have you tried to contact the Catholic Diocese in Cleveland? They have an archive for sacramental records - click here to view the instructions for making a request:
http://dioceseofcleveland.org/communications/archiveform.htm

I don't have any experience with the Cleveland diocese, but I did make a request for info through the Diocese of Pittsburgh and was able to find some valuable family information.

Does this help at all?

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Elaine — Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:21 am

Author: Elaine

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:21 am

To the best of our knowledge, Stare Bystre. At least that's where Anna Wajda passenger list said on Ellis Island when she came on July 5, 1900. Here is the link: http://www.ellisisland.org/search/passRecord.asp?MID=04818730930237497248&FNM=ANNA&LNM=WAJDA&PLNM=WAJDA&CGD=F&bSYR=1876&bEYR=1886&first_kind=1&last_kind=0&TOWN=null&SHIP=null&RF=9&pID=604240130287

She was visiting her brother Jan Wajda in Mt Pleasant, PA, where she met my grandfather, Jacob Leja. We think it is possible that the Lejas and the Wajdas knew each other before coming to America.

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Zenon — Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:11 am

Author: Zenon

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:11 am

Elaine wrote:

(...)Wajda (my grandfather's first wife)(...)

Where Wajda was from... One of my great-grandmothers was also Wajda and she came from Strzyżów area (nearby Rzeszów)..

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Elaine — Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:04 am

Author: Elaine

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:04 am

Thank you Zenon! I am so excited with the stories that we were able to find about my ancestors. The Mazurs, we are just chipping off a piece of a large stone But, we have more information than we've ever had.
We are trying to put together a book of memories and pictures for the Leja Reunion we are having this summer. It consist of 3 familes: Leja (my grandfather and his brother)...Wajda (my grandfather's first wife)...Mazur (my grandfather's second wife, my grandmother) and their combined 21 children.
I never knew geneology could be so much fun and exciting. I just thank God that we now have internet access and are able to get information much faster.
Will be passing on this information to my brother, who has started the genealogy around 1990 the hard way. He has visited Poland 3 times and have learned many things and ways of the people. It is very interesting to listen to him.
Again, thank you for your information.

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Zenon — Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:15 am

Author: Zenon

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:15 am

I agree that on the records there is Międzyczerwone According to Geographical Dictionary of Polish Kingdom (click here for description of the village: http://dir.icm.edu.pl/pl/Slownik_geograficzny/Tom_VI/373 ) it used to be pretty sizable village - in 1880 there lived 912 inhabitants - and was also called Międzyczerwienne. Now it is settlement hard to find on any map but according to this description from the old book it is located here (click to see the map): http://bit.ly/gc3DGi .

According to the dictionary people from Międzyczerwienne belonged to Czarny Dunajec parish.

I love reading such stories like this and I hope it will develop further .

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Elaine — Fri Dec 17, 2010 8:57 am

Author: Elaine

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 8:57 am

Oh Shellie! What a wonderful Christmas present you have given me!! We're getting somewhere and I know my brother is going to be as excited as I am when he sees this! I am so happy that Bogdan Zieba had connected me with you!
Right now, I'm a bit overwhelmed, but getting more excited each time I get another piece of puzzle added to put into it's place on the picture. My poor husband (who's Scottish family heritage goes wayyyyyyyyyyy back) will have to listen to the excitement in my voice for the next few weeks. And then again when when my brother Joe comes over the next time again. Al's description of Joe and myself (even tho there's 15 years difference in age, with my being the baby of the family), "When Joe and Elaine get together, it's like seeing 2 kids on Christmas morning seeing a new present under the tree." Then it's non-stop talking for awhile. LOL
Thank you, Shellie, again. I will pass this information onto my brother and see what we can come up with next.
May God bless you and your family during the upcoming blessed holiday.
Elaine Cain

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Shellie — Fri Dec 17, 2010 2:33 am

Author: Shellie

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 2:33 am

Also on the 1908 Ship Manifest for Wiktorya Mazur and her children, Wiktorya Mazurs family member in Poland is her brother Jakob Bak in Miedzycerwone, Hungary (Click on image below for larger image). Zenon and other members, what do you think? This may be Victoria''s birthplace.

Miedzyczerwone (translation: red copper) is a tiny settlement close to  Czerwienne (you said that your Bronislaw Mazur was from Czerwienne!) and Sierockie, south-southwest of Nowy Targ and just north of Zakopane. No one has added Miedzyczerwone to the village database here yet (you can be the first!) - but if you search this Polish Origins site for Miedzyczerwone you will see that Ute mentioned a family from this village. Also, the village is mentioned here: http://e-targ.org/Resources/E-Newletters/01-04TARG.html

if you search Ellis Island records for Andrzej Bonk, arriving 23 NOV 1909 on the ship Vaderland, you will see that he is from Miedzyczerwone and headed to Mt. Pleasant, PA. When Bronislaw Mazur arrived 05 JUL 1904, his destination was Moorwood, near Mt. Pleasant PA to see his brother in law Jerdrej Bank.
What do you think Elaine?
Shellie

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Shellie — Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:23 am

Author: Shellie

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:23 am

Hi Elaine! I am so excited for you! You are finding more pieces to the puzzle. Perhaps the arrival of Wiktoria with child Jasza is really your ancestor and Jasza passed away as a child and the family did not discuss it.

I looked at the 1908 Ship Manifest for Wiktorya Mazur and her children. If you look closely, Ludwinas age looks like 16 (Click on image below to enlarge). If Louise was born in Cleveland but her family didn't have a birth certificate for her, they might have just listed her as being from Poland when they came back to the US. Many, if not all, Catholic churches sent copies of their records to the diocese. Have you considered contacting the Catholic diocese in Cleveland to see if they have a record for your grandmother's baptism? I am in the process of requesting a search of similar records for my ancestors at the Catholic Diocese Pittsburgh. Here is the link to the Cleveland diocese: http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Shellie — Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:07 am

Author: Shellie

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:07 am

On Nov 15, 2010, Shellie Replied:
Elaine,
Each new hint is like a jewel, isn't it? I hope this is the start of something good!! I looked at my records, but no Bak or Bonk.
Shellie

On Dec 16, 2010, Elaine wrote:
Hi Shellie!

Was finally able to get together with my brother once again. He keeps giving me assignments on what to look for! LOL

In my search on Ellis Island, I was just browsing and noticed a Wictorya Mazur came to America with 3 of her Children.on May 5, 1908 on the ship Kronprinzessin niCecilie (Manifest Line Number 0024) It states on the manifest that she was going to visit her husband Bronislaw Mazur in Uniontown, PA. Her children's names were Ludrina (possibly be my grandmother Louise/Ludwinka) Mazur, age 10 (to the best of my knowledge my Busia was born in 1893, which would've made her 15) and it listed her Ethnicity as Austria, Polish. Then a Jendrzej Mazur, US Born, age 8y, Male (possibly be my great-uncle Andy with his name mispelled?) And the 3rd child was Antonina Mazur, US Born, age 7y.
The part that truly has me confused is to the best of all of our family's knowledge, Louise was born in Cleveland, OH. We were told that the church burnt down with all the records. She is not listed in the Cleveland Library at all. Could this manifest/passenger record be my grandmother's? If so, where was she born?
My brother seems to think that Bronislaw was fromCzarny Dunajec, Poland. and that Wiktorya Bak/Bonk was from a village nearby.

On Wiktorya Mazur's manifest, it states she was in USA I believe 1892, but the only Victoria Mazur I found arrived on Dec 26, 1892 with a child named Jasza, Femaile, 2 years old. If she truly was my grandmother's mother, then she was over 6 months pregnant when she arrived to USA and was headed for Cleveland, OH. I do not know who Jasza would be.
It seems like I'm getting myself more confused and am thankful for my brother's 3 trips to Poland. He feels we're on the right track here.

Do you have any suggestions where I might look next?

Re: Bronislaw Mazur and Victoria Bak/Buda, Cleveland, OH, USA

Shellie — Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:03 am

Author: Shellie

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:03 am

Continuing the discussion I was having with Elaine on the Czarny Dunajec thread:
On Oct 9, 2010, Shellie Replied:

Mazur family appears in the 1920 Census in Pennsylvania - Fayette County - North Union Township, Mountain District, enumeration district 64, page 28. To orient you where in Fayette County this township is located, see this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_North_Union_Township,_Fayette_County,_Pennsylvania_Highlighted.png
At Ancestry.com, the page can be found in the North Union section, district 64 on page 54 at the bottom. Children Andy and Brigit show on the following page 56 (Louise was married in 1913, so she's not listed). Both were listed as being born in Pennsylvania, but this conflicts with the date Bruno states he arrived in the US. Andy's occupation was laborer in a coke works. Bruno is listed as Brous Mazur, age 56, came to the US in 1902, he listed is occupation as coal miner. His wife Victoria, age 53 stated she came to the US in 1903.

I checked my records for births in the village Odrowaz, which is near Nowy Targ, but your family name is not listed, so it's probably safe to rule out Odrowaz as their native village. Also, check the ship arrival info at Ellis Island or Ancestry.com for the ship Kroonland arrving July 5 1904. Bronislaus Mazur is listed on line 14. He listed is home as Czarny (Czarny Dunajec, most likely) and was traveling to Noorwood (Moorewood), near Mt. Pleasant PA where his brother in law was located. This record shows that Bronislaus was in the US from 1898-1904 before this trip. There is a Bronistaw Mazur arriving in New York abord the ship Westernland on 02 Feb 1900. Home residence: Dunajec, destination: Uniontown
I hope you find this info useful
Shellie

Elaine's reply:
Shellie, Thank you so very much! We're on the right track! I had to wait for my brother to come over to say "yes" or "no" if we were or not. He remembers visiting them when he was a young boy (he will be 80 in May). I'm just hoping that as we get stories in from the remaining 18 children my grandfather Jakub Leja had (12 with Ludwinka Mazur) that someone will write about them and give us more of an insight on Bronislaw and Victoria Mazur. And the same hopes are some of my cousins might remember them and write about them for our upcoming Leja Memory Book we're creating for the Leja family reunion next summer.

I will check further into what you have given me in hopes that I'll be able to find out more.
I had just gotten a phone call from a Teresa Mazur from Uniontown,PA. I believe she may be married into the Mazur family. Anyways, she gave me a name and phone number of a 91 year old woman that knows all about the Mazurs from the Uniontown area and should be able to help me. Unfortunately, I'm hearing impaired and can't really talk on the phone and understand what the other party is telling me. So, I passed on the number to my older brother, in hopes that he'll call her soon and possibly get more information. Thanking you for giving us a lead where to look for more information.
Regards,
Elaine L Cain
Great-granddaughter of Bronislaw & Victoria Mazur

Additional message from Elaine:
Shellie...I just found out that my great-grandmother's maiden name isn't Buda but Bak/Bonk. So, we're getting somewhere! My brother has no idea why the person that wrote the letter erased Bonk/bank and wrote in Buda. So, back to the drawing board for me again. Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated