PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: Searching for Mary Podwojski

Felicia — Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:19 pm

Author: Felicia

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:19 pm

Ute,

Wow, that obituary has not only the children in it but the grandchildren! Maybe I can find and contact at least one of them.

Mary Kerrigan and I have been in touch in the past, sharing records and information. Neither of us could find information on Mary Podwojski, which is why I think she may have died in Poland. It is wonderful having someone like her to work along with especially knowing that we are likely related. If the link to our two families does exist, she would be part of it.

Once again, thank you so much for your efforts on my behalf!

Felicia

Re: Searching for Mary Podwojski

Felicia — Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:15 pm

Author: Felicia

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:15 pm

Ute, thanks so much for finding the obituary for Josephine Wagener! I don't know why I am having so much trouble finding census, marriage records for the Figurski sisters. I've tried looking in the German and Polish church records on familysearch but nothing there. My father told me that my grandmother, Rosalia Figurski was German Lutheran before she came to this country and my grandfather was Russian Orthodox. They then became Catholic. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place for church records.

Mary Kerrigan of the Majewski family found the passenger record for John Majewski and told me that there was no marital status listed.

Felicia

Re: Searching for Mary Podwojski

Ute — Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:57 pm

Author: Ute

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:57 pm

Felicia wrote:

Jozefa (aka Josephine) Figurska (Laskowski/Wagener). The social security death index says she was born 21 Jun 1890. Her mass card shows her death to be 25 May 1967. She lived in Los Angeles, California but was buried in a suburb of Chicago. Her first husband may have been Jan Laskowski. I don't know what her second husband's first name was. She may have had a son named Norman Laskowski.

I've been searching a long time for census records but have been unsuccessful. Some forum members seem to have almost magical abilities to find what others cannot. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Felicia

Felicia,
Her obituary appeared in the Chicago Tribune 1967-05-26. I'm going to send you the full text of the obituary as private message again:
1967-05-26
Chicago Tribune (IL)
Wagener [Laskowski]
Edition: Chicago Tribune
Josephine Wagener, nee Figurski, Van Nuys, Cal., beloved wife of the late John Wagener; dear mother of Jerome [Wanda] Laskey of Van Nuys, Norman [Margaret] Laskowski of Youngstown, O.; ...
Source: Chicago Tribune, 1967, Record Number: 19670526dn149.

Re: Searching for Mary Podwojski

Ute — Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:16 pm

Author: Ute

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:16 pm

Felicia wrote:

With further research it seems that Mary Podwojski may have died before her husband came to the U.S. When he immigrated in 1890 or 1891 the passenger record does not have her listed with him, just two children. The 1900 census lists Jan or John Majewski as "widowed."

Felicia,
What was Mary Podwojski's husband's marital status when he immigrated in 1890 or 1891? Do you have the passenger record? Ute

Re: Searching for Mary Podwojski

Felicia — Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:49 am

Author: Felicia

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:49 am

Ute, as I said before, you are a true gem!

Speaking of Figurski, I cannot find passenger lists, marriage record or census information for:

Eleonora Figurska (Schwarz). I have her death certificate which says she was born 21 Feb 1888 in Germany (Poland). The grave next to hers has Gustaf Schwarz, but I think her husband used a different first name. She lived in Chicago, the certificate states, for 35 years prior to her death 9 May 1962.

I am looking for census, marriage record, death certificate for:

Jozefa (aka Josephine) Figurska (Laskowski/Wagener). The social security death index says she was born 21 Jun 1890. Her mass card shows her death to be 25 May 1967. She lived in Los Angeles, California but was buried in a suburb of Chicago. Her first husband may have been Jan Laskowski. I don't know what her second husband's first name was. She may have had a son named Norman Laskowski.

I've been searching a long time for census records but have been unsuccessful. Some forum members seem to have almost magical abilities to find what others cannot. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Felicia

Re: Searching for Mary Podwojski

Ute — Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:23 am

Author: Ute

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:23 am

Felicia wrote:

According to her son's (Felix Majewski) death certificate Mary Podwojski was married to John Majewski. Mary's daughter was Anna Majewski. Cannot find any records for Mary but also don't know what her Polish first name was. Also don't know if she was married here or in Poland. Can anyone help?

I see that you are also researching the name Figurski. I found some obituaries in the Chicago Tribune Historical Archive that might interest you. Obituaries can be helpful in uncovering family connections and get you past brick walls. When you're stuck on a particular ancestor, perhaps you can find a birth or church marriage record for a sibling that lists his/her parents or place of birth. Members of the same family and villagers of the same village tended to settle near one another and to join those who were already there when they immigrated. Finding records for other family members may raise the chance that they came from the same village your ancestor did.
I found the following obituaries in the Chicago Tribune Historical Archive (I don’t want to post the full text of the obituaries here, but I can send them by private message to you, if you are interested):

1967-01-15
Chicago Tribune (IL)
Podwojski
Edition: Chicago Tribune
Rose Podwojski, nee Figurski, beloved mother of Irene [John] Piwowarczyk, Alfonce [Geri], Josephine [Angeline], Edward [Aurella]; ...

1955-08-21
Chicago Tribune (IL)
PODWOJSKI
Edition: Chicago Tribune
Anton Podwojski, late of 1243 N. Claremont, beloved husband of Rose, nee Figurska; dearest father of Irene, Alphonse, Joseph, and Edward; father-in-law of John Piwowarczyk, Angeline, Irene, and Aurelia; ...

1974-11-10
Chicago Tribune (IL)
PODWOJSKI
Edition: Chicago Tribune
Aurelis A. Podwojski, nee Tobolski, beloved wife of Edwaer W.; loving mother of Wayne, Felicia (Leonard) Johnson and Shawn (Jeffery) Crabtree; dear sister of Chester (Ellen) Tobolski, Felicia (Dwight) Lincoln, Alice (Charles) Heihal and Jean (Paul) Weichel; ...

1968-05-01
Chicago Tribune (IL)
Tobolski
Edition: Chicago Tribune
Helen Tobolski, nee Markowski, beloved wife of the late Stanley; loving mother of Chester [Ellen], Aurelia [Edward] Podwojski, Felicia [Dwight] Lincoln, Alice [Charles] Hejhal and Jean [Paul] Weichel; dear sister of Bernard [Margaret], John [Leona], Walter [Selma], Casimir [Blanche], Joseph [Harriet], Sr. M. Bruno, Alice [Gene] Richter and Sylvia Nuhfer; ...

1962-05-11
Chicago Tribune (IL)
Schwarz
Edition: Chicago Tribune
Elenora Schwarz, beloved mother of Frank, John, and Harriet; fond mother-in-law of Stella, Blanch, Emily, and Henry Murawski; dear sister of Rose Podwojski and Mrs. Wagner; ...

1968-04-30
Chicago Tribune (IL)
Tobolski
Edition: Chicago Tribune
Helen Tobolski, nee Markowski, beloved wife of the late Stanley; loving mother of Chester [Ellen], Aurelia [Edward] Podwojski, Felicia [Dwight] Lincoln, Alice [Charles] Hejhal and Jean [Paul] Weichel; dear sister of Bernard [Margaret], John [Leona], Walter [Selma], Casimir [Blanche], Joseph [Harriet], Sr. M. Bruno, Alice [Gene] Richter and Sylvia Nuhfer; ...

1979-11-15
Chicago Tribune (IL)
PINIAK
Edition: Chicago Tribune
Jean K. Piniak, nee Poznar, beloved wife of the late Stephen J.; dearest mother of Loretta (Felix J.) Podwojski; loving grandmother of Stephen John; fond sister of the late Helen (Ben) Krusicki, the late Mae R., the late Roman J., Vera (Edward) Gazda, Theodore (Irene), Walter (Jean), Ann (Bernie) Collins, Cecelia McRae and Richard; ...

Re: Searching for Mary Podwojski

Felicia — Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:18 pm

Author: Felicia

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:18 pm

With further research it seems that Mary Podwojski may have died before her husband came to the U.S. When he immigrated in 1890 or 1891 the passenger record does not have her listed with him, just two children. The 1900 census lists Jan or John Majewski as "widowed."

Searching for Mary Podwojski

Felicia — Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:43 pm

Author: Felicia

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:43 pm

According to her son's (Felix Majewski) death certificate Mary Podwojski was married to John Majewski. Mary's daughter was Anna Majewski. Cannot find any records for Mary but also don't know what her Polish first name was. Also don't know if she was married here or in Poland. Can anyone help?