PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: Research help. Getting started

Trish — Tue Jun 10, 2025 12:11 pm

Author: Trish

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 12:11 pm

Sophia wrote:

Hi everyone,

I see two entry records for Jan Klepacki.

Here is the first one, from 1897, where he is indexed as "Jan Klepatzki." He is on line 1. He is going to his sister in Dunmore (am I reading that right, Trish?) Pennsylvania. Here, he lists his last residence as Grodno (Barb, would that be correct as the region for Obrubniki?):

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JX43-QJC?lang=en

Here is the second one, from 1907, where he is again indexed as "Jan Klepatzki." He is on line 13, coming from Obrubniki and going to Brooklyn. The person who indexed him on FamilySearch unfortunately looked at the wrong line when they wrote "Budor Paugwer" as the name of the person he was going to (that belongs to the next passenger on the list). This Jan was going to his brother, Antoni Klepacki:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXXS-F24?lang=en

So if these are both the same Jan, then you have already established a connection to both Pennsylvania and Brooklyn.

What do you think?
Sophia

Hi Everyone,

Great find Sophia! Yes, Dunmore is in Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania. It's near Scranton, Pennsylvania.

I'm still having trouble finding Antoni in New York. I did see a 1921 city directory where Antoni is already in Pennsylvania.

Regards,
Trish

Re: Research help. Getting started

Sophia — Tue Jun 10, 2025 6:04 am

Author: Sophia

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 6:04 am

Hi everyone,

I see two entry records for Jan Klepacki.

Here is the first one, from 1897, where he is indexed as "Jan Klepatzki." He is on line 1. He is going to his sister in Dunmore (am I reading that right, Trish?) Pennsylvania. Here, he lists his last residence as Grodno (Barb, would that be correct as the region for Obrubniki?):

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JX43-QJC?lang=en

Here is the second one, from 1907, where he is again indexed as "Jan Klepatzki." He is on line 13, coming from Obrubniki and going to Brooklyn. The person who indexed him on FamilySearch unfortunately looked at the wrong line when they wrote "Budor Paugwer" as the name of the person he was going to (that belongs to the next passenger on the list). This Jan was going to his brother, Antoni Klepacki:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXXS-F24?lang=en

So if these are both the same Jan, then you have already established a connection to both Pennsylvania and Brooklyn.

What do you think?
Sophia

Re: Research help. Getting started

Sophia — Tue Jun 10, 2025 5:09 am

Author: Sophia

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 5:09 am

Hi Trish,

The 1907 manifest is certainly the right one. You are right, the spelling of his name was way off!

The one detail that I notice here is that he is not listed as a miner, but rather as a laborer. Another detail is that it gives his mother's name, Teresa.

Best,
Sophia

Re: Research help. Getting started

Trish — Sat Jun 07, 2025 11:09 am

Author: Trish

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 11:09 am

Hi Everyone,

Barb, still no luck finding a Jan Klepacki in New York. I'll keep trying.

I did find the 1907 manifest that Sophia was referring to. He is on line #17. The spelling was way off.

Regards,
Trish

Name Jeromin Kelepakki
Gender Male
Ethnicity/ Nationality Polish
Marital Status Single
Age 24
Birth Date abt 1883
Birth Place Russia
Other Birth Place Obreniki
Last Known Residence Comnski, Russia
Departure Port Antwerp, Belgium
Arrival Date 10 Sep 1907
Arrival Port New York, New York, USA
Residence Place Russia
Final Destination Brooklyn, New York
Height 5 Feet 2 Inches
Hair Color Brown
Eye Color Blue
Complexion Fair
Money in Possession 6
Person in Old Country Teresia Kelepakki
Person in Old Country Relationship Mother
Person in Old Country Residence Comnski
Person in US Antoni Kelenacki
Person in US Relationship Brother
Mother Teresia Kelepakki
Sibling Antoni Kelenacki
Ship Name Zeeland

Re: Thank you

BarbOslo — Thu Jun 05, 2025 1:21 pm

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2025 1:21 pm

Dklepas wrote:

I apologize! Kamila came over on Nov. 13 1913 and Herman came over Nov. 13 1912. So that issue is solved in my head

I think looking over the document it is more than likely him based on his birthplace, his age, his name, his occupation, really points to him

Just have 2 things I think

1. The "Jan" question. I'll start looking for Jan Klepacki, Jan Klepacka, etc. in Brooklyn in 1912 and see if I can make a connection back to the family of Herman

2. I will also ask my dad about Herman's height. Was he 5'11" or 5'1"!? My dad never met him but that he might be able to collect some info on. But at the same time, I don't think his height being written down by a military person or an Ellis Island person and there being a discrepancy is a deal breaker in my mind

Really incredible stuff!

Hi,
Herman (Hieronim) had an older cousin named Jan Klepacki (born 1861). Jan was the son of the brother of Heman's father. Does that fit?

-Barb

Another Connection

Dklepas — Tue Jun 03, 2025 6:05 pm

Author: Dklepas

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 6:05 pm

One of Herman's son's was born in New York according to Herman's 1930 census. His son Charles listed birthplace as New York

Thank you

Dklepas — Tue Jun 03, 2025 5:45 pm

Author: Dklepas

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 5:45 pm

I apologize! Kamila came over on Nov. 13 1913 and Herman came over Nov. 13 1912. So that issue is solved in my head

I think looking over the document it is more than likely him based on his birthplace, his age, his name, his occupation, really points to him

Just have 2 things I think

1. The "Jan" question. I'll start looking for Jan Klepacki, Jan Klepacka, etc. in Brooklyn in 1912 and see if I can make a connection back to the family of Herman

2. I will also ask my dad about Herman's height. Was he 5'11" or 5'1"!? My dad never met him but that he might be able to collect some info on. But at the same time, I don't think his height being written down by a military person or an Ellis Island person and there being a discrepancy is a deal breaker in my mind

Really incredible stuff!

Re: Research help. Getting started

Trish — Tue Jun 03, 2025 2:46 pm

Author: Trish

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 2:46 pm

Hi Everyone,

Sophia, thank you for looking at the manifest and giving your input. I'll try to find another manifest.

Maybe Herman had brother named Jan. Or maybe it's a cousin and Herman stated it was his brother.

I did find the WWI Draft Card. It does say was of medium height. I'm not sure what to think medium height would be.

Regards,
Trish

Name Heronem Klepaski
[Heronim Klepaski]
Race White
Birth Date 26 Mar 1882
Residence Date 1917-1918
Street Address 412 S Shervian
Residence Place Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, USA
Draft Board 3
Physical Build Medium
Height Medium
Hair Color Brown
Eye Color Blue
Relative Carmelia Klepaski

Re: Research help. Getting started

Sophia — Tue Jun 03, 2025 2:21 pm

Author: Sophia

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 2:21 pm

Good sleuthing, Trish, to find Hieronim when he was indexed as Jeromin. Barb had referred in an earlier post to the town of Obrubniki in the parish of Dobrzyniewo Kościelne, and the towns in columns 11 and 29 for this Hieronim could well be the same as that. Further, this Hieronim's occupation is given as a miner, the same as what you have in other documents. There is not a whole lot of mining to be done in Brooklyn, so here is my interpretation. I think it was a temporary stay with relatives until he could re-establish himself with a place to live in Pennsylvania. It shows in the manifest Trish just provided, in column 17, that Hieronim had been in the U.S. before, during the years 1907 to 1911. Then he was away until arriving on the Vaderland in November 1912. It might have made sense for his initial destination to be with a relative in Brooklyn. It is a full year later that his wife-to-be Kamila arrived, plenty of time to make the move to Pennsylvania where he could find work. And yes, what an interesting coincidence that Kamila's day of arrival was the same. Perhaps it would be useful to look for a 1907 manifest for Hieronim.

Best regards,
Sophia

Re: Research help. Getting started

Dklepas — Tue Jun 03, 2025 1:10 pm

Author: Dklepas

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 1:10 pm

Hello Trish!

This is very interesting. There are things that make me think this is Herman.

I think the town listed does look like Piotr is dads's home town

I think he listed T Klepacka (Not J) as mother

His age appears correct. Born in 1882

The thing that makes me think maybe not is he is listed a 5'2" in this but his WWII registration card, he is listed as 6'1". He also lists a sibling named Jan. As far as I know his only siblings from all the document this thread are Jozef, Klemens, Teresa. I don't see where "jan" is listed on this but I see it in the translation. I don't believe he had a brother named Jan?

This is a really cool document!

It's also odd that Kamila's (his wives) arrival date on her Ellis island record is the exact same date but New York instead of Brooklyn. I have no idea if that means this is more likely him or less! Kamila left from Rotterdam and if this is Herman he left from Belgium

I'm torn on what this document means!

Thanks for finding this. If anyone has any help interrupting the clues, I'd appreciate it!

Re: Gratitude and a follow up question or 2

Trish — Tue Jun 03, 2025 10:21 am

Author: Trish

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 10:21 am

Dklepas wrote:

2. There are no immigration records for Herman. The oral family story was that Herman was fleeing possibly Russian army conscription (supposedly required for Polish households, they sent males to the Russian Army). Herman was born in 1882 near Rybacki is the assumption since his parents, siblings were all married / christened at the nearby catholic church. Herman was in the US before in or before 1913 since Kamila came to visit him in 1913 (if that helps put him in historic time frame to help possibly answer the question)

Thanks again for everything even if there are no more responses!

Hi Everyone,

I think I found the record. He is on line #1.

Regards,
Trish

Name Jeromin Klepacki (It looks like Hiermin)
Gender Male
Ethnicity/ Nationality Polish
Marital Status Single
Age 30
Birth Date abt 1882
Birth Place Russia
Other Birth Place Pbrobaski
Last Known Residence Brooklyn N. Y., U. S. A.
Departure Port Antwerp, Belgium
Arrival Date 13 Nov 1912
Arrival Port New York, New York, USA
Residence Place United States of America
Final Destination Brooklyn, New York
Height 5 Feet, 2 Inches
Hair Color Brown
Eye Color Blue
Complexion Fair
Money in Possession $40
Person in Old Country J. Klapacka (This could be a "T" insteda of a "J".)
Person in Old Country Relationship Mother
Person in Old Country Residence Abasbustej Grodno Gub
Person in US Jan Klepacky
Person in US Relationship Brother
Mother J. Klapacka (This could be a "T" instead of a "J".)
Sibling Jan Klepacky
Ship Name Vaderland

Gratitude and a follow up question or 2

Dklepas — Mon Jun 02, 2025 10:53 pm

Author: Dklepas

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 10:53 pm

Hello!

I just wanted to say thank you. Some of my family have really enjoyed all the hard work you all put it to help make some connections. 1 easier question possibly and another not so easy one

1. On their 1930 census Herman and Kamila both listed that they immigrated to the united states in 1921. Kamilia has an Ellis Island record that shows her claearly immigrating in 1913 and that she listed Herman as the person she was going to see. Is that common they list the wrong date on a census? Is it possible they went back to Poland and then remigrated in 1921?

2. There are no immigration records for Herman. The oral family story was that Herman was fleeing possibly Russian army conscription (supposedly required for Polish households, they sent males to the Russian Army). Herman was born in 1882 near Rybacki is the assumption since his parents, siblings were all married / christened at the nearby catholic church. Herman was in the US before in or before 1913 since Kamila came to visit him in 1913 (if that helps put him in historic time frame to help possibly answer the question)

Thanks again for everything even if there are no more responses!

Re: Research help. Getting started

BarbOslo — Fri Nov 29, 2024 5:30 pm

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2024 5:30 pm

Hello,
I have collected quite a bit of information and it is not easy to keep it in order. So I have built a loose branch in my family tree. I am sending you what I have found.

-Barb

Re: Research help. Getting started

Dklepas — Thu Nov 28, 2024 9:12 am

Author: Dklepas

Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2024 9:12 am

BarbOslo wrote:

Hi,
Here are 2 new documents relating to your ancestors. It is a time-consuming job. There are no indexes on Genetyka, nor is there a summary at the end of each year. This means that you have to go page by page and read everything. I will search more when I have more time.

https://metryki.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=pg&id=3175&se=&sy=1853&kt=1&plik=116-121.jpg&x=680&y=764&zoom=1.5
No.117
Konstancja Dudzińska's birth record. She was born on October 17th, 1853, in the village of Pogorzałki parish Dobrzyniewo Kościelne. Daughter of Maciej and Urszula nee Chilińska. Baptized on October 18.

-Barb

Barb , you and Sophia and Dave (and whoever else I missed. Apolgies if I did!) have done more than enough. Please bless another with family with your research skills. I’m so far beyond than I ever thought I would be. Thank you so much! I can’t wait to share with my family all that you have freely and graciously given to a stranger out of the kindness of your heart. Thank you for sharing your gift!. It’s heart warming.

Re: Research help. Getting started

dnowicki — Wed Nov 27, 2024 4:37 pm

Author: dnowicki

Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 4:37 pm

BarbOslo wrote:

https://metryki.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=pg&id=3175&se=&sy=1825&kt=1&plik=002.jpg&x=258&y=232&zoom=1.75
top left side
Urszula Wojtecka's birth record. She was baptized on October 28th, 1825, in the village of Malinowo parish Dobrzyniewo Kościelne. Daughter of Bartłomiej Wojtecki and Urszula nee Winnicka.

-Barb

Hi all,

Attached is the marriage record of Bartłomiej Woytecki & Franciszka Winnicka. The date of the wedding was November 7. 1815. No ages or parents listed.

That’s all, folks.

Dave

Re: Research help. Getting started

BarbOslo — Wed Nov 27, 2024 12:04 pm

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 12:04 pm

https://metryki.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=pg&id=3175&se=&sy=1825&kt=1&plik=002.jpg&x=258&y=232&zoom=1.75
top left side
Urszula Wojtecka's birth record. She was baptized on October 28th, 1825, in the village of Malinowo parish Dobrzyniewo Kościelne. Daughter of Bartłomiej Wojtecki and Franciszka nee Winnicka.

-Barb

Re: Research help. Getting started

BarbOslo — Wed Nov 27, 2024 12:01 pm

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 12:01 pm

Hi,
Here are 2 new documents relating to your ancestors. It is a time-consuming job. There are no indexes on Genetyka, nor is there a summary at the end of each year. This means that you have to go page by page and read everything. I will search more when I have more time.

https://metryki.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=pg&id=3175&se=&sy=1853&kt=1&plik=116-121.jpg&x=680&y=764&zoom=1.5
No.117
Konstancja Dudzińska's birth record. She was born on October 17th, 1853, in the village of Pogorzałki parish Dobrzyniewo Kościelne. Daughter of Maciej and Urszula nee Chilińska. Baptized on October 18.

-Barb

Re: Research help. Getting started

Dklepas — Tue Nov 26, 2024 9:20 pm

Author: Dklepas

Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2024 9:20 pm

[quote="dnowicki"]

Dklepas wrote:

dnowicki wrote:

Dklepas wrote:

Hello Trish and Dave,

Thanks again. I can't even quote everything you posted that I want to thank you for. All the information you provided has been super helpful. Your information about our last name very helpful. The pronunciations how to read translations on Geneteka, I am extremely grateful for. I even met someone who speaks polish and she pronounced the C as TS in Klepacki...she made mentioned of a fly swatter? Or two fly swatters in regards to the pronunciation of Klepacki? I didn't probe any more about it

I knew my 2 great grandparents names on my dad's paternal side and 0 of anyone else.

I now know Kamila's siblings, her birthplace, Herman's siblings and I know all 4 of my great, great grandparents and 4/8 of my great, great, great grandparents all thanks to your help!

Just confirming this is the Rybaki? (highlighted in yellow. I zoomed out a bit just to get into relation of Bialystok where we were always told Herman was from which Rybaki would make perfect sense to list a near by bigger city)

Thanks again!

You are only providing me joy, Dave. I haven’t hit my wall yet in reguards to research but searching untranslated websites would be very time consuming for me. So all this information from polish records using polish language websites I would not be finding without your and Barb and Sophia’s generosity. Not that I don’t want to learn how to navigate those but just from a time perspective and where I’m at… maybe in my later years! What great memories for you to have and share. I enjoyed very much reading them

The story about Herman was he was fleeing Russian army conscription for lack of better term. Like the fly swatter story i retold I try to listen and learn and I know not everything is not factual

Question about Paulina and Dorotha. Do you have their marriage records? Also is there a reason that in someone else’s link to Piotri’s death it listed his children but I don’t think it listed Paulina and Dorothy were listed? Not sure if that’s common? I’m putting together some printouts is the reason I ask. Do not feel obligated (you or anyone) to do more research but thought it was worth an ask about Paulina and Dorotha.

Thanks again!

*edit in reguards to Paulina and Dorotha I think we are throwing around so many adamski’s and adamska’s and urszula’s that I am confusing myself. But it appears Paulina and Dorotha are actually Kamila’s siblings as someone pointed out previously. I’m getting better at following (I think!)

Hi Dklepas,

To answer your questions…

Paulina & Dorota were the daughters of Jan & Konstancja and thus were Heronim/Herman’s sisters. No, I did not save the records but now I’ve looked them up and attached them. Akt # 48 is Paulina's & the other is Dorota's. They are in Russian Cyrillic script. The pic of the church is the structure built in 1905-1910.

Parishes are titled according to the village, town or city where they are located. Parish churches, however, usually are known according to the title of their Patron Saint. The parish of your ancestors is Dobrzyniewo Kościelne (its location). The title of the Parish Church in terms of the Patron Saint is Zwiastowania NMP (Annunciation of the BVM). The current church structure was built in 1905-1910 to replace an earlier structure so in the records discovered so far the events did not take place in the current church building. However, it is a safe assumption that some of Heronim/Herman’s siblings remained in the parish after 1910 so they would have been familiar with the current church building.

Regarding the edit in your last post...Are you entering the data into a genealogy family tree program? If not, doing so should help to keep individuals straight. Some people kept family sheets in a physical binder or folder but in this digital age computer programs make the process much simpler. Of course, one also could print sheets from a genealogy program to generate a physical copy. Armchair genealogy research is very much the new kid on the block in terms of genealogical research. Online records from archives in Poland haven’t been available all that long in human terms. In computer terms, however, they have. Family Search, run by the LDS Church, has provided a great service by filming records. Prior to about 2012 or so the only way to view those records was to rent a microfilm and view it at a LDS Family History Center. The way the process worked for the filming of records was Family Search entered into a contract with the holder of records and sent a volunteer to do the actual filming and then since 2012 digitized the records. Of course, many organizations did not want their records filmed. There are tons of extant records which have not been filmed and thus are unavailable for armchair research. Armchair research has the great advantage of easy access but, in my opinion, can become a scattershot approach and result in an abundance of unorganized data unless properly entered into some form of a family file.

As far as waiting for old age to do serious research keep in mind what often appeared on grandfather clocks—“Tempus fugit”. There is a second part to that ancient Roman phrase—“Nunc est celeritate.” Put together the saying is translated into English as “Time flies; Now is the time for swiftness”. A wise individual is cognizant of the fact that the future is promised to no one so as the Roman poet Horace wrote “Carpe diem!” (Seize the day!).

The story about Heronim/Herman leaving Europe to avoid conscription could very likely be true. Many young men took that route. There never was much of a future being canon fodder for the Czar. Local quotas were set and the unlucky individuals were selected by a sort of lottery. In order to leave the Russian Empire legally men of military age needed to produce evidence of completion of military or of exemption. Some men used another man’s papers and others bought forged papers and others hired “guides” to get them across the border while avoiding border checkpoints. Those seeking entry to the USA at the southern border could certainly relate. Those who left the Russian Empire over a century ago could certainly empathize with migrants seeking to enter the USA.

Anyway, as Forrest Gump liked to say “That is all I have to say about that.”

Vale! (Farewell)

Dave

Dave,

Your kindness and encouragement are great to hear. You are correct time does fly. I am tracking everything through family tree app. So all the links and pictures I am trying to keep everything documented on the app so myself or other family members can see all the help you all have provided and not re duplicate some of the effort and amazing documents you all have unearthed.

Thanks for all the clarifications form the documents, to polish history, to maps, etc. I enjoy reading about hr different part so Poland. The history. The parishes. The “states” you described, all information I have read over much and many documents and photos I have saved for my own use and or sharing with my family

Thanks again for the all effort. Can’t thank you enough!

Re: Research help. Getting started

Dklepas — Tue Nov 26, 2024 9:12 pm

Author: Dklepas

Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2024 9:12 pm

BarbOslo wrote:

Hi,
Here is Jan Adamski's birth record. The father of Kamila Klepacka nee Adamska.

Jan Adamski was born on December 23rd, 1852, in the village of Rybaki parish Dobrzyniewo Kościelne. He was the son of Michał Adamski and Urszula nee Winnicka/Wojtecka?. Baptized on December 25.
Act no.142
https://skanoteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=pg&id=3175&se=&sy=1852&kt=1&plik=137-142.jpg&x=812&y=2039&zoom=1.5

-Barb

I cannot believe how much information you have uncovered! Thank you for all the clarifications and kindness in your responses and research. I’m excited to share this information with my dads side of the family!

Re: Research help. Getting started

dnowicki — Sun Nov 24, 2024 5:25 am

Author: dnowicki

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2024 5:25 am

[quote="dnowicki"]

Dklepas wrote:

dnowicki wrote:

Dklepas wrote:

Hi Dklepas,

To answer your questions…

Paulina & Dorota were the daughters of Jan & Konstancja and thus were Kamila’s sisters. No, I did not save the records but now I’ve looked them up and attached them. Akt # 48 is Paulina's & the other is Dorota's. They are in Russian Cyrillic script. The pic of the church is the structure built in 1905-1910.

Parishes are titled according to the village, town or city where they are located. Parish churches, however, usually are known according to the title of their Patron Saint. The parish of your ancestors is Dobrzyniewo Kościelne (its location). The title of the Parish Church in terms of the Patron Saint is Zwiastowania NMP (Annunciation of the BVM). The current church structure was built in 1905-1910 to replace an earlier structure so in the records discovered so far the events did not take place in the current church building. However, it is a safe assumption that some of Heronim/Herman’s siblings remained in the parish after 1910 so they would have been familiar with the current church building.

Regarding the edit in your last post...Are you entering the data into a genealogy family tree program? If not, doing so should help to keep individuals straight. Some people kept family sheets in a physical binder or folder but in this digital age computer programs make the process much simpler. Of course, one also could print sheets from a genealogy program to generate a physical copy. Armchair genealogy research is very much the new kid on the block in terms of genealogical research. Online records from archives in Poland haven’t been available all that long in human terms. In computer terms, however, they have. Family Search, run by the LDS Church, has provided a great service by filming records. Prior to about 2012 or so the only way to view those records was to rent a microfilm and view it at a LDS Family History Center. The way the process worked for the filming of records was Family Search entered into a contract with the holder of records and sent a volunteer to do the actual filming and then since 2012 digitized the records. Of course, many organizations did not want their records filmed. There are tons of extant records which have not been filmed and thus are unavailable for armchair research. Armchair research has the great advantage of easy access but, in my opinion, can become a scattershot approach and result in an abundance of unorganized data unless properly entered into some form of a family file.

As far as waiting for old age to do serious research keep in mind what often appeared on grandfather clocks—“Tempus fugit”. There is a second part to that ancient Roman phrase—“Nunc est celeritate.” Put together the saying is translated into English as “Time flies; Now is the time for swiftness”. A wise individual is cognizant of the fact that the future is promised to no one so as the Roman poet Horace wrote “Carpe diem!” (Seize the day!).

The story about Heronim/Herman leaving Europe to avoid conscription could very likely be true. Many young men took that route. There never was much of a future being canon fodder for the Czar. Local quotas were set and the unlucky individuals were selected by a sort of lottery. In order to leave the Russian Empire legally men of military age needed to produce evidence of completion of military or of exemption. Some men used another man’s papers and others bought forged papers and others hired “guides” to get them across the border while avoiding border checkpoints. Those seeking entry to the USA at the southern border could certainly relate. Those who left the Russian Empire over a century ago could certainly empathize with migrants seeking to enter the USA.

Anyway, as Forrest Gump liked to say “That is all I have to say about that.”

Vale! (Farewell)

Dave