PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

dnowicki — Wed Sep 24, 2025 7:15 pm

Author: dnowicki

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2025 7:15 pm

BarbOslo wrote:

Dave,
Could you please look at the attached record. It is the birth record of Helena, Frank's daughter. How would you interpret what is highlighted in red? Married her parents in Halicz (???). But I can't find the wedding record there. The wedding was always in the bride's parish. That could mean that her parents (Mikolaj and Julia) were living there at the time.
Scans related to Stanislawow on Genetyka and FamilySearch are not the same, and I soon lose patience.
Regards,
-Barb

Barb,

It tells who baptized her—The assistant priest in Halicz baptized her. She immigrated with her parents and would have married in the USA well after the death of her father—probably 1923 or later (unless she married civilly in the quick and easy wedding center of the Midwest, Crown Point, Indiana.

Trish, When I was in High School bus fare was a dime & transfers were free.

Dave

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

BarbOslo — Wed Sep 24, 2025 3:22 pm

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2025 3:22 pm

Dave,
Could you please look at the attached record. It is the birth record of Helena, Frank's daughter. How would you interpret what is highlighted in red? Married her parents in Halicz (???). But I can't find the wedding record there. The wedding was always in the bride's parish. That could mean that her parents (Mikolaj and Julia) were living there at the time.
Scans related to Stanislawow on Genetyka and FamilySearch are not the same, and I soon lose patience.
Regards,
-Barb

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

Trish — Wed Sep 24, 2025 1:36 pm

Author: Trish

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2025 1:36 pm

Hi Dave, Barb, and everyone!

Dave, as usual, you are a wealth of information. I'm sure the information you posted about Chicago will help many others on the forum.

To verify some information that you posted on Franz's death date, it lists his father as Antoni. Antoni Klimek is the father of Franz. Franz's father's name was listed on the Klimek children's birth/baptismal records.

Name Frank Klimek
Sex Male
Age 35
Birth Year (Estimated) 1878
Birthplace Austria
Residence Place Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Address 3256 W Central Park ave
Burial Date 28 December 1913
Burial Place Chicago, Illinois
Marital Status Married
Race White
Father's Name Anton Klimek
Informant's Name Mary Klimek
Event Type Death
Event Date 24 December 1913
Event Place Montrose, Effingham, Illinois, United States
Event Place (Original) Chicago, Cook, Illinois, Illinois, United States
Funeral Home J Kowaczek And Son
Cemetery Montrose
Reference 14874

Barb, great work on the tree you are creating for the Kotarski family. Let's hope the person who posted comes back to see all the information that was found.

PS: Dave, I remember the days in Philly where you paid a dime for a transfer on the bus, El, or subway. I guess I'm showing my age now. LOL

Warm regards,
Trish

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

dnowicki — Wed Sep 24, 2025 12:17 pm

Author: dnowicki

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2025 12:17 pm

BarbOslo wrote:

Trish, could you please find a death record for Franz Klimek between 1912-1916? I'm trying to find the family in the Ivano-Frankivsk and Halych area with no success. Would like to see if his place of residence would help.
Regards,
-Barb

Trish & Barb,

Illinois in general and Chicago in particular (Remember that Chicago had a larger population of Poles than any city in the world except for Warsaw) are easy to research because of the accessibility of a wide range of tools & records and I say this not just because I was born and resided there for forty years aka half my life thus far but because it is one of the most genealogy research friendly states & cities in the country. For RC individuals Catholic Church records are essential. Here is a link to a book by the Chech & Slovak Genealogical Society of Illinois https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/165609/?offset=0#page=7&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q= Pages 60 & 61 list all the Polish ethnic parishes. Location Grid IV shows the parishes along and near Milwaukee Ave. My guess is that the family belonged to St. Hyacinth based on their residence in the 1910 census. Since in 1913 they had moved to the house at 3256 N. Central Park (If you enter the address on Google Maps you can see the house on Central Park) they may have continued at St. Hyacinth or may have switched to one of the Polish parished north of Belmont Ave. The records of the Chicago Catholic Churches are available on Family Search but to find an individual record it is necessary to browse the appropriate register.

The Illinois Secretary of State office has databases of Illinois deaths https://apps.ilsos.gov/isavital/deathSearch.do and a Frank Klimek died on Xmas Eve 1913 at age 35 which fits the time frame but proof positive would come from the parish death register. By 1920 Mary had been widowed and married Walter (actually Ladislaus/Władysław) Andruszkiewicz.

Attached are images of Frank Klimek’s Declaration of Intention and Naturalization Records His Petition for Nat. is in two parts since the entire file is too large to post in one part. The docs do contain some interesting information.

That’s it for today’s free lesson on genealogical research in Chicago & Illinois, Not that either of you have any personal interest in researching those places. As they used to say in Chi-town: “All this information and a dime will get you a transfer on any bus or El in the city of Chicago as long as you pay the original fare.”

One more task for Polish Origins and then it’s back to fun and minding my own business for me for the duration..

Valete,

Dave

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

Trish — Wed Sep 24, 2025 11:00 am

Author: Trish

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2025 11:00 am

Hi Barb,

Sophia found the manifest. Thanks Sophia! As Sophia stated, per Franz's naturalization record, Franz came as Leopold.

Here is the information.

Name Leopold Klimek
Sex Male
Age 29
Residence Place Stanislawow, Austria
Marital Status Married
Nationality Austria, Polish
Additional Person's Name Maria Klimek
Second Additional Person's Name Jacob Iwanicki
Event Type Immigration
Event Date 10 November 1907
Event Place Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Page Number 146
Series Number T715
Affiliate Film Number T715-1037
Affiliate Publication Title Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York , NY, 1897-1957
Departure Port Cuxhaven
Ship Name Amerika

Here is the link from family search.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXLS-3MH?lang=en

Have a wonderful day!
Trish

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

BarbOslo — Wed Sep 24, 2025 10:30 am

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2025 10:30 am

Thanks Trish. I'm having trouble getting things sorted out. The years on Genetyka don't match the years on FamilySearch. I've managed this so far. Will look again later tonight.

-Barb

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

Trish — Wed Sep 24, 2025 8:41 am

Author: Trish

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2025 8:41 am

BarbOslo wrote:

Hi Barb,

Here is the naturalization record for Franz Klimek.
Name Franz Klimek
Declaration Age 30
Record Type Naturalization Declaration
Birth Date 8 Nov 1879
Birth Place Lemberg Austria
Departure Place Hamburg Germany
Arrival Date 31 Oct 1907
Arrival Place New York, New York
Declaration Date 15 Nov 1909
Declaration Place Cook, Illinois, USA
Ship America
Relation to Head Self (Head)
Source Citation
National Archives at Chicago; Chicago, Illinois; ARC Title: Petitions For Naturalization, 1906-1991; NAI Number: M1285; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: Rg 21

I'm looking for the manifest now.

Warm regards,
Trish

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

BarbOslo — Wed Sep 24, 2025 3:20 am

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2025 3:20 am

Trish, could you please find a death record for Franz Klimek between 1912-1916? I'm trying to find the family in the Ivano-Frankivsk and Halych area with no success. Would like to see if his place of residence would help.
Regards,
-Barb

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

Trish — Tue Sep 23, 2025 2:04 pm

Author: Trish

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 2:04 pm

BarbOslo wrote:

Parents/Grandparents:
Maria Kotarska daughter of Nikolaj (Mikołaj) Kotarski and Julia Sochan
Franciscus Leopoldis (Franciszek Leopold) Klimek son of Antoni and Anastasia nee Leluch

-Barb

Hi Barb,

Thanks for posting the parents' names. Good clues for the Kotarski family for now we all known the father's name and verified Julia's surname. Hopefully you can work your magic and find more information as to where the Kotarski family is from.

Have a wonderful day!
Warm regards,
Trish

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

BarbOslo — Tue Sep 23, 2025 11:42 am

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 11:42 am

Parents/Grandparents:
Maria Kotarska daughter of Nikolaj (Mikołaj) Kotarski and Julia Sochan
Franciscus Leopoldis (Franciszek Leopold) Klimek son of Antoni and Anastasia nee Leluch

-Barb

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

Trish — Tue Sep 23, 2025 10:15 am

Author: Trish

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 10:15 am

Hi Everyone!

I'm back!

Geneteka Link for Helena and Leon's birth information.

https://geneteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=gt&lang=pol&bdm=B&w=21uk&rid=B&search_lastname=klimek&search_name=&search_lastname2=kotarska&search_name2=&from_date=&to_date=

Here is the birth record for Helena Klimek. Maria Kotarska's parents are mentioned. (Note: Can someone read the names for me?)
Date of Birth: 7 March 1907
Record #156, Image #560 - Family History Library DGS Film #007813030
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS9B-79TJ-Z?i=559&lang=en

Here is the birth record for Leon Klimek.
Date of Birth: 26 May 1908
Record #338, Image #668 - Family History Library DGS Film #007813030
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS9B-79BY-P?i=667&lang=en

I hope this helps find clues to more records.
Regards,
Trish

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

Trish — Tue Sep 23, 2025 10:14 am

Author: Trish

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 10:14 am

Hi Everyone!

I'm back!

Geneteka Link for Helena and Leon's birth information.

https://geneteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=gt&lang=pol&bdm=B&w=21uk&rid=B&search_lastname=klimek&search_name=&search_lastname2=kotarska&search_name2=&from_date=&to_date=

Here is the birth record for Helena Klimek. Maria Kotarska's parents are mentioned. (Note: Can someone read the names for me?)
Date of Birth: 7 March 1907
Record #156, Image #560 - Family History Library DGS Film #007813030
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS9B-79TJ-Z?i=559&lang=en

Here is the birth record for Leon Klimek.
Date of Birth: 26 May 1908
Record #338, Image #668 - Family History Library DGS Film #007813030
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS9B-79BY-P?i=667&lang=en

I hope this helps find clues to more records.
Regards,
Trish

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

Trish — Tue Sep 23, 2025 9:59 am

Author: Trish

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 9:59 am

Hi Everyone,

Dave, always enjoy reading your posts for they are full of information. I'm glad you atgree with me about the records I found are all the same people.

Barb, this might help with finding information on Julia's daughter, Mary Kotarska. Here is the 1910 census for Mary and her husband, Frank Klimek. They were married for 5 years.

Name Leo Klimnk
Age in 1910 2
Birth Date 1908
[1908]
Birthplace Austria
Home in 1910 Chicago Ward 27, Cook, Illinois, USA
Sheet Number 41a
Street Milwaukee Ave
Race White
Gender Male
Immigration Year 1909
Relation to Head of House Son
Marital Status Single
Father's Birthplace Austria
Mother's Birthplace Austria
Attended School N
Enumeration District Number 1190
Enumerated Year 1910
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Frank Klimnk 32 Head
Mary Klimnk 32 Wife
Hirmos Klimnk 4 Son
Helen Klimnk 3 Daughter
Leo Klimnk 2 Son
Charlie Klimnk 0 Son

Here are two of the Klimek children listed in Geneteka.

https://geneteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=gt&lang=pol&bdm=B&w=21uk&rid=B&search_lastname=klim&search_name=&search_lastname2=kotarska&search_name2=&from_date=&to_date=

Happy Tuesday!
Trish
PS: I had to edit the link.

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

BarbOslo — Tue Sep 23, 2025 7:52 am

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 7:52 am

Thanks Trisch and Dave! Then I'll try to find some more.

-Barb

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

dnowicki — Mon Sep 22, 2025 4:12 pm

Author: dnowicki

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 4:12 pm

Trish wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I see a name of a town on the manifest. I need another set of eyes to verify the town's name.

Going by what Dave said about Frank Klimek, I was able to figure out that Julia had a daughter named Mary. Mary was first married to Frank Klimek. Frank Klimek is also listed on the manifest as to where Julia is going. The manifest stated Julia was going to son-in-law's, Frank Klimek. So I believe this is the correct manifest for Julia.

Here is the 1920 census as proof for Julia living with her daughter Mary. Mary and 3 of her children (Harry Klimek , Helen Klimek, Leo Klimek) came from Poland. I'm trying to find their manifest now.

Name Julia Kolarski
[Julia Kotarski]
Age 78
Birth Year abt 1842
Birthplace Poland
Home in 1920 Chicago Ward 27, Cook (Chicago), Illinois
Street Central Park.
Residence Date 1920
Race White
Gender Female
Immigration Year 1912
Relation to Head of House Mother-in-law
Marital Status Widowed
Father's Birthplace Poland
Mother's Birthplace Poland
Native Tongue Polish
Able to Speak English no
Naturalization Status Alien
Able to Write No
Neighbors View others on page
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Walter Andruszkiewicz 54 Head
Mary Andruszkiewicz 40 Wife
Gertrude Andruszkiewicz 4 Daughter
Harry Klimek 14 Stepson (Step Son)
Helen Klimek 12 Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)
Leo Klimek 11 Stepson (Step Son)
Wanda Klimek 8 Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)
Julia Kolarski 78 Mother-in-law

Regards,
Trish

Hi Trish,

You are spot on about the manifest. Despite the fact that information doesn’t match up with the death certificate there is too much which matches (including the address on Nortth Central Park—although it is one number off—for it not to be the correct one—the place is Stanisławów which was in southeastern Galicia and today is not in Poland. One would presume that Julia knew where she was born but the problem could be one of communication since she had no formal education and was unable to read and write and since the scribe who composed the manifest wrote what he heard, all of which has an impact on the accuracy of information. All in all the conflicting data would really need to be resolved before doing research on the other side of the pond.

Dave

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

Trish — Mon Sep 22, 2025 3:28 pm

Author: Trish

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 3:28 pm

Hi Everyone,

Here is the manifest for Mary Kotarska who married Frank Klimek. Mary is coming to the USA from the same town as Julia. Mary is coming with 3 children. They are all going to her husband/father Frank Klimek.

Name Leon Klimek
Gender Male
Ethnicity/ Nationality Polish
Marital Status Single
Age 3/12
Birth Date abt 1908
Birth Place Austria
Other Birth Place Stanislaw
Last Known Residence Stanislaw, Austria
Departure Port Cuxhaven
Arrival Date 27 Sep 1908
Arrival Port New York, New York, USA
Residence Place Austria
Final Destination Chicago, Illinois
Hair Color Fair
Eye Color Gray
Complexion Fair
Money in Possession $5
Person in Old Country Emilie Kotarska
Person in Old Country Relationship Mother
Person in Old Country Residence Stanislaw, Gal
Person in US Frans Klimek
Person in US Relationship Husband
Mother Emilie Kotarska
Spouse Frans Klimek
Ship Name Amerika

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

Trish — Mon Sep 22, 2025 2:58 pm

Author: Trish

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 2:58 pm

Hi Everyone,

I see a name of a town on the manifest. I need another set of eyes to verify the town's name.

Going by what Dave said about Frank Klimek, I was able to figure out that Julia had a daughter named Mary. Mary was first married to Frank Klimek. Frank Klimek is also listed on the manifest as to where Julia is going. The manifest stated Julia was going to son-in-law's, Frank Klimek. So I believe this is the correct manifest for Julia.

Here is the 1920 census as proof for Julia living with her daughter Mary. Mary and 3 of her children (Harry Klimek , Helen Klimek, Leo Klimek) came from Poland. I'm trying to find their manifest now.

Name Julia Kolarski
[Julia Kotarski]
Age 78
Birth Year abt 1842
Birthplace Poland
Home in 1920 Chicago Ward 27, Cook (Chicago), Illinois
Street Central Park.
Residence Date 1920
Race White
Gender Female
Immigration Year 1912
Relation to Head of House Mother-in-law
Marital Status Widowed
Father's Birthplace Poland
Mother's Birthplace Poland
Native Tongue Polish
Able to Speak English no
Naturalization Status Alien
Able to Write No
Neighbors View others on page
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Walter Andruszkiewicz 54 Head
Mary Andruszkiewicz 40 Wife
Gertrude Andruszkiewicz 4 Daughter
Harry Klimek 14 Stepson (Step Son)
Helen Klimek 12 Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)
Leo Klimek 11 Stepson (Step Son)
Wanda Klimek 8 Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)
Julia Kolarski 78 Mother-in-law

Regards,
Trish

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

dnowicki — Mon Sep 22, 2025 1:15 pm

Author: dnowicki

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 1:15 pm

krwzki wrote:

I am looking for any information on Julia Kotarski (born 1843.)

My family have a record that she died here in Chicago, USA (1927). We also have a ship arrival record, which states that she came from the Russian Empire, from Warsaw in NYC. At that time Poland was part of the Russian Empire as we found out

It is difficult now to access Russian archives due to war. We want to find her parents and relatives to make a family tree.

We also found what we thought was her photo at home but we're not sure because there's no name on the photo itself

Who can help with this?

Hi krwzki & Barb & Trish,

The answers to some of the questions and the information to help you put together a family tree is found in Julia’s Cook County Illinois death certificate which is available on family search https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQ3L-5H9?lang=en For Barb’s convenience a copy of the certificate is attached. Although the information contained in death certificates is only as reliable as the knowledge of the informant the certificate this the name of her husband and her father, which provides her maiden name. At the time of her death Julia was residing at 3254 north Central Park in Chicago. The informant was Mrs. F. Klimek, who was residing at the same address, which makes it likely that she was Julia’s daughter. Julia’s husband, Michael Kotarski was deceased and her father is named as John Sochon, who was supposedly born in Warsaw, Poland. His first name would have been Jan in Polish and his surname is likely something like Socha. Warsaw can either be the city or possibly the gubierna. Looking at the actual image of the certificate and a familiarity with Chicago allows one to extract more info than Trish found in the extract.

Krwzki, Your search for records does not involve archives in Russia since vital records from 19th Century Russian ruled Partitioned Poland are housed in Polish Archives, many of which are accessible online. The Russian partition (cf attached map) was known as the Congress Kingdom of Poland or later simply the Kingdom of Poland and the “King” of Poland was the Czar of Russia who ruled the territory as a personal union. Without providing you with a detailed course in Polish history some key points to keep in mind are that prior to 1795 the country we call Poland was a commonwealth whose formal name was the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Polish: Królestwo Polskie i Wielkie Księstwo Litewskie) and was once the largest country in Europe. The Polish state had been partitioned thrice by its neighbors Prussia, Russia and Austria and was removed from the map of Europe from 1795 until after the Treaty of Versailles at the end of WWI.

Wishing you success,

Dave

PS It was the Chi-town connection which caused me to go against my better judgement and not to mind my own business in this instance.

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

BarbOslo — Mon Sep 22, 2025 1:12 pm

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 1:12 pm

Hi Trish,
The information from the death certificate, manifest and her information do not match.

-Barb

Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)

Trish — Mon Sep 22, 2025 12:38 pm

Author: Trish

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 12:38 pm

Hi again,

Barb, here is the ship manifest for Julia. She is on line #4.

Regards,
Trish

Name Julia Kotarska
Gender Female
Ethnicity/ Nationality Polish
Marital Status Widowed
Age 63
Birth Date abt 1849
Birth Place Austria
Other Birth Place Stanislawru
Last Known Residence Stanislawow, Austria
Departure Port Cuxhaven
Arrival Date 4 Dec 1912
Arrival Port New York, New York, USA
Residence Place Austria
Final Destination Chicago, Illinois
Height 5 Feet
Hair Color Gray
Eye Color Blue
Complexion Fair
Money in Possession 37
Person in Old Country Marca Baran
Person in Old Country Relationship Friend
Person in Old Country Residence Stanislawow
Person in US Franz Alinck
Person in US Relationship Son-in-law
Ship Name Kaiserin Augusta Victoria