Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 12:06 pm
Post subject: Zientak, Opalewski, Socha, Pizarczyk, Kmiotek, Mazur
Hello,
I have been researching my family, and building my family tree. At this point, I have pushed back to the grandparents that have immigrated from Poland. I don't have a lot of information about where they lived in Poland, or how to go about researching Polish records, so I'm looking for any help or Polish pointers.
On my father's father's side, his parents were Andrew Henry Zintak (Zientak) (born 3/1868) and Pauline (Apolonia) Opalewski (born 11/30/1871). They both came to the states between 1880-1890, settled in Chicago (back of the yards), and got married on 10/27/1891 at St Adalbert's in Chicago.
From church records, Andrew Henry Zintak's parents were Andrew Zientak and Catherine Miklós. He must also have had siblings that came over also; we were told other Zintak families (specifically the Anthony Zintak and the Frank Zintak families) in Chicago were cousins.
Apolonia Opalewski's parents were listed as Michael Opalewski and Maria Jankowska. Her siblings were John, Kosek, Martin, Theodore (Teofil) and Frances. All but Kosek came to the states and settled in Chicago. There are references to other Opalewski's, who I assume were various cousins.
On my father's mother's side, her parents were Joseph Socha and Eva Pisarczyk. Joseph Socha was born in 1867, immigrated in about 1892, and settled in Chicago, and married Eva on 11/7/1897. His parents are listed as Michael Socha and Marianna. Eva Pisarczyk was born in about 1878 and immigrated 5/22/1896 (Ellis Island record, S.S. Halle).
On my mother's side, her parents were Albert George Kmiotek and Caroline (Karolina) Mazur. Albert George (Wojcieck) Kmiotek was born 1/20/1884, immigrated about 1905 to Chicago, and married Caroline on 2/6/1907. The family story is that he played violin in the family tavern in Krakow. His parents are listed as Adalbert Kmiotek and Mary Sasiadek. He had at least one sibling, Regina Kmiotek Dunaj, who immigrated with her family in 1913 and listed her hometown as Chechly, Galicia in the Ellis Island records.
Caroline Mazur was born in 1886 and immigrated 7/30/1903, home listed as "Sietnica" (Ellis Island record, S.S. Barbarosa). Her parents are listed as Thomas Mazur and Catherine Orlowska. She had siblings John, Mary, Helen. Mary and Helen came over about the same time and started families; John came to Chicago and left his wife to run the large farm in Poland, eventually she came over, but did not like America. They drop out of the records after that, so they probably went back to Poland. Caroline's mother came over years later and lived with her daughter Helen.
Thanks in advance from and help or info!
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Bill RushinPO Top Contributor
Joined: 14 Dec 2009
Replies: 311
Location: Virginia Beach, Va.Back to top |
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 7:04 pm
Post subject: Re: Zientak, Opalewski, Socha, Pizarczyk, Kmiotek, Mazur
| zin wrote: | | Hello, ...On my mother's side, her parents were Albert George Kmiotek and Caroline (Karolina) Mazur. Albert George (Wojcieck) Kmiotek was born 1/20/1884, immigrated about 1905 to Chicago, and married Caroline on 2/6/1907. The family story is that he played violin in the family tavern in Krakow. His parents are listed as Adalbert Kmiotek and Mary Sasiadek. He had at least one sibling, Regina Kmiotek Dunaj, who immigrated with her family in 1913 and listed her hometown as Chechly, Galicia in the Ellis Island records... |
Zin, I have Kmiotek in my family and they were in the BOY also. I do know that there was possibly 3 different family's with that name. Two of those families were not related to each other. Drop me a note in the Goral's in the BOY forum in a week or so and I'll look at my census records, I think I saved some Kmioteks that were not related to my line. Bill
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 7:16 pm
Post subject:
Minor detail. correct spelling is Wojciech, not Wojcieck. Wojciech is translated as Adalbert, or more commonly, as Albert.
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 10:26 pm
Post subject:
Yes, his name was Albert George Kmiotek, and should be Wojciech, but it is written as Wojcieck (I'm sure incorrectly) on the marriage license. All early records call him Albert, all later records call him George. My mother remembers his friends calling him Vojta, which she said was George.
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Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 6:10 pm
Post subject: Ziętak, Opalewski, Socha, Pisarczyk, Kmiotek, Masur
I've gathered some more info, thanks to those who have help so far.
On the Zintak side, I found out that actual original spelling was Ziętak. This lead me to find me my gg-grandfather, Peter Ziętak, from Wierzchucin Królewski, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland. Wife Catharina Miklasz, kids Constantia, Anna, Joseph, Andrew(my ggf). I also found one more generation, Joannes Ziętak, my ggg-grandfather. Wife Anna Szefs, kids: Joannes, Matthias, Peter. I will continue to poke around on the Poznań website. If anyone has anymore data on these people or further relations plesae let me know.
On the Opalewski side, my g-grandmother Apolonia Opalewski's parents were Michael Opalewski and Marianna Jankowska and they lived in Gruta, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland. Any further info from this area of Poland would be great.
On my father's mother's side, I've gotton nowhere with the Socha/Pisarczyk families.
On my mother's side, I've learned that the Dunaj/Ochab/Masur/Kmiotek families were all from the Chechly, Galicia area.
All my direct relations moved from Poland to Chicago, specifically the Polish neighborhoods (which were back-of-the-yards, or BOY adjacent).
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:40 pm
Post subject: Re: Ziętak, Opalewski, Socha, Pisarczyk, Kmiotek, Masur
| zin wrote: | I've gathered some more info, thanks to those who have help so far.
On the Zintak side, I found out that actual original spelling was Ziętak. This lead me to find me my gg-grandfather, Peter Ziętak, from Wierzchucin Królewski, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland. Wife Catharina Miklasz, kids Constantia, Anna, Joseph, Andrew(my ggf). I also found one more generation, Joannes Ziętak, my ggg-grandfather. Wife Anna Szefs, kids: Joannes, Matthias, Peter. I will continue to poke around on the Poznań website. If anyone has anymore data on these people or further relations plesae let me know.
On the Opalewski side, my g-grandmother Apolonia Opalewski's parents were Michael Opalewski and Marianna Jankowska and they lived in Gruta, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland. Any further info from this area of Poland would be great.
On my father's mother's side, I've gotton nowhere with the Socha/Pisarczyk families.
On my mother's side, I've learned that the Dunaj/Ochab/Masur/Kmiotek families were all from the Chechly, Galicia area.
All my direct relations moved from Poland to Chicago, specifically the Polish neighborhoods (which were back-of-the-yards, or BOY adjacent). |
This is what I've learned over the years. The reason that the name was changed is because prior to emigrating from Poland the family changed their names because the english alphabet does not have the "ę" in the alphabet. Changing it to "en" gives it almost the same sound. While all the Zientaks ended leaving for Chicago one stayed behind to tie some loose ends, unfortunately during this period WWII broke out and Joseph (Josef in polish) was taken as a prisoner and worked as a prisoner laborer on farms in eastern Germany, where he was almost executed had it not been for his skill in training horses. (he actually taught a horse to plow a field by itself). After the war Josef moved to Szczecin (Stetin when it was a German city), and became a finish carpenter where he specialized in spiral wooden staircases, he was an artisan when it came to them. Josef got married and had 3 children. I am the grandson of Josef. Josef still lives in Poland in, he is the most generous, kindest, and greatest human being i have the pleasure of knowing and everyone he meets has only praises about him.
I heard from my father that our family was traced back 600 years by some relative of ours. Apparently we have Turkish roots, when one of our distant relatives came to Poland and fought for the king. that is all i have at the moment but i can try to get more info.
I hope this all relates to the same Joseph that you are talking about. These are just snippets that i heard from the family over the years
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:59 pm
Post subject:
Arek,
Great story!
Do you have any of the family tree data? It would be amazing to tie into a tree that goes back 600 years.
As for Zintak's in America, spelling specific, I have connected up 98% of the Zintak's, a good number of Zientak's, and even some Zietaks and Zienteks. It seems like each family unit picked their own spelling of Zintak, with even brother to brother differences.
I trace my Zintak line back to John Ziętak (Joannes Ziętak), born 1790's. Do you know if your Josef is directly related or do we connect up farther back?
Thanks in advance for any info,
zin
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:14 pm
Post subject:
It'll be a while but I will see what I can do.
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