Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 3:19 am
Post subject: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)
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?
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BarbOsloPO Top Contributor
Joined: 19 Nov 2022
Replies: 1615
Location: NorwayBack to top |
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 5:19 am
Post subject:
Hi,
Welcome to the Forum!
Can you share with us her ship Manifest? Is Kotarski Julia's maiden name? Are there any other family members who came with her? Which family members/friends did she travel to?
Regards,
-Barb
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TrishPO Top Contributor
Joined: 23 Sep 2020
Replies: 546
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 12:27 pm
Post subject:
Hi Krwzki and Barb,
Barb, I think this might be the death information for Julia Kotarski. I'm still looking for information for her.
Regards,
Trish
Name Julia Kotarski
[Julia Sochon]
Birth Date 1843
Birth Place Warsaw, Poland
Death Date 9 Jan 1927
Death Place Chicago, Cook Co , Ill
Burial Date 11 Jan 1927
Cemetery Name Montrose Cemetery
Death Age 84
Occupation House work
Race White
Marital Status W
Gender Female
Street Address 3254 N. Central Pk.
Father Name John Sochon
Father Birth Place Warsaw, Poland
Mother Birth Place Warsaw, Poland
Spouse Name Michael Kotarski
FHL Film Number 1877900
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TrishPO Top Contributor
Joined: 23 Sep 2020
Replies: 546
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 12:38 pm
Post subject:
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
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BarbOsloPO Top Contributor
Joined: 19 Nov 2022
Replies: 1615
Location: NorwayBack to top |
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 1:12 pm
Post subject:
Hi Trish,
The information from the death certificate, manifest and her information do not match.
-Barb
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dnowickiPO Top Contributor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Replies: 2950
Location: Michigan City, IndianaBack to top |
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 1:15 pm
Post subject: Re: Julia Kotarski (b. 1843 Russian Empire)
| 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.
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TrishPO Top Contributor
Joined: 23 Sep 2020
Replies: 546
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 2:58 pm
Post subject:
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
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TrishPO Top Contributor
Joined: 23 Sep 2020
Replies: 546
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 3:28 pm
Post subject:
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
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dnowickiPO Top Contributor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Replies: 2950
Location: Michigan City, IndianaBack to top |
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 4:12 pm
Post subject:
| 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
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BarbOsloPO Top Contributor
Joined: 19 Nov 2022
Replies: 1615
Location: NorwayBack to top |
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 7:52 am
Post subject:
Thanks Trisch and Dave! Then I'll try to find some more.
-Barb
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TrishPO Top Contributor
Joined: 23 Sep 2020
Replies: 546
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 9:59 am
Post subject:
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.
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TrishPO Top Contributor
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TrishPO Top Contributor
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BarbOsloPO Top Contributor
Joined: 19 Nov 2022
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 11:42 am
Post subject:
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
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TrishPO Top Contributor
Joined: 23 Sep 2020
Replies: 546
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 2:04 pm
Post subject:
| 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
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