Month: October 2020

Eugene B. Switkowski

I found a prayer card for another family member. Eugene is my first cousin twice removed. A pair of his grandparents are my great grandparents. He only lived for 56 years most of them after the 1940 US Census so there are few records available. Also, for some reason I have not located him and his parents on the 1930 US Census. I’m sure they are there but i haven’t figured out the misspelling.

Eugene was born on April 16, 1930 in Buffalo, New York. His parents are Bronislaus J. Switkowski and Anastaria P Wiatrowski. Both were born in Poland, I don’t have anything more specific for a birth location yet. Eugene had a four year older brother; Leonard Switkowski (b. 1916). This is an an annoyance as my grandmother’s brother is also a Leonard Switkowski (b. 1926) who named his son Leonard Switkowski.

The 1950 US Census would come in handy here but I do find that on October 4, 1952 Eugene married Julia Witkowski in Buffalo, New York. I have found no announcements in Newspapers. Fulton is currently down so one day I may revisit the search.

In 1956 Eugene was working as a machinist. He and Julia were living at 59 Houghton Street in Buffalo, NY. By 1986 he was living at 18 Dempster Street. That was his last residence before his death. I haven’t found any information on children for these two.

Sources:

  • Year: 1940; Census Place: Buffalo, Erie, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02829; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 64-199
  • Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
  • Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
  • Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
  • New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Marriage Index
  • Ancestry.com. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
  • Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
  • Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File
  • New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Marriage Index

Catherine McManmon Haefner

Last week I wrote about my great great uncle Anthony, this week I have the prayer card for his wife Catherine.

Kathrine Haefner was born November 24, 1904 to John George (he went by George), and Kunegunda Haefner. In 1905 her siblings were: John 12, George 10, Margaret 8, Frank 6, Joseph 4, and William 1. Her parents were born in Germany. John George work a saw at a Mill.

In 1910 they lived on Loepere Street on Buffalo’s Polonia East Side. The family was still together and added son Henry in 1908. Sometime between 1915 and 1920 her brother moved out of the family home. Katherine worked at a glove factory in 1920.

A search on Google maps shows that it was a 15 minute walk from Loepere Street where Katherine lived to the Switkowski home on Newton Street. In the middle of the walk would be Corpus Christi Church and The Broadway Market, two places that Katherine and Anthony could have met. They were married around August 29, 1922. This link https://www.newspapers.com/image/352934946/?terms=Catherine%20Haefner&match=1 takes you to the Newspapers.com list of marriage licenses for that day.

The 1930 US Census shows Anthony 30 and Catherine 27 have two children Bernice 6 and Maryann 4. Ten years later they now have three children Bernice 16, Marian 14, and Eleanor 9. The 1940 US Census shows Catherine had an education up to 8th grade.

Not much else is available on her from 1940 to her death in 1985.

Sources:

  • Year: 1920; Census Place: Buffalo Ward 15, Erie, New York; Roll: T625_1103; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 117
  • Year: 1910; Census Place: Buffalo Ward 11, Erie, New York; Roll: T624_944; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0105; FHL microfilm: 1374957
  • New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1905; Election District: E.D. 01; City: Buffalo Ward 14; County: Erie; Page: 29
  • New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1915; Election District: 04; Assembly District: 06; City: Buffalo Ward 15; County: Erie; Page: 21
  • City of Buffalo; Buffalo, NY; Index to Deaths in Buffalo, New York
  • Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
  • New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Marriage Index
  • Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
  • https://www.newspapers.com/image/352934946/?terms=Catherine%20Haefner&match=1
  • Year: 1940; Census Place: Buffalo, Erie, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02829; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 64-195
  • Year: 1930; Census Place: Buffalo, Erie, New York; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 0111; FHL microfilm: 2341161

Anthony Switkowski

I have again found a prayer card of a child of my great great grandparents Wladyslaw Swithowski and Ludwika Szymanska. This time it is Anthony Switkowski. He was born August 29, 1899 in Buffalo, New York. He was 15 years younger than my great grandfather. The family lived on Clark Street very close to Corpus Christi Church Campus on Clark Street.

At 17 (1916) he was working as a laborer living on Clark Street. Six years later in 1922 on his birthday he married Catherine Haefner in Buffalo. I haven’t found where the marriage took place. I expect it was either St Stanislaus or Corpus Christi.

On September 12, 1918 Anthony signed up for they draft. I have no indication that he actually served. Later in 1942 he signed up for the World War II draft but again no proof of service.

Anthony and Catherine were living at 230 Loepere. He is listed as a woodworker. This was 1926 until his death June 9, 1961.

The 1930 US Census shows Anthony 30 and Catherine 27 have two children Bernice 6 and Maryann 4. Ten years later they now have three children Bernice 16, Marian 14, and Eleanor 9.

Sources:

  • Year: 1910; Census Place: Buffalo Ward 8, Erie, New York; Roll: T624_942; Page: 22B; Enumeration District: 0073; FHL microfilm: 1374955
  • Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
  • Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed ), memorial page for Anthony Switkowski (unknown–9 Jun 1961), Find a Grave Memorial no. 118039352, citing Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Find a Grave (contributor 8) .
  • Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File
  • New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Marriage Index
  • Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
  • Registration State: New York; Registration County: Erie; Roll: 1712055; Draft Board: 05
  • Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
  • Year: 1930; Census Place: Buffalo, Erie, New York; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 0111; FHL microfilm: 2341161
  • Year: 1940; Census Place: Buffalo, Erie, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02829; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 64-195

Alex Jarmakowski

When I started working on this prayer card I didn’t realize that this was extended family. Alex married my great grandfather’s sister.

Alex Jarmakowski was born July 10, 1902 in Buffalo, New York. His parents were Joseph and
Catherine Jarmakowski. Joseph was born in Posen, Poland and Catherine was born in New York. In 1910 they were living on Gibson Street in the East Side ‘Polonia’ section of Buffalo. Added to the family was Sophie born in 1908. Catherine was pregnant in 1910.

Florence is joined the family in 1910 and is on the 1915 New York Census. The family of five are still living on Gibson Street.

In 1920 seventeen year old Alex is still living with the family on Gibson Street. He is working as an errand boy at a shoe store. Four years later he is a steamfitter. A year after they are still living at 127 Gibson. Josephine Jarmakowski aged 65 is now living with the family. I am assuming this is Joseph’s mother. There is a 15 year age difference so it is possible, she isn’t listed properly on the 1925 census.

Living at Gibson Street in 1930 is Joseph, Kathrine, Alex, and Florence. Alex is working as an oiler at a round house. The nearest roundhouse at this time would have been near Bailey and Broadway about a mile away. Below is a picture I took in 2008. This is what is left of a turntable from the Pullman Car Company behind Tops Markets at 1770 Broadway near Bailey.

Alex is married to Anna Switkowski in 1934 and living at 387 Gibson Street. Alex is a laborer.

Alex and Anna were living on Sears Street about three blocks away from Gibson in 1940. Alex was a laborer with the New York Central Railroad. In February 1942 Alex registered for the draft at age 39. I have no records that show him joining the military.

By 1951 the couple was living at 103 Mills Street this is about two blocks away from Gibson Street. This was his final home before his death in 1957. He is buried in Plot section A in the Saint Stanislaus Roman Catholic Cemetery Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York.

Source:

  • Year: 1940; Census Place: Buffalo, Erie, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02826; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 64-110
  • Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 August 2020), memorial page for Aleksy Jarmakowski (1902–1957), Find a Grave Memorial no. 111662475, citing Saint Stanislaus Roman Catholic Cemetery, Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York, USA ; Maintained by gravefinderStStans (contributor 47637865) .
  • New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Death Index
  • New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 05; Assembly District: 05; City: Buffalo Ward 10; County: Erie; Page: 17
  • Year: 1920; Census Place: Buffalo Ward 10, Erie, New York; Roll: T625_1102; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 81
  • New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1915; Election District: 05; Assembly District: 06; City: Buffalo Ward 10; County: Erie; Page: 24
  • Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
  • Year: 1930; Census Place: Buffalo, Erie, New York; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0064; FHL microfilm: 2341160
  • Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 31 August 2020), memorial page for Aleksy Jarmakowski (1902–1957), Find a Grave Memorial no. 111662475, citing Saint Stanislaus Roman Catholic Cemetery, Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York, USA ; Maintained by gravefinderStStans (contributor 47637865) .
  • Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.