The Sons of Andrew Piszczor Sr. & Anna Szczypta, Part 3

The year is 1967 and the brothers are posed in the drive of Joseph Piszczor (Pezar) in New Salem PA. Another 14 years have passed since the last brother group picture and this time the reason that brought everyone together is one on a sad note. The event is the passing and burial of their father, Andrew Piszczor, Sr., who died at the age of 80. So many members of the family showed that many of us were put up in the homes of neighbors for a few nights. This also meant the cleaning up and preparing the farm for sale outside the family.

(For those keeping score, from left to right: Walter Sr., Michael Sr., Jesse Sr., Andrew Jr., Joseph and John Piszczor)

Andrew Piszczor Sr. & Anna Szczypta - Anna passed away in 1962 just shy of her 83rd birthday. You already know what happened to Andrew Sr., he lived on the farm until his death with occasional visits to church and the Slovak Club.

John Piszczor - John's wife Ann Slosar passed away in 1957 in Cleveland area. By this time John left photography and had started his Real Estate business, building homes through out the south Cleveland suburbs. In 1959 he remarried in Cleveland to Amelia Bruscino.

Joseph Piszczor - Joe had worked his way up the union leadership ladder and was the local Mine Workers Union President. He and Helen had four grandsons now; three from Donald and Mary Ann (Donald (Dj), James and Steven) and one from Bernard and Martha (Bernard).

Andrew Piszczor Jr. - Andy and Helen moved to East Cleveland after he retired from coal mining and went to work for General Electric. They also had a granddaughter, Sabrina Sue Migyanko, from Betty Lou and Charles Migyanko.

Jesse (Hyacinth)Piszczor Sr. - Jesse and Josephine still lived in Cleveland. He had worked at the Old Mill Tavern with his brother Michael for years but recently started working at White Motors along with his brother Walter and his nephew Donald. They finally had a son, Jesse, Jr, in 1954 and a by this time Carol and David Latham gave them a granddaughter, Michelle Latham.

Michael Piszczor Sr. - Mike and Julia also continued to live in Cleveland. Mike now owned and operated the Old Mill Tavern. In 1956 they had a son, Micheal Jr., born in 1956 and a daughter, Barbara Ann, in 1958.

Francis Piszczor - Frank passed away in Painesville after battling cancer in 1958. Monica continued to live in Painesville with her daughters. She remarried in 1964 to John Lannen and moved to southern California. By this time there was one new granddaughter in her family, Charmain, form Paulette and Bernard Bullock.

Walter Piszczor Sr. - Walter stayed in Cleveland and married Margret Patrick in 1954. Between the 45th Anniversary in 1953 and 1967 they had five children; Marion (1955), Walter Jr. (1958), Matthew (1959), Marlene (1961)and William (1964). Walter was still working at White Motors.

The Sons of Andrew Piszczor Sr. & Anna Szczypta, Part 2

This is the next photo I have found that has most of the sons of Andrew Piszczor Sr. in it and it's a good place to review the time line. Everyone is gathered at the family farm in McClellandtown, PA for the 45th wedding anniversary of Andrew and Anna in 1953. It appears that Francis and Monica Piszczor were unable to make it but I suspect it was due to them expecting their second child right about then. (I know I'll have that confirmed very soon!)

So a lot has happen to the family in the past 13 years and sure it would have been even more hectic if some people didn't have to go and start a war. Let me tell you what I know and see if anyone else will have something to add:

Andrew Piszczor Sr. & Anna Szczypta - Not much changed for Andy and Anna during this time, just working the farm and going down in the mines while collecting more grandchildren.

John Piszczor - During this time John and Ann stayed in the Cleveland area. John by this time had begun his career as a photographer, moved to the southeast part of town on a large piece of land near what today is Solon and is running the Grand Studio on Broadway Ave. near E. 75th St.

Joseph Piszczor - By this time Joe and Helen had finished building their home in New Salem and had their third son, Thomas, in 1952. Joseph was well on his way working up the ladder in the Coal Miner Union.

Andrew Piszczor Jr. - Andy and Helen continued to stay in McClellandtown and working in the coal mines. They had a son, Lawrence, in 1944 but sadly he lived only for a year. Then in 1946 Daniel was born to them.

Jesse (Hyacinth)Piszczor Sr. - Jesse and Josephine remained in Cleveland and he was working for a steel manufacturing firm before he got his letter from Uncle Sam. He spent over two years in uniform and served in Europe and the Far East. After he was discharged he also became a photographer,working with John for awhile. In 1943 they had a daughter they named Carol. In 1953 moved to the east side of Cleveland and had a son who unfortunately died in child birth.

Michael Piszczor Sr. - I don't know much of what Mike did during this period besides satying in Cleveland; except that he also was called into the armed forces, serving in the Army during the war. He also married Julia Habrot in 1947.

Francis Piszczor - Frank and Monica also stayed in the Cleveland area and I believe they moved out to Painesville, OH by this time. Frank was working for Sealtest as a milkman. They did have two daughters during this time; Paulette in 1943 and Susan in 1953.

Walter Piszczor Sr. - Walter was born in 1924 and stayed in McClellendtown until he too was called up and served in the Army Air Corps in Europe as a navigator on light bombers. Shortly after being discharged he also found his way to Cleveland and may have been working at White Motors by this time.

The Sons of Andrew Piszczor Sr. & Anna Szczypta, Part 1

Might you be thinking I'm running out of pictures? I know I used this one before but I never explained it and it will allow me to roll into a nice storyline, so please hang with me here and watch how I ride.

This is the earliest family photo I found so far. It is just a wonderful happenstance that it is a family portrait. Andrew and Anna (Szczypta) Piszczor on the front porch with their six sons. I haven't seen this photo in over 10 years but I do know it was taken in 1921 in either Tarr or Mt. Pleasant, PA. There was nothing else on the photo noting why they were all dressed up for the photo. Allow me to set the characters of the story for you till about 1940 and you will see how they progress through the years in the next few posts:

Andrew Piszczor Sr. - Came to the U.S. in 1904 when he was 18. His father, Jakob Piszczor, had already been to this country and back to Poland at least once by the time he arrived so he must have had contacts in Tarr, PA. He was a farmer in Poland and was heading here to work in the mines at that time. Some time before 1908 he found his way to Chicago where his sister Antonia lived with her husband Jozef Basiorka, where legend has it he met his future wife in their apartment.

Anna Szczypta - She arrived from Poland in 1905 at the age of 25 and heading to Chicago to stay with her cousin. The hand writing on the manifest is quite illegible but it looks like a Jozef, which works with the story that she and Jozef Basiorka were cousins. This is why she was in that apartment when Andrew came to Chicago. How ever it happened something worked and they married in Mt. Pleasant, PA in 1908 and went on to raise seven sons.

John Piszczor - The oldest son was born in 1909. By the time he finished high school he knew he didn't want to work in the mines anymore and he rode the trains out to California for a short stay and returned to the Uniontown area and began as an apprentice to a tailor. Some where down the line he married Ann Slosar in the 1930s.

Joseph Piszczor - Born in 1911, Joe went into the coal mines and eventually worked his way into the Union hierarchy. In 1934 he married this girl down the road by name of Helen Schifko, remaining in the New Salem area. They had their first son, Donald, in 1935 and Bernard was born in 1940.

Andrew Piszczor Jr. - Andrew Jr. came into the word in 1912 and after high school he worked in the coal mines and had a second job also (I want to say it was the railroads, but I'm not certain.. anyone help me on this?) He went on to quite literally marrying the girl next door, Helen Sinko, in 1936. They also stayed right in the neighborhood through this time in New Salem and McClellandtown and had two daughters, Josephine Ann (better known as Josie) born in 1937 and Betty Lou in 1940.

Jesse (Hyacinth)Piszczor Sr. - This son of various first names that finally settled as Jesse was born in 1914. From what I know he was the athlete of the family, playing semi-pro baseball and football while in high school. He left the farm right out of school and headed to Cleveland to work manufacturing. It was there where he met and married Josephine Semik in 1938.

Michael Piszczor Sr. - After a well deserved break Michael was born on 1917. He found his way to Cleveland in the late 1930s and didn't find his someone special at this point.

Francis Piszczor - This Frank was born in 1919 and also followed the trail to Cleveland shortly after high school. But once there he didn't waste much time in finding a Cleveland girl, Monica Wolinski, and somehow convinced her to walk down the aisle with him in 1940.

Now at this time we are missing two sons; the first Francis Piszczor who lived only a very short time in 1918, reportedly contracting the Spanish Influenza and Walter Piszczor Sr. who will be making an appearance shortly....

More Surprises in that Forgotten box

While going though that old forgotten box I found some items related to my mother's (Josephine Semik Piszczor) side of the family. Now my mother's side of the family never spoke much of their family at all, so much less about her father's side of the family. About the only thing I knew about them is they came from some town within 50 miles of Krakow, my grandmother left the two oldest boys in Poland with relatives, these two uncles had 24 children between them and the Pope John Paul II was somehow a distant cousin!

Over the years I found some odds and ends like my grandfather Martin's death records (he died in 1942) and my grandmother's Victoria's death notice as well as both of their arrival records. Then a few weeks ago I came across this old newspaper article (see image). I remember when they came though they spoke no English and I had no clue of Polish, but they were amazed at life here in the United States.

So after 40 years I read the article and saw they came from a town named Sucha in Poland. But after a lot of searching of maps and on the Internet I could not find a town by the name of Sucha alone. I was stumped and set it aside until this week.

While going through that old box I found some old mail left behind after my mother death and noticed between all the legal papers an old letter in Polish, a Christmas card actually, complete with envelope with an address on it. What I made out for a town was 'Sucha Besk', so back to the Internet and tried that and after searching the returns I clicked on an entry from Wikipedia and up came the information I have been looking years for. The town name was changed in 1970 to Sucha Beskidzka, and it is south of Krakow and in the foothills less than 20 miles from Nowy Targ where the Piszczors are from!

So it's time for me to figure out how to write a letter in Polish and see if I get an answer!

Family Gatherings - Frank Piszczor's Birthday, 1958

Went and found another great photo in the boxes. You know, I actually have some vague memories of this get together. Granted I was 4 1/2 years old and don't recall any details as such, but I always loved going to my uncle Frank's and aunt Monica's home. I didn't recognize many of the people in it so I sent a copy to cousin Susan and she sat down with her mom, Monica, and figured most of them out. (So glad they did too, I couldn't even pick myself out correctly! I just happen to be between these two in the picture.)

Everyone gathered for my uncle Frank's 39th birthday. It was a somewhat somber occasion with Frank battling stomach cancer, passing away within a month of this picture being taken.

Listed below is what Sue and Monica identified. If you have any clue on who the unknown people are, catch any errors or remember the day let us know:

1 Ray Lewandowski
2 Maurice Mohney
3 Betty Lou Piszczor (Migyanko)
4 Ronald Lewandowski
5 Virginia Lewandowski (?)
6 Diane Lewandowski
7 Unknown
8 Carol Ann Piszczor (Latham)
9 Stella Mohney
10 Josephine Ann (Josie) Piszczor (Van Sickle)
11 Ruthie Sinko - (Newly identified!)
12 Josephine Ann Semik (Piszczor)
13 Walter Piszczor Sr.
14 Jesse Piszczor Sr.
15 Donald Piszczor (?)
16 Unknown
17 Unknown
18 Mary Ann Rahija (Pezar)
19 Monica Wolinski (Piszczor)
20 Jesse Piszczor Jr.
21 Susan Piszczor
22 Frank Piszczor
23 Paulette Piszczor (Ballock)
24 Unknown
25 Unknown
26 George Sinko

Here is a copy of the picture without the numbers!

We all Started Small

I can't speak for everyone but it still challenges my paradigms when I see pictures of all these people that were older than me as I was growing up. My mind freezes when I'm typing the photo titles and find it odd to put "Sr." in there.

Hell, I'm baffled even looking at the pictures of my kids or even my own baby pictures. Digging through these boxes of old pictures I'm scanning and finding these just pictures has me looking at my grandchildren and wondering about how they are going to look like when they grow up.

So far I have about 16 and know I'm going to be adding more as I keep scanning. Now granted, there is a number of me and my sister, but until others help me out here with more from their collections it going to be just a bit biased. So get me your best to put in here!

Of course if you want to see all that I have come look at the photo album. Oh, and come back from time to time to see what else I uncovered.

Old Group Pictures

I am sure you have these around; some general group shots you found that you don't know why or when they got together and just maybe you might know one or two of the people in the photo. Well I ran into a load of these and I'm putting them on line in the hope you can help.

Misc Group Pictures

Click the picture to see all of the photos I found so far...and I will be adding more as I find these in the stacks.

Obit Search Finds

I was scanning some old photos I uncovered of people I knew but not exactly when and why they all got together. Then on the last one I noticed a small pencil note that just said "John's wedding" and now I knew what it was but not when. So I began to search the Internet and came across a site that didn't answer my question but found a lot more information I wasn't expecting.

I stumbled onto the Cleveland Public Library Necrology File. It's the alphabetical card file containing local cemetery records and newspaper death notices gathered by the staff of the Cleveland Public Library. It is a bit hit and miss and only goes up to 1975 but it is a free public database. You can go to it by clicking here. (Just don't forget to come on back.

Here is a sample of hit I have of some of my family:

Id#: 0673911
Name: Piszczor, Frank S.
Date: Oct 14 1958
Source: Cleveland Press; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #145.
Notes: Piszczor, Frank S., age 39, Monday, Oct. 13, former residence, R.D. 1 Painesville, O., husband of Monica Helen, father of Paulette Ann and Susan Marie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Piszczor of McClellandtown, Pa., brother of John, Jesse, Michael, and Walter of Cleveland, Joseph of New Salem, Pa., and Andrew Jr. of McClellandtown, Pa. Friends may call at Mulqueeny Bros. Funeral Home, 99 E. Erie St. (Rt. 20), Painesville, 2-4, 7-9 Tuesday. Funeral Wednesday, Oct. 15, 9:30 a.m., St. Mary's Church. Burial All Souls Cemetery, Chardon.

Id#: 0673910
Name: Piszczor, Barbara Ann
Date: Oct 18 1973
Source: Plain Dealer; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #145.
Notes: Pisczczor. Barbara Ann Piszczor, beloved daughter of Michael and Julia Piszczor, dearest sister of Michael Jr., also survived by grandmother and aunts and uncles. Funeral Saturday, Oct. 20, 8:30 a.m. at Mosinski Funeral Home, 3675 E. 65th St. Services 9 a.m. at Holy Name Church. Interment Calvary Cemetery. Visiting Hours Thursday And Friday 2-5 And 7-10 P.M.

Id#: 0673909
Name: Piszczor, Ann
Date: May 18 1957
Source: Cleveland Press; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #145.
Notes: Piszczor, Ann, of 27699 North Miles Rd., beloved wife of John, daughter of John and Anna Gabick, sister of Mary Fabis, Vera Hodges, John Slosar, Margaret Marvnowski, passed away Friday, May 17, 1957. Funeral Monday, May 20, from the Mosinski Funeral Home, 3675 E. 65th St., at 9:15 a.m., St. Jude's Church at 10 a.m. Burial Calvary Cemetery.

Id#: 0717310
Name: Semik, Victoria
Date: Jan 23 1967
Source: Cleveland Press; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #154.
Notes: Semik. Victoria Semik (nee Zadora), age 78, formerly of Fowler Ave., beloved wife of the late Martin, dear mother of Stanislaw, Francisick, Nora Martinez, Josephine Pesczor(Piszczor), John, Walter, Joseph, Mary Durtche, Anthony and Helen Apone, grandmother and great-grandmother, sister of Mary Zadora, of Poland, passed away Saturday, Friends may call at The B. J. Rumplik & Son Funeral Home, 5337 Dolloff Rd., Monday 2-5 And 7-10 P. M., where services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 8:30 A.M., St. Stanislaus Church at 9 A.M. Interment Calvary Cemetery.

Id#: 0789252
Name: Wolinski, Eva
Date: Aug 23 1951
Source: Cleveland Press; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #168.
Notes: Wolinski, Eva, of 4025 E. 144 St., beloved wife of Anthony, dear mother of William, Sophie Betlejewski, Veronica Lewandowski and Monica Piszczor, sister of Joseph Lashinski, and grandmother, Tuesday. Funeral Saturday, Aug. 25, at 8:30 a. m., from Mosinski Corlett Funeral Home, 4035 E. 141 St., St. Mary's Church of Corlett at 9 a.m. Interment Calvary Cemetery.

Id#: 0789250
Name: Wolinski, Anton
Date: Aug 15 1957
Source: Cleveland Press; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #168.
Notes: Wolinski, Anton, of 20734 Bowling Green Rd., beloved husband of the late Eva., dear father of William, Sophia Betley, Virginia Lewandowski, Monica Piszczor and grandfather. Friends received at Mosinski Funeral Home, 4035 E. 141st. Funeral Friday, Aug. 16, at 8:30 a. m., Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 9 a.m. Burial Calvary Cemetery

The shortcoming is the search is based only on the deceased name and not any other names in the body of the obit. But then is is just another tool if you have leads in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

New Photos added

Slowly but surely I'm getting more on here. Have got some pictures of the family gathering for the 45th wedding anniversary of Andrew Sr. and Anna Piszczor in 1953 (damn, that's a long time ago now that I think of it).

Eventually I'm going to organize all this in a better format but you can still see them in the photo section of the of the Piszczor web site.