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....

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!

Draft Registration Records

These are records that are just recently being released and published for WWI and WWII. What's nice in researching is they provide some exact information that can not be gleaned from census records, such as the address, employer, and physical features. (Not that they are all correct as you can see if look closely and Andrew's record!)

They are being released in a piecemeal fashion and I have found four so far: Andrew Piszczor Sr., Louis (Ludwik) Piszczor Sr., Joseph (Josef) Basiorka and Anton Wolinski.

Check in the album to read them all and I will add more as I find them!

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.

Wedding Photos

Found a number of old wedding photos in the collection I have and started to scan them! If anyone might be able to identify some of the unmarked people in these I sure would appreciate it! You can see what I have on so far on the Wedding Photo page at the website!