Brief synopsis of this biography is being placed on line for researchers of this family.
Webmasters notes will appear in Italics.
My most
beloved and dear children-
First four paragraphs are dedication and
introduction. See original
Then bio continues as follows:
My father Ignatius Janicki married the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Kaczmarek, about the year of 1864 or 1865 in Poland, in a small village called ?rzezno, West Prussia, than under the German Government. See page 2 of original on file for more information on experiences in Poland.
Continuing on same page....
My father, Ignatius Janicki, was born July 27, 1839 in Poland, his parents died when he was a small boy, raised by relatives and friends. He had 4 sisters; Rose, Pauline, Mary and Frances, and one brother Michael, he married Miss Kubera. Rose marrid Mr.Szmelter, Pauline married Mr. Gackowski, then never came to America. Frances married John Rogaczewski, they had no family, came to the U.S. and lived in Chicago for a number of years, then moved to Plattsmouth, Nebraska. There Frances died June 2, 1930, her husband John died about 1945. Mary married Joseph Geirszewski, he was a veteran of three wars, the Danish, Austria, and German-France, in the year of 1870. See page 3 for more on Mary and Joseph and their children. He died April 25, 1931 at 90 years of age and she preceded him in death at age 69, on Sept 22, 1912.
Continue page 3
(Bruno is referring to his parents and his
siblings in the following paragraph)
Then the first child was born a
girl Walerka she died an infant. Next I was born, then a boy Stanislaw, he died
an infant. Then a gril Mary. When she was about months old, dad decided to
leave Poland for the U.S.A.. So they sold what household goods they had and
packed up the most necessary belongings and in March 1873 we boarded train for
Hamburg then across the ocean 10 days on a steamer to a port in New York.
Now sailing across the Atlantic Ocean all was good and smooth, as Dad never mentioned it at anytime about rough sea. See bottom of page 3 for more about voyage and US arrival.
Page 4 continues as follows:
After we were released from the boat, and went through the inspection, we boarded a train for Elmira, NY. This was a very nice city, and Dad got a job carrying bricks in a hod up ladder, as there were no elevators. The city was building a State Penitentiary.
There was another boy born Frank, and I started to go to school. I thank God to this day that my good parents, God bless their souls, migrated to the good old USA.
Although, on the other hand, the folks were very much discontented in regard to their native mother tongue and unable to speak the English language. No Polish church, only a family Jastroszewski, and they were looking forward to move to some Polish community.
Finally Dad got word from some friends from the northern part of Indiana, saying that they have a Polish church, and several Polish families. Hearing this put a new spirit in the hearts. So right there and then father and mother made up their mind to bid Elmira goodbye and journey to the north west. Yes, again in the name of God, packed up their few belongings and the 3 kids, boarded a train on the Lakeshore and Michigan Southern R.R.. Now called the New York Central R.R.. No Pullman reservation, no steam het. Old coal stove in each car; no electrify, Kerosene lamps, wooden or cane seats, if you please. Nevertheless, all that comfort or discomfort was small matter as we all were riding on contented thoughts. We left the state of New York in Nov. 1876 and arrived at this small village of Otis, Indiana, then it was called Salem Crossing. Later on between the years 1861 and 1865 it was renamed and called Otis. This small village was orinated in 1853. [sic] There is also a railroad running north and south through Otis, called Chicago Indianapolis and Louisville or the Monon R.R. left Michigan City, Indiana July 3, 1854 ........
Other siblings to Bruno were Julia, Peter, Anna, Steve and Antoinette. This biography continues up until the time of Bruno R. Janicki Sr. death in 1948. If you would like to see this biography in it entirety, please note the above references at the top of the page as to where it may be located at.
Webmaster D. West.