THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2012
**BREAKING NEWS!!!**
If you can call something that happened about 150 years ago that. :-D I just got information that there was at least one son and daughter that did not leave Poland/Germany! I have not verified this, but they are part of a family tree in German. The son's name is Jacob Laurentius Kondziela and the daughter's name is Susanna Kondziela. I have to get ready for work, so I cannot dig into this further today. I definitely will be over the weekend. I am going to try to contact these people who are "would be" distant relatives (in more ways than one)!
Click this link to check it out! Franz and Rosa Family Tree
Click this link to check it out! Franz and Rosa Family Tree
SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2012
A book mentioning Robert and a "bonus" book mentioning a couple of you! :-D
I found a book that mentions Robert. I know that it also mentions Ignatius. I don't know how much or who else is mentioned because the search function on Google Books didn't even pick up Ignatius, although he is supposed to be mentioned on P. 174.
Waumandee, Wisconsin, 1860-1960: An Affectionate Portrait by La Vern J. Rippley.
Perhaps it may be in the local libraries. I did find one online if anybody is interested in owning a copy. Click Here.
SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2012
Memories of Ignatz/Ignatius "Nick" Kondziela
I received the following information from Nick's Great Grandson, Bryan Sawyer.
"My Great Grandparents were Ignatius Nicholas Kondziela and Anastasia Catherine Bielecki. The family didn't like Ignatius being called "Iggy", so they began calling him Nick. I don't know where the name Stella came from for Anastasia, but she was always called that - even by her children.
I have sent you an invitation to view a photo album with what few photos I have of them. Other items are attached.
Nick and his brother August left Buffalo County for Bessemer, Michigan, where Nick was a miner and later operated an ice business and brewery with his brother. When Michigan went dry (I think 1917, in advance of National prohibition) the brewery closed. The ice business proved not to be enough to support two families, so Nick purchased a farm in Portage County, Wisconsin and set out to make his fortune as a potato farmer (1920). Potato growing had been a very lucrative business, but a few years later the crops were hit with a blight for several years. The farm was sold, and they moved to the village of Plover, raising their ever increasing family (13 born, 12 raised). In their declining years, they lived with a daughter and son-in-law near Milwaukee (most of their children migrated to the Milwaukee area for employment).
August remained in Bessemer, with the ice business, and operating a boarding house/hotel. In his retirement years he was a groundskeeper at the local cemetery. Information about his family can be found researching that area.
I was fairly young when Nick died, and I only remember him (as others do) sitting in a chair, smoking his cigar. Grandma Kondziela I remember much better as she would visit my Grandmother occasionally. Nick, apparently, was quite accomplished with the concertina."
Lawrence Konsella Family
This is Robert's brother Lawrence his family. Lawrence ended up taking the name Konsella with 2 Ls.
Bessemer Brewing Co.
Robert's Brother August had a Brewery for a while. I believe it did pretty good until Prohibition. This is a picture of one of his company's bottles.
I've got this picture in storage! Mom and Dad sat down with me one day when she came to the beauty salon and we sat in the dryer chairs and I wrote down everyones names on the back in order. Grandma was pregnant at the time.
ReplyDeleteNotice Grandpa's the only one smiling!! LOL
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of a test to see if I can post,,, Here is who I think they are, back row: Valentine, Olga, Romeo, middle row: Rose, Grandma Olga, Leo (Nick), Grandpa Robert, Lillian, Jennie on Grandma's lap and Joe on Grandpa's lap, Mary would by the gestating baby and August not thought of yet. I think I might be correct about the names but Lillian and Rose just a guess because I went by height and age. Any corrections?
ReplyDeleteI think August (Dad) was thought of, Grandma is pregnant.
ReplyDeleteNo I think she was pregnant with Mary, your dad is the youngest. Did you see the picture I posted of Olga and Jennie? It ended up on the main page, don't know how to move to the picture section, maybe Bev can do that.
DeletePicture was taken June 26, 1923, Olga's wedding day the same day the picture of Olga and Jennie picture was taken, I posted that picture and that is what was written on the back.
ReplyDeleteI forgot how many kids there were & I don't remember all of the names.
DeleteIf you go under the tab "look who's coming" all the siblings are listed and there are 10 with your dad being the youngest. by the way, that is a very nice picture of your mom and dad.
DeleteI am trying to post a picture of Grangma& Grandpa in front of an apple tree and you will see it as soon as I can post it.
ReplyDeleteHey, Bob, hang in there. I think you and I need a step-by-step about how to post. I'd like to see that picture. Maybe we can consult with Cousin Beverly, the expert on posting and maybe she will write step by step directions to post. I want te see that picture.
Delete