Maps to make sense of things- Ancestors in 52 Weeks

This year's challenge is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and is run by Amy Johnson Crow.

Topic Info:
Week 39 is "Map It Out." (Fun fact: I can fold a highway map. It's a dying art.) Maps are *so* useful in our research. What discoveries have you made using a map? (Maybe you found that two ancestors were living closer to each other than you realized.) What types of maps have you used? Have you used a map to interest the non-genealogists in the family? Feel free to interpret this theme however you'd like!

Generally, maps are a tool and if used correctly they can highlight and give you understanding. Yes, sometimes you get surprises and you even learn things. In using them with genealogy, they can give you reasons and you can even learn things. For visual learners, they can understand more with a map than any amount of words you can give them. If you think about it, maps are a picture. And pictures are worth a 1,000 words or more...

Tracking where people lived
I used to be skeptical in using maps for my research. I admit it. I didn't know much about Poland except it was in Europe and near Russia. These tidbits I got from my paternal grandmother, Jean, when I was growing up. It gave me location, but I didn't really know where Poland or Russia were and unfortunately, school didn't really go into it.

One of the other areas my grandmother talked about was when she was a little girl she used to go swimming in the Bug and something Rivers which were near where they lived. She loved going swimming and it was better when her cousins went with her. By the smile in her eyes and voice, I could tell it was a cherished memory for a person in her 70s. Then came the memories of the (insert swearing here) Russians and/or Bolsheviks  for attacking, killing our family and taking away everything and the (insert swearing here) Germans from dropping things from the air and the Gestapo for taking and killing people. Yep, the other thoughts were sad with much more anger in the words. These stayed with me even though they weren't talked about.

When I started my family research, then I started with a map of Europe and learning where each country was. It's always better to start at the beginning so you can be more knowledgeable.

The European Continent Credit

Then I started with getting to know about Poland. It always came back to the same thing - The partitions of Poland and what year are you talking about? So when I started to track down where my grandmother Jean lived in Poland, I started with her memories and locations of the rivers for her swimming memory.

I finally found a probable area of the Bug River and Narew River as they intersect, and are near Russia especially once you look at the partitions of Poland. There is an area there called Wojtkowice Dady among a few others, but it looked like my grandmother's maiden name of Wojtkowski once you switch out the -ice for -ski endings as they did. However, it wasn't confirmed, so I moved on.

My later research uncovered a ship manifest (stating last residence was Malkina), and my grandmother's naturalization papers (listing where she was born as Ciechanowiec, where her mother was born as Malkini) and her parents names in Poland including some people who were around when she was born so they gave more information of location. When I received their naturalization papers it listed more of the same information.

Google Earth Image of Poland with yellow dots for grandmother's information, Red are Russian movements, White are Polish Movements and when my grandmother and great
grandmother left Poland for US. I used various newspapers, books, websites to get information. 

Using each of these, I was able to pinpoint where my grandmother grew up and it backed up my theory of the rivers I mentioned above.

Because I was able to locate this area, I now had the villages and Voivodeships (counties) where each of my great grandparents lived and were born. This lead me to their marriage certificate and to learn more about the area.

Tracking Historical Events
Maps are also useful for tracking historical events in the areas of ancestors. For example, using my paternal grandmother's information (listed above) I was able to prove/disprove one of the stories she told me growing up.

She told me there was a lot of fighting in the area where she was born right around the time they left Poland for the US. Then she added the ship they came over on was the last one out before they closed the ports because of the fighting and before Warsaw fell.


I thought this was an interesting story, and decided upon started reading "The Heart of Europe" by Norman Davies, it would be interesting to trace the battles around the time my grandmother and great grandmother went to the US in August 1920.

The date leaving Danzig on Aug 27? or 29? 1920 for my grandmother and great grandmother.

The date Arriving in New York Ellis Island for my grandmother and great grandmother in Sept 1920. 

That is what I did using Google Earth maps. I traced where they were according to the manifests (above) and naturalization documents (below) and then added the battles in the book to the map.

My grandmother's section of naturalization papers showing her and her parents names and where they lived in Poland Russia. 

My great grandmother's naturalization papers showing when and where she married, dates, and where she lived and her children were born. 

My great grandfather's naturalization papers showing when and where he was born, where he lives now and where his wife was born. 

I finally found when the Danzig port (according to the ship manifest they left from this port) reopened again after Warsaw fell. While it doesn't back up the claims of being the last vessel out, as they could have had everyone onboard and if the fighting got closer, they could have left earlier to get out of the way of being trapped. At most, they could have been the first vessel to leave based upon the newspaper article, but overall the story does match.

One of many newspaper articles report on the port of Danzig reopening. Credit as above.

It was interesting to see just how close the fighting was to them and could understand how upset my grandmother got. 

Tracking movements of people
When I was growing up, my mother would have us move about every 3-5 years. I wasn't sure if it was because she was used to it with my father being in the Navy and being moved around or if it were something else.

Then I found out about my maternal grandfather Louis being employed by the railway. I ordered in his Railway Retirement Board papers, and it looked all in code as you can see below. 

My grandfather's compensation/working record

My grandfather's compensation/working record

However, I searched for him in newspapers, and found he was moved around a lot because of his work with them. 

When I put them on a map and then found a map of stations on the railway, it started to make sense. 

My grandfather's movements using newspaper clippings and Google Earth. 

The Erie Railroad Map Credit

Also, I have traced other members of the family like my Uncle Louis, my great grandfather Adam (Jean's father), and my father's paternal line (in Germany) moved around the Rhineland area over many generations, if the family tree which was found filed in one of the villages offices where my great grandparents marriage entry and my grandfather's birth entry was found, was correct. 

Conclusion
I have learned you can teach a getting older dog new tricks...no wait. I should have said I have learned I should have tried to understand how I could use maps in my research instead of being so stubborn about it. This being said, it's (being stubborn) a family trait and while it can be good, it can also be evil. 

I'm usually the type of person, if things seem reasonable, then yep we'll give it a shot. However, for some reason with maps, I wasn't even open to giving them a shot...well, I've been well in truly proven wrong. 

Shock! Credit

Grandmother arrives at Ellis Island in 1920

My grandmother, Genowefa Wojtkowska, in later years known as Jean Schmitz, arrived in Ellis Island on September 19, 1920 with her mother, Maryanna Wojtkowska.

Ellis Island Ship Manifest arriving Ellis Island port New York page 2. Credit

This when they immigrated from Poland to the United States via the vessel "New Rochelle". They left Danzig on August 29, 1920. It took them 32 days of travel. 

New Rochelle renamed in 1920 in which my grandmother and great grandmother sailed upon. Credit1 and Credit2 

Ellis Island Ship Manifest leaving Danzig page 1. Credit

What did they need upon arrival at Ellis Island? 

The answer is simple - Not much. They had to list where their final destination was and if they could read and write. It was this simple. This was the process at Ellis Island.

Didn't they have to have a visa?

The signing in of the law in 1917. Credit

The answer is No. The 1917 Act implemented a literacy test that required immigrants over 16 years old to demonstrate basic reading comprehension in any language. This my great grandmother did (above) as you can see by the column if they can read yes/no.

The US did bring in a quota system in 1921 under the Emergency Quotas Act of 1921. This was only to limit the amount of people because the ports were so busy. A really good explanation is here with a video. 

In fact, visas were not required until 1924 when stricter visa laws came into effect under the Johnson-Reed Act. 

By this point, many of the people in the US today had ancestors who already went through this, and many other ports, to settle into the USA.

During 2016-2019's culture of "my ancestors came over legally" doesn't stand up because today there are so many more hurdles to jump through to get into the US, than back in even in 1926 when my grandfather arrived.

"there were no numerical limitations on immigration, no requirements to have an existing family or employment relationship with someone in the country, and no requirement to obtain a visa prior to arriving" - American Immigration Council

When my grandfather, Mathias Schmitz, in later years known as Mathew Schmitz, arrived in Ellis Island in April 1926, he did have to have a visa, which he did and it was noted on the ship manifest. 

My grandmother and great grandmother came over while their country was at war with Russia before the Iron Curtain fell. In fact, they could have even been classified as political refugees because of the fighting. 

However, today is the day we celebrate my grandmother and great grandmother getting their dry feet on US soil and completing their journey to the USA. 

Credit

I believe all my ancestor's who came to the USA, including the ones who enter in September 1920, wanted what was written on the Statue of Liberty as it was the first beautiful, magical thing (my grandmother's words) they saw and believed in. Even today when I see videos, like below, it sends tingles down my spine.

I believe the "The New Colossus" says it all.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Taken from The New Colossus page.

What is written and bolted to the Statue. Credit

I first saw these words when I was a child, and he ones bolded above are the most important and what we understand growing up. I consider these words very important next to the pledge of allegiance. 

There can be laws put into place, but everyone still needs to treat each other with respect due to a living person. There has to be a way to work through problems and not just send the people back to places where they might end up dead for trying to get a better life. They worked through problems like these back 100 years ago, and did it with respect and consideration. 

We're all adults and it's time adults started treating others like this as this is what is sorely lacking in today's society. I think everyone is forgetting one of the basic things they were taught growing up. 

Cousins to grow up with and new ones - Ancestors in 52 Weeks

This year's challenge is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and is run by Amy Johnson Crow.

Topic Info:
Cousins can make our family history more interesting. Whether it's the family stories you share with your close cousins at holiday gatherings or the research you share with the more distant cousins, you shouldn't overlook the impact that cousins make. This week, write something about one of these important people. Maybe it's a favorite memory with a cousin or a research breakthrough you made thanks to one.

My family hasn't been the closest even with my siblings. At times, we were close, but at others we weren't. Then when you add in cousins, it's even more distant. 

Paternal Cousins
Growing up, I knew about my Uncle John's sons. When I went over to see my grandmother each summer, she would talk about them and what great things they were doing. However, me seeing them? It wasn't very often for me. I would go over, say hi to them and might spend a few hours every few years with them. Then as I grew older, my grandmother would take me over to my uncle's house, but the whole family was on a family summer trip, and my grandmother would watch their house for them, so I never got to see them, but I could walk around the house a tiny bit. 

The last time I had seen them was when my uncle passed away in 2002. I had finally found out where my uncle lived as no one ever gave me his address or phone number until our visit about 6 months before he passed away. The one thing I didn't do was get a picture with him and my aunt, which saddens me. 

July 2002 at Uncle John's funeral in New York. Back row: Barbara & Helmut Schmitz from Germany. Cousin John, Aunt Jenny, Cousin Joseph, my father Matt, my stepmother Louise, my husband Brett, my sister Debbie. Front Row: Me, my sister in law Kathy, my brother Charlie, and my nephew CJ. Credit: H. Schmitz

However, we have retained contact since then by being friends on Facebook and I now exchange christmas cards with my aunt and cousins. Its something small, but at least the contact is still there. 

Maternal Cousins
I didn't know any of these growing up. I've stated in past posts where my mother just wouldn't talk about her side. However, once I started to research her side of the family tree, and I started to let her know about it, she let out a few names, told me a few stories, which most I found to be untrue, and she then just clammed up. Now with her dementia, it's not a place I can go unless she starts to talk about things, but usually she doesn't. 

About three or so years ago, I was able to find an aunt of my mother's had died. I left a notice on the obituary and was contacted by her daughter. This opened up getting to know this side of the family. She passed along my information to MY cousin Jason and we started to get to know each other. 

January 2019 in New York. my uncle Jimmy, my cousin Jenine, my cousin Jason, and me. Credit. B. Fitzgerald

In fact, this past January, I was able to finally meet my uncle and two of my cousins. Since then, we've been contacting each other and exchanging information. 

Last week, I asked my cousin Jason, if I should try and find out more about our Uncle Louis and see if his widow, and possibly children, would like to get to know us. We both agreed it was worth trying. 

Me writing a letter. Credit J. Fitzgerald

Last night I sat down and wrote up a letter, with a stamp and everything, worth a few paragraphs of who I was and if they wanted to get to know each other. Today I'll put it in the mail and see what I get in response. I'm hoping I'll find we have even more cousins out there.

According to my research, I believe our Uncle Louis had a daughter, Deb, and a son, Louis. However, I'm not sure if this is completely correct (my gut says it is) but I think it is. We do know, because of family pictures, Uncle Louis had a son which he named after him - Louis. 

I'm hoping our aunt, and possibly their children, would like to at least connect to get to know each other. I'm of the thought process that you won't know unless you ask. I'm now asking this part of the family if they would like to reconnect and its up to them if they want to or not. 

But I hope they do!

Keeping my fingers crossed. Credit

The mistake that wasn't - Ancestors in 52 Weeks

This year's challenge is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and is run by Amy Johnson Crow.

Topic Info:
Mistakes. We all make them. (We are human, after all.) What's a mistake that an ancestor made? What's a mistake that you've had to correct in your research? What was something that you were sure was a mistake in the records, but turned out to be right?

Background
My mother would never talk about her family. In fact, growing up when I asked, which wasn't often, I was told they were all dead and to leave it at that. It was the look sad look on her face which caused me not to push. Eventually, I left to get married and my mother opened up to me about her cousin Jimmy, which led me to my grandfather, Louis Paul. Then I kept looking, and with help, I found my great grandfather, Jules and eventually his father Aloysius Hyppolitus Gauquie. I was able to go back generations. 

Due to finding Jules' birth information, I knew Aloysius was drafted into the Belgium military and his parents weren't married until after his birth - once his father returned from serving. 

The military document showing Aloysius being drafted. Credit

Where I can, I try and put the "flesh" on the ancestors bones. I try and understand what made them do what they did, what could have been their thought processes, by finding out as much as I can about them. This was my next step to find out about Aloysius. 

I thought Aloysius had stayed in Belgium. This was my assumption. Imagine by shock when I was trying to get a picture of Jules by asking for his passport application and found Jules', Annie (his wife) and Aloysius, all had naturalization paperwork with the registrar in a nearby town where they lived called Newburgh. 

The registrar asked me if I knew of Aloysius as Jules mentions him and he seemed like a relative. I told her he was actually Jules' father and I would like a copy of anything they could give me. I found Aloysius had filed for naturalization and Jules thought he obtained it after his father became a citizen. However, he was wrong because he was termed an adult when his father became a citizen which is why he didn't become one for years afterward. 

The email I received regarding documents on Jules, Aloysius and Annie Gauquie. Credit: J. Fitzgerald

Who is/was Aloysius Hyppolitus Gauquie?
This is the question which kept going around in my mind. According to the documents I found, I had him being born in Eessen, Belgium and as he was 51 years old, it put him being born about 1847. He worked in a Creamery, and lives in Chester, NY. He's been in the US for 14 years, which put him in the US about 1884. He had at least one son, but there was no mention of his wife, Florentina, which was in Jules' birth entry documents. 

Aloyse Gauquie's Intention to become a citizen paperwork. This shows his birth and other details. Credit: Orange County NY registrar.

I went looking for census and couldn't find him. I could find Jules and could but more of his life story together but Aloysius, who was now going by the name Aloyse, was a ghost. 

Once again I went looking for other Gauquie names in the Orange County area. It's a very unique name for the area as you can imagine. In fact, I was even told my family couldn't have come from Belgium because the name isn't a Belgium one - its French. I was shocked as I had documents, but whatever. 

Where did he go?
Anyhow, I could find others and I found a Charles Gauquie. Upon looking at all the information I had on him, I found one census, in 1910, which had 3 Charles' living in the same family home. One was the head of household, aged 35, one labelled son, aged 6 months, and finally one labelled father, aged 64. The father's age put him about the same age as Aloyse, but his names Charles? 

The 1910 US Census showing the Gauquie Families living next to each other Jules' family is the first 3 lines then Charles Gauquie is the next grouping including last line of Charles Gauquie, father, aged 64. Credit

I didn't know what was going on, but started a file on this new Charles Gauquie and collected information. one of the bits of information was a will. Charles Gauquie passed away December 5, 1917 at St. Luke's Hospital, Newburgh, NY. Within these pages was a list of children. The children listed are: Charles, Fharille Holloway, and Jules. 

Charles Gauquie's will listing children about 1/2 down and Jules mentioned last sentence. Credit 

So not only is this person Jules' father, but Jules now has 2 siblings and I can start to connect the family up. 

What's also shocking is Aloyse/Charles makes it known he wants Jules, my great grandfather, to get nothing. 

Written within the will, his son Jules purposely omitted from getting anything. Credit

A Mistake? Or a Mixup?
After I found this out I then started to go through all the information I had on the Charles' in the family and separate it out. I was thinking this was a mistake and was another relative. I thought I had them all mixed and really messed up. 

I found there was a Charles who was registered in the poorhouse in 1916. Once again all the information matches what I had - age, Chester area, Belgium, amount of time in US, occupation, and parents name. This locks in this Charles WAS Aloyse. 

I asked my cousins who know a bit about the family's history about it. No one knew anything about him. I kept looking here and there because there was something I was missing, but I had huge chunks of time missing from him. 

New information comes to light - highlights my mistake that wasn't
One day I was checking my email and I had an email from a person looking for information on Gauquie's in Chester, NY. When I asked the person for more information, I got a shock. 

He said he has information of a Charles Gauquie was his 2x great grandfather. He was married to a Margaret and and a few children one of which was George Charles Gauquie, but he grew up knowing the name of Joseph, and with the last name of Wittman/Whittman. He asked if I knew anything of this and I didn't. I told him I believed him, due to gaps in my research, but we needed to see if we could join the information in paperwork. 

He said his father actually had to legally change his name to what he wanted it to be because according to the Social Security Administration he was still George Charles and couldn't get his pension until his name was changed legally. I asked for paperwork and he didn't have any. It took me awhile, but I eventually found it listed in the newspapers. 

Newspaper notice of change of name. Credit

The final notice of change of name becoming legal. Credit

This is how close Goshen and Chester NY are to one another. Credit: Google Earth

I finally found the 1910 census which linked a Charles, same year of birth, in the Goshen, NY area, which is close to Chester, NY.

He was married with a Margaret and lists children which just happened to match up with some of the ones I had found information for. There was a Charles, Margaret, Joseph, Caroline (suspect she was known as Carrie) and the other kids were known as S child or step child.

Cropped 1910 US Census showing the Gauquie family with step family. Credit

I was finally able to find Aloyse's son Charles' Obituary when he died in February 1952. He lists his father as Charles and born in Belgium. This puts even more weight with him being the same person.

Son Charles' obituary listing a Charles Gauquie as his father. Credit

Caroline(Carrie) and Ella's headstone. Credit

Filling in the Timeline
I sat down and made up a timeline using both of his names. George Charles, it was known he was called Joseph though, was born in 1899, which was right around the time my timeline stops. My new cousin gave me George's brother's name Frank John Gauquie born in 1905 which was still in the time where I had nothing. 

Then there's Ella.

In my earlier research I had come across a headstone for an Ella Gauquie who was born in 1902 and died 1907. The interesting part? Ella was buried with another girl called Carrie Wittman which would put them step sisters. This is on your right.

First I put everything I had down for Aloyius, or Aloyse. Then I started to add everything I had about the Charles person I suspected. Finally adding the census and my new cousin (the person had contacted me) information in. 

The evidence was stacking up with the connections. It's really uncanny on how the information fit like a key into its lock. The results are outstanding. Everything fits. See below.

Finally, what is really interesting is when Charles made out his will, he still did not mention Margaret, nor any of their children, in it. We do not know why he he had done this. I don't think it's a question anyone will ever be able to answer.

The Final Part
Sometimes things just fall into your lap and this is what happened next. My husband and I had done our DNA tests mainly to see what they'd come back with and where it would be tracked back to.

Imagine my shock when I checked my DNA matches, and the person who emailed me - my new cousin - comes up as a relation in the DNA list. It puts him down as a 3rd cousin which is about right but so many times removed.

Cousin Thomas' DNA against my DNA. Taken from my Family Tree DNA account.

I still cannot find why or where he changed his name officially. I'm now of the belief he changed it to make it sound more American. I'm not sure why he decided to do this when he did. I think he may have left Margaret, and all of their children and step children, because he might have fallen into bad times and couldn't support them. I think he left them, in hope people would be more likely to help her and the kids than with him being with her.

If you put all the information above together, I believe there is no doubt Aloysius Hyppolitus Gauquie is also Charles Gauquie there is just no paperwork to confirm it.

The family at work - Ancestors in 52 Weeks

This year's challenge is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and is run by Amy Johnson Crow.

Topic Info:
With next Monday being Labor Day in the US, it seems a good time to think about how our ancestors earned a living. Share what you have found about an ancestor's occupation.

History of Labor Day
There's been some conjecture on when Labor Day started. Some say it was September 1882 and May 1882 among some others. However Oregon was the first to actually claim the holiday in 1887. By 1894, thirty US States claimed the holiday. In 1894, it was adopted as a federal holiday for everyone. However, not everyone would get the day. In the 1930's unions told workers to strike if they didn't get the day off and most employers give people the day off. Credit I say most because not everyone (police, hotels, hospitals, etc) gets the day off.

Ancestors
But what did our ancestors due for jobs? For ease sake, I'm going to keep this in direct line ancestors with not siblings or else I might be retired before I'm through as I have thousands of people in my database.

Please be advised I have many more names for more direct line ancestors, but have no occupations for them. I have certain documents obtained from various resources including US Naturalization Services, Belgium Archives, Polish Archives, and German Archives - just to name a few!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

18th century lasted from January 1, 1701 to December 31, 1800 & 19th century began on January 1, 1801, and ended on December 31, 1900.

Relation to me	Name	Occupation
4x great grandmother	Francisca Cecilia De Lye Vandendriessche	Stay at home wife/mother
5x great grandfather	Jacobus Josephus Gauquie	farmer, garde champetre (rural policeman)
5x great grandmother	Carolina Francisca Noppe Gauquie	Stay at home mother/wife
4x great grandfather	Joannes Jacobus Gauquie	Workman, innkeeper
4x great grandmother	Joanna Theresia Vandendriessche Gauquie	Stay at home wife/mother, Seamstress
4x great grandfather	Pierre/Pieter Jacobus Vandendriessche	Publican

What Jacobus Josephus Gauquie would have probably worn while working in the late 1700s & early 1800s. Credit

19th century began on January 1, 1801, and ended on December 31, 1900 & 20th century was a century that began on January 1, 1901 and ended on December 31, 2000.

These are between all of the wars and battles going on during this time.

Relation to me	Name	Occupation
2x great grandfather	Feliks Wojtkowski	farmer/small estate owner
3x great grandmother	Catharina Victoria Kesteman Gauquie	Baker, store owner
3x great grandfather	Desiderius/Didder Franciscus Gauquie	Baker, store owner
2x great grandmother	Florentina Van Rompaye	Servant, stay at home wife/mother
2x great grandmother	Hansine Emeline Nielsdatter Larsen	Stay at home wife/mother
3x great grandmother	Maren Nielsdatter	retired/widow
2x great grandmother	Anna Zakrzewski Wojtkowski	Stay at home wife/mother, small mill owner
2x great grandfather	Petr/Piotr Slepwronski	Farmer/small estate owner
2x great grandmother	Florentina/Florentyna Murawski Slepwronski	Stay at home wife/mother, farmer/small estate owner
2x great grandfather	Aloysius/Charles Hyppolitus Gauquie	Belgium militia rifleman, cabaretier (tells stories, sings, dances), creamery worker, farm laborer, dairy farm laborer
Great grandmother	Walerja/Valie Rutkowski Ostrzycki	Stay at home wife/mother, midwife, housekeeper
Great grandfather	Stanislaw/Stanley Ostrzycki	Laborer, glass house laborer, laborer glass factory, orderly glass factory, laborer corning glass works (I do have more information on ancestors but not on occupations)
Great grandfather	Joannes Julius/Jules Gauquie	Firtman(spelling?) Stationary, Dairy Farmer, various committees, held office Town of Blooming Grove (superintendent of highways), land owner
Great grandmother	Anna/Annie Larsen	Servant, stay at home wife/mother, farm laborer/owner
Great grandfather	Johann Schmitz	Farmer (I do have further information on the line but not what the occupations were)
Great grandmother	Marja/Mary Slepwronski Wojtkowski	Stay at home wife/mother, grocery retail
Great grandfather	Adam Wojtkowski	Farmer/small estate owner, butcher/grocery retail
Great grandmother	Bronislawa/Bernice Ostrzycki Jagodzinski/Barry	Stay at home wife/mother
Great grandfather	Apolonius/Leo Jagodzinski/Barry	Labor, mill worker, laborer, roller worker, shovel worker laborer, restaurant/bar & grill worker, chef for Hotel Lexington NYC
Great grandmother	Anna Klepperich Schmitz	Stay at home wife/mother
2x great grandfather	Paul Larsen	Carpenter

Cousin Louis Van Rompaye's business he started in Chester, NY. It's still running today over 100 years later. Credit

Mary & Adam Wojtowski (with unidentified friend) at their butcher & grocer store in NJ. Credit: J. Fitzgerald

Cousin Prosper Verhaeghe near his bakery in Belgium after WW2. Credit: J. Driesens

What Mary and Adam Wojtkowski and their daughter Jean house they would have lived in Poland. Credit A.Ostrzycki

20th century was a century that began on January 1, 1901 and ended on December 31, 2000 & 21st century  began on January 1, 2001, and will end on December 31, 2100.

Relation to me	Name	Occupation
Father	Matthew G. Schmitz	US Navy Retired, painter, engineer/mechanic, anything Navy
Mother	Joanna Gauquie Schmitz	Stay at home wife/mother, factory worker
Grandfather	Mathias/Mathew Schmitz	Joiner, Carpenter, Grocers Retail, Painter at hospital, Army (WW2), Bar & Restaurant owner
Grandfather	Louis Peter Gauquie	Chicken farm worker, farm labor, railroad bridge painter, railway bridgeman/bridge worker, railroad riveter, plumber, clean/repair furnaces and chimneys, maintenance worker West Point
Grandmother	Genevieve/Jean Wojtkowski Schmitz	Stay at home wife/mother, factory worker, Grocers Retail, Bar & Restaurant owner, Rooming house owner
Grandmother	Janet Dorothy Jagodzinski/Barry Gauquie	Stay at home wife/mother, sewed underwear in factory, made hats/bags in various colors business owner

Matthew G Schmitz (front) taking a break while on the Atlantic in 1955. Credit. M Schmitz

Jo Ann Gauquie Schmitz prior to her going to work in the Bag Shop in Walden in 1996. Credit. J. Fitzgerald

Louis P. Gauquie while working for the railroad Erie Railroad in estimated 1930s to 1940. Credit J. Gauquie

I do have more names and connections, but I don't have occupations to go with them....something else to see if I can find!

Needing to examine this information further... Credit