Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Out of Place

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

Topic:
Did you ever find an ancestor in an unexpected place? I recently discovered that my 3rd-great-grandmother didn't die in the county where I found her in every census. Instead, I found her living 4 counties away from there -- in the county where I currently live. She's even buried here. (I'm still trying to figure out why.) Maybe you found an ancestor in a record you didn't expect (like finding a member of a pacifist religion serving in the Civil War). Or maybe there's an ancestor who always seemed "out of place" with the rest of the family.

I have a few ancestor's which could probably fit this selection. One is my great grandparents and the other would probably be my mother's maternal side moving to Newburgh, NY. For each of these, there are questions around them, but I think I'll stick with my great grandparents.

I've mentioned before my maternal great grandparents - Jules and Anne Gauquie. Well Jules' formal name was Joannes Julius Van Rompaye Gauquie. He was born to an unwed mother, this is where the Van Rompaye comes from, but when his father found out, he married Jules' mother. I think there were many Joannes, as it was a common name among the region, which is why he was always called Jules, or that's what I've put together over time.

What area are you questioning? 
According to the topic, did I ever find them in an unexpected place, is the question to be answered. Boy, did I ever find them in a weird area. I'll explain below.

After I found my grandfather's last name, I did searches on the name and started to find family on things like the census of 1910, 1920, 1900. This lead me to Belgium, but I had a hard time to where to get started. I found a system like Ancestry, but it was for Europe called Geneanet. I posted what information I had there in hopes to find my great grandfather's family. After I had help finding Jules' birth entry in Belgium, I could then narrow down when he came to the US.

I contacted the county clerk in New York where they were apart of. I asked them if they had Jules or Annie's passport applications as I was looking for information about them. Also, it would be great to see if the applications had pictures so I could see what they looked like, but this was a bonus.

Soon after I received information on them both and she asked me if I knew an Aloyis Gauquie. This left me stunned because according to the birth entry this was Jules' father! I answered back stating he was Jules' father. Within hours I had an email with copies of all (Jules, Annie, and Aloyis!) their Naturalization Paperwork.  Most of it confirmed the information I had already from my research.

Part of Aloys Gauquie Naturalization paperwork. Credit: Orange County, NY Register 

What shocked me is when it stated Annie and Jules' got married in St. Paul's Minnesota from Annie's Declaration of Intention paperwork. As far as I knew, we had NO relatives there.

Page 1 of Annie Gauquie's Petition for Naturalization listing where she was married. Credit: Orange County, NY Register

Why St. Paul's Minnesota?
This is the question I went searching for many times. This and why did they leave their countries to come to the USA. Both of these questions have answers which are pure speculation on my part.

Where St Paul MN and NY are on a map. Credit for map: Google Earth

But come on this is the 1890s and this was no small trip. If you went straight without stopping from one circle to the other its 982 miles. For back then, this is a huge amount of area to travel and expensive.

Here's some history of Minnesota. France had come to this area in the 17th century and Europeans came here in the 19th century driving out the Indians.  Minnesota Territory was named in 1849 and became the 32nd U.S. state on May 11, 1858 (credit). So for Jules and Annie to be married there in 1896, it would have still been pretty young part of the country.

Robert Street Bridge in St Paul, MN Credit: LOC

You can see just how small and how less populated it was in this 1896 picture from the Library of Congress.

It was researching the Homestead Act in 1862 facilitated land claims by settlers which started me thinking about why they went there. Could it be they wanted to claim land there? But it could have been the railroad industry, led by the Northern Pacific Railway and Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad, advertised the many opportunities in the state and worked to get immigrants to settle in Minnesota (credit).

I could see Annie travelling there if she thought she could get work either on a farm or on the railway. However, would Jules? I know from the census I found, Jules was a farmer which put my thinking back to the Homestead Act and farming.

Then I found Jules had cousins in Minnesota named Jerome or Jerry/Gerry and Camiel Gauquie. I did some researching for the areas of Lake Benton, Ivanhoe, and Vallers area and its still about 150 miles which is a huge trip for Jules. However, maybe he came for a visit and ended up getting married on the way back.

Jules and Annie's marriage license and certificate in 1896. 

As I know by their marriage certificate I found, they did get married and stayed married in New York until Annie passes away in 1931 from pneumonia at St. Luke's Hospital, Newburgh, New York. 

Annie and Jules' resting spot in Blooming Grove, NY during my visit January 2019

I really want to know how they met and what attracted them to the other along with how they chose to go to St Paul, MN.

What we do know what is written inside Jules' wedding ring my cousin found a few years ago.

Jules' wedding ring my cousin Teri found. We had thought it lost forever.

It looks like it says 8 K gold. There are 2 suggestions for the rest.

A Loves JG (Annie loves Jules Gauquie) or it could say AL to JG which is Annie Larson to Jules Gauquie.

What do you think it says?

Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Love

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

The topic:

Valentine's Day is this week, but that doesn't mean you have to focus on romantic love. Besides the ancestral love stories, you could share an ancestor who you love to research. Are there any "love" names in the family tree, like Lovie or Valentine? (Come to think of it, "Amy" is based in Latin meaning "beloved"... )

How did some of my ancestors/family meet and marry?

My Parents
This is interesting time for the topic to come up as about a month ago, I was talking to my father and asked the one question I had wondered.

"How did you and mom meet?" I asked sitting on the couch behind his recliner.

My stepmother sounded shocked at the question and then made a comment about this being good and sat down interested. This wasn't expected and I didn't even realize she was in the room as I later thought it could have went pretty badly if she took offense to the question. However, the reaction was different - she was interested enough to sit down in another chair and turned to my father interested.

My mother and father in January 1956 just after they married. My uncle (boy), Grandpa Charlie and Grandmother are in the picture. Taken in Newburgh, NY. Copyright J. Fitzgerald

I was told he saw my mother when she came into the movie theater he was working at as an usher. I know they got married in October 1955, so it had to be prior to this.

The Groom Marriage index for 1955. The entry is the last one. Credit

I did go looking to see what theaters were around Newburgh, NY around that time and two of the bigger ones was the Broadway Theatre and the Ritz Theatre. It could have been either of these.

Credit

Credit

A few days later, my Uncle Jimmy, told me my mother used to take him to the movie theater and pay. They would go in and sit down. Without him knowing, she would get up and leave. He would turn to say something to her and she wouldn't be there. He would look around and see them in the back of the theater together.

Later, he filled it in a bit more and said they started to see each other when he started serving with the US Navy. Once he had gone back for his second lot of training, they had broken up. However, when he came back on leave, one of their friends, who was dating a friend of Mom's, went and picked her up and my father, who they knew was interested in her, was in the car. They had started to date again and it resulted in marriage, 5 kids, and a divorce.

My mother's paternal grandparents - Jules and Annie Gauquie

This one requires a bit more of imagination.

Jules arrives in the US in the mid 1890s with his father and siblings. After a bit of time, he decides to go to Minnesota to visit his father's cousin (or it could have been another relative but due to age and where the ancestor Camille Gauquie was born (Elverdinge in 1881 below) I would say he went to visit him and his family.

Credit Belgium archives. This shows Camille's birth information in Belgium.

Anyway, along the way he met up with Annie. They applied for a marriage on April 25, 1896. They married on April 28, 1896 by a Justice of the Peace in Ramsey, Minnesota.

Credit: FamilySearch, Minnesota, County Marriages, 1860-1949, image 005193152
Jules and Annie's wedding certificate

They traveled all the way back to New York and settled into Blooming Grove where they had a huge family and farm. They both died in the area as well.

My father's parents - Jean and Mattias 'Matthew' Schmitz

My grandparents both lived in NYC. I know from my grandmother she was a cigarette girl in the speakeasy's. She was very popular because she was so small so when the cops did the raids, she would hide in the bottom of the telephone booth. When they disappeared, she was back in business.

1930s cigarette girl in a speakeasy

I do know my grandfather liked his alcohol, so I'm once again using my imagination on this one. I believe my grandmother was working and my grandfather was in having a drink and they met. I do have to say that it must have been really quick because the middle of 1940 when the US Census was done, she lived at home. By the time January 1934 happened, she was getting married at the courthouse and living in NYC. March 1934 was the second wedding in a church in NYC.

Copyright: FamilySearch. This shows the January marriage.

Copyright: FamilySearch. This shows the March marriage.

My father arrived in August 1934. I'm doing the math and finding it must have been a really quick 9 months.

Credit. You can see the Schmitz ... male entry. This is my father. 

They ended up having 2 sons, owning a few houses and businesses, and then going their own ways around the late 1940s to early 1950s.

My brother's marriage - Charles and Kathy Schmitz
My brother's friend, Glenn, introduced them. However, my brother was dating someone else at that time. Soon after, my brother went over to Kathy's house. He asked her out to a Christmas party, which she accepted.

They married in 1985, had a child, and bought a house.

Their marriage photo in 1985. Credit Kathy Schmitz.

They were married 33 1/2 years before his death in January 2019.

My marriage - Jo Ann and Brett Fitzgerald
This is one for the updated ages.

I was attending State University at New York campus' and had many different email pen pals. It was cheap and easy way to make friends and meet others. One of these people was Brett.

He set up a newsgroup looking for someone to email with. I found it and emailed him using the information he provided. We emailed, called, and talked on the phone in 1995. He visited the states in September that same year and we met and spent a lot of time together. He went to do some business stuff but ended up back in New York before he flew home.

Brett and I in October 1995. Credit J. Fitzgerald

We got engaged in November 1995.

Thirteen months later, I came to Australia to visit as we were talking about where we wanted to live. I needed to meet everyone and see if I could live here. I went back in January 1997.

Brett and I before I head back to the US in 1997. Copyright J. Fitzgerald

I flew out in early May 1997 to live in Australia. We married on May 24, 1997 in Croydon, Victoria after having 3 fires and a wedding.

Brett and I at our wedding with Celebrant Beverly Prosser in May 1997. Credit J. Fizgerald

Yes, its a long story...

Jo Ann and Brett make the Leader newspaper weeks until the wedding. Copyright Leader Newspaper.

We currently live in Narre Warren, Victoria with one dog, Buddy. We built our house, but found difficulty in having children.

Currently we've been married 22 years but been together 24 years.

February 2, 2019 Brett and I at Sam's Point in New York. Copyright J. Fitzgerald

Everyone can have a marriage but it depends on how much effort you put into it.

Credit

A-Z Blogging Challenge - The letter X is for Xanadu!

In 2017, there was a challenge. I heard about it from jillballau blog and more information can be found out about it on the A-Z Blogging Challenge (which was at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/) page itself. However, as I was testing links I found the A-Z Blogging Challenge link is no longer working *frown*

Many people had done this challenge in April 2017, but I’m a rebel and do things when I have time, so I’ll do mine now. I’ve been working on it over many days, and was hoping to get it all done before posting BUT it’s taking me a lot longer than I expected. I’ll do a few posts now and work on the rest. 

I know I have about ½ of this challenge done in draft format, so not too bad. 

What can I say – I’m an original. So, here I go…

The letter X is for Xanadu! 

I figured for this post, I'd do something different. 

Xanadu I know of because of the movie with Olivia Newton-John in it. I liked it because of the catchy songs and story. 

I love this movie. Credit

I thought it was a made up word until I looked it up. 

Xanadu is defined as an idealized place of great or idyllic magnificence and beauty.

Then I got to thinking... did any of my ancestors decide to settle in a place because it was their Xanadu?

It certainly wouldn't have been talked about, but it is possible. 

I think my great grandfather Jules Gauquie, who traveled to Minnesota, might have thought when he saw the area around Chester, New York which was later named Blooming Grove, could have seemed to him to be just this as they bought a huge section of land, and back then there was a LOT of land they could have bought. 

Page 1 of Jules and Annie's Deed on the farm. Credit

Page 1 of Jules and Annie's Deed on the farm. Credit

Then you have my grandfather Mathias Schmitz. After World War 2, he went up to see a military buddy and ended up buying a bar and grill from him. Could the area around there remind him of home and of a great place and that's why he decide to buy the bar and grill? 

Credit

One this is for sure, we will never know, but it is an interesting concept to ponder with our ancestors. 

Then for ourselves: Is where you're currently living your own personal Xanadu? 

I wonder how much time was used in making decisions? Credit

I know we love our house and where it sits, but the neighborhood around us has change so drastically, I'm not sure if I like it anymore or not. 

I do know up until a certain president said he could walk down 5th Avenue waving a gun and not get caught, I was feeling pretty safe in the US. 

Credit

Since this statement? No so much to the point where we're waiting until people get sane again before visiting. 

A-Z Blogging Challenge - The letter Q is for Quakers! Gauquie in Minnisota

In 2017, there was a challenge. I heard about it from jillballau blog and more information can be found out about it on the A-Z Blogging Challenge (which was at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/) page itself. However, as I was testing links I found the A-Z Blogging Challenge link is no longer working *frown*

Many people had done this challenge in April 2017, but I’m a rebel and do things when I have time, so I’ll do mine now. I’ve been working on it over many days, and was hoping to get it all done before posting BUT it’s taking me a lot longer than I expected. I’ll do a few posts now and work on the rest. 

I know I have about ½ of this challenge done in draft format, so not too bad.  J

What can I say – I’m an original. So, here I go…

The letter Q is for Quakers! Gauquie in Minnesota

My mother once told me how my grandmother, who married into the Gauquie family, was on a farm alone near Warsaw after her husband and baby died. Quakers came by and found her alone and took her with them and she ended up in New York because of it. 

I have to admit when I heard this story it seemed plausible because I didn't know anything about Quakers. This was one of the first stories I researched when I first started genealogy. I learned so much about them and where they were at certain points. One of these was they were in Poland but not where my mother said her mother was. Further, her mother would never had been able to living on farm land by herself in Poland because it would have gotten taken from her because she was an unmarried woman. That's how things worked over in Poland then. 

This is one reason why you must check out stories. You will find some are correct, like I have, and others, like above, are not correct at all. 

Anyhow, I stopped looking for the Quaker story. 

I was researching the Minnesota Gauquie's because we knew there was a link to them but we didn't know how. This was on my maternal grandfather's paternal side. 

The Chart (above) I've put together based upon research papers I've found over the years including 2018. I haven't been able to find the direct link from my ancestors to theirs. However, I do know the place Camiel was born was where my ancestors once lived. 

I had names and places and started to link everyone up. Wouldn't you know the research I did for the story above, actually helped? 

I found one of the Gauquie's named Jerome, married Lula Yoder and had children. This is demonstrated by the above chart. They were Quakers or so I've read. Talk about interesting. They were huge into religion and their church from what I've read. 

Look at at the side of the article for credit

Credit for this is in the above article as it was in the same newspaper on same date.

Credit is at the top of the newspaper article above

I find this interesting someone could marry someone else and take their religion. I know my part of the family were all very strict Roman Catholics, so its more than probable Jerome Sr was born into the Roman Catholic faith, which is why I say he had to convert or take up his wife's religion as stated in his obituary above. True, I still don't care about a persons religion, but it impressed me someone would do that for someone they love. 

Credit

A-Z Blogging Challenge -The letter M is for Malkinia Gora, Poland & Minnesota!

In 2017, there was a challenge. I heard about it from jillballau blog and more information can be found out about it on the A-Z Blogging Challenge (which was at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/) page itself. However, as I was testing links I found the A-Z Blogging Challenge link is no longer working *frown*

Many people had done this challenge in April 2017, but I’m a rebel and do things when I have time, so I’ll do mine now. I’ve been working on it over many days, and was hoping to get it all done before posting BUT it’s taking me a lot longer than I expected. I’ll do a few posts now and work on the rest. 

I know I have about ½ of this challenge done in draft format, so not too bad.  

What can I say – I’m an original. So, here I go…

The letter M is for Malkinia Gora, Poland & Minnesota!

Malkinia Gora, Poland

This is the last place of residence of my grandmother and great grandmother in Poland. I know this because on their ship manifest they've put it down. 

The area described above from Google Earth

1920 Ship Manifest from Ellis Island website. You can clearly see Malkin (which is the area of Poland I was talking about) and New Jeresy. 

Also, I can further say they were in this area because my great grandmother's sister was married in the area just before my grandmother and great grandmother left Poland for good. 

My paternal great aunt's marriage certificate in 1919. 

This was not far from where my grandmother was born and my great grandparents were born, married and lived together before leaving for the US. 

They left Malkinia Gora and walked/train/caught wagon rides to Danzig and left from there. With the way things were during this time, they had very little food, due to World War 1 just ending, and the Russians making their way towards Warsaw in fighting all around them. I can only imagine what it was like to get from where they were up to the port. 

This Google Earth image shows where the fighting was during the time my grandmother and great grandmother were trying to leave Poland before Warsaw fell.

St Paul, Minnesota

This is where my maternal great grandparents married in the late 1890s. 

What makes this so interesting, is no one in the family picked it up until I was able to get first my great grandfather's immigration paperwork. Then when I was given my great grandparents and 2x great grandfather's immigration paperwork it was written in there. 

Taken from Annie Gauquie's naturalization paperwork I got from NY Orange County Registrar. Shows where they got married.

I asked my cousins about it and no one knew. 

Then I went in search of the wedding certificate itself. It took some time but eventually I was able to find it. 

My great grandparent's wedding certificate from Minnesota. Taken from FamilySearch.org Minnesota, County marriages area. 

Just after I did find it, my cousin in New York, posted a picture. It was of my great grandfather's wedding ring someone found in a couch which everyone thought was lost. Only for years later the couch was moved and the ring was found. 

Picture from Cousin Teri of our great grandfather's wedding right from our great grandmother.

What was even more touching was what was said to be inscribed on it.  

For all the doubt I had about my great grandfather, at least at one point it sounds like my great grandmother did love him. 

A-Z Blogging Challenge - The letter D is for Denmark!

In 2017 there was a challenge. I heard about it from jillballau blog and more information can be found out about it on the A-Z Blogging Challenge (which was at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/) page itself. However, as I was testing links I found the A-Z Blogging Challenge link is no longer working *frown*

Many people had done this challenge in April, but I’m a rebel and do things when I have time, so I’ll do mine now. I’ve been working on it over many days, and was hoping to get it all done before posting BUT it’s taking me a lot longer than I expected. I’ll do a few posts now and work on the rest. I know I have about ½ of this challenge done in draft format, so not too bad.  J

What can I say – I’m an original. So, here I go…

The letter D is for Denmark!

My mother’s grandmother, Annie Larsen, came from Alrup,or Aarup, Denmark. I’m still trying to research this bit of family history.

You can see where it is on this map along with how far away it is from Stockholm.
Credit

I do know when she was a child whom she lived with her parents, siblings, and her grandmother. Within ten years, she and her brother were servants on a farm in Alrup.

The red lined box above is what I believe is my great grandmother Annie/Ana Larsen.
Credit - www,danishfamilysearch.com

She set off to come to the US from Denmark to Southampton, England. Then in October 24, 1892 she arrived in the US. Somehow on April 25, 1896 she had met and married Jules Gauquie in St Paul Minnesota.

My great grandparent's marriage certificate in 1896 in Minnesota.
Credit: Familysearch
(Minnesota, County Marriages, 1860-1949 database with images - Image 270)

The came back to New York where Jules first rented, then mortgaged before becoming an owner of a dairy farm. They both worked the farm while raising their children. 

Part of the land deed of Jules and Annie.
Credit: Familysearch.org

They had one child die in 1911 at 5 ½ years old by drowning on one of the lakes. Then one of their daughters, Mary came down with polio with the epidemic that happened around this time.

Many people don't realize women also worked the lands and helped with animals.
1917 30th Jan - Mrs Gauquie Cow Milking Accident - Middletown Daily Times

By 1924, Annie’s father, Paul Larsen, was deceased and this was written on her naturalized paperwork for US citizenship.

Annie's Naturalization for the US in 1924.
Credit: Orange County Register, Goshen NY

In 1933, Annie dies due to pneumonia. The story is her daughters were worried about it being so cold and her not having a coat when she worked outside. They went and bought her a coat, but only got to wear it once or twice before she came down sick and was put into the St Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh where she died.

Annie's headstone at St Mary's Church, Blooming Grove, NY
Credit Find a Grave

In Deep with the Book of Me - Dream Trip

This seems like an interesting topic for those those of us who do Genealogy -

Background: This prompt was inspired by a blog post written in September 2014 by Jennifer Shoer who blogs at The Scrappy Genealogist. I wasn't the only one inspired because +Tessa Keough & the team at the Legacy Virtual Users Group Community at Google + hosted a hangout in October 2014 and you can see that recording here.

Topic: You are going to plan your dream trip. Where do you want to go and why?
Genealogical connections, revisit because of happy memories, or perhaps you just feel a connection to somewhere else? What do you want to do when you get there?

The trip can be as long or as short as you would like it to be. Forget about the constraints that you might feel and be aware of. This is an opportunity to dream and perhaps sow the seed for a future adventure.

My Genealogy Dream Trip

What's funny is my husband and I have been talking about going back to the land of our ancestors. We've been talking about it for probably a good 3 or 4 years now, because we're starting to find information on exactly where our ancestors were.

My starting point would be to go back to the United States. However, it would be to parts I've never really spent time in.

New Jersey
This would be my starting point. If my father wanted to come along, I would be more than willing for him to accompany me. We would start at the old addresses I had of my paternal side:

• 1920 address: 49 7th Avenue, Hudson, New Jersey(great grandfather)
• Sept 1920 address: 25 Silver Street, Bayonne (great grandparents and grandmother)
• 1930 address: 103 11th Street, West Linden (great grandfather)
• 1937-1942  address: 108 W 15th Street, West Linden  (great grandfather & business)
• 1943 address: 200 Jefferson Ave, Linden, (grandparents)
• 1943 address: 1814 Clinton Street, Linden (great grandfather)
• March 1943 address:  1907 S Wood Ave, Linden (Distant cousin of grandmother)
• March 1943 address: 1907 S Wood Ave, Linden (Cousin Czeslaw of Great grandfather)
• March 1943 address: 666 Broadway Bayonne (Cousin Vincent of Great grandfather)
• October 1920 address: MJ Donohoe School (known now as #4 school), Linden, NJ
• November 1922 address: #2 school, Linden, NJ (grandmother)
• 1939 address: 816 Henry Street, East Linden  (grandmother)
• Bayway Cemetary, North Linden, NJ (Great grandparents)

New York

• 1934 address: 433 East 72 St, NYC (grandfather)
• 1934 address: 399 East 78th St, NYC (grandmother)
• 1934 address: St Monica's Church, 405 East, 79th St, Manhattan (grandparents married)
• I would also have my father take me to the places he remembers. He has mentioned in the past the old store my great grandfather had and its still a store today in New Jersey. 
• He mentioned a German bar my grandfather often visited as well in Linden.
• I would also visit the New Jersey Archives to see if they had any local information on my great grandparent's business as it was very well thought of. I would look up my great grandfather's obituary as well. Lastly, in the late 1930's my grandmother was involved in a very bad car and train accident and my grandmother almost died. 
• Lastly, I would have my nieces, with their children, meet me in New York City to go to the Statue of Liberty. I would then tell them all the story of my grandmother and getting to New York.  I would follow this by them meeting my father as they didn't know him growing up. 

The next stop on my dream trip would be to Pennsylvania. My oldest sister, Theresa, has already said she wants to come along with us on this one. This visit would be for my maternal grandmother's side - the Ostrzyci and Jagodzinski side.

Pennsylvania (Ostrzyci's)

• 1910 address: 7 Stewards Row West Carson Street, Allegheny, PA - (Felix Brother of Bernice)
• St Adelberts Cemetery, Allegheny, PA (Felix buried)
• 1915-1976 address: 1202 (Lower) Crest Avenue, Charleroi (2x great grandparents lived most of their lives and died, Kurpieski's lived (Laura sister of Bernice, Josephine sister of Bernice)
• Calvary Cemetery, Charleroi  (where my 2x grandparents and other cousins/aunts/uncles are buried, Kurpieski's)
• Charleroi Cemetery - Vicki/Valeria Woncheck (Grand Niece of Bernice, Frank, Stanley Jr Brothers of Bernice)
• Christ Lutheran Church of Charleroi (Dorthoy Ostrzycki Johnson - Bernice's niece)
• St Mary's Anglican Church, Charleroi (Vicki/Valeria attended)
• 819 Gallowfield Ave, Charleroi (Vicki Carl J Spallino Funeral Home)
• Charleroi-Moessen Hospital (Where Bernice's brother in law died)
• Polish Ladies Auxiliary of Chareroi - Laura Kurpieski a member
• 1918 address: 205 Fever East Pittsburgh (Adam Ostrzycki)
• 1933 address: 369 Hayes Ave, Washington, PA (Adam)
• 1930 address: 939 McKean Ave, Washington, PA (Steve)
• 1940 address: 1223 Crest Ave, Charleroi (Steve)
• 1970 address:  Calvary Bible Church of North Charleroi & choir (Steve - left for Tennessee-ministry-then Alabama)
• 1976: St. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, Charleroi (Josephine)
• Prior to 1962 Address: 16 Perry Lane, Pittsburgh, PA (Josephine Bernice's sister)
• Need to look up Corning Glass Works in Charleroi (2x great grandfather)

(Jagodzinski's)

• Saint Catherine's Cemetery, Leechburgh, PA (Alfred - great uncle)
• St. Martha's Roman Catholic Church, Leechburgh (Alfred's daughter married)
• 1962 Address: Rd 1, Vandergrift (Alfred's address)
• Leechburgh High School (Alfred's children attended)
• 1917 address: Cemetary ?, Leechburgh (great grandfather)
• West Leechburgh Steel Co, West Leechburgh, PA (great grandfather)
• Visit to Leechburgh (Bridget/Bernice lived)
• Visit to Pittsburgh - Stella (sisters to Bernice)
• St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Oakmont, PA (Valma  Dunn - Bernice's sister)
• Vandergrift, PA - (Apolonius aka Juggs - Mom's cousin lived/died here)
• Thomas M. Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, 930 Center Ave, Pittsburgh (Mom's great aunt had Valma Dunn had her arrangements done)
• 1948-1983 Wean United (Janet's brother Jug or Appolonius worked)
• 1943 Leechburgh High school (Janet's brother Jug or Appolonius graduated)
• St Gertrude Roman Catholic Church in Vandergrift (Janet's brother Jug or Appolonius chruch)
• Vandergrift VFW (Janet's brother Jug or Appolonius member)
• Armstrong Conty Sports Hall of Fame (Janet's brother Jug or Appolonius plaque)
• St. Gertrude Cemetery Vandergrift (Janet's brother Jug or Appolonius buried)
• Need to visit the Charleroi, Vandergrift, Leechburgh, Pittsburgh genealogy/history area for references Charleroi needs to be searched for Laura in Charleroi Mail newspaper for local politics.

I will also want to check cemeteries near Newburgh, NY for my great grandmother Bernice, great Aunt Geneieve, maternal grandfather and great aunt Florance, and St Mary Church and Cemetery in Salisbury Mills, NY.

I would also meet up or  have a huge picnic to meet any of my cousins in one of the nearby parks in Orange County, NY. as I haven't met many.

St. Paul Minnesota

Europe

I would then take my time and go through the places listed in my great grandparents and grandparent's documents I found. These are below.

Poland
My paternal side comes from these areas of Poland:

 

My maternal side comes from these areas of Poland:

 

Germany
 My paternal side comes from these areas of Germany:

Denmark
 My maternal side comes from these areas of Denmark:

Belgium
My maternal side comes from these areas of Belgium:

My Husband's dream trip would be to Ireland (whole thing), Germany, and places along France/Belgium border for his genealogy.

I think I need to win the lottery. *grin*