CategoriesIrishWay Back Wednesday

Way Back Wednesday

This is as Irish as I can get today. I don’t have many pictures of my CORRIGAN ancestors before this time. This is the Thomas CORRIGAN family with his wife Emma Jane FIRMENICH (who is also part German and French.) My great-grandfather, Maurice CORRIGAN, is their oldest son. My guess is that this picture was taken sometime around 1913 in Ashland, Wisconsin since their last child, Sadie, was born in 1915 and Lenore looks pretty young. This is also close to the time when Thomas died since he had a stroke just as Emma Jane was giving birth to Sadie. Thomas’s grandfather, Michael CORRIGAN, came over to Canada from Ireland in about 1821.

CategoriesCorriganWay Back Wednesday

Way Back Wednesday

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This is a photo from my grandmother’s 8th Grade class in November 1939. My grandmother, Mary Jane CORRIGAN, is in the 3rd row from the left and 4th from the back. Her twin brother, my great-uncle, Tommy is also in the class. He is the boy the in the far bottom right corner, closest to the camera.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: January 31st – February 6th

February 1st

1849 – Born – Ignatz Peter SZULTA – Ignatz is my 3rd-great-grandfather on my father’s side. New evidence that I found may actually move his birth date to January 30th. Recently, I had found that Ignatz was born in what is now SulÄ™czyno Parish, Kartuzy County, Pomorskie, Poland. He married Nepomuncena SYLDATK in 1875 and immigrated to Milwaukee. He passed away on 25 May 1922 in Milwaukee and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery. Here is part of Ignatz’s birth record showing what looks like 30 Jan for his birth and 31 Jan as his christening.

February 4th

1903 – Born – Agnes Catherine BRAATZ – Agnes is my great-grandmother on my father’s side. She was born in Mellen, Ashland Co., Wisconsin to Frank & Margaret (STEARNS) BRAATZ. She married Maurice CORRIGAN in 1923 and had 5 children. I had the pleasure of knowing my great-grandmother, since she was alive for all of my childhood. She was my last great-grandparent to pass away when she died on 9 Apr 1998. She is buried with her husband at St. Agnes Cemetery in Ashland, Wisconsin.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: Nov 8th-14th

November 11

1630 – Born – Jean CUSSON-CALLIOU – Jean is my 10th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born at St. Marguerite-sur-Durclair, Rouen, Normandie, France. He married Marie FOUBERT in 1656.  He passed away on 8 Apr 1718 at St. Sulpice, Quebec, Canada.

1719 – Born – Josephte CHEVREFILS-BELISLE – Josephte is my 7th-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born at Montreal, Ile de Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She married Antoine LAFOND in 1750. She passed away on 13 Jun 1774 at Baie-du-Febvre, Yamaska, Quebec, Canada.

My younger brother, Joel, also calls November 11th his birthday. Happy 25th birthday!

November 12

1934 – Died – Ida SCHAVANDIE – Ida is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born on 6 Sep 1852 in Prussia. She married Peter MUHM in 1870 and had 3 daughters, including my ancestor Minnie MUHM. She passed away at Antigo, Langlade Co., Wisconsin and is buried there at Elmwood Cemetery.

November 14

1848 – Married – William CORRIGAN & Mary McCANN – William and Mary are my 3rd-great-grandparents on my father’s side. Both were born in Ireland in the 1820s (though stories also say William was born in New York) and immigrated with their families, settling in Ontario, Canada. They had 12 children, including my great-great-grandfather, Thomas CORRIGAN. William passed away first in 1876 and Mary in 1884. I assume they’re both buried in the Uptergrove, Ontario, Canada area.

CategoriesTell Me ThursdayWay Back Wednesday

Tell Me Thursday

I forgot to post yesterday, so I’ll just skip to the Thursday post.

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Click for larger

My grandmother, Mary Jane (Corrigan) ZALEWSKI with her siblings. Twin brother Tom, Mary Jane, older sister Shirley in the back. Younger siblings Pat and George in the front.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: Sept 6th – 12th

One day late. Oops. 3-day weekends confuse me.

September 6th

1852 – Born – Ida SCHAVANDIE – Ida is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born in Prussia. In March 1870, she married Peter MUHM in Palatine, New York. She passed away on 12 Nov 1934 at Antigo, Langlade Co., Wisconsin. She is buried there at Elmwood Cemetery.

September 7th

1857 – Married – Jean Baptiste LAURENT & Olivine Marie ST. LOUIS – Jean and Olivine are my 3rd-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. Jean was born in Belgium in 1825, while Olivine was born in Quebec, Canada in 1835. They married at Little Chute, Outagamie Co., Wisconsin and had 9 children including my ancestor, Mary Philomene LAURENT.

1859 – Died – Michael John CORRIGAN – Michael is my 4th-great-grandfather on my father’s side. He was born abotu 1791 in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He married Rosina NUGENT at the Killeeshil Parish in 1816. Then he immigrated to Canada/United States with his family in about 1823 finally settling in Mara Township, Brechin County, Ontario. An excerpt from the book “They Came to Mara”:

Members of the Michael Corrigan family were natives of County Tyrone. They were still residents of Ireland when Patrick was baptized at the age of two days in Killeeshil Parish in February, 1819. They emigrated to Canada circa 1823 where Michael initiated Upper Canada Land Petitions on behalf of himself and his young sons. Then they briefly removed to the United States, likely to New York where their son, Hugh, was born. It was said that William was born during their voyage to North America. In time, the Corrigan family settled on Brock Township, and apparently lived their throughout the 1830s. By the time of the 1852 census, Michael, Rosina and family resided in Mara on the West 1/2 of LOT 15 CON 7.

Michael passed away in 1859 in Mara and is presumably buried there.

September 8th

1891 – Married – Joseph DEBROUX & Mary Philomene LAURENT – Joseph and Mary are my great-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. Joseph was born abotu 1864 and Mary was born in 1891 in Wisconsin. They married at Langlade Co., Wisconsin and had 8 children including my great-grandfather, Leon Joseph DEBROUX.

September 10th

1723 – Died – Marguerite BROSSIER – Marguerite is my 9th-great-grandmother on my father’s side. She was born about 1653. She married Louis QUINET and had 4 children including my ancestor, Georges QUINET.

1784 – Born – Phillipus Jacobus Bernardus van PARIJS – Phillipus is my 5th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born at Watervliet, East Flanders, Belgium. He married Anna Theresia JUNIS in 1809. He passed away on 1 Sep 1832 at Schoondijke, Netherlands.

1979 – Died – Madora Martha Louise LAST – Madora is my great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born 14 May 1898 in Grafton, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin. In 1919 she married Arthur Frederick THIELKE. She passed away at Grafton and is buried there at St. Paul’s Cemetery.

September 11th

1846 – Born – Johanna KREBBEKX – Johanna is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born in Holland. She married Charles Ludovicus van PARIJS in 1870. After immigrating to Wisconsin in about 1874, she passed away on 9 Jul 1920 at Phlox, Langlade Co., Wisconsin.

September 12th

1709 – Died – Jeanne CERISIER – Jeanne is my 10th-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born about 1627 at Amboise, Tours, Touraine, Indre-et-Loire, France. She married Francois DUCLOS in 1665. She passed away at Batiscan, Champlain, Quebec, Canada.

CategoriesTell Me Thursday

Tell Me Thursday: Maurice and sisters

Wordless Wednesday
This is a photo of my great-grandfather, Maurice Corrigan, with three of his sisters. From left to right (as it is noted): Lenore, Clarice, Ethel and Sadie. It also looks like my grandfather, Richard Zalewski, in the back on the bench. I’m not sure what year this is, but it seems to be sometime in the 1950s.

CategoriesEthnicitySaturday Genealogy Fun

SNGF – Sweet 16

Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings came up with this fun post on Saturday. I thought I’d give it a try.

Here is your SNGF assignment for the evening (if you choose to accept it – this is not stump the genealogist or even Mission Impossible):

1) List your 16 great-great-grandparents in pedigree chart order. List their birth and death years and places.

2) Figure out the dominant ethnicity or nationality of each of them.

3) Calculate your ancestral ethnicity or nationality by adding them up for the 16 – 6.25% for each (obviously, this is approximate).

4) If you don’t know all 16 of your great-great-grandparents, then do it for the last full generation you have.

5) Write your own blog post, or make a comment on Facebook or in this post.

Some of this was tough due to the fact that a lot of my ancestors were born in either Prussia or Pomerania, which touched into both Germany and Poland, but I estimated as close as I could. Here are mine:

16. Frank J ZALEWSKI Sr. was born on 4 Sep 1858 in Prussia. Frank died on 8 Aug 1941 at the age of 82 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin. Anna A LINDNER and Frank J ZALEWSKI Sr. were married in Jan 1885 in Poznan Province, South Prussia (Poland). [POLISH]

17. Anna A LINDNER was born on 27 Nov 1865 in Prussia. She died on 11 Apr 1939 at the age of 73 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin. [POLISH]

18. Joseph TROKA was born on 17 Nov 1871 in Poland/West Prussia. Joseph died due to being hit by a drunk driver on his way to church on 1 Jan 1962 at the age of 90 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin. Clara SZULTA and Joseph TROKA were married on 29 Jan 1894 in St. Hedwig, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin.  [POLISH]

19. Clara SZULTA was born on 6 Jan 1876 in Poland/West Prussia. Clara died on 19 Jul 1959 at the age of 83 in Oak Creek, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin. [POLISH]

20. Thomas J CORRIGAN was born on 3 Mar 1855 in Mara Township, Brechin, Ontario, Canada. He died of a stroke on 25 Jul 1915 at the age of 60 in Ashland, Ashland Co., Wisconsin. Emma Jane FIRMENICH and Thomas J CORRIGAN were married on 18 Apr 1892 in Sanborn, Ashland Co., Wisconsin. [IRISH]

21. Emma Jane FIRMENICH was born on 23 Jun 1873 in Wrightstown, Brown Co., Wisconsin. She died on 28 Apr 1941 at the age of 67 in Ashland, Ashland Co., Wisconsin. [GERMAN/FRENCH/UK]

22. Frank F BRAATZ Sr was born on 17 Apr 1867 in Germany. Frank died on 10 Jul 1948 at the age of 81 in Ashland, Ashland Co., Wisconsin. Margaret K STEARNS and Frank F BRAATZ Sr were married on 4 Jun 1891 in Bear Creek, Outagamie Co., Wisconsin. [GERMAN]

23. Margaret K STEARNS was born on 30 Aug 1866 in Württemberg, Germany. She died in 1943 at the age of 77 in Ashland, Ashland Co., Wisconsin. [GERMAN]

24. Johann THIELKE was born on 26 Oct 1843 in Schwerin, Mecklenburg, Germany. He died on 24 Apr 1927 at the age of 83 in Grafton, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin. Wilomene C “Minnie” RATHKE and Johann THIELKE were married on 21 Jun 1891 in Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin. [GERMAN]

25. Wilomene C “Minnie” RATHKE was born on 1 Sep 1857 in Pommerania, Prussia. Minnie died on 26 Jun 1929 at the age of 71 in Wisconsin. [POLISH/GERMAN]

26. Carl F H “Charles” LAST was born on 26 Sep 1851 in Doeringshagen, Pommerania. Charles died on 5 Jun 1926 at the age of 74 in Port Washington, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin. Augusta Johanna Wilkelumire LUEDTKE and Carl F H “Charles” LAST were married on 25 Feb 1883 in Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin. [POLISH (Doeringshagen is in current Poland)]

27. Augusta Johanna Wilkelumire LUEDTKE was born on 3 Jul 1863 in Storkow, Pommerania. She died on 14 Jul 1963 at the age of 100 in Grafton, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin. [POLISH (Storkow in is current Poland)]

28. Joseph DEBROUX was born in May 1865 in Grand Chute, Outagamie Co., Wisconsin. Joseph died in 1918 at the age of 53 in Wisconsin. Mary Philomene LAURENT and Joseph DEBROUX were married on 8 Sep 1891 in Langlade Co., Wisconsin. [BELGIAN]

29. Mary Philomene LAURENT was born in Dec 1865 in Little Chute, Outagamie Co., Wisconsin. She died on 18 Sep 1956 at the age of 90 in Wausau, Marathon Co., Wisconsin. [BELGIAN/FRENCH CANADIAN]

30. Pieter Franciscus VAN PARIJS was born on 21 Jan 1874 in IJzendijke, Zeeland, Netherlands. Pieter died on 22 Sep 1962 at the age of 88 in Kenosha, Kenosha Co., Wisconsin. He was also known as Peter Van Price. Minnie M MUHM and Pieter Franciscus VAN PARIJS were married on 17 Jan 1898 in Shawano Co., Wisconsin. [DUTCH]

31. Minnie M MUHM was born on 12 Jul 1879 in Norwood Township, Langlade Co., Wisconsin. Minnie died on 6 Jul 1959 at the age of 79 in Port Washington, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin. [GERMAN]

So, doing the math, that makes my ethnicity: Polish – 40.625%, German 30.1875%, Belgian 9.375%, Dutch 6.25%, French 6.25%, Irish 6.25%, Unknown UK Area (Scotland/England/Ireland) 2.0625%

Well, that comes to 101%, but it was a pretty random estimate so I’m glad it was even close to 100%. As far as I know, I have no English ancestry. One ancestor is listed as being from Ireland, Scotland and England in multiple census records, so it may be possible.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: August 2nd – 8th

Frank Zalewski, Sr
Frank Zalewski, Sr

Looks like the beginning of the week is a bit slow.

August 5th

1667 – Born – Louise DEGUITRE – Louise is my 8th-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born in Cogne, Aunis, France. She married Jacques Robidas dit MANSEAU in 1692. She passed away on 10 Aug 1732 in Baie-du-Febvre, Yamaska, Quebec, Canada.

1731 – Died – Francois ROUSSEL – Francois is my 9th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born about 1646 in St. Leonard, Beaumont le Roger, Normandie, France. He married Madeleine PEPIN in 1671. He passed away at Baie-du-Febvre, Yamaska, Quebec, Canada.

August 6th

1987 – Died – Margaret Lenore CORRIGAN – Margaret is my great-great-aunt on my father’s side. She was born 10 Jan 1912 at Ashland, Wisconsin to Thomas J CORRIGAN and Emma Jane FIRMENICH.

August 8th

1774 – Married – Joseph Robidas MANSEAU & Catherine LaFond MONGRAIN – Joseph and Catherine are my 6th-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. They were married at St. Antoine de la Baie-du-Febvre, Yamaska, Quebec, Canada. They had 11 children before Joseph passed away in 1776.

1941 -Died – Frank J ZALEWSKI, Sr – Frank was my great-great-grandfather on my father’s side. He was born 4 Sep 1858 in Prussia. He married Anna LINDNER in 1883 and immigrated to America in 1889. He worked as a City Laborer most of his life, mainly in the Parks department. He passed away in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is buried there at Holy Cross Cemetery.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: July 19th – 25th

Clara Szulta
Clara Szulta

July 19th

1959 – Died – Clara (SZULTA) TROKA – Clara is my great-great-grandmother on my father’s side. She was born 6 Jan 1876 in Poland and immigrated to Milwaukee with her parents in 1881. She married Joseph TROKA in 1894. She passed away in Milwaukee three years before her husband.

July 20th

1817 – Born – Charlotte (STRASSMAN) LAST – Charlotte is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born in Germany. She married Johann LAST in Germany before immigrating to Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. She passed away on 20 Apr 1900 in Grafton, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. She is buried at Union Cemetery in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

July 22nd

1845 – Died – Leonardus CRAYBECK – Leonardus is my 5th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born 25 Oct 1782 in Genk, Limburg, Belgium. He married Florentina Francisca KNUDDE in about 1812. He passed away at Hoofdplaat, Zeeland, Netherlands.

July 23rd

1737 – Died – Francois GRIGNAC – Francois is my 9th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born about 1657 in France. In 1688, he married Marie Anne Carignan DUCLOS. He passed away at Cap Sante, Port Neuf, Quebec, Canada.

July 25th

1634 – Married – Noel LANGLOIS and Francoise GRENIER – Noel and Francoise are my 11th-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. They were married at Quebec, Canada.

1915 – Died – Thomas J CORRIGAN – Thomas is my great-great-grandfather on my father’s side. He was born 3 Mar 1855 in Orillia, Ontario, Canada. He married my great-great-grandmother, his second wife, on 18 Apr 1892 in Sanborn, Ashland Co., Wisconsin. There is a story going around about the day Thomas died. The rumor is that when he was having a stroke, the doctor was riding by on his horse to deliver a baby. One of Thomas’ children ran out a started waving their arms at the doctor, but thinking it was just a friendly wave, he just waved back and kept on going. Who knows if this is true. What is true is that his wife, Emma Jane, was at the hospital getting ready to have their last child, Sadie, when Thomas died.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: July 12th – 18th

July 12th

1879 – Born – Minnie M (MUHM) VAN PRICE – Minnie is my great-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born in Wisconsin. She married Peter VAN PRICE in about 1895 and had 6 children, including my great-grandmother, Mildred (VAN PRICE) DEBROUX. She died on 6 Jul 1959 at Port Washington, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin and is buried at Union Cemetery.

July 13th

1627 – Married – Guillaume TRAHAN & Francoise CHARBONNEAU – Guillaume and Francoise are my 10th-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. They were married at St. Etienne, Chinon, France. They immigrated to Canada and passed away at Port Royal, Arcadia, Canada.

1720 – Born – Paulus VAN CRAYBECK – Paulus is my 7th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born at Genk, Limburg, Belgium. In about 1748, he married my 7th-great-grandmother, Maria TRUIJEN. He died 23 Sep 1781 at Genk.

1876 – Died – William “Curly Bill” CORRIGAN – William is my 3rd-great-grandfather on my father’s side. He was born either in New York or on the trip from Ireland. I’ve seen both. On 14 Nov 1848, he married Mary MCCANN. He passed away in Mara Township, Brenchin, Ontario, Canada.

July 14th

1963 – Died – Augusta (LUEDTKE) LAST – Augusta is my great-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born 3 Jul 1863 in Storkow, Pommerania, which located in the western part of today’s Poland. She married Carl LAST in 1883 and had 16 children. She died just 2 weeks after her 100th birthday in 1963.

July 15th

1610 – Born – Herman VAN CREIJBECK – Herman is my 10th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born in Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium. In 1632, he married Joanna PANSARS at St. Lambertus, Herck, Belgium. He passed away on 13 Dec 1649 at St. Lambertus.

July 16th

1810 – Born – Ephraim Gadiou dit ST. LOUIS – Ephraim is my 4th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born in Yamachiche, St. Maurice, Quebec, Canada. In 1831, he married Marie DesAnges MANSEAU. He later moved to Phlox, Langlade Co., Wisconsin where he passed away on 27 Mar 1892.

July 17th

1920 – Born – Irene (ZALEWSKI) LUTZENBERGER – Irene is my great aunt on my father’s side. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Joseph ZALEWSKI and Emily TROKA. She passed away in June 1996 and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee.

July 18th

1965 – Died – Frances (ZALEWSKI) CYBELA – Frances is my great-great-aunt on my father’s side. She was born 15 Apr 1895 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Frank ZALEWSKI and Anna LINDNER. She married Edwin CYBELA in 1916. She passed away in Milwaukee at the age of 70.