2025 – Page 2 – It's All About Family

Jacob Ingram and His Family

It was a little startling back in January of 2020 to realize the man and family I thought of as my mother’s father and his paternal line, was not correct.

I’ve written about my grandfather, Jacob Engram, Jr., but I thought I’d do some more research and put together a timeline of the whole family. It is going to be long!

Jacob Ingram/Engram

My great grandfather was Jacob Sebastian Ingram. He was born, according to his death certificate on July 7, 1859 in Padew Naraodowa which is a village in Mielec County in south-eastern Poland. At the time of his birth it was in Galicia which was part of Austria due to all the dividing up of Poland.

His birth year ranges from 1859 to 1862. The 1862 dates are reflected on the Ellis Island manifest and census records, so I continue to search a variety of dates for a definitive birth year. Unfortunately the years prior to 1863 are not part of the Geneteka collection. <sigh>.

Even his parents are a mystery. His father’s name is consistently “Sebastian”, however his marriage license lists his mother as Louise (maiden name) Burghardt and his death certificate as Katherine Burghardt. Geneteka records list only Sebastian Ingram and Elzbieta Burghardt in a search. I “know” them because they are the parents of my great-grandfather Ludwig Ingram. Recent information I found said he had a brother John, a brother Frantz (sp), and a sister Juliana.

Jacob left Europe at 24 years old on May 30, 1886 via Hamburg Germany and arrived in New York on June 14th. He traveled in Steerage (“zwischendeck”) aboard the Rhaetia. Records don’t indicate where he was going but wherever he went, he’d be looking for a job as a “schmied” or blacksmith.

At the time of his arrival, Castle Garden, or what we know as Castle Clinton National Monument was the main immigration station for the Port of New York. I was there in June of 2025, and wandered through wondering if any of my ancestors experienced walking through these doors.

Seven years later, on July 23, 1893, Jacob married Katherine Duy. He was 31 years old and she was 28.

*marriage license Jacob and Katherine 1893*

Katherine Duy Ingram/Engram

Katherine was born on August 9, 1965 in Padew as well. Katherine was the 6th born to Johann Jacob Duy and Maria Teresa (maiden name) Duy. According to the 1910 Federal census, she arrived in the United States in 1893 when she was 28 years old. A quick look at a census record for her sister, Barbara, born in 1869, shows she immigrated in 1893, so it could be possible they came together. But that would mean she arrived in the US and almost immediately married Jacob. The 1915 New York State census lists her arrival year as 1887, when she was 22. Another question mark!

Family stories say she had a “withered” arm. The few photos of her don’t show both arms so it’s not known which one or how damaged it was.

Other family members who immigrated included her parents Johann and Theresa and Philip born in 1875 who immigrated with them in 1904. On arrival, they moved to West Springfield Massachusetts. Wilhelm (b. 1867) immigrated and lived in Greenwich Connecticut. Barbara, mentioned above, immigrated in 1893 and lived in Astoria New York. Margaretha (b. 1872) immigrated and lived in South Hadley Massachusetts. One son, Jacob (b. 1858) remained in Austria.

Engram Children Births

More than nine months, but less than a year later, Jacob and Katherine’s first child, a daughter, Barbara, was born on April 27, 1894. Barbara was known as Theresa or Tess and the only indication her name was Barbara is this birth record. Her death certificate says Theresa B.

*Birth record for Barbara (Theresa) Ingram*

14 months later, on July 11, 1895, Katherine gave birth to Jacob Jr. This is the first time I see the spelling of their last name to be ENGRAM and that’s what it remained moving forward.

13 months later on August 19, 1896, Katherine gives birth to her second son, Louis.

Another year, another baby! Second daughter Katherine is born on March 2, 1898. Jacob and Katherine have four children under the age of 4. Whew! Notice these last 2 birth records do not have a first name – maybe they were still deciding.

Dare I say it? Another daughter, Elizabeth was born on November 1, 1899. I don’t have a copy of her birth record, but I trust the family member who has the information in her family tree. This is Jacob and Katherine’s fifth child and 3rd daughter.

On April 19, 1900, Louis died from Acute Meningitis at 3 years and 9 months old. This left Jacob Jr and three sisters.

In 1901, daughter Louise is born. Her name is either a tribute to Louis or to Jacob’s mother Louise (if that was her name!).

Memories written by Jacob and Katherine’s daughter Katherine in 1980, mention a brother who died in infancy. The gap between Louise and Hannah would likely be when it happened but there is not record found to confirm the birth or death.

After a space of five years, the last daughter Hannah is born on July 9, 1906.

Where They Lived 1893-1916

When Jacob and Katherine got married, Jacob was living at 306 W. 69th Street in New York and Katherine was living at 233 W. 80th Street.

1893-1894: After they were married, they continued to live at 306 W. 69th Street and Jacob was still working as a blacksmith. They were living here when Barbara was born.

Per google, the Upper West Side of New York City was a growing, but not yet completely developed, residential neighborhood. 306 West 69th Street and 233 West 80th Street would have been a walk-up tenement or a brownstone rowhouse, likely housing recent immigrants and working-class families who were moving to the area from more crowded parts of the city.

1895: They are now living in Westchester and he is a farmer. You’ll see Westchester was a town in Westchester County New York. In 1895 it was transferred to the City and County of New York, in 1898, it and other areas formed the Borough of the Bronx, and finally in January 1914, the Bronx was split off from New York County and it became Bronx County. This will the area where Jacob continues to farm.

1896-1900: They are living at Ferris Lane but it alternatives between simply Westchester and Union Port, New York City. Union Port appears to have been a village or neighborhood of Westchester. I found a video that talks about the lost villages of the Bronx and took a screen shot when I saw Ferris. Since he is a gardener, perhaps Ferris is the area where he worked and lived.

1906: They are now living on Williamsbridge Road in Westchester, New York City.

My initial thoughts of this area were they must be very rural but research shows me that all of the small towns in the Bronx were rapidly filling up with New Yorkers moving out of the city looking for a plot of their own.

1910: The federal census shows they are living in the Bronx Borough, part of New York City. Wickham Avenue to Astor Estate is the street listing. AI says, “In 1910, the area of the Bronx between Wickham Avenue and the former Astor Estate was rapidly developing from a semi-rural landscape into a residential neighborhood. Jacob, 48, is listed as a Gardener in the farm industry and “working on own account”. Katherine, 44, and the children “Tessie 16, Jacob 14, Kate 12, Elizabeth 10, Louise 8, and Hanna 3” are all at home and I assume attending school.

1915: The state census lists the family at Pelham Parkway in the Bronx County. Jacob the father (54), and Jacob the son (19) were farming. Katherine the mother (49), “Thresia” (21), and Katherine 17I did house work, and Elizabeth (15), Louise (13), and Hannah (9) were in school.

You can see Pelham Parkway as they would have known it on the right, and the present day Pelham Parkway.

During this time period, Katherine’s parents, Johann and Theresa Duy would come and visit. They lived in Longmeadow Massachusetts, but they had Katherine, Barbara, and William in the Connecticut/New York area. The following story comes from their daughter Katherine’s 1980 written memories to her sister Theresa’s (born Barbara) daughter Irene:
My mother’s mother and father (my grandparents) and Uncle Philip were the last members to come to America. I remember my mother telling us how terrible the ocean voyage was and they almost died. And I also remember how my mother longed to see her parents and grieved she would never see them again. They used to come and stay with us for periods at a time and when they left to go back to their eldest daughter’s in Longmeadow Massachusetts…they would cling to each other and it was almost impossible to tear them apart. And they always grieved for the brother and sister who remained in Austria. The family bond was very strong.

Unfortunately, life with Jacob was not always pleasant as he was an alcoholic. Stories passed down mention Katherine leaving Jacob a few times. She would travel to her brother William’s home in Greenwich Connecticut. While away, she would take in laundry. She returned each time because she was pregnant.

October 27, 1916, Katherine Duy Engram passed away after a two year battle with breast cancer. She left behind Jacob and seven children ranging from 22 to 10.

In daughter Katherine’s 1980 memories, she shared this with her niece Irene. Katherine was 18 when her mother died:
”It will be 64 years on the 27th of October 1980 since my mother passed away. She was very, very sick with cancer for 2 years before she died. I stayed on the farm and kept house for the family for 2 years and because of unbearable, alcoholic conditions, we left our father. Your mother (Theresa) was either in nursing training or already doing nursing duty during that time. She always wanted to be a nurse.
I know my mother would be very proud if she came back today and saw the family she created, but I am sure she watched over us and prayed for us and still does. From time to time I wake up thinking of her and recall the bitter, hard struggle she had and can’t go back to sleep for wishing I could take her in my arms and hold her close. Children never know the sacrifices their mother’s make for them. Your heritage is a beautiful one Irene.”

After Katherine died, Jacob Jr. enlisted for World War I and the girls all moved to New York in the care of Theresa. In my next post, I’ll pick up from here.

Gouesnou US Memorial

Marge Donroe Bellafronto’s father, Alfred (Fred) Arthur Donroe, was born in New Haven Connecticut, November 9, 1916. He met and married Dora Barbaresi on September 16, 1940.

Marge was born two years later on September 25, 1942.

Alfred enlisted in the Army in July 1943 in New Haven and he headed overseas in October of that year.

The following is a narrative called “Alfred’s War” from one of his family members attached to another family tree:

“After training in Northern Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, the 2nd Infantry Division crossed the channel to land on Omaha Beach on D plus 1, 7 June 1944, near St. Laurent-sur-Mer. Attacking across the Aure River, the Division liberated Trévières, 10 June, and proceeded to assault and secure Hill 192 which was repelled the key enemy strongpoint on the road to Saint-Lô. After three weeks of fortifying the position and by order of Commanding General Walter M. Robertson the order was given to take HILL 192. On 11 July under Command of Col. Ralph W.Zwicker 38th INF with the 9th and the 23rd by his side the battle started at 5:45 am. Using an artillery concept used in World War I (Rolling Thunder) which was the only time during World War II it was used and after 25,000 rounds of HE/WP the hill was taken. The Division went on the defensive until the 26th. July. After exploiting the Saint-Lo breakout, the 2nd Division then advanced across the (Vire) to take (Tinhebray) on 15 August 1944. The Division then raced toward (Brest/France), the heavily defended port fortress which happened to be a major port for German U-Boats. After 39 days of fighting the Battle was won, and was the first place the Army Air Corps used Bunker busting bombs. On August 25th 1944 Private Alfred A Donroe was killed in action.”

You can read more about the Assault on Brest here.

Marge was one month shy of her second birthday when her father died.

Dora married Fred’s brother Albert in 1947 and they had two sons. Marge married my first cousin Mal Bellafronto in 1964.

*Marge Donroe Bellafronto with husband Mal, in-laws Judy and Mal, and my sister Gail (1987)*

Fast forward to July 31st, I received a message through Ancestry from a French genealogist who was looking for the family of soldiers who died in combat during WW2 in Gouesnou France in the summer of 1944. He contacted me because Albert Donroe is listed in my family tree.

“Every year the City of Gouesnou honors the hero soldiers and civilian victims, because here in Gouesnou, we consider that it is our duty to remember the past for the sake of history and transmission, particularly to the youngest generation.”

The city has decided to create a permanent monument to the soldiers and victims with the inauguration of the US Memorial planned for November 2026.

I sent a message to another ancestry member who has a Donroe Family Tree (not sure of the relationship), and he had also been contacted and was able to provide the genealogist with an even closer family member.

It’s good to know that these soldiers continue to be remembered for their heroism during World War II and that this city is preserving the information for future generations.

Walter John Bonk

Walter Bonk (aka Bak or Bunk) was the 13th born and 8th living child of Carolina Straub. His father was John Bonk (Bak), whom she married in 1888 after the death of her first husband Joseph Posluszny in 1887. Carolina gave birth to a baby girl in 1899 who died at birth. Walter was born in Dzikowiec in the Galicia region of Poland on August 29, 1903 when Carolina was 48 years old.

Walter was a month shy of four years old when he made the trip to the United States with his mother, father, and half sister Elizabeth. The Passenger List indicates that his father had traveled to the United States in the past in 1901 and 1906 to Perth Amboy possibly to work and get things settled for them all to come over.

*Walter standing on right in front of mother Carolina late 1907 his father is standing 4th from left*

In 1910, John, Carolina, and Walter are living at 23a Parker Street in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Although Elizabeth would have been only 14, she is not listed as living with them. Perhaps she was working as a live in maid somewhere. During this time period, Walter was attending school and could speak English.

The next time I find Walter, he is 17 years old in the 1920 United States Federal Census. The family has moved to Wallingford Connecticut and his parents owned 30 Geneva Avenue. They are joined by his half-sister Elizabeth, her husband Joseph Łaçź, their two young sons, his half-cousin John Posluchny (spelled phonetically in the census!), and a border, John Ivaninski. It was a full house! The two boarders work at the hardware factory, his father works as a press dropper at the silverware factory, Joseph a packer there, and Walter at age 17, is no longer attending school and is an electrician at the factory.

Only two years later, Walter, Caroline, and John Bonk were now living at 24 East Street in Wallingford. This was one minute walk from the location of the market owned by Elizabeth and her husband Joseph Łaçź and it is a short walk from Clifton Street where his half brother Konrad (my grandfather) and his family will move to in 1925. He is 19 years old.

In March of 1925, his mother Caroline passes away of stomach cancer.

On June 23, 1925, Walter married Beatrice Kasprzycki of New Haven. She was born on September 13, 1905, the fourth of nine children of John Kasprzycki and Anna Tarnowski of Meriden. The family moved to New Haven in 1917 when her father left International Silver for a job at the American Windshield Corporation.

*Walter Bonk and Beatrice Kasprzycki 23 June 1925*

Just over a year later, Walt and Bea’s first daughter Ann Carolyn Bonk was born on July 25, 1926.

Walter, Bea, and Ann lived at 24 East Street in Wallingford with his father, John. This was a 2 family house and I think they must have lived with him based on the listings in the Streets section of the annual directory.

This following information came from a phone conversation I had with their daughter Ann in the early 2000s:

John, Walter’s father, 55 years old at the time, met Viola Weston, a 50 year old widow and they got married. Viola had 23 and 21 year old sons, and an 18 year old daughter who came along with her to live at 24 East Street. So Walter and his family moved to New Haven, close to Bea’s family.

Walter and Bea had another daughter, Dolores LaVerne born in 1931, and another, Joan Beverly in 1933, and their son Henry in 1937.

Walter and his family remained in New Haven until John died in 1933. Ann said they moved back to Wallingford and lived in one of the apartments and Viola, based on a provision in John’s will, continued to live in the other apartment until her death in 1937.

Walter went to work as an electrician for the Wallingford Steel Mill which then became Allegheny-Ludlum Steel and worked there for his entire career.

Walter also became involved in Wallingford politics in 1944 when he was named as an alternate delegate to the state Republican Party convention as well as part of the republican town committee. He continued on for many years and he also served as the Wallingford Assessor and a second selectman.

We would see Uncle Walt and Aunt Bea once a year at the annual Fourth of July family picnic hosted by Aunt Judy and Uncle Mal and Auntie Irene and Uncle Lou. Judy and Lou were my mother’s older siblings.

Uncle Walt and Aunt Bea continued to live in their home at 24 East Street until age caught up to them. They both resided at the Skyview Nursing Home where he passed away in August 1998 at the age of 94 and she in February of 2003 at the age of 97. They had been married for 73 years.

*Gram (front), Aunt Bea, Mom, Aunt Tootsie abt. 1964*

Their children, Ann, LaVerne, Joan, and Henry were my mother’s half first cousins. But if you’ve read about her being born story, technically they’re not related at all?

*Postcard from Ann Bonk to my mom in 1936*

My mother and Ann were 4 years apart but the Poslusznys, Bonks, and Biegas, all lived within a block or two of each other. My mom was friends with all the girls throughout her life. We may not have seen them frequently, but we knew of them all because of my mother.

Ann’s postcard sent from Middletown when she was 10 and my mother 14 says:
Dear Betty,
I am having a swell time. I miss you a lot, I miss going walking on Sunday with you. Please tell the rest of the family I was asking for them.
Your pest, Ann C. Bonk

Ann married Floyd Monroe of East Haven and they had three daughters and 4 sons. They lived for many years in Vermont and we would see them once a year at the annual Fourth of July picnic! After Floyd passed away in 1985, Ann moved back to Connecticut and became a teacher at the Wallingford Community Day Care where she was known as Miss Ann. Something I didn’t know about her until my research was she was a graduate of Yale University School of Music. Prior to that she studied piano and organ with various teachers including a professor at Yale. For two years prior to college she was the organist at St. Peter and Paul Church in Wallingford. Ann passed away in 2011.

Laverne married Ed Dziubinski and lived in Branford. They had 2 children and Ed passed away some years ago and she has since remarried.

*Laverne with Auntie Ann, Aunt Bea, and Joan (back right)*

Joan married Carl Focareto of Berlin Connecticut. He was a loud, gregarious individual and I don’t mean loud in a bad way! “Knock-out” was his nickname. I don’t know why, and it just came to me! They were married in 1954 and they had 2 children who we knew fairly well because they went to the “other” high school in Wallingford. Their daughter, Beverly, married someone from “our” high school who was good friends with one of my brothers in law, so we would see them at parties and softball games. Their son, Peter, lives a few blocks away from us.

Carl and my dad were golfing buddies. When Carl died in 1998, it hit my dad pretty hard. As a tribute to him, dad had the florist make up an arrangement that was a putting green. I wish I still had the picture of it. It was probably something they had never done before! Joan still lives in Wallingford.

My sisters and I didn’t know Henry and his family. I don’t know why. Maybe because he was born in 1937 when my mother was 15, and he was a boy?

Hank as he was known was involved in baseball and lacrosse growing up. He graduated from Tufts University and was a chemist and inventor with 34 scientific patents. He also served in the Army in South Korea. He had his wife had 2 daughters. Sadly, Hank passed away after a long battle from MS in 2021 at the age of 83.

My Behme cousins are far more familiar with Hank and his family most likely because their mother, Judy Posluszny Behme, was 2 years younger than Hank and they might have gone to Holy Trinity together. Being that close in age, they likely had their children in the same range and they too, would have been in school together. I just remember the Behme family heading off to the Bonks house during the holidays and I didn’t quite understand why we didn’t!

When I put these stories together I see so many characteristics within my family today. The scientists and musicians, the cooks and bakers, and overall smarty-pantses in the family! There’s also the “get involved in your town” and take care of people whether their friends or strangers. This is the DNA we carry within us.

As cousin Ann Bonk’s obituary said:
In memory of Ann and how she lived her life, we ask that you honor her by a simple act of kindness.

Elizabeth Eva Posluszny

Elizabeth Eva Posluszny was the 11th born and 7th living adult child of Carolina Straub and Joseph Posluszny. She was born in Dzikowiec in the Galicia region of Poland on September 24, 1896, three years after her sister Mary.

The following year in April of 1897, Joseph Posluszny died at the age of 44. There is currently no record of the cause of death. The following May, her mother Carolina married a/the farmhand John Bonk (aka Bak). He was 26, she was 43.

The following year began the immigration of first John in 1899, followed by Joseph (1901), Konrad (1902), Charles (1905), Mary (1906), and Frank (1907).

Elizabeth was 10 years old when she arrived in the United States with her mother, stepfather, and half brother Walter. The Passenger List on their arrival indicates that John had been in the United States in Perth Amboy from 1901 to 1906. I haven’t found any actual passenger or census record to confirm that but the 1920 census say he immigrated in 1900. More research awaits!

The next record I have for Elizabeth is the 1920 Census and she is married to Joseph Łaçź (One-ch) and living on Geneva Avenue in Wallingford with Carolina and John Bonk and Walter who is now 17. Elizabeth and Joseph have two children, Joseph V born in 1916, and Charles F born in 1920. Also living with them is John Posluszny, the oldest brother John’s son. John Bonk, Walter, and Joseph are working at the Silverware Factory and John Posluszny is working at the hardware factory, both in Wallingford. At 17, Walter was an electrician which is the profession he continued with through his life.

The 1920 Wallingford directory also says Joseph and Elizabeth Łaçź lived on Geneva Street and he worked at the Silverware Factory.

There is no 1921 directory online but the 1922 directory says he is a grocer at – 105 Ward Street. The same grocer that her sister Mary and husband Victor will come to own in 1924, and later their daughter Mary and her husband Otto.

In 1924, Elizabeth disappeared. She left her husband, two children, and family. I told the story about the mental illness that runs through the Posluszny family, and the stories of my grandfather Konrad, and his brother Frank. I was told she had a complete mental breakdown. The 1924 directory says “Joseph Łaçź removed to New Britain” taking his two sons with him.

My Aunt Judy told me the family did not like Joseph. He was 12 years older than her and was 31 years old to her 19 years old at their marriage. Aunt Mary hired private detectives to try and find her but never succeeded.

I have scoured online records for any sign of Joseph or Charles but have come up empty handed. I had possible information on their father, but the information conflicts with another family tree.

*Elizabeth Eva Posluszny Łaçź* *born 1896 – died ?*

Mary Posluszny

Mary Posluszny was the 10th born and 6th living adult child of Carolina Straub and Joseph Posluszny. Of those 10, she was the second daughter. She was born on January 21, 1893, in Dzikowiec in the Galicia region of Poland. She was named Maria as was her deceased sister, but we knew her as Mary. More specifically, Aunt Mary Biega.

In mid-November of 1906 just short of her 14th birthday, Mary departed for the United States from Hamburg, Germany on the Pretoria. The trip took 2 weeks. The manifest said she was a farmhand. I know the Posluszny family had a farm but she was the first with that occupation listed.

I found her first on the ship’s Record of Detained Aliens list. The manifest said she didn’t have a ticket to her final destination and the Detainee List said the cause of detention was “brother”. Joseph is listed as her relative on the manifest and John is the relative on the Detainee List. She was detained for one day and received 3 meals. I wonder, how easy, or difficult, would it have been to contact a family member to let them know you’ve arrived and were being detained at Ellis Island in 1906? Can you imagine sending your 14 year old daughter on a trip across the ocean by herself?

Following her arrival, her brother Frank, who was 4 years older, followed in February of 1907, and the last group, her mother, stepfather, sister, and half brother arrived in July of 1907.

Mary is front row center holding flowers. I am amazed when I look at this picture how much my cousin Ann, resembled Mary Posluszny.

Because she was the first female to arrive and not married, I am guessing that once the rest of her family arrived in the United States in early July of 1907, she lived with them in Perth Amboy New Jersey where they settled.

*Mary, seated right in 1909 for Frank and Josephine’s wedding*

Three years later in 1910, Mary married Victor Joseph Biega. She was 17 years old and he was 22 years old.

Victor was born on March 3rd 1888 in Mrzyglód Poland to Stanley and Marianna Ryniak Biega He had a brother Walter, born in 1883, and a brother, John, born in 1893. Victor arrived in the United States on February 1 1909. I determined through a newspaper article that Victor was living in Perth Amboy in 1909. Through superficial research, I found Walter and John lived their lives in Perth Amboy. Walter had a family but John never married.

I do not want to go down a rabbit hole with Walter and John but in the 1940 Census, John was a music teacher for a WPA Recreation Project. Walter had a bar in Perth Amboy called, Biega’s Tavern. Another fun fact, Walter’s daughter Helen married John Burghardt, uncle of our 3rd cousin, David.

While living in Perth Amboy, Mary and Victor’s daughter Mary E. was born in 1911 followed by Carolyn A. in 1913 and Joseph Edward in 1914.

In 1916 they were living in Wallingford and Mary gave birth to Clara who did not survive past a year. In 1918, Mary gave birth to her son Stanley G, in 1920 she had Victor John, and in 1922 she had her son John E. Unfortunately, John died in 1925.

*Headstone for Clara and John Biega / St. Casimer’s Cemetery Wallingford CT*

Victor held a variety of jobs. In 1917, he’s listed as a laborer in Wallingford and they’re living at 14 West Street. In 1920, he’s an employee at Wallace Silversmith and they’re listed as living at 30 Geneva Avenue, which was the home of her mother Caroline, but the 1920 census doesn’t list them there.

That is because they were living in South Norwalk! I discovered this from their son Victor’s 1993 obituary which said he was born in South Norwalk. They popped up in the 1923 Norwalk directory where Victor, the dad, was working as a hatter and they were living at 1 Van Buren Avenue. Her brother Charles and his wife Mary were living at #7.

But 1924 brought them back to Wallingford where they moved into 105 Ward Street and they became the owners of a grocery store on the corner of Ward Street. This occupation and address carried on through the 1950 census. His daughter Mary and son-in-law took over the grocery store and he and Aunt Mary moved to 3 East Street where Victor passed away on December 19, 1963. Fun fact – our friend Chris Heilman’s son Andrew bought that house in the early 2010s and lived there with his family for several years.

Mary and Victor’s five living children all remained in the Wallingford area.

Mary and her husband Otto Steinke bought the market at 105 Ward Street and named it Steinke’s Market. Mary died in 1972 at the age of 59. Otto died just 9 months after her. She and Otto had two daughters, who at the time of her death lived in New York City and West Burlington New York.

*Otto and Mary (Biega) Steinke’s headstone / St. Casimer’s cemetery, Wallingford*

Carolyn was a teacher in Wallingford and married Robert O’Neill in 1952. Her death appeared to be sudden at the age of 52 in December of 1965. I found no obituary but the funeral information says, “A delegation of teacher from Robert Earley Junior High School was an honor guard at the church and at the cemetery”. Mrs. Schipke and Mr. Paris, teachers we would have at Lyman Hall during the 1970s, were pall bearers.

*Victor, Carolyn, and Mary Biega July 31, 1952*

Joseph established Biega Funeral Home in Middletown in 1939 and ran it until his retirement in 1982. It is still run by his son Joseph. He was very involved in his church and community. He died in Florida in 2009 at the age of 95. In addition to Joseph, he had a son, Robert.

Stanley was a dentist in Wallingford for many years. He and his wife Roberta and their three children lived on the other side of the horseshoe from our house. He died in 1988 at the age of 70. One of his three children, Lee (short for Stanley), married a neighborhood girl and they live a block or two away from us today. Their son is a year or two older than my son who is turning 35 this year.

Victor, who was not a junior as he had a different middle name, also lived in Wallingford. He served in World War II in the Army Airborne Division. Well, he trained with the Airborne infantry in Georgia and South Dakota but when his outfit was still not scheduled for overseas, he “traded his parachute for a rifle and went over seas with the 30th Division, joining the third army in France. He was injured shortly after arriving. When he recovered he went back out to fight. It was while battling on the plains near Cologne that he received injuries resulting in the loss of his leg. He came home in 1945 and received the Purple Heart. He married in 1947 and died in 1993 at the age of 73. He had one son, Victor Jr, and two daughters, Susan and Robin along with five grandchildren at the time of his death.

Victor and his wife Florence had a cottage at Pickerel Lake in Colchester near my Aunt Judy and Uncle Mal and Auntie Irene and Uncle Lou. On occasion some of the 4th of July partiers would head down to their cottage to visit. That was the extent of my knowing him!

*Aunt Mary Biega (year unknown but likely her 80s or 90s)*

My third cousin David Burghardt remembers Mary Biega because he grew up on Simpson Avenue in one of two houses his family owned on the property. Aunt Mary would go to their house to play cards. David’s grandmother was Julianna Straub Burghardt and her father, Albert, was my great-grandmother Carolina’s brother. He also recalls visiting her at her home on East Street.

I relayed the story in one of my Aunt Judy posts of how my grandmother Julianna and Aunt Mary would be a part of plays that were performed at St. Casimer’s Church. My grandmother acted and Aunt Mary directed.

Although I was 35 when Aunt Mary died, we didn’t visit her or know her very well through my growing up years. We would see her at the Fourth of July parties held at Pickerel Lake. Her half brother, Walter Bonk and his wife Beatrice would bring her with them. This led me to think that Aunt Mary was his mother! In my older teen years, I understood who she was and I was impressed that she was my grandfather’s sister.

After her husband Victor’s death, Mary continued to live at 3 East Street before she moved into senior housing at 11 McKenna Court, the site of the former Washington Street School. Mary lived there until her death on May 1, 1995 at the age of 102 years old! She outlived her husband, her 7 full siblings, and all but one of her 7 children.

*Victor and Mary Biega headstone / St. Casimer’s Cemetery Wallingford CT*

Charles John Posluszny

Charles John Posluzny was the 7th born and 4th living adult child of Caroline Straub and Joseph Posluszny. He was born on September 18, 1887, in Dzikowiec in the Galicia region of Poland.

Charles immigrated to the United States in 1905, according to the 1910 census. He must have arrived at the end of 1904 or January of 1905 because he is in the wedding photo of his brother Joseph, who was married in February of 1905. I can’t find an actual record of his arriving. He’s front row left in the wedding photo.

He met Maria Julia Straub some time after his arrival and married her on February 3, 1910, when he was 22 years old. My cousin says that Maria is in the first wedding photo, sitting behind him. That is the only photo I have of her.

Searching the 1905 New York State census, I found her working as a servant for the McCoy family. Husband, wife, 6 children, Mr. McCoy’s brother, and a boarder! She was probably happy to leave there!

Charles is standing 3rd from left in the family picture below taken likely early 1907.

Their marriage in early 1910 created a record of them in the 1910 US Census. They were living at 78 Jefferson Street in Yonkers, New York. Recorded with Charles and Maria is a boarder by the name of John Straub, 23 years old, who is Maria’s brother. He would eventually get married to Caroline Hammer in 1913.

Edited original to add: I’d be remiss if I didn’t include this picture of Charles. I don’t know when it was taken but the hair style is similar in Frank and Josephine’s wedding photo.

Charles spent his life in the hat industry. In 1910, he was a finisher in a hat shop. The Waring Hat Manufacturing Company was in Yonkers NY so perhaps this is where he worked.

By 1918, he, Maria and their two daughters are living in Norwalk, Connecticut. Charles is working for the American Hat Manufacturing Company located at 25 Grand Street in Norwalk. It was originally the Joseph Loth Company. The building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Here is a picture of the building as a factory and a couple of the hat making process.

No amount of searching gives me a 1920 census listing, but by 1923, he and Marie own their home at 7 Van Buren Avenue in Norwalk and they are now known as Charles and Marie Post. They, like Joseph and Anna, have whacked off the end of their given surname!

The 1930 census page he is on lists employees for a number of factories including hats, shirts, dresses, staples, and shoes. A lot of factory workers!

By 1940, still working in the Hatting industry, he has moved on to Hat Corporation of America located at Van Zandt Street in East Norwalk and is working as a finisher. This company was a merger of three hat companies: Crofut and Knapp, Cavanagh Hats, and the Knox Hat Company. This building still stands, although with updates over the years.

The 1950 census says he was “unable to work” and he passed away on April 30, 1952 at the age of 64 after suffering from stomach cancer for 6 months (likely longer).

Maria would live for another 18 years before passing away on December 31, 1970 at the age of 82 in Waterbury Connecticut.

Charles and Maria had two daughters, Matilda Caroline and Josephine Gertrude. Caroline is in honor of Charles’ mother (my great grandmother) and Gertrude in honor of Maria’s mother.

Matilda was born in 1916 in Yonkers, New York. She married Donald J. Trager in October of 1939 and they had two children, Sharon in 1942 and Richard in 1946. There is incredibly little information about either daughter online. Matilda and Donald were divorced in 1972. Matilda died in Waterbury in November of 1985 and there is no record of an obituary.

At the time of Donald’s death in 1987, their daughter Sharon was married and had one child and was living in New Jersey. I was able to track down an address and sent a letter addressed to Sharon and her son, Darrell, but so far no response! Their son, Richard, lives in Portland Maine and I haven’t had an opportunity to reach out to him.

Josephine was born in 1917 in Yonkers, New York. She married Edwin Guy Newman in April of 1939. They had two children, Ellen in 1947 and Susan in 1950. Ellen was married in 1967 and there the trail goes cold.

Edwin died in 1999 at 85 years old and Josephine in 2010 at 93 years old after living in Westport for their married life.

After such great success finding Frank’s great granddaughter and having her actually remember him, and provide me with new photos of him, I was confident I would be able to connect with someone in Charles’s family as well. I will keep searching and give an update if I come in contact with anyone in his family.

Frank Posluszny

Frank Posluszny was one of my grand-uncles and the 8th born child of my great-grandparents, Caroline Straub and Joseph Posluszny. He was the fifth to survive to adulthood.

He was born on September 1, 1889, in Wildenthal. I like finding the birth records for confirmation.

He immigrated to the United States in 1905, according to the 1910 census. There is a Hamburg Passenger list dated 1907 for a Frank Posluszny who matches age and departure village; however, without locating a ship manifest from Ellis Island, I can’t confirm which date is fact.

He followed his brother John to New Jersey where he met and married Josephine Huth on August 1, 1909, in Newark, New Jersey. Josephine was born was born on December 24, 1892 according to her citizenship paperwork. He was 20 and she was 17 when they got married. In the photo below, Frank’s brother Charles is standing left, stepdad John Bonk 3rd from left, Caroline, his mother, seated left, and Mary, his sister, seated right.

*Frank and Josephine Posluszny’s wedding party*

In 1910, Frank and Josephine were living in Newark on Belmont Avenue, and in the next three years welcome Josephine, Frank, and Stephania. According to the census, Frank was working as a hatmaker in a hat factory. There are several others on his street working there, and they could have been at the Thimble Hat Company in Orange, or the Hudson Hat Company in Newark. There were 5 hat forming mills and over 20 hat manufacturers in the Newark area in the late 1800s to early 1900s.

Frank and Josephine remain in the Newark / Irvington area, a few blocks away from his brother John and family up until 1927.

Searching through city directories for 1927 and 1929, I found Josephine listed in Newark, but no mention of Frank. I found a record of employment for her as a Hatter/Finisher for Snyder & Co at 133 W. 21st Street in New York in 1928 which I would like would be quite a trek every day in 1927.

In the 1930 census, Josephine is in Newark on 19th street with Josephine, 18, Frank Jr., 17, and Stephania, 16. Everyone can read and write, but none of the children have been in school since September 1, 1929, and all three of them have jobs. Where’s Frank? I found Frank as a resident at Cedar Grove. Also known as Essex County Hospital for the Insane. He must have been admitted between 1927 and 1929. As I’ve written, there were mental health issues in the Posluszny Family.

In the 1940 census, Josephine had moved again. She is living with her son, Frank, and with Stephania, now known as Mildred, her husband, and their daughter, Mildred. Josephine is listed as “widowed”. But I know that is not true. Frank is still on the census records of Cedar Grove.

Let’s talk about the children now –

Josephine, born in 1911, was the oldest child of Frank and Josephine. She was known as “Tootsie” because she liked to eat tootsie rolls! It found it surprising that we had two “Tootsie”s in the family!

She married George Rittersbacher in 1939. They did not have any children. George, unfortunately, died on the dance floor at his niece Mildred’s wedding reception in 1962. Josephine lived in Irvington, New Jersey, until her passing in 1987.

Frank Jr., was born in 1912, and enlisted as a private in the Army in 1942. I don’t know what he did or where he served. He moved out to California at some time in his life and was living in Laguna Woods when he died in 2010. It doesn’t appear he ever married or had children, and I can’t find any obituary or records.

Stephania, born in 1913, was married in 1936 in Pennsylvania to Hugh Christian McNicol. He was 29 and a chauffeur. Stephania was 23 and a hosiery worker. She signed the marriage license, Steffie Elsie Poslushny. She seemed to be trying out new names! In 1938, they were living in Newark on 19th Street and she is now “Mildred S”.

In addition to their daughter, Mildred, Mildred (Stephania) and Hugh had a son, Bobby, born in 1942.

*Frank and Josephine’s daughter and grandchildren abt. 1942*

Hugh was a truck driver for a brewery in Orange until he and Mildred moved down to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1982. He died in 1997 at the age of 89. Mildred (Stephania) died in 2009 at the age of 95. Their daughter Mildred, who also lived in Florida, married and had 2 daughters. Mildred passed away in Florida at the age of 70 in 2006. From Mildred’s obituary, I did some sleuthing and sent an email to a woman I thought might be her daughter. Turns out I was right! Debbie, Frank and Josephine’s great-granddaughter, responded to my email, and we exchanged some information, and she confirmed that Josephine and Frank were her great-grandparents by the pictures I sent. She in turn shared information and pictures with me.

My new cousin, Debbie, who was born in 1963, knew both Josephine, whom they called Grossy because they couldn’t pronounce Grandmother in German, and Frank, who was called PopPop. What this means is after all those years, he was released from the institution!

Eventually Josephine and Frank owned this home at 225 Sunset Avenue in Newark. I recognized the address from Judy Behme’s wedding invitation list. It was a home with four apartments – upstairs and downstairs on the left and right. First, in the 1950 census, Josephine lived there with Frank Jr, in one apartment, Mildred and Hugh lived in another with their two children and the other two apartments were rented out. Josephine is now listed as “separated”.

Frank came home from the institution sometime after 1950 and here they are with their granddaughter Mildred McNicol at her 1962 wedding.

*Josephine, Frank, and Mildred Poslushny*

I asked Debbie about his being institutionalized. She knew that he had been, and unfortunately, he was committed again when Debbie was older. “Things went south when he taught me to roll his cigarettes for him” when she was 13 years old in 1976. She remembered him as “kind but quiet”.

Josephine died in 1990 at the age of 98 in Florida. When I asked Debbie about this she told me that “Grossy” moved down to Florida after her daughter Josephine Rittersbacher passed away in 1987. Grossy lived with Debbie and her family and “then they sent her down to Stephanie and Hugh McNicol to continue the care”. After that, she was admitted to a nursing home where she passed away.

But what became of Frank? I’m not sure. Debbie remembers “someone on this side” buried in Potter’s field and it might be Frank. She doesn’t remember any ceremony or funeral or even a funeral card. I have found a listing in New Jersey death records for a Frank Post’s death in July of 1979 at the age of 89 which would match my Frank. I hope I will be able to get a definitive answer soon.

I’m happy to have untangled the life of another one of Caroline’s children and like John’s, had a few surprises and produced more family!

Angel Antonia

She died in the early morning hours of April 2, 1927. Alone in her hospital room while her husband and five children slept in their nearby apartment.

She knew something was wrong the previous afternoon. She sent her 12 year old son for the midwife and then went to the hospital.

“She’ll be fine” is what they told her husband when he left the hospital that evening, only to be alerted by the grocer with the neighborhood telephone.

Her obituary said, “She was very well and favorably known to a large circle of friends among the Polish residents of the town”. Small comfort for her family.

She was buried in St. Thomas Cemetery in Southington on April 4th. Her husband carved a wooden cross for her grave and mourned her death until his in 1935.

Years later, her son, Edward, who, at her request, stayed home from school that day, had a headstone made for his mother.

*St. Thomas Cemetery, Southington CT, Section 12*

Her husband was never the same. Two of the younger children went to an uncle in Massachusetts and the youngest, to his godmother in town. When he and his older sons found a permanent place to live in Wallingford, he brought everyone back together. But how many months had gone by suddenly without a mother and then a father?

I try to imagine what their lives, and ours, would have been like if she lived long enough to watch her children grow up and to know her grandchildren. Would we call her Babcia? Would she teach us to speak Polish? Would we tease her about being so short and would my boy cousins rest their arms on the top of her head trying to be funny. Who would be her favorite child? Who would be her favorite grandchild?

We’ll never know.

Time and Memory

Reflections on the anniversary of my father’s passing

Friday, March 28th, marked the 15th anniversary of my dad’s death in 2010. In February of that year, after a month of turmoil for us all, he was finally settled into the nursing home after leaving his assisted living with a short stay in the hospital. He’d begun attending the events and, as always, enjoyed the music. My sister Gail said she’d had a nice visit with him, taking him for a walk around the grounds and spending time sitting and talking outside.

It was a Sunday, when I received the call from the nursing home to tell me he had passed away. He was sitting in bed eating breakfast when someone walked by, and when they walked by again, he was slumped over. Just like that. Gail and I contacted the funeral home then headed there and sat with him for a while. It was Palm Sunday and the home left a frond in his room that I took and have in a box with my parents personal belongings.

I’ve written more than once about my mother’s eight week journey from diagnosis to death with Glioblastoma. My dad’s death occurred one week prior to the 23rd anniversary of my mother’s death.

After my mother died, my father carried on. He was 63 and still working in the facilities department at Gaylord Hospital in town. He really loved that job! He was such a people person, he was an awesome painter and wall-paperer, my sister Gail worked there, and the Farms Country Club was next door so he’d look for golf balls during lunch or hit some balls.

He loved “his girls”, his grandkids, golfing, and riding his bike. During my 8 years in California, he visited both with my sisters and by himself and I never had to entertain him. He’d take off for the day on my bike or head to the golf course in town.

I won’t go through the litany of health ailments starting with his 1996 knee replacement, but they were enough to slow him down and significant enough that he was not able to live on his own after 2000. After that, it felt like from late January until April, he, and we, were dealing with one health issue or another.

During this week every year, I think about that. I’ve written about my dad’s childhood, how his mother died when he was turning 3 and his father died the month before his 11th birthday. He and his older siblings were then raised by his 12 years older brother.

What do I think about? I think that he didn’t want to leave his girls alone. I think that he wanted to be with us, to be our dad for as long as he could even if that meant fighting through whatever pain he had. I may sound crazy, but I think after 22 years and 51 weeks my mother said, “Honey, they’re going to be fine, come home” and with that, he went home.

Wally

Tuesday, with the assistance of Beloved Companions, we ushered our dog, Wally, over the Rainbow Bridge. His health was failing over the last two months and Mark and I decided (finally) that it was time to let him go.

Let me tell you the story of Wally…

It was May 2012, and our 14 year old cat, Chuckie Finster Benson passed away. I’m not even a fan of dogs, but I started looking at adoption and shelter sites, and commenting or sharing their pictures. People started asking me when I was going to get a dog. There was no turning back!

One afternoon, July 27th to be exact, I took a trip to the Meriden Humane Society and said, “I want to look at small dogs”. A worker brought me outside to the dogs in their cages. I took pictures of 5 or 6 dogs all eager and excited to see me and show off how fetching they were. Except for one. A black and brown and white chihuahua / terrier mix. He just would not look me in the eye!

I went home and showed Mark, Cody, and Emily the pictures. Guess which dog they wanted to visit? Wally!

We picked a day for everyone to visit. They brought Wally out on a leash and we all hovered over him, petting and admiring him.

*Wally giving the best performance of his life*

The deal was done! We had ourselves a dog. The shelter didn’t know his actual age but put it at 2 or 3 years old. His back story was – he was “found” by a woman in Wallingford who brought him to the Meriden shelter claiming that the Wallingford one was closed. So they named him Wally. It’s not a nickname for my town that I will EVER use, but it worked him.

We brought Wally home a few days later. It’s not quite the level of bringing home a baby, but still pretty scary!

He immediately latched onto Mark as his favorite person. He had a lot of love for my daughter in law Emily, and my niece Jessie. He merely tolerated me because he would probably sense I was not totally comfortable around dogs (childhood trauma from neighborhood German Shepard) but we managed to co-exist.

He didn’t tolerate affection. Scratch his head a few times, but watch for the lip curl, followed by the growl! Always watch his face! He was happy to curl up next to you in a chair, but don’t try to move! He’s be growling if you tried to shift position. The running joke over the years when people came to visit was “don’t pet the dog!” Or, “just ignore him”. You just didn’t know his expiration period for petting.

It was a great situation for us because our business’s office was the room over our garage. Wally would come to work with us and hang out in his bed, eating treats in abundance and having his play yard nearby. Of course, there was always time for play inside too!

A friend who owns an animal rescue farm in Bethany can communicate with animals and as a fund raiser will meet with owners and their pets. Of course, we brought Wally to visit her! We learned his original owner was short like me and was very cruel. She thought he would be a “pocketbook pet” that she could carry around – but she got that wrong! Wally “told” Kathleen that he felt like part of the family at Christmas. He showed her people’s legs and food, and wrapping paper. It only made us love him more. But, alas, he told her I tried too hard! I just wanted him to love me!

We were blessed that our brother in law owns a dog kennel and in the early years he would go there when we traveled. He got such great care there! But as he got older, we had a dog sitter come and stay with him. I did enjoy having someone stay in my home while we were away.

Wally had the run of our back yard. Although it’s not fenced in, he never made a run for it. Only once when he was young and chasing a squirrel. But after that, he never even went in the front yard. Most of the neighbors had fences so we benefited from them. His “friend” Enzo, lived on the other side of one of the fences. And they would run back and forth barking like crazy and then Wally would suddenly stop and walk away like he couldn’t be bothered. He was so funny to watch.

Wally stopped going up the stairs to our bedroom a year or so ago after he tumbled down them. They are steep and they probably looked like Mt. Everest to him! He was content to sleep in one of his two beds. He managed the few stairs from the yard to the back door but 6 months ago, we built a ramp for him to get up and down. He gave up his walks through the backyard and did his business on the gravel.

In his last few months, he slept more throughout the day but continued to eat heartily, poop and pee, and stand directly behind us when we were in the kitchen. He still had his 2 beds (one in the front living room, one in the family room), and he’d be in one at night and the other when we came downstairs in the morning.

It became obvious a few weeks ago that he was not doing well, but how do you make that decision?! Why, oh why couldn’t he do it for us? We called Beloved Companions in New Britain CT and they arranged for a mobile veterinarian to come to our home to guide Wally over the Rainbow Bridge.

On Tuesday, March 5th, Dr. Melissa with Co-Pilot Veterinary Care arrived and we knew we couldn’t be in better hands than hers. She was kind and respectful, and explained the process to us. For those who know Wally, my husband put a blanket over Wally to pick him up so she could administer the sedative. When he was groggy, we put him in his (3rd) bed in the sun at the sliding door where he would stand when he heard our cars pull in the driveway. I sat by his head and petted him throughout the process. After his final shot, it was five minutes or so before he passed.

Melissa took him back with her to Beloved Companions for his cremation and we picked him up the next day.

Wally was never an active dog in his time here. He’d run around outside but he didn’t play with toys and even my husband could only play with him so long before he’d give the lip curl and give a “grrrr”, like he’s saying “ok done!”. But he’s gone. I have more time in the morning since I’m no longer, replacing pee pads and making breakfast, but it’s because he’s gone.

There is something that kept my spirit up in the last two months…. Remember my friend who communicated with him shortly after we got him? I have a cousin of a cousin who is also intuitive who lives in a house at the rescue farm and she has taught him how to communicate as well.

In January, I was attending a psychic/wellness event at my cousin’s studio and Craig was there. As we talked, he asked me out of nowhere, if I still had my dog. He had never met Wally and has never been to my home. During our conversation, he told me Wally knew he could be an ass, and he knew he was loved. Wally said he was going to come back and he would be MY dog, loving me the way he loved Mark all these years. He said his original owner would hit him (in the face), and she got rid of him because he wasn’t the “pocketbook pet” she got him for. Craig said he had some time before he departed (but I knew it would be sooner). I carried those words with me through the final month and they gave me peace.

After Wally passed, I contacted Craig to thank him for his words when we met. His response was:
“glad to help. He says he’s okay. Wagging his tail. He understands the decision you made. Was fine with it, he was ready”. “He keeps talking about getting butt scratches.” In our first conversation, Wally told him the type of dog he would be when he came back but Craig didn’t want to tell me. He said it will happen and I will just know this is my dog. When I know, you’ll know!