Sunday, June 19, 2011

The First Father - Anthony Murosky, Sr.

The Murosky line begins with Anthony Murosky, Sr, my 2nd great grandfather. The first known references to Anthony are records from the 1910 United States Federal Census listing Anthony and his family living in Forest City, Pennsylvania.

Verbal history indicates that Anthony was an immigrant from Lithuanian-Baltic region. The 1910 Census indicates that Anthony arrived in the United States in 1892. During the late 1800's almost 20% of the population of Lithuania left the country. Many relocated to the United States. During this period, the country was in a difficult position lying between the growing empires of Russia and Germany.

Anthony married Eva Zielinski, my 2nd great grand mother, around 1894. Eva was also an immigrant who arrived in 1894.


Anthony worked as a miner in the coal mines of Forest City, Pennsylvania. At the time of the census, Anthony and Eva lived at 128 Delaware Street, Forest City.


 


































The living children of Anthony and Eva include:

  •  Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr.
  • Margaret Murosky
  • Joseph Muroski Sr.
  • William Murosky
  • Constance "Esther" Murosky
  • Charles Muroski

The spelling of Murosky varied with the children, some adopted Murosky and others adopted Muroski

Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr., my great grand father,  the oldest son moved to Erie, Pennsylvania in search of work where he settled, married and raised his children. In time, some of the other siblings would also relocate to Erie, Pennsylvania.

After the death of Eva around 1930 in Forest City, Pennsylvania, Anthony Murosky, Sr. moved to Erie to live with his children.  Anthony was a heavy drinker and it ultimately lead to he accident which causes his death. News articles and reports from his grandchildren indicate that on 17 Dec 1939 he had been out drinking. On his way home he was hit by car 26th and Wallace. He was taken to St. Vincent's hospital where he later died.

Anthony was buried 22 Dec 1939, Calvary Cemetery, Section 18. Grave 1. After some recent searching, using www.findagrave.com, I was able to confirm that Anthony was buried in Calvary Cemetery.

You can visit his grave today, by going in main entrance and staying  on main road. Go to the intersection between Section 15 and 18. Take a left and go to fence. Anthony's grave is on the northeast corner of 181.

References:
  1. 1910 U. S. census, 1910 United States Federal Census schedule, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, Family of Anthony Meroski. Supervisor's District 10, Enumeration District 64, Enumeration Date April 28, 1910, Lines 31-37.; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com).
  2. Murosky, Anthony, Sr. (1939, December 20).  Erie Daily Times News, Erie, Pennsylvania.
  3. Find A Grave Memorial# 9271239 www.findagreave.com


5 comments:

  1. Your family name was most likely Marauskas. Mine was Beliaskas - changed to Balosky.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Ryan,

      My paternal grandfather mentioned that the family name was spelled in a similar way to the variation that you have recorded above. All of the records I have located for them in the US to date have the 'ski' and later the 'sky' variations. I have not located an arrival record for Anthony - so it is possible that is recorded with the original spelling. Unfortunately this family didn't leave any specific clues to what where they were living in Europe.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  2. Michelle,

    My family is from Forest City and my great-grandmother's Maiden name was Morowski (morowsky, murowsky). Never could spell them the same :-). Even if we aren't related, I would assume that our families knew each other back in the early 1900s. You did a great job on this site too!

    Jim Zielinski

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jim,

      That is very interesting. The early historical records list a variety of name variations including - Maroski, Meroski, Meuroski, Moraski, Moroski, and Muroski. Some of the variations were probably the writers attempt to spell the name phonetically. My grandfather could pronounce the surname with an accent and it sounded very different.

      Perhaps there is a family connection - immigrants often relocated together. If your family was also Lithuanian - they may have attended the Lithuanian Catholic Church that was in Forest City.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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    2. My family was as Polish as can be :-). I would think our relative did know each other though do to the size of forest city. I have a tree up on Ancestry if you want to gander at it. Just email me at zielinski.jimmy @ gmail and I'll give you access.

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