WWI Centennial: Where were they? The Vincinety Frank Bukowski Family

On the evening of August 4, 1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany. The result was a long war with lasting consequences that would change the world. The war was one of the most deadly conflicts in history resulting in more than 9 million casualties. Great Briton lost its prominence as the leading world nation. The United States began assent as a world power. The war resulted in a tragic ending for the Russian monarchy when Czar Nicolas II, his wife and children were executed by the Bolsheviks. Other members of the Russian monarchy were also murdered. Those who survived lived in exile for the rest of their lives. Russia was forced to cede large tracks of land in the Ukraine and the Crimea – areas that remain in conflict today.   Prussia became a free state when Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated his throne.   The Treaty of Versailles broke up much of the Prussian empire – territory was ceded to Belgium, Lithuania and portions of Czechoslovakia.  The Second Polish Republic was formed from the lands Prussia had annexed in the partitions of Poland in the late 1700’s.

Earlier this week I found myself wondering – where were members of my family living on August 5, 1914 when they learned war had been declared in Europe. What thoughts may they have had? How were they impacted? I hope this series of blog posts around the WWI Centennial will be both interesting and informative for the reader.

The first family to be featured will be my 2^nd great grandparent -Vincinety Frank Bukowski and his wife Franciska Kwiatkowski.

Vincinety Frank Bukowski and his wife Franciska had been living in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania for 19 years when they woke up to the news that war had been declared in Europe. The couple arrived at Ellis Island May 1, 1895 with three small children. They had sailed from Antwerp, Belgium on the Noorland.  The census and other historical documents indicate the family was living in “Germany” before the WWI and “Poland” after WWI.  This likely indicates the family was living on the Prussian or German side of the Polish partition. The city where they were living prior to departure is currently unknown.

The couple’s oldest daughters were living in Erie, Pennsylvania with their spouses in close proximity to their parents. The families would have been able to walk between houses.

The Bukowski family residences in 1914

The oldest daughter TeoFila, age 25, was living with her husband Frank Gaczkowski and two small children. Arthur was 3 and Dorothy was 2. The 1914 City of Erie Directory indicates the couple was living at 705 E.  10^th Street. Frank was working as a constable.

The second daughter Catherine age 23, was living with her husband Joseph Zelazny. The couple had lost their first baby Frank who was born October 4, 1911. Daughter Irene was born in 1912. The 1914 City of Erie Directory indicates the couple, recorded as  “Zelazny, Stanislaus,  was living at 425 E. 13^th  street.  

The 1914 City of Erie Directory indicates that Vincinety and Franciska were living at 720 East 15th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania. The remaining children were still living with them in August of 1914. The household would have included:

• Son William, age 20 is also listed in the 1914 city of Erie directory as Boleslaus living with his parents.
• Son John, age 17
• Son Gustave Joseph, age 15
• Daughter Helen Tillie, age 13, (my great grandmother)
• Daughter Clara, age 11
• Son Joseph, age 8

 Vincinety and Franciska also lost two infants a daughter Josefa in 1909  and a son Edward in 1911.

The 1914 City of Erie Directory. Vincent and son William, shown as Boleslaus,
are on the left hand page in the upper portion of the second column. 

By 1914 the family was well established in the Erie community. They were members of St. Stanislaus Church.  Both Vincinety and William were working as laborers. The 1910 census indicates that both Vincinety was able to read and write English. Franciska is recorded as speaking Polish.  

After hearing the news that war had been declared the younger children may not have understood the impact. It is also difficult to know how this knowledge resonated with the older sons – William, John and Gustave. Vincinety and Franciska would have understood that if they were still living in Prussia their oldest sons would very likely have been serving in the Army. The couple would also have had perspective on potential impacts to their hometown. They may have been worried about the family members they had not seen in 19 years. They would have realized their nephews of age were likely serving in the Army on their way into battle.

It is currently unknown and it may never be known how much contact the couple had with their European family members.  Edward Zelazny [son of Catherine  Bukowski & Joseph Zelazny, grandson of Vincinety Bukowski & Franciska Kwiatkowski] had a few old photographs he believed were from the European relatives. These images were black and whites. The photographs appear to have been taken after Vincinety & Franciska  were living in Pennsylvania.  The dates and the people in the photographs are unknown.  

Unknown relatives from Europe. 

References:

1. Ellis Island Records, Bukowski, Vincent Manifest: First Name: Vincenty Last Name: Bukowski Ethnicity: Germany Last Place of Residence: Date of Arrival: May 01, 1895 Age at Arrival: 33y Gender: M Marital Status: Ship of Travel: Noordland Port
2. 1910 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania, Erie, Erie, 2nd Ward, 1910 United States Federal Census Schedule; Online Images, Record for Bukowski, Vincent
3. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011 - Erie, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1914 page 377 (digital 184).
4. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011 - Erie, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1914 page 501 (digital 249).
5. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011 - Erie, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1914 page 984 (digital 491).
6. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Record for Zelazny, Frank
7. Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Record for Zelazny, Frank
8. Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Record for Bukowski, Josefa
9. Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Record for Bukowski, Edward
10. Edward Zelazny photo collection
11. Google Maps