1938 - A Snaphot from a Murosky Family Gathering

This is another snapshot of a Murosky family gathering that took place in 1938. The photograph was likely taken in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania on a family visit. The photograph would have been taken prior to July 21, 1938.  To view other photographs taken that day and learn about the date of the photograph view the post 1938 - Murosky Family Gathering.  

1938 Murosky Family
Left to Right: Unknown Man, Rose Surname Unknown,
Helen Tillie Bukowski (age,37 or 38), Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. (age 46)
Marian Elaine Murosky (age 2 or 3) standing in front.

This photograph was included in the Helen Tillie Bukowski Collection. Helen was married to Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.

Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. is my great grandfather. Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. married Helen Tillie Bukowski. Their son Arthur Murosky is my paternal grandfather. Marian Elaine Murosky is my great aunt. 

Army Portrait: Leopold George Selker, Jr.

Leopold George Selker, Jr. was born 21 June 1918. He was the son of Leopold George Selker, Sr. (28 Sep 1891 - 10 Dec 1955) and Katherine V. Hartle (1894 - 01 Sep 1970). Leopold George Selker, Sr. was the oldest son of Joseph William Selker and Frances Philomena Guth.

Leopold enlisted with the United States Army on January 3, 1944. He was discharged from service on 31 January 1945. This formal military portrait would have been taken in 1944.

Leopold George Selker, Jr.
Army Portrait

To view other photographs of Leopold visit the posts:

• Cabinet Card: Leopold George Selker, Jr.
• 1952 - Leopold George Selker Family - Three Generation Photograph 
• Family Photo: Leopold George Selker Jr.

This photograph is shared with permission. The original photograph is in the care of Leopold George Selker my 2nd cousin 1x. Leopold is the son of Leopold George Selker, Jr. He is a descendant of Leopold George Selker, Sr. the oldest son of Joseph William Selker and Frances Philomena Guth. From the Leopold George Selker Collection. Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.

Leopold George Selker, Jr. is my 1st cousin 2x removed. He is a first cousin to my maternal grandmother Mary Eugenia McDonald. Joseph William Selker and Frances Philomena Guth are the common grandparents that link the cousins. 

References:

1. Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. File for Leo Selker.

Remembering Sr. Janet Staab, OSB

In early January I received the unexpected news that Sr. Janet Staab had passed away. Sr. Janet was born on January 12, 1937 in Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Charles Aloysius Staab Sr. and Cecelia Elizabeth Selker. She entered the Benedictine Community in June 26, 1955. In addition to teaching elementary and junior high school school she also served as the archivist for the Benedictine Sisters.

Sr. Janet, my 1st cousin 2x, was the original family historian for the Guth and Selker families. Many years ago she very kindly shared all of her research with a young college student who was curious about family history. Sr. Janet photocopied her meticulously organized hand typed family group sheets and newspaper articles without thought.

With so much enthusiasm she told me the story of how our shared ancestor Joseph William Selker departed Germany and opened his own cigar manufacturing business in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. She also told the story of his return trip to Germany in 1906 and how his two nieces came back with him. I never imagined that day when I went to visit her that I would walk away with what would become the foundation of my research for the Guth and Selker families. 

Over the years Sr. Janet and I remained in touch. Christmas cards and notes were exchanged. When I made trips to my hometown I would stop by to visit with her at Mount Saint Benedict. We always enjoyed our visits together talking about our favorite subject - family history. In time I continued to build on her original research.  Research updates were sent as I learned more about our shared Guth, Selker and Loll ancestors. 

Sr. Janet and I during a visit in 2014

We all owe Sr. Janet a debt of gratitude. Her legacy lives on through the children she taught and through the research she completed. Her research was very well organized and very detailed. It is truly the foundation for what we know about the Guth and Selker families. Sr. Janet will most certainly be missed. I am most grateful she was my family history mentor and I had the opportunity to learn from her. 

Sr. Janet was buried at Trinity Cemetery in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. To view her obituary visit the website for the Benedictine Sisters of Erie.  

Sr. Janet Staab is my 1st cousin 2x removed. Our shared ancestors are Joseph William Selker and Frances Philomena Guth.  

Six Year Anniversary

Six years ago today Our Ancestors - The Murosky & McDonald Ancestral Lines was launched. Working on the family tree research site has been an incredible adventure. What initially started as a family research site has grown to have a companion Facebook page and the Old Family Photographs site.

Content & Reach

In the last six years 235 articles have been posted. The content ranges from family photographs to historical documents. The site has had over 70,000 page views. Although the majority of the readers have been from the United States the site also receives regular international traffic. There are visitors from Russia, Germany, France, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Poland, Canada, Turkey and Ireland.

Some of the most popular articles at the site include:

• First Cousin 2x Removed, Second Cousin - What does it mean?
• JW Selker: A Letter To Germany
• 2nd Anniversary of the Old Family Photographs Website
• 1930's - Arthur Murosky
• 1946 - Marian Elaine Murosky
• 1877 - Farmington Township, Clarion, Pennsylvania
• The O'Neill Connection To St. Patrick
• Edward C. Selker Formal Portrait
• Two Common Ancestors: Richard McDonald & Robert Haggerty

The most popular page at the site is the Military Veterans followed by Published Family History.

Connecting with Cousins

The most incredible part of the journey has been connecting with cousins. These connections most likely would not have happened without this site. Each of these connections has contributed to my ongoing family research.

The research site has linked me to my ancestral families in Germany and France. The site also allowed the opportunity to get to know some of my American cousins. In 2013 my father and I traveled to Crown, Clarion County, Pennsylvania to meet our cousin Benjamin Patrick Norris.

2013 Trip to Crown, Clarion County, Pennsylvania
Standing with my cousin 3rd Cousin 2x Benjamin Patrick Norris

2013 Trip to Crown, Clarion County, Pennsylvania
St. Mary's Church
Dave Murosky with his 3rd Cousin 1x Benjamin Patrick Norris and Benjamin's wife

We had a lovely visit and got to learn so much from Benjamin about our shared ancestors and about the Farmington, Township. 

Looking Forward:

I look forward to sharing new content to the site. As more and more records become available there is no shortage of available content! One of the other items on my list is to continue to work on the Portraits of a Life project. I look forward to what the future will bring. 

Thank you kindly for reading,

Michelle