More Przybylskis and more intrigue

This weekend, I was excited because I finally received the marriage records from Poznan, Poland for my great-grandparents and great-great grandparent: Eva Dauer and John Plenzler, and Andreas Dauer and Maria Aumiller (Eva’s parents), and for Joseph Plenzler and Mary Leiseick (John’s parents). I also received another Plenzler marriage record, one for Margaretha Plenzler and Michael Mruk (daughter of John Pleznler and Mary Leiseicka, my great-grandparents). These will be transcribed and I’ll get to posting more about Plenzlers in the near future.

I thought the Plenzlers were prolific–every time I seemed to have located one, another two popped up.

The Przybylskis are outdoing the Plenzlers. For sometime, I had reason to suspect that Frances and Andrew had more children than were documented here. John Plenzler had told me a few times that there were two other brothers: John and Joseph. However, I have not found records or any hints of these two until recently. Additionally, another sibling appears while I was looking for John and Joseph: Marianna.

I located Marianna while searching for any marriage records I could through St. Anthony’s Parish. I was actually looking to see if I could locate records for John or Joseph–typically, it seems as if the clan remained together and migrated together and stayed together so it made sense to see if they married in the neighborhood. Lo and behold. I didn’t find any marriage records for John or Joseph, but I did locate a marriage record for Marianna, who married Joseph Ertman.

I have not completely transcribe this record (it’s written in Latin and I’m very, very rusty with what little Latin I know); however, it’s clear to see that Marianna was the daughter of Andreas Przybylski and Francisca Rochowiak. Additionally, the marriage was witnessed and signed by Frank Przybylski.

A bit more research led me to locate the Ertman family on the 1910 census, where they were living at 1610 Vance Street. Many of the Przybylskis resided on Vance.

I did find some trace of John Przybylski. John Plenzler told me that he had changed his name and left the area to live in Miami, Florida to captain a fishing boat. The story goes he was running away from a gang. The names John Przybylski used were John Seblaski and Johnnie Bear. So, I managed to find two census records for John Seblaski: one in 1920 in Detroit, Michigan and another in a 1945 Florida census. The Florida census data does reflect that John Seblaski is a boat captain.

I also reviewed some of Andrew Przybylski’s data just to see if there were more clues about his children. I have little data on Andrew; however, there is a hint. Andrew was listed in the 1892-1893 Polk directory for Toledo. That same directory reflects a Joseph Przybylski, who resides on Blum Street. More research needed!

I also located data for John Przybylski. The 1900 census and the 1920 census both reflect him living at 1461 Vance Street with his wife, Teckla Mruk, and their family.

Now, a lot of this doesn’t quite add up, though. Per Frances’ and Andrew’s marriage record from Chometowo, and the marriage abstract from the Pozan Project website, Andrew and Frances were married in 1873. Marianna was born in 1875. It’s possible one other child was born prior to Marianna. However, John’s estimated birthdate is 1869. If Frances were born on the date as stated in her death certificate, September 8, 1859–she would have been only 10 years old. That’s not really quite possible, she would not have been of childbearing age. However, her marriage record of 1873 states that she is about 26, meaning she would have been born about 1847.

More mystery, more intrigue. Does this imply that perhaps Andrew was widowed and previously married? Does this imply a Polish shot gun wedding? Does this imply that perhaps Frances ran away to marry (that perhaps the age on the marriage record is inaccurate)? We may never know! And more research is needed on John, Joseph, and Marianna!

But for now, goodnight to all and to all a goodnight!

 

Mini-trivia: Joseph Plenzler

While doing some background research on Toledo and the Toledo State Hospital, I came across a bit of trivia. While searching libraries and documentation online for historical information about the city and the hospital, I found the Biennial Report of the Toledo State Hospital for the reporting period ending November 15, 1909. Here’s a link to the extracted page of the report.

In the report is a record of Joseph Plenzler for working on remodeling the cottages on the campus in February and March 1908. He earned $132.  Using an annual rate of inflation over the past 100 years, he would have earned over $2,850.53 today for this work!

 

Searching for Florence

One of the reasons I’d gotten started on researching my family a few years ago was my mom wondered what had happened to her sister, Florence. Since I’ve started this journey, I’m realizing more and more families have one or more members who seem to disappear without much of a trace. Florence is one such person in my family.

Florence was born to John Plenzler and Anastasia Przybylski on October 1, 1915. She was the second of three children: Raymond was the eldest, born in 1914 and my mother was the youngest, born in 1926.

Mom, Dad, Karen, and Davey Plenzler on New Years Day 1953

The information I have on Florence is scarce. My mom lost touch with her many years ago, probably sometime in the 1960s.

Florence had a son, David (“Davey”), who was born in 1941. Florence was 25 when Davey was born, and the family was in some turmoil. Anastasia was widowed at this point, and had suffered with breast cancer as well as other health problems. Most likely, Anastasia was indigent. Florence was single at the time, and my mother would have been just 14 years old when Davey was born on April 22, 1941.

Anastasia passed away in 1946. By this time, my mother was 18 years old. Gradually, by the time my parents married in 1948, mom had full-time care of Davey and had raised him for a number of years.

Davey was living with my mother, father, and sister in 1953. I have a photo of the family together dated New Years Day, 1953 as well as Davey’s First Holy Communion record through St. Hyacinth. Davey would have been 12 at the time of the picture, and would have been just past his 10th birthday at the time he made his First Holy Communion on May 13, 1951.

Ultimately, Davey was placed in a home because he required much more care than normal children–he was mentally handicapped and did not do well in normal schools of that period. Mom maintained her relationship with Davey all of those years, treated him much like her son. While Davey was growing up, mom and Davey lost touch with Florence. Contact between Florence and my mother was infrequent although mom did have an address for her in Detroit, Michigan and knew she had married when she moved to Detroit. Mom has also told me that Florence did have another child, a son, who was killed in an auto accident.

However, as time passed, the two sisters lost touch. Davey passed away in 1994 after developing a fairly independent life for himself. There was no contact information for Florence at this time and I’ve since learned that Florence passed away in 1999 by finding a Social Security death index record for her. That led me to search land ownership and deed transfer records in Wayne County, Michigan, where I located a quit claim that indeed placed Florence in Detroit and identified her husband as John. I then located John’s death through the Social Security death index and found an abstract of his Michigan death certificate.

I have no pictures of Florence, nor do I know if she had other children. I cannot verify whether she had another son or whether that son died.

Florence is one of the mysteries in our branch of the Plenzler family. Mom had wondered about her many times through the years. I have not been able to locate any records for her yet that provide any indication of what happened to her, or what her life was like, or any other children she may have had. I hope to find more about her story. If anyone has any information about Florence Plenzler Soborowski please let me know.

 

Leo and Harriet Plenzler

Leo was the last child of Eva Dauer and Joseph Plenzler. He was born March 14, 1899 and baptized in St. Anthony’s Parish on March 19, 1899. Leo’s baptismal record is transcribed below:

Ego infrascriptus baptizavi Leonem
Natum 14 Martii
ex Josepho Plencler et Eva Dauer
Patrini fuerunt Adalbertus Toda, Josepha Majchrzak
F.S. Motulewski

I located Leo on the 1920 census, living with his siblings Robert, Mary, and Frank at the family home at 1451 Avondale. What is particularly interesting about this census is that there is also a family listed at the same address of Sophia and Steve Szymanowski. Where there two Sophia Szymanowskis? Did Sophia Plenzler marry a Szymanowski? Frank married Sophia Szymanowski. Did Sophia Szymanowski have a sibling named Steve? More investigation in the near future! (I do believe this is the case, but have not plowed through the census records yet.)

Leo’s World War I draft registration provided is occupation as a presshand at the Toledo Metal Wheel company (you’ll need to scroll down the page a bit to find the article on Toledo Metal Wheel).  Here is also an interesting blog post about the Toledo Metal Wheel company.

I have no details about Leo’s marriage; however, he married a woman named Harriet. This marriage produced two sons: Leon and Phillip.

Leo passed away April 27, 1963 at the age of 65. His obituary was published in the Toledo Blade April 28, 1963 and is transcribed below.

Leo J. Plenzler, 64, of 520 Detroit Ave., died yesterday in Toledo Hospital of a heart ailment.

A lifelong Toledo resident, Mr. Plenzler was a set-up man 35 years at the DeVilbiss Co.

Surviving are his wife, Harriet; sons, Leo, Jr. and Phillip J., sisters, Mary and Mrs. Sophie Szymanowski, and brothers, Robert and Frank, all of Toledo.

The body is in the Sujkowski Mortuary. Services will be Wednesday at 9 a.m. in St. Stanislaus Church, with burial in Calvary Cemetery.

Leo was buried through St. Stanislaus Parish. The church burial record is transcribed below.

Number 8
Name: Family; Baptismal: Leo Plenzler
Address: 520 Detroit
Age: 64
Parents or Spouse: Harriet
Sacraments-Minister: A. Sobczak
Date of Death: 4/27/63
Cemetery Date of Burial: Calvary, 5/1/63

Leo’s burial record from Calvary Cemetery is transcribed below:

No. 64971
Name: Leo J. Plenzler
Residence: Toledo Hosp.
Age: 64
Cause of Death: Congestive Heart Failure
Date of Interment: May 1
Grave: E11′, W28, S6′
Range or Lot: 60
Section: 19
Funeral Director: W.K. Sujkowski
Remarks: 1787

Harriet passed away November 20, 1983. Her obituary was published in the Toledo Blade on November 21, 1983 and is transcribed below:

Mrs. Harriet S. Plenzler, 79, of Rosemar Drive, died Sunday in her home. She was the widow of Leo Plenzler. Surviving are her sons, Leon and Philip, and sisters, Mrs. Marie Cichy, Mrs. Martha Klatt, and Agnes Konczal, and brother, William Lamarr. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Stanislaus Church. The Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Sujkowski Mortuary, where the body will be after 6:30 tonight.

Harriet’s death record through St. Stanislaus Parish is transcribed below:

#6
Name: Family; Baptismal: Plenzler, Harriet
Address: 2216 Rosemar, Toledo, Ohio
Age: 79
Parents or Spouse: Son – Leon
Date of Date: 11/20/83
Cemetery, Date of Burial: Calvary, 11-20-83
Celebrant at Funeral: Gerald Robinson

Harriet’s burial record from Calvary Cemetery is transcribed below:

No. 88335
Name: Harriet S. Plenzler
Residence: 2216 Rosemar
Age: 79
Cause of Death: Prov. death cert.
Date of Interment: 11-23-83
Grave: E11′,W20′, S9′
Range or lot: 60
Section 19
Funeral Director: Sujkowski
Remarks: 420

 

Sophia Plenzler

Sophia was the 9th child of Eva Dauer and Joseph Plenzler. I have located Sophia on the 1900 and 1910 census records for the family and have also located her baptismal certificate. It seems Sophia disappears into history!

Sophia was born April 25, 1897 and baptized May 2, 1897 in St. Anthony’s parish. Her baptismal record is transcribed below:

Ego infrastriptus baptizavi: Sophiam Plencner
Natam: 25 Aprilis
ex Joseph Plencler et Eva Dauer
Patrini fuerunt: Joannes Przybylski, Josepha Jawkowiak
F.S. Motulewski

I am researching this further, but I cannot locate a death record or marriage record yet for her.

 

Margaretha Plenzler and Michael Mruk

I have found Margaretha!

Thanks to input from Judy Stewart, it appears that I’ve located Margaretha in Toledo. She is a sibling to Joseph Plenzler. Margaretha married Michael Mruk and they settled into the neighborhood near Joseph and Eva at 1465 Vance. Per the 1900 census, Margaretha and Michael emigrated to the US in 1884 and 16 children were born to Margaretha, 9 of whom survived per the census.

I have not yet found immigration records for the Mruks; however, through church and census records, I have located these children:

• Tecla, born about 1873
• Stanley, born about 1876
• Mary, born about 1880
• Stanislawa, born April 17, 1885 and baptized April 19, 1885
• Martin, born September 28, 1887 and baptized October 1, 1887*
• Praxida, born January 5, 1890 and baptized January 5, 1890
• Jacob, born July 19, 1892 and baptized July 20, 1892
• Peter, born May 28, 1894 and baptized May 28, 1894
• Joseph, born March 3, 1896 and baptized March 3, 1896

* If you read the entire document that contains Martin Mruk’s baptism record, note that Joseph and Eva had a child baptized during the same period: Stanislaus who was born October 25, 1887 and baptized October 26, 1887. There is a note indicating Stanislaus passed away on May 18, 1888.

Michael Mruk was godfather (or baptism sponsor) to my grandfather, John Plenzler.

Tecla Mruk married John Przybylski and per the 1900 census, she and her family were living next door to her parents at 1461 Vance. (Another Przybylski/Plenzler marriage!)

Mary married John Zielinski. Mary passed away on September 6, 1938 per her Ohio death certificate.

Margaretha passed away February 15, 1904. Her death was recorded through St. Anthony’s parish and she is buried at Calvary Cemetery.

Her death record through St. Anthony’s is transcribed below:

Date of Death and Burial: Feb. 15 – 17
Name of Person Interred: Margaret Mruk
Age: 54
Priest: A.J. Suplicki
Cemetery: Calvary

Her burial record through Calvary Cemetery is transcribed below:

No.
Name of deceased: Mary Mruk
Place of nativity:
Late residence: 1465 Vance
Age: 54
Color: W
Sex: F
Disease: Ulcus Vateserilos (?)
Date of Decease: 16 F
Date of Interment: 17 Feb.
Place of Death: Toledo
Married, Single or Widowed: M
No. of Grave: 513
No. of Lot: 11
No. of Section: 28
Name of Physician: 1449
Name of Undertaker: W. Sujka
Name of Parents of Kindred:
Remarks:

Michael Mruk passed away March 27, 1915 per his Ohio Death Certificate. He was interred through St. Hedwig’s Parish and buried at Calvary Cemetery. It appears from reviewing Michael’s death records that he married again after Margaretha’s death, but there is no indication who he married.

Michael’s death record from St. Hedwig’s is transcribed below:

Died 27th March 1915 Michael Mruk
Calvary
Bur. 29th March 1915 ??? in Europa
67 y 6 m 9 d

Michael’s burial record from Calvary is transcribed below:

No. 16193
Name of Deceased: Michael Mruk
Place of Nativity:
Late Residence: 2903 Higgins
Age: 67
Color: W
Sex: M
Disease: Chr. Gastritis
Date of Decease: March 27
Date of Interment: March 29
Married, Single or Widowed: M
Place of Death: Toledo
No. of Grave: 941
No. of Lot: 9
No. of Section: 30
Name of Physician: E.J. Henzler
Name of Undertaker: W.J. Sujkowski
Name of Parents or Kindred:
Remarks:

 

Eva Dauer and Joseph Plenzler: Wedding Photo

Many thanks to Judy Stewart for this picture. Aren’t they a beautiful couple? Married November 8, 1879 in Gluszyna.

Eva Dauer and Joseph Plenzler, wedding photo

 

Frank Plenzler, Sophia Szymanowski, and son Edwin

Frank was the seventh child of Joseph Plenzler and Eva Dauer, born February 8, 1895. All records I’ve located stated his birth as 1896, but the St. Anthony’s baptismal register shows that Frank was born in 1895. His baptismal record is transcribed below:

A.D. Die Mensis: 17 Feb.
Ego infrascriptus baptizavi: Fransiscus ??
natum 8 Februarii
ex Josepho Plencner
et Eva Dauer
Patrini Fuerunt: Franciscus Szerpa??, Maria Falkenstejce (sp?)
Rev. V. Zaleski

Frank was enlisted into the Army in World War I. A copy of his World War I draft card is here. His draft card notes his employment at Seiss Manufacturing, a manufacturer that produced and sold bicycle parts. As a bit of nostalgia, here is a link to an advertisement for Seiss bicycle horns published in Boys’ Life Magazine, March 1921.

As with his brother, Robert, a record of his World War I service is provided in the Ohio Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, World War 1917-18. The record for Frank in the Ohio Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, World War 1917-1917 is transcribed below:

Plenzler, Frank J.
3583302
White
1541 Avondale Ave.
Toledo, O.

NA LB 4 Toledo, O. June 26/18. Br Toledo, O. Feb. 8/95. 158 Dep Brig to July 18/18, Co F 335 Inf to Oct 5/18; Co K 358 Inf to disc. Pvt. Meuse-Argonne. AEF Sept 9/18 to June 8/19. Hon Disc June 15/19.

Like Robert, Frank served at Meuse-Argonne and with the American Expeditionary Forces.

Sophia Szymanowski was the daughter of Michael and Maryanna Jablonski, born September 25, 1897 and baptized September 27, 1897. Her baptismal record is transcribed below:

Nomen Familiae: Szymanowski
A.D. Die Mensis: 27 Sept.
Ego infrascriptus baptizavi: Sophiam
Natum 25 Sept.
ex Michaele Szymanowski et Maryanna Jablonska
Patrini Fuerunt: Aldalbertus Pufe (sp?), Apolonia Szymanowski

Sophia and Frank married between 1920 and 1930. The 1930 census placed them at 1240 Campbell Street. One son is produced from this marriage, Edwin, born about 1927. Edwin never married and passed away June 14, 1974. He was buried through St. Anthony’s Parish and interred at Calvary Cemetery.

Edwin’s burial record through St. Anthony’s is transcribed below:

Name: Plenzler, Edwin, 1240 Campbell
Died: June 14, ’74
Buried June 18 ’74
Cemetery: Calv.
Officiating Priest: Th. Extejt
Age: Date of Birth: 47 y.
Sacraments: Sudden death – Mercy H.
Nearest Kin: Mother Sophia

Edwin’s burial record from Calvary Cemetery is transcribed below:

No. 78517
Name: Edwin Plenzler
Residence: 1240 Campbell
Age: 47
Cause of death: Prov. death cert.
Date of interment: June 18
Grave: 9
Range or Lot: 150
Section: 46
Funeral Director: Sujkowski
Remarks: 1338

Frank passed away January 1, 1970 and was interred through St. Anthony’s parish and buried at Calvary Cemetery.

Frank’s death record from St. Anthony’s is transcribed below.

Name: Frank Plenzler
Cemetery: Calvary
Age: Date of birth: 74
Nearest Kin: Wife
Died: Jan. 1, 1970
Buried: Jan. 6, 1970
Officiating Priest: G. G. Radecki
Sacraments: All
Adm. By: Chaplain at Mercy Hosp.

Frank’s burial record through Calvary is transcribed below:

No.: 73161
Name: Frank Plenzler
Residence: 1240 Campbell
Age; 74
Cause of Death: Myocardial Infarction
Date of Interment: Jan. 6, 1970
Grave: 11
Range or Lot: 150
Section: 46
Funeral Director: Sujkowski
Remarks: 10

Sophia passed away February 21, 1990. She was interred through St. Hyacinth Parish and buried in Calvary Cemetery.

Sophia’s death record through St. Hyacinth Parish is transcribed below:

Name of deceased: Sophia Plenzler
Residence: 1240 Campbell
Age: 92
Parents, Wife or Husband: Ronald Rejent, 3526 Secor Rd., Apt. 228, 43606
Date of Death: 2-21-90
Priest: Fr. Tom Extejt
Place and Date of Burial: 2-23-90, Calvary

Sophia’s burial record from Calvary Cemetery is transcribed below:

No.: 93903
Name: Sophia Plenzler
Residence: 1240 Campbell
Age: 92
Cause of Death: Prov. Death Cert.
Date of Interment: 2-23
Grave: 10
Range or Lot: 150
Section: 46
Funeral Director: Sujkowski AP
Remarks: 2046

Sophia’s obituary was published February 22, 1990 in the Toledo Blade and is transcribed below:

Sophia Plenzler, age 92 years, formerly of Campbell St., died on Wednesday, February 21 in the Toledo Hospital. Preceded in death by her husband, Frank and son, Edwin. Survived by sister, Mrs. Clara B. Zion of Tiffin, OH; also nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Friday 12:30 p.m. from the Sujkowski & Son Funeral Home, Airport Hwy. Funeral Mass at St. Hyacinth Church at 1 PM. Scripture services Thursday at 7 PM in the mortuary, where visitation will be Thursday after 5 PM. Burial Calvary.

 

Marriage Record Joseph Plenzler and Eva Dauer

Voila! Some success. I have received a marriage record from the Roman Catholic Church in Gluszyna for Joseph Plenzler and Eva Dauer via the Poznan Project. This is the church record, not the civil record, dated November 9, 1879.

Here is a transcription:

No. 25
Copulationis: 1879
Dies: November 9
Nomen Sacerdotis Copulantis: Edwardus Anndsburg (sp?)
Copulatorum Nomen et Cognemen — Condition et professio — Locas habitationis: Josephus Plenzler, juvenis, et Eva Dauer, virgo — ambo e Wiorek.
Actas Sponsi :24
Actas Sponsae: 22
Religio: Cath.
Prolamatio Bannorum: Dom: XX, XXI, XXII p. Pentes
Testes: Joannes Plenzler, Martinus Leseicki, Wiorek
Adonations: 8 Listopada

So it appears as if Joseph and Eva were married November 8, 1879 and the marriage recorded the following day and lived in Wiorek. Am uncertain who the John Plenzler mentioned here is–possibly a brother? Also am unsure of who Martin Leseicki is. A cousin? (Joseph’s mother is Mary or Marianna Leseicka).

More information to follow regarding this marriage and the marriage of Andrew Przybylski and Frances Rochowiak in the future as I understand the state archives in Poznan are closed for the month of July and the Gniezno archives are now being rebuilt for the Chometowo records.

Please contact me if you would like a copy of this record.

 

Silent Sunday

Wladyslaw and Helena Mierzejewski (grandparents)

Joe and Celia Starzynski--Ciocia and Uncle Joe

Anastasia Plenzler--grandmother

John Plenzler--grandfather

Joseph and Josephine Plenzler--great-uncle/great-aunt

Martin and Minnie Plenzler--great-uncle/great-aunt

John and Theofila Mierzejewski--great-uncle/great-aunt

Konstanty and Stefania Mierzejewski (have not yet determined relationship)

.

Stanislaus Przybylski--great-uncle

Frank and Victoria Sieja

Edna Plenzler (m. Daniel Sieja, m. Stanley Jankowski), daughter Martin K. Plenzler

Daughters of Daniel and Edna (Plenzler) Sieja--Susan, Kathleen, Nancy

Daniel Sieja, first husband of Edna Plenzler, father of Kathleen, Susan, Nancy