Anton Kozlowski - This was my Grandpa. He was born in the Zamosc, Skierbieszow, area of Poland October 24, 1892. He died September 3, 1971. He was 79 years old when he died. According to his Naturalization Papers, he immigrated to the US in 1913. He left Antwerp Belgium on the vessel “Lapland” May 20, 1913 and arrived in New York May 28, 1913. There is also reference to another vessel called the “Zeeland” arriving August 5, 1913. I remember hearing that once Anton got here (to the US) he was sick & was sent back - so this second entry may be his return trip. Anton took his oath of Naturalization (became a US Citizen) on Sept 6th, 1919. There was also a note that some of his application papers where lost in France - he was in France in 1919 as a WW1 soldier. It lists Anton from the “Republic of Poland” of the Country of “Russia”. His name is inscribed on the Immigrant Wall of Honor at Ellis Island - “Antoni Kozlowski” - from Poland - (Panel #233). Anton came with 5 other friends of his of which he is said to have paid passage for.

Anton’s father Andrzej, and Andrzej’s 1/2 brother Jan Terlecki  inherited land from their mother. Jan built a house here and Andrzej had a garden and orchard here. Anton then inherited this land from his father (he probably got the land when he “became a man” - as his father had died when Anton was 4 years old) ) He then sold this land to his Uncle Jan Terlecki  and most likely used the money to come to the US. Anton more or less had an apprenticeship for agriculture and studied in France & Italy before going to the US.

When Anton first arrived in the US he spent time in the state of New York. I heard one story that his foot locked burned up while he was there. He lived in Chicago for a period of time and came to Marathon County Wisconsin in 1914. All the jobs he had I don’t know, but I do know he was a cook in a lumber camp, and worked at the Wausau Iron Works.

Anton served in the Army, serial #2829953, as a private of Company I 139 Infantry. He was inducted into service May 27, 1918 and was Honorably Discharged May 2, 1919 by reason of Demobilization of WW 1. He served in France from July 22, 1918 and returned to the US April 24, 1919. If you note from the first paragraph, he became a US Citizen shortly after coming home from the war.

Anton married Lydia Weyneth on July 20, 1920. He was 28 years old when he married. He worked for another greenhouse in the area and did some masonry work, but eventually build his own greenhouse and operated it and a landscaping business until his retirement in 1958.

Anton and Lydia had three girls and two sons. The boys where twins, but they both died at birth. Marian is the oldest girl. She married Herbert Kolbe and had two daughters Judy and Monna. Monna has never married and has no children. Judy married Randy Gorski. They have no children. Herbert owns a window manufacturing company here in Wausau. Judy works for her father, and her husband Randy grows ginseng as well as owns numerous properties with his wife Judy which they manage together.

The second daughter is Lorraine. She married Bernard Spatz. They have one son, Kelly, and Kelly has one son Tony. Bernard and Lorraine, for the most of what I remember where in the Real Estate Business selling houses. Kelly works for Herbert Kolbe as a lumber buyer. Tony has just started college.

The youngest daughter is Nancy, my mother. She married Merlin Huehnerfuss in 1950. I was then born January 14, 1952. I have no brothers or sisters. My mother ran a Flower Shop for many years. My dad, Merlin, worked at a factory that manufactures electric motors. He is now retired. I am 46 years old and work for Herbert Kolbe in his Window Company. My mother Nancy died  September 17, 1980 of cancer. She was 48 years old when she died. I have one daughter Amber who is 17 years old. She just graduated from High School. Amber lives with me as I am divorced from my wife.

From Anton’s death certificate I know his Fathers name was Andrew and his Mothers name was Tillie Wenslowick (spelling per the document). From another document, which I believe is a duplicate birth certificate, dated 1957, which is written in Polish, Anton’s last name is listed as Antoni Koza. I have since found that this is a mistake and he got the wrong birth certificate.  His fathers first name is written as “syn Andrzeja”  (Andrew’s son). Andrew is the Americanized name. His mothers first name is listed as “Telki” with Tillie again probably being the Americanized name. Tillie’s last name is listed but the best translation I can make is how it reads on Anton’s death certificate (Note from Ewa - the last name is probably “Weclawik” in Polish and “Venslovick” in translation).

There was much Russian influence on the Poles after 1863 until the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917. Poland did not even exist as a nation for about 126 years prior to the end of World War I. The Russian Empire, had a program for the Russification of the Polish lands under its rule, and  introduced the Russian language in the schools, restricted the use of the Polish language, and interfered with the activities of the Roman Catholic church. Culturally, politically, and economically, the parts of Poland under Russian rule were transformed into mere provinces of the Russian Empire, losing almost all vestiges of their former autonomy. The Poles in Prussian Poland were subjected to a policy of Germanization (although not as severe as in the Russian zone). Poles in Austrian Poland were treated more liberally, and they developed their own leaders and political life. This probably accounts for stories from Anton, of Russian origins and references by him of the Czar of Russia, and other items about Russia.

Aunt Marion has a photo of Anton’s mother Tilli and a post card from her wishing her a happy birthday. She also remembers when she died - Marion said she was a teenager when she died - thus she must have died in the 1930’s. Anton’s real father, Andrew, is said to have been a doctor though new evidence shows he was a farmer. He died when Anton was 4 years old, which would have been 1896. I am told he died from diphtheria he caught from a patient but instead I believe he caught it from the doctor. Anton’s mother then remarried - I am told he was a photographer. This is the father Anton would probably remember.

In a/the Wausau Centennial Association interview of Anton he listed Tillies father as Casimar Wenslowick and said he was 108 years old when he died. I don't think this is correct. I think Casimar was her Grandfather not her father.

Anton had one Brother Stanley, and a sister Maria. I believe Maria’s husbands’ last name was Bryk (Brick in American), but I don’t know his first name. She was 67 years old in 1957 so she must have been born in 1890 and this would make her Anton’s older sister. She had active correspondence in the 1950’s with Anton. There was earlier contact, from the 1920’s through to 1950  but I don’t know much about it. Anton, in his 1939 interview (actually the interview date was Sept 6, 1936) also listed a brother “John” who was born in 1890 and died in 1901.

Maria had two daughters. One is Helena, who married Sergiusz Lycz. Helena moved to Lublin in 1952 from Gorzow for health reasons. Maria then moved to Lubin from Gorzow in 1953. I don't know if Helena had any children. Helena had much correspondence in the 1950’s as well with Anton and his daughter Lorraine.

Maria’s other daughters name is Bronia (I am not sue of the spelling). Bronia’s husbands name was Franck. I don’t know his last name. They had a son named Lbysik, and in 1958 she worked in a shoe warehouse and her husband was a bricklayer in the construction trade. I also know that in 1958 Lbysik was in a Sanitarium with “Leukemia of the Lung” - which I presume is TB.

Now coming to Stanislaw, I have had confusion until Ewa clarified some things for me in her most recent letter. I had incorrectly identified Anton’s brother Stanislaw as Ewa’s Great grandfather. That is why I was confused by Stanislaw’s last name being Terlecki. Stanislaw Kozlowski was Anton’s brother by the same mother and father. Not much is known about him other than that he had 2 sons and he had correspondence with Anton. Also, that Aunt Marion said he died of TB, but I don’t know when he died. I had thought Stanislaw Terlecki was Anton’s 1/2 brother.

As I now understand, Anton’s Grandmother (Ms Konczewska - first name unknown) had a child by her first husband named Jan Terlecki. When this Jan was six weeks old his father died, and thus Ms Konczewska remarried to a Mr Kozlowski who had the child Andrzeja Kozlowski - he is Anton’s father. Ms Konczewska had a third husband - Mr Pyrczuk and they had a son.

Thus Andrzeja Kozlowski and Jan Terlecki where 1/2 brothers and would have grown up together as brothers.
Then Andrzeja Kozlowski had the son Antoni (this is my Grandpa) and Jan Terlecki had a son Stanislaw (Stanley) Terlecki.

Stanislaw ‘s wife’s name was Maria and they had two sons Boleslaw Terlecki who has one son Bogan and nothing else is known about them. The other son is Jan (John) Terlecki. Jan Terlecki married Maria and they have a son Wladyslaw, and a daughter Jadwiga.

Wladyslaw married Maria who have 6 children. They are - Adam , Sylwia (Sylvia) , Joanna , Andrej (Andrew), Caroline, and Anna. Sylvia is married and has three sons.

Jan and Maria’s daughter Jadwiga, married Jozef Stec. I believe Jozef is a Physics teacher at a high school, and Jadwiga works in a teachers library.

Jadwiga and Jozef have one daughter Ewa. She, Ewa, is who I am currently corresponding with. She and her husband Peter are both teachers. She has one son Peter. They live in Zamosc ul Poprzeczna/Lubeiska which is about 18km from Skierbieszow, which is the “home” land where Anton is from.

Anton Kozlowski, 78, 1313 S. 12th Ave., Wausau, died Friday at 9:57 p.m. at the Veterans
Hospital, Tomah. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at Helke West Chapel,
Wausau. The rev. Armin Duchow of Grace United Church of Christ, Wausau, will officiate and
burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Wausau. friends may call Tuesday after 3 p.m. at the
funeral home. Mr. Kozlowski was born Oct. 24, 1892, in Lublin, Poland, son of the late Mr. and
Mrs. Andrew Kozlowski. On July 10, 1920, in Wausau, he was married to Lydia Weyneth, who
survives. He was a veteran of World War 1 and a retired florist and landscape gardener. He had
formerly owned Kozlowski’s Greenhouse, retiring in 1958. Survivors, besides his wife, include
three daughters, Mrs. Herbert Kolbe, Marathon Route 1, Mrs. Bernard Spatz, 1320 S 11th Ave.,
Wausau and Mrs. Merlin Huehnerfuss, Wausau Route 4; and four grandchildren.