St. Adalbert's Cemetery

St. Adalbert's Cemetery is south of the city right off of 6th Street at a slightly higher elevation than downtown. So looking back you get a great view of the city. It is also an enormous cemetery - the photo above is only showing one small section.

STEFANSKI

George 1917-1969

Josephine 1915-2002

Together in Loving Memory

George Stefanski is Walter Stefanski's youngest son. His wife was Josephine Dziedzic. Unfortunately this isn't a very good picture - I should have gently pushed down the flowers so as to read the entire thing. But the main problem was the sun - it was directly behind the stone making it hard to get a good shot.

DZIEDZIC

Matka Ewa 1885-1984

Ojciec Jozef 1884-1940

"Matka" is Polish for mother. "Ojciec" is Polish for father. Josephine Stefanski (listed above) is a Dziedzic and these are her parents.

1900 Father Ben Kaffka 1988

Monte J. Kaffka 1931

Ben Kaffka is the oldest child of Marianna Stefanski and Franz Kaffka. He was born in West Prussia and came on the ship to America with his parents as a very small child. I believe he is their only child to have stayed in Milwaukee. Monte J. Kaffka, I believe, is the son of Ben Kaffka and Louise Damitz.

Irene Kaffka

1907-1980

Irene Frankowiak married Ben Kaffka. I do not know yet if they were married before or after Ben's marriage with Louise.

Matka S.P.

Michalina Konkol

1861-1925

Michalina Kozlowska married John Konkol and is the mother of Antonina Konkol who married Joseph Stefanski. John died prior to 1900 (don't know yet where he was buried) and so Michalina was listed for many years in the City Directories as the widow of John.

After writing down the letters at the top of the grave, I had no idea what it was. But then, looking around, I noticed that many of the graves in the area had the same phrase of Matka S.P. Returning home I discovered the meaning of the phrase. "Matka" is Polish for mother. The meaning of S.P. on a Polish tombstone is probably "swietej pamieci",which means "the late" in English.

This is one of the chapels in the cemetery. I was curious about the ENORMOUS graves surrounding it - literally five to six feet tall. Any guesses who they might be? They are all for the Reverends and Fathers of the church.

When did Walter & Blanch Stefanski die?

I have taken quite an interest in Walter Stefanski since my great-grandfather, George Faustmann, lived with Walter and his family in the same home for many years. The only information I previously had on him was that he was buried in Holy Trinity Cemetery.

I have since learned that he came to the USA in 1906, married Bronislawa (Blanch) Fabiszewska in 1907, lived in Milwaukee during the 1910 and 1920 Census, but is not in the 1930 Census. In trying to find his children in the 1930 Census, I found them listed with their mother, Blanch, who now had the last name of Kulczynski, and a head of household named Louis W Kulczynski. So either Walter died before 1930 or they were divorced before 1930.

Searching in the Milwaukee City Directories (see below), the Kulczynski person's name is listed as Ladislaus and Walter, so for a while I was convinced that it was the same Walter, but that he had changed his last name for some reason. But then I searched in 1926 and found Blanch listed as a widow. That entry told me for sure that Walter had died between 1925 and 1926, so I can now order a death certificate to get the exact date.



There is no record of his burial at Holy Trinity Cemetery. I spent some time walking around looking at graves, but even though it is much smaller than St Adalberts, it is still quite a large cemetery. And on top of that, many of the older graves are very hard to read and some have fallen over. When I receive his death certificate, that will hopefully solve the mystery of where he is buried. If it is in Holy Trinity, someone will have to walk the entire cemetery to see if his grave is still there.

As for Blanch, after the death of Walter, she continued living in the 3rd Avenue home with her children and George Faustmann in 1926 and 1927 before marrying Ladislaus Kulczynski sometime in 1928 or 1929. They are listed as husband and wife in the 1930 Census together. The last entry of Blanch in the city directories is 1938. I have sent for a death certificate to get the exact date, but she most likely died between 1938 and 1940. The last entry for her second husband was in 1947.

Milwaukee City Directories
1919 Stefanski Walter blksmth h rear 534 3d av
1921 Stefanski Walter (Bernice) blksmith h534 3d av
1923 Stefanski Walter (Blanch) blksmith h rear 534 3d av
1924 Stefanski Walter (Blanch) blksmith h rear 534 3d av
1925 Stefanski Walter (Blanch) blksmth h rear 534 3d
1926 Stefanski Blanch (wid Walter) h rear 534 3d av
1927 Stefanski Blanche (wid Walter) h rear 534 3d av

1928 Kulzysenski Ladislaus coremkr h679 S Delaware av

1929 Kulczynski Ladislaus W (Blanch) coremkr h679 S Delaware av

1930 Kulczynski Ladislaus W (Blanch) coremkr h679 South Delaware av

1931 Kulczynski Walter (Blanche) coremkr h3203 S Delaware av

1932 Kulczynski Walter L (Blanche) coremkr h2318 E Euclid av

1933 Kulczynski Ladislaus (Blanche) coremkr h3782 S Kansas

1935 Kulczynski Walter L (Blanche) coremkr h2754 S Logan av

1936 (No Kulczynski listed)

1938 Kulczynski Walter (Blanche) coremkr r3444 S 9th

1939 (No Kulczynski listed)

1940 Kulczynski Lawrence L (Ladislaus) uphol CMSt P&PRR r RD1 Box 561 Cudahy

1941 Kulczynski Lawrence L hlpr CMStP&PRR r RD 1 Box 561 Cudahy

1944-45 Kulczynski Lawrence L uphol CMStP&PRR r Rd 1 Cudahy

1947 Kulczynski Lawrence L uphol MilRd r Cudahy

uphol=upholsterer
h=householder
r=resides or rooms
hlpr=helper
MilRd=Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul & Pacific Railroad
CMStP&PRR=Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul & Pacific RR

Chapel at Holy Trinity Cemetery

When did Marie Montbriand move to Milwaukee?

From my recent trip to Milwaukee, I still don't know where Marie Montbriand was in 1930, but I do know that she most likely wasn't in Milwaukee yet. The earliest listing of Marie Montbriand I found from the City Directories is in 1932. There is a slight possibility that she was living with someone else, like her uncle Richard Montbriand, whom I found living in Milwaukee in 1928 & 1929. But no Montbriand is listed in the City Directories in 1930 or 1931.

In 1932, Marie was living over a grocer on West Forest Home avenue between South 43rd and West Oklahoma avenue. While living here, Marie was working at the Herman Reel Company on Wisconsin Avenue as a stenographer. The Faustmann family, including George Kland, were rooming on West Scott between South Third and Fourth. Richard Montbriand and his wife were living in a home on North 19th, which is on the other side of the river.

By 1933, George Kland and Marie Montbriand were listed as living together on South 34th Street, but they were listed separately. As we know from their marriage certificate, they were married in 1933, but not until the 20th of Dec. Interestingly, by the end of the year they lived at different addresses, as reported on their marriage certificate. This fits in with the storyline from Grandpa quite well, since he listed in his autobiography that they met while living together at a boarding house after his mother kicked him out:

"I went to a rooming house, that’s where I met your mother, of course it wasn’t love at first sight, I was still going with this Italien girl, after about 2 months, I began to realize we were in the same place. That was in spring. We went together for 9 months. The landlady married a farmer up north, I guess, we split up, not our friendship, but living under the same roof. I went to a rooming house near my shop, while ma moved in with a family on the west side."

This would account for them to appear as living together in 1933, but then have different addresses by the end of the year when they were married. So it is quite probable that 737 S 34th was the boarding house that Grandma and Grandpa met at, which was owned by Mrs Margaret Graf (see below). When she sold it and moved up north, they both had to move. The address that Marie lists on her marriage certificate is on W St Paul Avenue. This address is listed as the location of Standard Brass Works (see below), so it may have been a residence over the business. Also, this location is on the other side of the river, not too far from where Marquette University is located. As Grandpa indicates, their relationship continued after being forced to move which eventually led to their marriage in December of that same year.

Finally in 1934, they are listed as husband and wife living together on the north side of town.


Milwaukee City Directory
1928 Montbriand Richd carp r305 ½ 19th
1929 Montbriand Richd carp r422 ½ 18th
1930 (No Montbriand’s listed)
1930 Kland Geo appr r521 3d av
1931 (No Montbriand’s listed)
1931 Kland Geo appr r1203 S 5th [same home as his parents]
1932 Montbriand Marie sten Herman Reel Co r4322 W F Home av
1932 Kland Geo appr r324 W Scott [same home as his parents]
1932 Montbriand Richd (Eda) carp h923 N 19th
1933 Montbriand Marie clk r737 S 34th
1933 Kland Geo fctywkr r737 S 34th
1933 Montbriand Richd (Ada) h923 N 19th
1934 Kland Geo F (Marie) litho r 207 N 30th

clk=clerk
W=West
F Home av = Forest Home av
gro=grocer
appr=apprentice
h=householder
r=resides or rooms


1932 address listings:
Reel Herman Co Herman Reel pres-treas Adolph F Reel v-pres Robt W Reel sec women’s furngs 201-203 W Wisconsin Ave

4322 W Forest Home av – from 1300 W Mitchell southwest to city limits
S 43rd intersects
4322 Tutaj Alois J gro and meats
W Oklahoma av intersects

1933 address listings:
737 S 34th (formerly 29th ave) from W Pierce south to W Dakota
737 Graf Margt Mrs
W National av intersects

1820 W St Paul av = Standard Brass Works

My Trip to Milwaukee

We actually flew into Chicago and made the drive north to avoid having a layover since there is no direct flight from Portland. So we stopped for lunch and some "squeeky cheese" at Mars' Cheese Castle. North of Milwaukee is the Village of Kohler, Wisconsin - not too far from Sheboygan. The factory has been around for over 100 years and was started by Mr. Kohler to provide jobs for the many German and Polish immigrants coming to the US. Our tour guide of the factory was a retired worker there, and part of four generations of workers in his family at that same factory. Now, in addition to the factory, there are world class hotels, spas, and golf courses for anyone who wishes to visit.

Kohler Design Center


Kohler Design Center

The American Club Hotel

The pictures are of the Kohler Design Center highlighting their products. We also had classes on such interesting topics as "toilet seats" and "bathing". A highlight for me was my first professional massage - pretty amazing stuff. Below is a picture of the spa and several of my hotel room. For the most part the weather was good. I was expecting cold, but one of the days it hit 90 degrees. And then it rained a little, so it was very humid. I also now understand a little of the rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. It was like Packer-mania since they have been doing so well. And then on Monday Night Football, when the Bears were playing, everyone was very excited since the Bears lost.

Kohler Waters Spa

My Hotel Room

Hotel Room Entry

Hotel Room Tub

On Tuesday I was dropped off at the Milwaukee airport where I picked up my rental car. I then headed to the Milwaukee Historical Society and the Milwaukee Public Library to check out the City Directories. Turns out to be a pretty fabulous resource. And the library is such a beautiful building with a very impressive entry. If I had to do it again, I would have gone straight to the Library. The Historical Society charged admission, was very protective of the City Directories, and closed early. The library was none of those, so I got a lot done at the library - up until they turned the lights out on me. Then I rushed over to Maders to catch dinner before they closed.


Milwaukee Public Library


Milwaukee County Historical Society


Milwaukee County Courthouse - forms the main downtown axis

What a great restaurant. Maders is dubbed as the most famous German restaurant in North America and has been around since 1902. I don't know much about German food, so I decided to go with the Sampler - their top three meals. It consisted of Sauerbraten, Kasseler Rippchen (smoked pork loin), and Wiener Schnitzel. The bread consisted of five types of roles. I also had sides of potatoes, red cabbage, and sauerkraut. All of it was just fabulous - highly recommended. The restaurant was decorated like an old German cottage, and my waitress even had an accent. I would go back again any day.


Looking East down Historic Mitchell Street

Unbelievable how many old, beautiful churches are south of downtown in the area where our family lived. It is interesting to note that this area seems to have always been home to new immigrants. Back when Grandpa lived there, it was the German and Polish, and now it is the Hispanics. So that's why you have things like "Alma's Ministries" at the "Modjeska Theatre" (see picture below). Pretty interesting stuff.


Modjeska Theatre


Basilica of St Josaphat


Looking West down National Ave & South 4th St

Overall I had a great time. Of course it was tough since I tried to do too much in a 24 hour period. I felt like Jack Bauer running around on 24 - "There's not enough time!" But I wouldn't have had it any other way. Now hopefully someday I can make it to Somerset...

How long were the Faustmann's in Milwaukee?

George Faustmann lived with the Walter Stefanski family (his brother-in-law) on Third Avenue upon arriving in the US in 1923 (pg.2). Walter's name and address are listed on page two of the ship manifest as his destination. He lived here with their family for over five years. Then, in 1928, the Stefanski's apparently sold the home to George and moved out. This is the first year it lists George as a householder (h) rather than a roomer (r). George continued to live at the Third Avenue home for several more years after his wife, Antonia, and children arrived in the US in 1929. After this, they appear to have moved around quite a bit with George working most of these years at St Luke's Hospital. Antonia ended up in California with their daughter, Augusta, but I don't know exactly when they made the cross-country trip from Milwaukee to Southern California. From the listings below, it appears she may have left sometime around 1938, three years before George died in Dec 1941, since the last listing of her is in 1937. She was for sure in California by Jan 1941 - almost a year before George died - since her Social Security application is dated 08 Jan 1941 with an address in Los Angeles.

While visiting this week, it turns out I was looking for this Third Avenue home in the wrong location. According to the 1929 street entry (listed below), 534 is between Greenfield and Orchard. I didn't find a 534 because today the numbering would have put it farther north, between Virginia and Bruce, which is where I was looking. I didn't realize my mistake until I was on the plane flying home...

534 3d av
Greenfield av intersects
534 Heilemann Alma Mrs
rear Faustmann Geo
Orchard intersects

But I believe I found the old Second Avenue home they lived at for several years (1934-35). Today it would be found on 7th Street. From the street entry in 1933 (listed below) we find that the home is between Orchard and Lapham which is where the home pictured below is still standing (with my rental car in front):

1549 S 2nd (formerly Reed) – from Canal south to limits
W Orchard intersects
1549 Fustmann Geo
W Lapham intersects


1549 S 2nd Avenue (Now 7th Street)

Finally, listed below are all the entries I found on the Faustmann family in Milwaukee. It appears to list other adults in the home if they were working, even if they were not the head of the household, so there are a few entries that list the adult children, George and Augusta, separately.

Milwaukee City Directories
1923 Faustmann Geo eng r rear 534 3d
1924 Faustmann Geo eng r rear 534 3d av
1925 Faustmann Geo eng r rear 543 3d av
1926 Faustmann Geo r rear 534 3d av
1927 Faustmann Geo eng r rear 534 3d av
1928 Faustmann Geo eng h rear 534 3d av
1929 Faustmann Geo (Antonia) mach hd h rear 534 3d av
1930 Faustmann Geo (Antoinette) eng h rear 534 3d av
1930 Kland Geo appr r521 3d av
1931 Faustmann Geo eng St Luke’s Hosp h1203 S 5th
1931 Kland Augusta student r1203 S 5th
1931 Kland Geo appr r1203 S 5th
1932 Faustmann Geo (Antonie) firemn h324 W Scott
1932 Kland Augusta r324 W Scott
1932 Kland Geo appr r324 W Scott
1933 Faustmann Geo (Antonia) eng St Luke’s Hosp h633 W Mineral
1934 Faustmann Geo (Antonia) eng St Luke’s Hosp h1549 S 2d
1935 Faustmann Geo (Antonia) sta eng h1549 S 2d
1935 Kland Augusta H student r1549 S 2d
1936 Faustmann Geo (Antonia) night mn St Luke’s Hosp h522 S 6th apt 21
1936 Kland Augusta r522 S 6th apt 21
1937 Faustman Geo F (Antoinette) eng St Luke’s Hosp h1654 S 6th
1937 Faustman Augustina maid r522 S 6th apt 21
1938 Faustmann Fred eng St Luke’s Hosp r1654 S 6th
1939 Faustman Geo r906 S 4th
1940 (No Faustmann listed)
1941 (No Geo or Antonia Faustmann listed)

eng=engineer
h=householder
r=resides or rooms
mach=machinist
hd=hand
appr=apprentice

What's in a name?

I have always been curious about my family name - Kland. It is quite unusual. My goal is to find my family origins. According to family tradition, my paternal grandfather received the name Kland from his mother's previous husband since the father and she weren't married. So it is possible that I should be a Faustmann. However, the origins of this name are also a mystery.

Many unanswered questions, such as these, remain about my family origins which I hope to uncover through my research. Along with new discoveries, I will also be posting items I have learned over the past two years of work so that this will be as complete as possible a record of my family. I hope you will enjoy the journey.