Milwaukee Polonia Project

For over 150 years, Milwaukee has been home to a large community of people of Polish descent. The Milwaukee Polonia Project hopes to show the interweaving, intertwining family trees that resulted in this community. It is hoped that, eventually, all the families can be connected to one another. The Milwaukee Polonia Project is also a means to explore our common history and celebrate our shared heritage.

THE ACTUAL DATABASE OF THE TREE IS NOW LOCATED AT THE MILWAUKEE POLONIA PROJECT TREE at Tribal Pages. (We still have much work to do, so don't assume that families are shown completely.) YOU DO NOT NEED A PASSWORD TO ACCESS INFORMATION ON DECEASED INDIVIDUALS.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Status Update - September, 2014

New Family Names Added Since Last Update:

Bieszk

Branski
Chalupnik
Cholowinski
Cukierski
Jozwiakowski
Jurkiewicz
Karulewiczowa
Krola
Majerowicz
Mosciski
Patelski
Pieprzyk
Pilarek
Przybylka
Rockernagen
Sinicki
Snuski
Sokol
Starczewski
Ulatowski
Vaneska
Zolecki

Profiles Added Since Last Update: 210

New Intra-Connections (Lucht to Fons):

267) ….Albert Paradowski > daughter, Mary (Paradowski) Rudzinski > husband, Andrew Rudzinski > sister, Frances (Rudzinski) Antoniak > daughter, Rose (Antoniak) Kleczka > husband, Edmund Kleczka > mother, Agnes (Wiza) Kleczka > sister, Anthony JohnWiza....

268) ….Albert Paradowski > son, John Paradowski > daughter, Jeanette (Paradowski) Rozga > husband, Charles A. Rozga > father, Stanley J. Rozga > brother, Francis [Frank] Rozga > daughter, Hattie (Rozga) Latus > husband, Harry F. Latus > mother, Catherine (Myk or Mick) Latus > sister, Francisca (Myk or Mick) Komorowski > husband, Frank Komorowski > father, Jacob Komorowski....

269) ….Francis [Frank] Rozga > son Joseph Rozga > wife, Mary (Jozwiakowski) Rozga > brother, Frank Jozwiakowski > wife, Clara (Rozga) Jozwiakowski > sister, Hattie (Rozga) Latus....

270) ....Joseph Rozga > son, Eugene Rozga > wife, Marcella (Borzymowski) Rozga > mother, Maryanna (Meller) Borzymowski > father, John Meller....

271) ….Joseph Rozga > daughter, Cecelia (Rozga) Larkin > husband, Edward [Laskowski] Larkin > sister, Catherine (Laskowski) Piszczek > husband, Joseph Warren Piszczek....

272) ….Clara (Michalek) Konieczka > husband, Bernard J. Konieczka > sister, Barbara Bronislawa (Konieczka) Miller > daughter, Betty Jane (Miller) Michalek > husband, Frank Michalek > mother, Mary (Sikora) Michalek....

273) ….Leona (Grosz) Lucht > brother, Edward Grosz > wife, Irene (Konieczka) Gross > sister, Stella (Konieczka) Podlaszewski > husband, Casimir Podlaszewski > father, Frank Podlaszewski > half-brother, Vincent Podlaszewski > son, Alex Podlaszewski > first wife, Clementine (Wodkowski) Podlaszewski > brother, Alvin Podlaszewski > wife, Gladys (Gapinski) Podlaszewski > sister, Casper [Casimer] Gapinski....

274) ….Josephine (Kaczmarowski) Piszczek > sister, Rosalie (Kaczmarowski) Brzezinski > husband, Frank Brzezinski > sister, Blanche (Brzezinski) Baranczyk....

PCN: 3.00

(For an explanation of the PCN - "Project Completeness Number") see Status Update - February, 2012 and Status Update - March, 2012)

Historical PCN Data:

September, 2014: 3.00
August. 2014: 2.29
July, 2014: 3.00
June, 2014: 2.44
May, 2014: 4.5

April, 2014: 4.67

March, 2014: 3.0

February, 2014: 10.5

January, 2014: 2.9

December, 2013: 4.11

November, 2013: 3.89

October, 2013: 2.14
September 2013: 2.9
August, 2013: 2.71

July, 2013: 4.28

June, 2013: 3.01

May, 2013: 6.33
April, 2013: 3.33

March, 2013: 8.2

February, 2013: 2.1
January, 2013: 8.0

December, 2012: 3.29

November, 2012: 6.0

October, 2012: 12.25
September, 2012: 6.4
August, 2012: 3.89
July, 2012: 4.57
June, 2012: 7.75
May, 2012: 9.33

April, 2012: 16.67

March, 2012: 16

February, 2012: 12.8

January, 2012: 19

New Alternate Spellings:

Branski Ranski

Brzezinski Breszinsky Brzezinske

Cukierski Cukier

Jarentowski Jaranowski

Jędrzejak Jendrzejek Jedrzejek Jedrsejek Jeudrzyek Judrzejek

Jozwiakowski Gozewiakowski

Krajenka Krafenka

Luczac Luczak

Maciejewski Marciejewski

Majerowicz Majrowicz

Miller Muller Milkes

Sokol Sokul

Ulatowski Matowski

Zolecki Żołecki Zalechi Zalecki

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Featured Profile #42 - Gerard Paradowski

Gerard S. Paradowski (abt. 1911 - 1982)

Gerard Paradowski was the oldest son of dentist Roman Paradowski (Featured Profile #39) and Rose (Oleniczak) Paradowski. He was born in Milwaukee around 1911. He grew up in the South Side and then when to Marquette University where he eventually earned his law degree. He began his law career in 1934, but it was the Great Depression and times were hard. Still struggling in 1939, Paradowski decided to join the Wisconsin National Guard to make contacts and hopefully raise clients.  The unit he joined was stationed in the old South Side Armory, and was part of the the 32nd Infantry Division.

As a career move, his decision had certain draw-backs, not the least of which was that World War II started shortly thereafter and he was called into active duty. Even though he was already 30 years old, he went off to fight the Japanese in the Pacific. He was shot in the thigh while fighting in the Battle of Buna-Gona in December, 1942 and received a Purple Heart.  (For a more detailed account of Paradowski's role in that battle, see "Doyle Finds Buna Push Went Like Clockwork.") He eventually rose to the rank of Major.

After the war, Paradowski returned to Milwaukee and a legal career, but not in the private sector. Until his retirement, Paradowski spent the remainder of his life working for the public. At various times, he held the positions of assistant district attorney, deputy court clerk, assistant corporation counsel, acting corporation counsel and Milwaukee County's lobbyist in Madison.

But those titles don't begin to described the roles that he filled. As Jeff Aiken described in his lengthy article in the Milwaukee Sentinel, Paradowski was an "[a]dvisor to judges, Mentor to legislators. Political strategist. Humorist. The 'Will Rogers of the Courthouse.'" He was a man well-respected for his knowledge of the law, his common sense, and his eloquence in both written and spoken communication.

Most people's image of a lobbyist is an individual with an inflated ego (manifested in flashy clothes and expensive cars) who tries to persuade legislators not by the merits of their cause but by the amount of their cash. Paradowski was the opposite of that. His sartorial choices were dictated in part by his parsimony and in part by his self-deprecating humor. Why buy a new shirt for $10 when you could get a laundered used one for 50 cents? His persuasiveness when lobbying for Milwaukee County was based on the merits of the cause and the force of his words; not on the power or money that his client could yield. And instead of manipulating legislators, he mentored them - helping new senators and representatives find their feet in a challenging environment.

Paradowski retired from most of his public duties in 1981. He died just a year later. He was survived by his second wife, and one of his two daughters.

Sources:

"County Jail Ruled Out for Juveniles," Milwaukee Sentinel, November 24, 1966, p. 18.

"County's Lawyer, and Friend, Retires," Milwaukee Sentinel, May 26, 1981, p. 3, by Jeff Aiken.

"Ex-County-Official dies," Milwaukee Journal, August 31, 1982, p. 19

"His 'club' went on a tropical cruise - to fight a war," Milwaukee Journal, October 12, 1980, p. 13

"Official is Acting in Title Only," Milwaukee Sentinel, November 26, 1979, p. 3.

"Paradowski Named to Ethics Board," Milwaukee Journal, June 26, 1981, p. 37.

"Purple Heart Award to Lieut. Paradowski," Milwaukee Journal, May 25, 1943, p. 12.

Relation to Nearest Featured Profile: Roman Paradowski (Featured Profile #39):  Son.

Path From Nearest Featured Profile:   Roman Paradowski > son, Gerard Paradowski

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Status Update - August, 2014

New Family Names Added Since Last Update:

Balinski
Bialkowski
Britka
Gawin
Gonia
Grzywacz
Jazembowicz
Koszewski
Krubeski
Krzemienewski
Machkiewicz
Okruszynski
Pokrzewinski
Usterbowski
Wajer

Profiles Added Since Last Update: 201

New Intra-Connections (Lucht to Fons):

260) ….Vincent Rosciszewski > son, Harry [Rosciszewski] Ross > son, Donald [Rosciszewski] Ross > wife, Arline (Bessa) [Rosciszewski] Ross > mother, Pearl (Kuligowski) Bessa....

261) ….Harry Rosciszewski > wife, Anna (Badzinski) Rosciszewski > sister, Helen (Badzinski) Franckowiak > daughter, Sylvia (Franckowiak) Kulwicki > husband, Daniel Kulwicki > father, John Kulwicki....

262) ….Anna (Badzinski) Rosciszewski > sister, Pauline (Badzinski) Waldoch > husband, Conrad Waldoch > sister, Joan (Waldoch) Ciezki > husband, Edmund V. Ciezki > sister, Helen (Ciezki) Idzkowski....

263) ….Anna (Badzinski) Rosciszewski > sister, Hattie (Badzinski) Wachowiak > husband, John Wachowiak > sister, Mary (Wachowiak) Stasiewicz....

264) ...Frank Rakowski > sister, Valeria (Rakowski) Kaminski > son, Stanley J. Kaminski > wife, Anna (Wojnowski) Kaminski > sister, Victoria (Wojnowski) Skrentny....

265) ….Rose (Samolinski) Galaska > husband, Leo Galaska > mother, Frances (Kaminski) Galaska > father, Joseph Kaminski (1-I) > son, Joseph Kaminski (1-II) > wife, Martha (Napieralski) Kaminski > sister, Catherine (Napieralski) Kitzki > husband, Andre Kitzki….

266) ….Joseph Kapczynski > wife, Anna (Domachowski) Kapczynski > sister, Frances (Domachowski) Wolski > daughter, Clare (Wolski) Kaminski > father, Peter, Kaminski....

PCN: 2.29