Barbara Apansewicz Jankowski
(Jannowski)
1865-1940
The following biography is based upon numerous documents collected thru years of genealogical research. This biography is written with notations to the specific documents on which the statement can be assumed as factual. New documents may add to or alter this biography as known research is interpreted at this time.
Barbara Jankowski was born Barbara Apanasewicz on June 4, 1865(1) in Weuilox(sp), Poland(2). Her parents are unknown. Sometime around 1897 Barbara married Zigmund Jannowski. Barbara and Zigmund are believed to have had only one son, John, born December 20, 1898(3). Zigmund died in 1905(4), possibly a small un-written chapter of the failed 1905 Russian Revolution. "The Czar sent his troops, the Cossacks, and they destroyed our village near Minsk and several neighboring villages. Many cousins were killed. My mother took me and we fled to relatives in Germany"(15). Barbara at this time took her son, John, and lived with family on her Apanasewicz side.
On January 24, 1912 Barbara boarded the SS Kursk at Libau, Poland. She left her son, John, with relatives. She traveled with her brother Constantine's wife Judita and their five children. Constantine had immigrated to the US the previous year. Barbara took care of Judita's five children during the voyage as Judita was hemorrhaging due to a recent birth. Barbara arrived at Ellis Island on February 12, 1912. Barbara was carrying $25 cash and a ticket to Kenosha, Wisconsin to live with her brother Constantine and his family at 665 Garden(2).
An error occurred either at Ellis Island or earlier that altered Barbara's
last name as legally used in the United States. Barbara's last name was
changed from Jannowski to Jankowski. This name change legally affected all
future generations of this family line(2)(17). See Details.
Barbara lived in Kenosha for the rest of her life. She continued living
with her brother's family and moved to 456 Lyman by July, 1912(5). At this
time her son, John, had joined her. Barbara supported her family by doing
cleaning work. One comment by her son, John, was that she did a lot of
scrubbing floors while on her hands and knees(15).
By 1918, Barbara and her son were self supporting and living at 754
Jenne(6). Barbara and her son are found at 376 Division in 1920(7).
By 1921, Barbara and her family moved to 768 Pearl and lived there thru
1922(8). Barbara's son, John, married Mary Czajkowski in October of
1922(9). After the marriage, the Jankowski family moved to 369 Lemon and
rented the front half of the house where the Czajkowski family had been
living(10). Apolonia Czajkowski, Mary's mother, bought the house in
1911(16). The Jankowski family lived at this address until sometime
in 1928. During this time, the city of Kenosha revamped its entire street
numbering system in 1926, so 369 Lemon became 923 46th Street. John and
Mary Jankowski saved enough and had a house built at 3807 19th Avenue(13).
Barbara followed them to their new house(14). By this time Barbara was in
her early sixties.
Barbara could not read or write(14), but verbally could translate at least five
languages being Polish, Russian, German, French, and English(15). Barbara
was Roman Catholic and belonged to St. Casimir Church, 1009 Washington
Road. She was a member of Holy Rosary and Sacred Heart Societies sponsored
thru St. Casimir Church(4).
With old age setting in, Barbara suffered from poor health for her last couple
years. This culminated in being hospitalized in July 1940. One week
after being released from the hospital and still suffering from her poor health,
Barbara committed suicide by hanging in the attic room of the Jankowski house
while everyone was away on the afternoon of August 6, 1940(1)(4). Barbara
was laid in wake at the Piasecki Funeral Home. Funeral services were held
at St. Casimir Church. Barbara was buried on August 8, 1940 in St. Casimir
Cemetery, Kenosha(4). Barbara
Jankowski was my great-grandmother. References used
in the above biography are as follows:
