Abraczinskas Ancestry1

Abraczinskas Lithuanian Ancestry

By Ray Abraczinskas

Preface WhoweretheAbraczinskas’?Wheredidtheycomefrom?Wheredidtheygo?Whatdidtheydo?Whydidtheydoit?Allvalidquestionsbeggingforanswers.

MostcertainlytheyallstartedinLithuania.Ihavebeenworkingongatheringfamilyinformationforover45yearssincemymotherandfathertoldmeafewofourrelativesnamesandalsothattheywerefromSuvalki,Lithuania.IrealizenowthattheyreallymeanttheSuvalkijaRegionofLithuania.Inowhaveover6,000namesinmy family tree file with many Abracinskas’ that no one ever knew about. This book justshowsthe“peakofmyancestry”andwheresomeofthemwereactuallyfrom.ItalsohasinformationaboutmanyotherAbracinskas’thatchangedtheirnamesandthereforewere“hidden”orunknownthroughouttheworld.Whytheychangedtheirname remainsamystery.Someprobablywanteda“new life” inAmerica,otherschangedtheirAbracinskasnameduetomispronunciation,misspelling(bythecen-sustakers,etc.),andmisunderstandingbythepeoplearoundthem.

This book contains many names which may tend to confuse the reader because sometimes thenamesAbracinskas,Abraczinskas,andAbrachinsky,etc.areusedinterchangeably,especiallyinthefamilytreeinformationinthebackofthebook.Myapologiesforburdeningthereadertokeepthisinmindthroughout.AnexamplewouldbelikeMichaelAbracinskasbecomingknownasMichaelAbrachinsky,andhissonAndrewAbrachinskybecomingAndrewAbraczinskas.Caveatemptor!

Althougheveryefforthasbeenmadetoinsurecorrectnessinthelineage,birthanddeathdates,andfamilyinformation,itisverypossiblethaterrorsexistinthehearsaydatathatIreceivedfromrelativesandfriends,andeveninthedataIfoundinSocialSecurityrecordsandcensusrecords.IassumenoliabilityforthecorrectnessinthisdatabutIhopethatyouenjoythisinformationforitisrapidlydisappearing. RayAbraczinskas

The country of Lithuania is divided into Districts or Regionscalled Rajonas. In every regionthere are Post Offices in the main towns that serve the area villages.The town with the Post office was referred to as Pastas. A village orsmall townwasreferredtoasKai-masorKaimo(theO-endingmeans‘of the ‘ or ‘to the’. Endings havechangedthroughtheyears,aspeo-plewouldspeakthenamesofPostOffices, towns and villages. I have a listofsomeoftheplacesthatAbra-cinskas’werefromgiventomebymyrelativesintheformatofRajo-nas,Pastas,andKaimas.

OneofthepeculiaritiesofLithuaniannamesisthedifferencebetweenthemalesurnamesand those of married and unmarried women. The surnames of married women are formed by drop-ping the ending of the male surname and adding the suffix - iene, for example, Katilius - Katil-iene, Varnas - Varniene, Zujus - Zujiene (or Zujuviene), Abraczinskas - Abraczinskiene. Thus, the suffix - iene carries the same meaning as the English Mrs. used before a married woman’s name. The surnames of unmarried women are formed by adding the suffixes - aite, - yte, - ute, - te, for example,Katilius -Katiliute,Zujus -Zujute,Varnas-Varnaite,Banys–Banyte,Abraczinskas- Abraczinskaite. The second half of the 20th century saw the emergence of a new tradition for married women, artists in particular, to use their maiden names. These peculiarities in Lithuanian namessometimecauseconfusioninfamilytreerecordstoday.

AnotherfamilytraditioninLithuaniawastonametheirchildrenaftertheparents,grand-parents, uncles, and aunts. That too sometimes causes confusion, as there are many William, An-thony,Michael,Joseph,John,Magdalena,andAnnaAbracinskas’.

MyAbraczinskasnameinLithuaniaiscorrectlyspelledAbracinskas(withoutthe“z”)andit’snormallypronouncedAbra-chin-skas.Any“c”inaLithuaniannamewouldhaveasmallmarkaboveitthatlookslikethebottomhalfofan“o”anditwouldbepronouncedas“ch”.InthePolishlanguage, the “cz” is also pronounced “ch”. This language pronounciation rule probably caused many Abracinskas immigrant’s names to be modified upon entering the United States because they could not speak English and the immigration officers could not understand Lithuanian, so the nameswereprobablywrittendownliketheysounded,hence,thenamesAbrachinsky,Abrashin-sky, Abrazinski, etc. The immigration and census records are usually always misspelled!

The Abracinskas’ came from Lithuania. The older generations lived on farms in the area southofMarijampole,whichistheLithuaniancenteroftheSuvalkijaregion.SuvalkijaorSudoviais the smallest of the five cultural regions of Lithuania. Under the communist regime Marijampole

The five Rajonas (Regions or Districts) in Lithuania. The Abracinskas’ came from the Suvalkija Region.

wascalledKapsukosandtheregionarounditwascalledtheKapsukoRajonas,orKapsukoRe-gion. The town of Marijampole and its 6 surrounding communities make up the territory of Mari-jampole municipality. They are: Gudeliai, Igliauka, Liudvinavas, Marijampole, Sasnava, and Sun-skaicommunities.MarijampoleistheseventhbiggesttowninLithuaniasituatedonbothbanksoftheSesupeRiver.

The people of Suvalkija Region were among the first and most numerous emigrants to the United States. My parents and other older relatives used to tell me that the Abracinskas’ came from “Suvalki”andIneverunderstoodwhatthatmeantuntilIresearchedmyfamilytreeinformationandLithuania’sgeographicalhistory.ItisnotthecityofSuwalkiinnortheasternPolandsouthwestof the Lithuania border. Today Suvalkija still remains one of the most important agricultural re-gionsofLithuania,harvestinglargecropsofsugarbeets.

Members of the Abracinskas familycame from the farming area south of Mari-jampoleandbeganarrivinginAmericainthe1880s, 1890s and early 1900s. They traveled by ship from Hamburg and Bremen Germany, AmsterdamandRotterdamHolland,LiverpoolEngland, and Glasgow Scotland, arriving in NewYork,Philadelphia,andBaltimore.SomecamethroughEllisIsland. Mostwerelabor-ers, farmers, and miners. They established themselves in eastern Pennsylvania, Massa-chusetts,Connecticut,IllinoisandWisconsin.

My research has shown that some ofthe young Abracinskas men worked in theminesinatowncalledBellshillabout6mileseast of Glasgow, Scotland. Coal and iron de-posits were found nearby Bellshill after themid 1800’s and several mines were opened,the first of which being the Thankerton mine. The town greatly increased in population and size afterthisandimmigrants,particularlyfromLithuania,begantoarrive.Asaresultitissometimesreferenced as “little Lithuania.” The rise in the migrant Lithuanian population led to the opening of The Scottish Lithuanian Recreation and Social Club within Calder Road in the Mossend area. (aVincentasAbracinskasarrivedinAmericafromBellshill).

An Anthony Abracinskas immigrated to the U.S. in 1914 arriving from Clock Face, England onMay31,1914ontheshipCarmaniafromLiverpool(thewrittennameontheship’smanifestwas Arbacianskas). There were 1084 passengers on the ship when it arrived in New York. He was 18yearsold,single,andlistedasa“miner.”Hisinfoontheship’smanifestindicatedthathehada brother B. Arbacianskas living at 7 Hall Street, Clock Face, England, which is a short distance eastoftheSuttonManorcoalmine.Itisnotknownhowthesemenarerelatedbutapparentlylikemanyothers,theywereseekingbetteropportunitiesbymovingtoAmericatoworkinthemines.

The Abracinskas’ lived on farms in the area south of Marijampole shown by the red circle.

Sutton Manor mine lift where many Lithu-anians worked - 1898.

Sutton Manor mine lift early 1900s.Sutton Manor mine being dismantled - 1992. Towns or villages that were listed in family history and immigration records that I’ve re-searched sometimes indicated where the Abracinskas’ were originally from. Following are their towns given in parenthesis after the actual town I found that is shown on today’s maps. These are some of the towns and villages: Liudvinavas (Ludwinovo), Silavotas (Silavoto), Avikilai (Avikilu), Suvalkeliai (Suvalki,Suwalki),Naujiena(Naujenos),Raudenis,Pavalinas (Pabaline),KalvarijaRajonas (Kalvaryos Rajonas), Zelstwos (Zelsva) (Zelsuous), and Mikalauka (Mikalaukos). These wereverysmallvillageslocatedinthebeautifulfarmingcountrysouthofMarijampoletowardsKalvarija in the area west of highway 182 and north of highway 131.

MygreatgrandparentsMichael(Mykolas)andElizabethAbracinskasandtheirsixchildrensettled in Shenandoah, PA. There was William, Michael Jr., Joseph, Elizabeth Ona, Andrew, and

Victor,allborninLithuania.Mykolas,hiswifeElizabeth,andtheirsonVictorarrivedinNewYorkonAugust8,1898ontheship“Spaarndam”from Rotterdam, Netherlandsandwere the lastones to jointheirotherchildrenalready inShenandoah living at 29 West Coal Street. Michael (Myko-las)diedonJanuary17,1914at age74and isburied in theOld Saint George Cemetery in ShenandoahHeights,PA.

The ship Spaarndam carried many immi-grants to New York in the late 1890s.

This map of the area south of Marijampole shows several of the villages that Abracinskas’ were known to live. At the top center is Avikilai and Silavotas, small villages that were served from the Post Office in Liudvinavas just 5 miles to the southeast. Along highway 131 at the bottom is Raude-nis, Pabaline, and Naujiena, three other villages believed to be where Abracinskas’ once lived. In the center is Suvalkeliai and Mikalauka, two villages that Abracinskas’ also lived at. Based on informa-tion that I have, the main Abracinskas farm and homestead is believed to have been in the Avikilai / Silavotas area. Today this area still remains one of the most important agricultural regions of Lithu-ania, harvesting large crops of sugar beets. Michael (Mykolas) Abraczinskas’ tombstone in Shenan-doah, Pennsylvania says Kaimo: Zelstwos, GMI: Ludwinawo. It is believed this means the village of Zelsva (Zelsuous) in the Liudvinavas District. The village is about five miles north of Naujenos. That’s where Michael Abraczinskas was from. Michael died on January 17, 1914. He is interred in old Saint George’s Cemetery in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. The Abracinskas’ in Wisconsin came from the Naujiena area.

L. to R. Victor, and parents Elizabeth and Michael Abracinskas in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania circa 1899 after arriving from Zelstwos, just south of Ludvinavos, Lithuania. They arrived at Ellis Island on Aug 9, 1898 on the ship ‘Sparndam’ from Rotterdam, Netherlands and joined their other five chil-dren in Shenandoah, PA. This photograph was provided by Barbara Abrachinsky Brabeck daughter of Mamero Abrachinsky.

Michael (Mikolas) ABRACINSKASb. abt 1840, Zelstwos (Village), Ludvinavo (Post Office), Lithuaniad. 17 Jan 1914, Shenandoah, PA& Elizabeth (Elzbieta) BRUNDZAb. 1843, Kalwaeiszek, Lithuaniad. 22 Feb 1912, Shenandoah, PAm. ca 1866

William “Vincent” ABRACZINSKAS (ABAR)b. 1 Nov 1867, (Grabowo) Mariampolis, Lithuaniad. 1952, Near Chicago, IL& Maria (Mary) BRUSOKASb. 1878, Lithuania

Michael ABRACINSKASb. 28 Feb 1869, Mariampolis, Lithuaniad. 7 Jun 1946, Brockton, MA& Ursula ZELONIS (GREENE)b. 16 Oct 1884, Mariampolis, Lithuaniad. 30 May 1967, St. Joseph's Nursing Home, Brockton,MAm. 1900, Shenandoah, PA

Joseph (Juozas) Michael ABRACHINSKYb. 27 Feb 1873, Mariampolis (Suwalki), Lithuaniad. 18 Jun 1944, Shenandoah, PA& (Hilarion) Ursula Agnes Unitas (JONAITIS)b. 5 Feb 1885, Lithuaniad. 4 Oct 1961, Shenandoah, PAm. 24 May 1903

Elizabeth Ona "Annie" ABRACINSKASb. Jul 1874, Suwalki, Lithuaniad. 3 Jul 1934, Shenandoah, PA& Youzas "Joseph" A. FALECKIS (FLECK) FELESKYb. Jun 1867d. 1 Jun 1932, Shenandoah, PAm. abt 1893

Andrew Adam ABRACZINSKASb. 6 May 1877, Mariampolis, Lithuaniad. 4 Oct 1956, New Smyrna Beach, FL& Margaret “Maggie” K. GINNISb. May 1885, Pennsylvaniad. 1 Jun 1961, New Smyrna Beach, FLm. 9 Oct 1901, Shenandoah, PA

Victor ABRACZINSKASb. 10 Oct 1882, Mariampolis, Lithuaniad. 22 Aug 1929, Killed In Mines, Shenandoah, PA& Anna (Ona) DISCAVAGE (DESZEWICZ)b. 12 Mar 1885, Shenandoah, PAd. 9 Jul 1919, Shenandoah, PAm. 9 Jan 1907, Shenandoah, PA

Michael (Mykolas) Abracinskas and Elizabeth (Elzibeta) Brundza Abracinskas’ six Children information are shown here.

Michael’s oldest son William worked around Shenandoah andonAndrew’s farmnearCatawissaand thenmoved toSpringValley, Il-linois, in about1900.Heworked in themines there forover50years.HebecameamemberoftheJehovah’sWitnessesandchangedhisnameto Abar. He married Maria (Mary) Brusokas and they had five chil-dren, Maria (Mary), William, Jr., Julia, Anastasia, and Charles. Wil-liam died in 1952 and is buried in Peru City Cemetery in Peru, Illinois.

Michael, Jr. workedin the mines in Shenandoahfor 20 years and then moved to Brockton, Massachusettswhere he built 3 apartmenthousesandoperatedagrocerystoreinoneofthe apartmentbuildings. HewasaDirectorof the Brock-ton Trust Co. Around 1917

or1918,acommitteeofthreeincludingMichaelAbracins-kashadameetingwithPresidentWoodrowWilsontodis-cussthepossibilityofassistancetoLithuania.HemarriedUrsula Zelonis (Greene) in Shenandoah in 1901 and they hadsevenchildren,Michael,Ambrose,Pauline,Peter,Ed-ward,Albert,andElizabeth.Michael seniorpassedawayJune7,1946andisburiedinCalvaryCemeteryinBrockton.HissonAlbertbecameaCatholicpriestandwasordainedinHolyCrossCathedralinBostononMay3,1940.AlbertdiedinBrock-ton on May 11, 2003 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Brockton. I attended his 50th-year Golden Jubilee in the Priesthood in Brockton in 1990 and also his funeral services there in 2003.

Joseph lived in and operated a grocery store in Shenandoah, at 27 WestCoalStreet,whichisstillinbusinesstodayandknownastheAbrachin-skyHardwareStore.JosephandhissisterElizabethAnnacametoAmericatogether from Hamburg, Germany on the ship Bohemia, arriving new York on June 10, 1892. He was 19 years old and she was 18 years old. Both could not read or speak English. The ship’s manifest indicated that they were from Suwalki, Lithuania. Joseph married Ursula Unitas on May 3, 1903 and they had six children, Victoria, Mamero, Albert, Anna, Joseph, and George. Jo-seph died on June 18, 1944 and is buried at the Old Saint George Cemetery inShenandoahHeights.

Elizabeth Ona (Annie) married Joseph Falecki (Fleck) and was a midwife to many Abracinskas births and illnesses. Their son Anthony Fleck

William Abraczinskas Abar - about 1897.

One of the three apartment houses built in Brockton by Michael Abracin-skas at 143 Ames Street - 1990.

Joseph Abrachinsky visiting at Andrew’s farm about 1945.

Left - Michael Abracinskas, Jr. visiting at Andrew’s farm about 1945. Right - Mi-chael, Jr. in a wedding in Shenandoah about 1905.

was a dentist in Shenandoah. Elizabeth Ona Abracinskas Fleck died on July 3, 1934 and is buried with her husband in old Saint George’s Cemetery in Shenandoah Heights next to her parents.

Andrew(mygrandfather)workedintheminesaroundShenandoah,wasacarriagedriveratweddingsandcelebrations,andworkedinhisbrother’sgrocerystoreonCoalStreet.In1907hepurchasedafarmintheRoaringCreekValleynearCatawissa.In1916,hepurchasedasecondnearbyfarmandraisedfarmproduce,Christmastreesandsawedlumber.Hisshrewddetermina-tiontolearnbydoingcausedhimtobecomeverywelleducatedinagriculturalgrowing.

Andrew married Margaret Ginnis in Shenandoah on October 9, 1901 and they had six children, Mary (Mariutie), Evon (Javanas) my father, Frances (Franciska), Telesforos, Anthony (Antanas),andHelen(Helena).AndrewandMargaret,orMaggieasshewascalledbymany,en-joyed retirement years living in New Smyrna, Florida. Andrew died there on October 4, 1956. He andMargaretareburiedatOurLadyofMercyChurchCemetery,nearSlabtown,Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Ona Abracinskas’ wedding photo about 1893.

Young handsome Andrew Abraczinskas in about 1895.

Maggie and Andrew Abraczinskas sitting on the lawn of their second farm in about 1917. Friends and relatives enjoyed visiting there.

Maggie and Andrew Abraczinskas at their farm on the hill in about 1951. They were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

Carriage driver Andrew - 1900.

Michael(Mykolas)Abracinskas’youngestsonVictorworkedintheminesaroundShenan-doah. He married Anna (Ona) Discavage on January 9, 1907 and they had four children, Florent, Raymond, Mary, and Alverda. He was killed in a mine accident on August 22, 1929 and is buried in Our Lady of Fatima Cemetery in Shenandoah Heights. He left a will to his niece Ella Popik, who took care of his children after his death. Florent passed away in November 1985 in Tamaqua, PA. He had two sons, Florent, Jr. and Victor. Victor was in the U.S. Army and died in Korea in 1967. Mary passed away in Lehighton in 1998. Alverda passed away on November 2, 2001 in Nesquehoning, PA.

As a boy in the 1940s, I can still remember Grandpop Andrew experimenting grafting dif-ferent trees. One tree that I remember was an apple tree that bore five different species of fruit. Hegrewalotofapples,cherries,hazelnuts,plums,andmydadEvonbeingtheoldest,didalotofthefarmwork.Andrew’sfamilyworkedhardandhisforesightandtenacityingrowingtimberforcuttingintolumberprobablyledhimintotheChristmastreebusiness.Hewouldplanttreesinthe wasted spaces on his farm. Space in the fence rows, field corners, and on steep-sided hills was virtuallyworthlessforfarmingbutwouldgrowtheseedlingsthatAndrewplanted.Astheywouldgrow, he and my dad Evon would replant them in the woods where timber was previously cut. The 5thand6thgenerationofAbraczinskas’arestilloperatingtheChristmastreebusinessyettoday.

Andrew’s young wife, Margaret driving their first tractor on their second farm - 1916.

L. to R. - Margaret, baby Helen, and Margaret’s sister Sophia delivering milk to Slabtown - 1915.

Andrew driving a team of three horses pull-ing the new “binder” harvesting wheat on his farm with other family members - 1918.

Andrew watching Robert “Pappy” Miller on the tractor pulling a potato digger with Evon riding on it harvesting potatoes on the second farm - 1921.

Matthew (Matas) ABRACINSKASb. abt 1840, Zelstwos, Ludvinavo, Lithuaniadp. Lithuania& Magdelena LEKETSKAS (LIEKECKAITE')bp. Lithuania

Anna (Ona) Abraczinskas DAUKSYSb. 1874, Suwalki, Lithuaniad. 26 Jul 1959, Newark, NJ& John DAUKSYSb. 28 Nov 1861, Lithuaniad. 2 Mar 1944, Newark, NJm. abt 1897

Joseph (Juozas) ABRACINSKASb. abt 1884, Suwalki, Lithuaniad. 1958, Lithuania& Ona (Magdelana) MINUSCIUTEb. 1905, Lithuaniad. 5 Oct 1978, Lithuania

Anthony (Antanas) J. ABRACINSKASb. 25 Sep 1890, Silivotas, Lithuaniad. 7 Oct 1959, Wocester, MA& Margaret M. Dereskeviciusb. 21 Dec 1893, Lithuaniad. 14 Oct 1962, Worcester, Massachussetts

Mikasi (Mikolina) ABRACINSKASbp. Lithuania& ? RAMONAUSKASbp. Lithuania

Matthew (Matas) Abracinskas and Magdalena Lekeckaite Abracinskas’ four children information are shown here.

Michael(Mykolas)hadatwinbrotherinLithuanianamedMatthew(Matas).IfoundthisinformationwrittenonacopyofaphotographIhaveofbrothersJosephandAnthonytakenwhentheywerebothtogetherinAmericainabout1910.MatthewwasmarriedtoMagdalenaLiekeck-aiteandtheyhadfourchildren(ormore),Anna,Joseph,Anthony,andMikolina(Mikasi).Michaeland Matthew had an older sister named Ursula who married Louis Gabrieu (Gabris). They had five children: Louis (Ludwic), Stanley, Joseph, Ursula, and John (Jonas). Ursula Abracinskas’ family is describedlaterinthisbook.

Matthew’sdaughterOna(Anna),marriedJohnDauksysinNewark,NewJerseyandtheyhadseven children, Julia, Joseph, Anna, Edmund, Valerie, Antionette, and Vito. They lived at 90 War-wickStreet.IhavecommunicatedwithseveraloftheDauksysfamilymembersbutnevermetthem.

Matthew’ssonAnthonyAbracinskascametoNewYorkonthe ship Potsdam from Rotterdam Holland on November 29, 1910 andwenttoNewark.Later,hemovedtoandlivedinWorcester,Massachusetts.HewentbacktoLithuaniaforavisitandreturnedto New York on November 22, 1935 on the ship SS Gripsgolm from Gothenberg, Sweden. At that time he was 45 years old, could speakEnglishandwasreturningfromMarijampole,Lithuania.HewasmarriedtoMargaretDereskeviciusandtheyhadnochildrenonrecord.Helivedat13SouthWardStreet,Worcester,MAandwas a machine setter at Chain Belt Co. He died on October 7,1959.BothheandhiswifeareburiedatNotreDameCemeteryinWorcester,MA.

Other MatthewAbracins-kaschildren,JosephandMikasi(Mikolina), lived in Lithuania(there could have been morechildren). Joseph did come to

America on 26 September 1908 from Hamburg on the ship Graf Waldersee when he was 24 years old. However, after a while, hereturnedtoLithuaniaandlivedonthefamilyfarminSilavo-tassouthofMarijampole.Josephwasbornin1884anddiedin1958.JosephandhiswifeOnaMinusciutehadthreechildren,Juozas (Joseph) born in 1924, Bronius born in 1927, and Mag-dalenabornin1933.AfterJosephdied,hissonJosephJr.(Mag-dalena’sbrother)tookoverthefamilyfarmstead,whichwasstillusedinthe1990sasasummerhousebyJosephJr’swifeLevaandherfamily.JosephJrdiedin1976.JosephJrandLevahadthreechildren,Regina,Rimas,andAlfas,alllivinginLithuania.

BroniusandhiswifeJaninaJuodekaitehadfourchildren,Justinas,Petras,Irina,andVytautasalllivinginLithuania.

Joseph Abracinskas and his brother Anthony together in New Jersey in about 1910. Jo-seph went back to Lithuania.

L - R rear. Anthony Abracins-kas from Worcester, MA and his brother Joseph together in Sili-votas, Lithuania in about 1935. L-R front. Joseph’s wife Anna, son Bronius, and sister Mikasi.

The John Dauksys family in Newark, NJ in about 1921. L. to R. front. Vito Dauksys, Anna Abra-cinskas Dauksys, John Dauksys, and Eugene Verba. L. to R. rear. Anna Dauksys, Edward Dauksys, Anthony Verba, Julia Dauksys Verba, and Joseph Dauksys.

Anna(Ona)Abracinskaswasatallbeautifulwoman.ShecametoAmericain1896attheage of 22 and married John Dauksys about one year later. There is a possibility that it may have been a prearranged marriage because of the age difference between the two. She was in her 20s and hewasinhis30swhentheymarried,eventually,theyhadsevenchildren.

MagdelenamarriedIgnasDambrauskasandtheyhadadaughterDanute,thenMagdalenamarriedAlgirdasBartuskaandtheyhadasonRimvydas.DanuteandRimvydasliveinLithuania.

L - R rear. Reda and Rimas Abracin-skas and their daughter Renata and son Vaidas. Rimas is the oldest son of Joseph Abracinskas, who is grandson of Matthew Abracinskas. twin broth-er of my great grandfather, Michael.

L - R rear. Danute (Magdalena’s first daughter and wife of Albertas Dambrauskas), Magdalena, (?) friend of Rimvydas, and Rimvydas (Magdalena’s son). Front. Jurga (Danute’s daughter) and Algir-das Bartuska (Magdalena’s husband). This photo was taken at their house in Marijampole, Lithuania in 1993.

There are many Abracinskas living in Lithuania yet today. In the early 1990s I correspond-edwithMagdalenathroughhergranddaughterYurgabecauseMagdelenacouldnotreadorspeakmuch English. In 2001, my cousin Jerome and his wife Marion went to Lithuania to visit their son Jerome Jr who is a Jehova’s Witness missionary living in Lithuania. They met with most all the Abracinskas’ in Lithuania in August 2001 and took the following priceless photograph.

Two boys in front row, L-R. Karolis (Irena’s son) and Edgaras (Petras and Rita’s youngest son). Next row back, L-R. Jurga (Danute’s daughter), Danute’ (wife of Albertas Dambrauskas and Magdalena’s daughter), Magdalena (Algirdas Bartuska’s wife), Marion “Bunny” Abraczinskas (Jerome’s wife), Janina (wife of Bronius Abracinskas, deceased, Magdalena’s older brother), Je-rome Abraczinskas, Inga (Justinas’ daughter), Gwen Abraczinskas (Jerome Jr’s wife), and Jerome Abraczinskas, Jr. (Jerome and Bunny’s son). Next row back beginning with man behind Jurga, L-R. Alfas (son of Juozas, Magdalena’s older brother), Eugenijus (husband of Regina. He died in Sept 2001 of a heart attack), Roma (Alfas’ wife), Regina (Eugenijus’ wife), Daiva (Irena’s daughter), Irena, Rita (Petra’s wife). Last row beginning with man to right of the window, L-R. Algirdas (husband of Magdalena), Rimvydas (Magdalena’s son), Rimvydas’ girlfriend (in front of Rimvydas), Petras (Rita’s husband), Marius (Petras and Rita’s oldest son), and Justinas.

HELPFUL NOTES: Janina and Bronius Abracinskas’ children are Justinas, Petras (Rita), Irena, and Vytautus (Edita).Juozas Abracinskas’ (deceased older brother of Magdalena and Bronius) children are Regina (Eu-genijus), Rimas (Reda), and Alfas (Roma).Magdalena’s children are Danute’ (Albertas) and Rimvydas Bartuska.

Jerome Abraczinskas, Jr. stands in front of one of the farm homes near Silavotas, Lithuania that Matthew Abracinskas’ ancestors departed from on their journey to America in the late 1800s. Fruit trees still grow around the home, and behind Jerome, Jr. is the water well. This photo was taken in August 2001.

The front door of the Matthew Abracinskas home shown above.

Magdalena Abracinskas Bartuska and her nephew Rimas at the Matthew Abracinskas homestead near Silavotas, Lithuania.

The name Abraczinskas was changed to Abrashinsky in Wisconsin.SeveralAbrashinsky’sliveinWisconsintodaywhoaredescendentsfromWilliamAntonAbraczinskasandMagdale-naSesnauskuite.WilliamwasalsocalledVincentas.Hewasbornin October 25, 1885 in Suwalki (Region), Lithuania. William ar-rived in Baltimore in December 1910 from Bremen Germany andwaslistedasbeingfromNaujenos.HewenttoSheboyganin1911joininghisbrotherYanos(John)andsisterMariaalreadythere. He got married in 1912, and had three children, William Peter, Maria (Mary), and Frank. Those children resulted in about twelveAbrashinskyfamiliesinWisconsinandbeyond.

I obtained a copy of William’s marriage certificate which indicatedthatheisthesonofAnton(Antanas)AbracinskasandhiswifeMarySesnauskuitefromNaujenos,Lithuania.

At this timeIdonotknowtheexactfamilyconnectionwith WilliamAnton’s lineage, but his fatherAntanas (Anton)possiblymaybethebrotherofmygreat-grandparentsMatthew,Michael, and Ursula. William died in Sheboygan on December 4, 1961 and was buried in Immaculate Conception Cemetery.

William Anton’s son William Peter and his wife Ce-lia Margaret Scharenbroch, had two children, WilliamFrank and James Peter. William Frank went by “Bill” and lives in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. James Peter went by “Jim,”helivedanddiedinEauClaire,Wisconsin.

My wife Katherine and I visited William Frank “Bill” and his wife Patricia Justinger in 2005. They gave me much in-formation about the Abrashinsky family. They are wonderful people. We had a great time be-ing shown around Sheboygan by them. Bill was born November 16,1942. He and Pat have six children,MichelleMarie,KristinLynn,MaryAnn,KatherineAnn,PatriciaJo,andJessicaRuth.

WilliamAnton’s brother John (Yanos)Abraczinskas came toAmerica inabout1909,wenttoSheboyganandin1910boardedat1317CenterStreet.Heworked at a local foundry and was not married then. In 1917 he lived at 1423 HuronStreet.Johnworkedat theKingsburyBrewrylocatedat thecornerofNewYorkAvenueandN.WaterStreet(after1934).JohnandhiswifeMary(Mariana)AlenskaitehadtwochildreninSheboygan,AdelaandClement(Kl-emensas).HiswifeMarywentbacktoLithuaniacirca1915andhadAnnaandLeonas.ShelatermovedtoArgentinaanddiedthereinabout1940.Leonasmarried Antonia Ceplaikaite and went to Montevideo, Uruguay and had two

children,LilianandJuan. John (Yanos)AbrashinskydiedonDecember8,1956andisburiedinImmaculateConceptionCemeteryinSheboygan.

L. to R. Magdalena, William An-ton, and John (Yanos) Abrash-insky at William Anton’s son Bill Sr’s wedding in Sheboygan, Wisconsin - September 1940.

Bill and Pat Abrashinsky in She-boygan, Wisconsin - 2006.

John (Yanos) Abrashinsky - 1915.

William Anton’sdaughter Maria (MaryHelen)marriedEdwardLensen in February 1939andtheyhadtwochildren Judy (1941)and Randall. Then Ma-ria (Mary Helen) mar-ried Anton Green in January1953Shediedin 2003 and was buried at Immaculate Con-ception Cemetery inSheboygan,Wisconsin.William Anton’sson Frank graduated from Sheboygan HighSchool on June 10,1937. He was in theU.S. Army in WWII on New Guinea in 1943.

HemarriedDorothyAnnSchilsinAugust1945andtheyownedandoperatedameatmarketinElkhart Lake, Wisconsin. They had two children Robert Frank (1954) and Ann Marie (1957). Frank died in 1961 at St. Nicholas Hospital from lung cancer and was buried in St. George’s Cem-etery,ElkhartLake,WI.

JamesP.Abrashinsky57,ofChetek,WisconsinandformerlyofOnalaska,diedMonday,Aug. 4, 2003, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin as a result of viral Encephalitis con-tractedfromamosquitobite.HewasborninSheboygan,WisconsinonApril18,1946,toWilliamand Celia (Scharanbroch) Abrashinsky. He married Jan Grenawalt in La Crosse on March 18, 1978. Jim had worked for the G. Heilman Brewing Co. for 30 years until his retirement to the Chetek area in 1998. He had served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and was a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal. He enjoyed fishing, bowling, he loved the Packers and spending time with his family andfriends.Inadditiontohiswife,Jan,heissurvivedbytwodaughters,NickiAbrashinskyofEauClaire,andJamieAbrashinskyofChetek;oneson,Ryan(Jody)McQuinofOnalaska;twograndchil-dren,PaytonandKiley;andonebrother,Bill(Pat)AbrashinskyofSheboygan.Hewasprecededindeathbyhisparents.Amemorialservicewillbeheldat11a.m.,Monday,Aug.11,attheMormonCoulee Memorial Park Cemetery. The Rev. Jim Arends will officiate. Entombment with military rites by the Onalaska American Legion Post 336 will follow in the Garden of Peace Mausoleum.

William Abrashinsky, Jr. and Celia Scharanbroch’s wedding September 28, 1940. L to R. Frank Abrashinsky, Mary Lensen (Abrashinsky), Celia Abrashinsky, William Abrashinsky, Jr., Magdalene Abrashinsky, William Abrashinsky, Sr., John Abrashinsky.

Simonas Abracinskas lived in Mahanoy City PAat633SpruceStreetin1890.HewentbythelastnameofBrown. He was born in about 1851 in Lithuania and im-migrated in 1882. Simonas helped start the St. Joseph Cath-olic Church in Mahanoy City, PA in the late 1880s. They had children named George, Joseph, Anthony, William, andKatherine.AnthonymarriedDomeceliaDrogalisfromShenandoah in St. George’s Church. They had a son named Adolph and a daughter named Frances and all changed their namestoBrownbutthechurchrecordskeptthenameAbra-cinskas. Simonas died in 1940,Agnes died in 1937, andWilliam died in 1923 and are buried in Saint Joseph’s Cem-eteryinMahanoyCity.Littleisknownaboutthembecausenotmuchwaseverspokenaboutthem.

I visited withAdolph Brown and his wife Lola inTemecula, California in 1985. They gave me much information about their family background and I took pictures of them. Adolph died in California on February 23, 1995.

MatthewAbracinskas(Abrachinsky)(Brown)andhiswifeRosePa-sacavagelivedinMahanoyCity,PAat539PineStreetin1890.Mat-thew was born in Lithuania in about 1860 and came to the United States in about 1882. Rose was born in Lithuania in about 1861. They had children named Anthony (1882), Anna (1884), Mary (1885), Jo-seph (1892), Margaret (1896), Peter (1897), Frank (1898), Florence (1902), and Cassie. Anthony was born in Lithuania, the other children were all born in Mahanoy City, PA. They all went by the last name of Brown.SeverallivedinRochester,New York in 1910 to about themid 1920s. Matthew Abrachinsky (Brown)diedin1938,hiswifeRosedied in 1943, and daughterAnnadiedin1903.AllthreeareinterredinSaintJoseph’sCemeteryinMa-hanoy City, PA. It is not exactlyknown how Simon and Matthew

AbrachinskyBrownwererelated.SomeinformationindicatesthatMatthewwasoneofsevenbrothersandcouldbeoneofthesonsofMatthewAbracinkas, twinbrotherofmygreatgrand-father, Michael Abracinskas who is buried in Old Saint George’s Cemetery in Shenandoah, PA.

Mary Brown married Anthony Grinevich in St. Joseph’s Church on June 17, 1906 in Maha-noy City and they eventually had five children, Mary, Stasia, Joseph, Helen, and Matilda. Matilda was a Flight Nurse in the Air Force with over 7,000 flying hours flown during WW II, Korea and Viet Nam wars. She died in Pinehurst, NC in 2005 at the age of 89.

Lola and Adolph Brown (Abracins-kas) in Temecula, CA - 1985.

Rose Pasacavage (Abracin-skas) Brown in about 1938.

The Abraczinsky (Brown) head-stone in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

Oncewhen IwasvisitingShenandoah in the late1970s lookingat the recordsatSaintGeorge’s Church, I viewed a record of Anthony and Domecelia Drogalis’ birth record of daughter Frances. It was that same time that I learned about Leonas Abracinskas in Montevideo, Uruguay from the visiting missionary Priest filling in at St. George’s then. The visiting missionary Priest gave me the Abracinskas address in Uruguay and I communicated with them for several years.

Leonas Abracinskas was born in 1926 in Lithuania to Mary, the former wife of John Abrash-insky of Sheboygan Wisconsin. Leonas and his wife Antonia lived in Montevideo, Uruguay and both died there. Their daughter Lillian Abracinskas is a world famous feminist active in woman’s rights. Their son Juan was a basketball coach in Uruguay and a member of the National Basketball Federation. Juan has a beautiful daughter Daiana who is a sports announcer there.

Leonas’ mother was Mary and she was in America in 1912 (she was the wife of John AbrashinskyinSheboyganWisconsin).ShewentbacktoLithuaniainabout1915or1916fromWisconsin.SheboretwochildreninAmerica,onewasClement,atruckmechanicinMilwaukee,whoisburiedinRiversideNationalCemetery,Riverside,CaliforniawiththelastnameofAbra-schinskyandtheotherwasadaughterAdelawhodiedinSheboyganshortlyafterbirth.Maryalsobore a daughter in Lithuania, Ona Scesnulensciene who lived and died in Uruguay.

Clement Abraschinsky Was a SSgt in the US Army duringWWII.HereturnedfromEuropeontheShipPresident Roosevelt from Hamburg, Germany on January 31, 1931 arriving in NewYork on January24, 1931. He lived at 1212 1/2 Erie Ave., Sheboygan, Wisconsin.HemovedfromSheboygantoMilwaukeein 1947 where he worked as a truck mechanic in abig garage. Then they moved to San Diego in 1978. He and his wife Stanza Stankas has a son JeromeClementborninJanuary1948whoprovidedmewithmuchinformationandphotos.Jerome(Jerry)andhiswifeMarleneliveinCorona,Californiaandwestay

in contact today. Jerry and his wife enjoy rescuing Greyhound dogs from the track and they spe-cializeinspecialneeddogs.

Stanza and Clement Abraschinsky of Coro-na, California in about 1996. Clement was the son of John Abrashinsky of Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Clement, newborn son Jerome, and Stanza Abraschinsky in Milwaukee, Wisconsin -1948.

The notes that I have in immigration records about the towns in Lithuania where Abracin-skas’livedsometimeshaveanotherrecognizablenameassociatedwithit,i.e.,Kalwariszek&Su-walki,andSchilawsta&Silivotas.OtherrecordsIhavehadinformationforJosephandMagdalenaliving in Silavoto (Ludviinavo Post Office); their son Bronius lived in Avikilu (Ludviinavo Post Office); and their daughter Magdalena was in Kapsuko (Marijampole). Joseph’s sister Mikolina Abracinskas Romanauskas lived in Balaisois (Sasnavos Post Office. The towns listed are called KaimoorKaimasintherecordsthatIhave.

OtheraddressesIhaveareOnaLabutiene,daughterofMikolinaAbracinskasRomanaus-kas, livedintheSasnava(Sasnovas)Region, inavillagecalledAukstoji(Aukstosios)approxi-mately8milesnortheastofMarijampole.MikolinawasadaughterofMatthew,Michael’stwinbrother.

AnotherwasMikolina’sdaughterAlbinaZalnerukienewholivedinthevillagesofDambu-vka or Dambava (Dambrasios) that was served by the Post Office of Igliskeliai (Igliskelu) located approximately5mileseastofMarijampoleandnorthofhighwayA16.

MikolinaAbracinskasRomanauskas’sonAntanaslivedintheKalvarijaRajonas(Kalva-ryosRegion),inthevillageofMikalauka(Mikalaukos)approximately4mileseastofKalvarija.This village is near another village called Suvalkeliai (Suvalki, Suwalki), where some of our Abra-cinskasrelativessupposedlycamefrom.AlloftheabovevillagesareintheSuvalkijaRegionsouthof Marijampole. That explains what my parents and some relatives told me about the Abracinskas’ comingfromSuwalki.

SomeAbracinskas’changedtheirlastnamewhenarrivinginAmericaorshortlythereaf-ter. They supposedly wanted an “American name.” Look closely at the slight differences in the followingAbracinskasnames.Nameswere changed toAbar (WilliamAbarwent toChicago),Abbot(Michael’ssonEdwardinMassachusettswenttherebecausethewatertastedbetterthaninDetroit),Abrachinsky(Joseph’sfamilyinShenandoah,PA),Abraczinskas(Andrew’sfamily),Brown(Matthew,Simon,andAnthony’ssonAdolph),Abrazinski(Adam’sfamilyinWorcester,MA),Abrashinsky(William’sfamilyinSheboygan,Wisconsin),andAbraschinsky(ClementAbr-aschinsky’sfamilyinCaliforniafromWisconsin).

ManyoftheimmigrantswereyoungprobablybecauseoftheconditionsinLithuaniaunderthe Russian tsarist occupation (1866-1915). A demand often imposed then was a mandatory 25 year military enlistment for sons reaching the age of 21. That forced the young to leave. Another hardshipwasthatasageneralrule,onlytheoldestsoninheritedthefamilyfarmorotherpropertyinLithuania,whichleftlittlefortheyoungersonswhohadtoseektheirownlivingelsewhere.Thus, the timing of the industrial boom in American cities drew young men. Siblings and cousins wouldwritebackhomedescribinghoweasyitwastogetworkinfactoriesandtheminesandgetapaycheck every week. They proclaimed the availability of a “good life” in America, so then entire families would migrate from the rural areas of Lithuania to America to join their children. That seeminglyhappenedwithmygreatgrandparentsMichaelandElizabethAbracinskaswhocametoShenandoah, PA in August 1898 after their children had already settled there. The ship’s manifest indicatedKalwariszekorKalivariszekwastheirlastplaceofresidence(probablyKalvarija).

United States census records show that from the years 1890 to 1900, Mahanoy City’s popu-lation grew from 11,283 to 13,504 and Shenandoah’s population grew from 15,944 to 20,321 with manyofthepeoplecomingfromLithuania.

In America in 1942, all men born between the dates April 28, 1877 and on or before Febru-ary 16, 1897 were required to fill out a Registration Card (for WW II). Some Registration Offices simplyregisteredmenofallages.Manyoftheimmigrantswerecaughtagainwiththepossibilityof armed service. Those Registration Cards along with immigration records and census records are excellentsourcesforAbracinskasinformation.

There are still many Abracinskas descendents living in Lithuania. In fact, part of the origi-nalAbracinskas farm with the original buildings still exists south of Marijampole. My cousinJerome and his wife Marian Abraczinskas visited there in August 2001 while visiting their son Jerome Jr. and his wife Gwen who live and work in Lithuania as Jehova’s Witness missionaries.

MagdalenaAbracinskasBartuskieneand Ihavecommunicated forawhileseveralyearsago(1993).ShesuppliedmewithmuchvaluableinformationabouttheAbracinskas’stilllivinginLithuaniaalongwithseveralphotographs.ShecouldnotreadorwriteEnglishandneededhergranddaughterYurgatohelpher.Magdalena’sfatherisJoseph,sonofMatthew,twinbrotherofmygreat-greatgrandfatherMichael.JosephcametoAmericaviaEllisIslandinSeptember1908butshortlythereafter,hewentbacktoliveinSilavoto.HewastheoldestofMatthew’schildrenandpossiblyhadtotakeoverthefamilyfarmwhenMatthewdied.Duringourcommunications,I sent Magdalena a copy of my book “Stories From My Pennsylvania”, Volume 1, and she was pleasedtogetitasittoldstoriesabouttheAbraczinskas’inAmerica.ShesentmethefollowingletterdatedDecember31,1993.ItwasthefourthletterIreceivedin1993anditstimulatedmuchthought:

Dear Cousin Ray, Thank you for the letter and such wonderful and dear to me present - the book. I’m really very happy that you found so many information about Abracinskas’ family and made such an interesting book. This is really a wonderful job of you and your family. I’d like to kiss you for all this. I can understand how strong are your family traditions and what nice people you are. I looked through the book and tried to compare, according to the photos, lives of my grandfather Matas (Matthew) and his twin brother Michael. Their lives in Lithu-ania and America (I didn’t know they were twins, and I think his Lithuanian name would be Mykolas). I thought also about my father Juozas and your father Evon, about lives of other our relatives. They differ greatly as day and night. I compared such simple things. When you worked on your land using tractors, we had only horses. When you built beauti-ful houses and bought lands, communist took everything from us, they nationalized our prop-erty and sent us to Siberia. Besides, during that period Lithuania had to suffer two world wars, and 50 years of Russian occupation, but nothing could be done. That was our fate.

You know I don’t read in English, so some time’ll pass, when the hole book translated and I’ll read it. I hope to spend wonderful minutes with your book in future. Now I get acquaint-ed with it only perfunctorily. I’ll show it to my brother’s children too.

I don’t know names of great grandparents. There are no graves of grandparents too. They didn’t survive. As far as I know their daughter Mikasi took care of the graves. They were buried somewhere in Marijampolis District.

I’ve got a letter and a very sad news about the death of my cousin Ona Miller. She spent a nice life, and now she is in peace. She did a lot for our family in Lithuania. Due to her we inherited uncle Antanas Abracinskas legacy.

I send you an old photo. This must be 1935-1936, this was the time when uncle Antanas came to visit Lithuania from America. This photo is very dear to me, because it is the only photo of my parents. I think Dolores (Pydeski) will also be interested in it, because you can see two Dauksieni brothers and a sister in it. I’d like you to return this photo to me some day. If you like it and think that it is interesting to you maybe it’s possible to reprint it somehow? (she explained the photo).

Thanks to your wife Catherine for trouble about us. I’m happy your children are coming for Christmas and your home will be full of happiness and joy.

We had a lot of snow for Christmas, but it wasn’t cold, 0 to 2 degrees C. I want to thank you for the gifts, congratulations, photos and a letter.My best regards, sincerely yours,Magdalena

Ifoundthefollowingphotoson-linefromMarijampoleLithuaniaaboutthetimethatMag-dalenaspeaksofinherletterstome.ItcausesonetothinkabouthowpeoplelivedinAmericathen.

Magdalena’scousinDoloresPydeskifromCarteret,NewJerseyandIusedtocorrespondaboutourLithuanianrootsquiteoftenandwetalkedonthetelephonebutInevermether.Shevis-ited Lithuania on a tour in 1994 and afterwards wrote me the following letter in November 1994:

Dear Ray, IthasbeenmonthssincemyreturnfromLithuania,butmythoughtsarestillfilledwithwonderful memories of our visit. It was an incredible experience. We were never aware of the beautifulscenery,magnificentarchitecture,sculptureandartofthecountry.VilniusOldTownreminded me of Florence, Italy. Many of the churches and the university were built during the middle Ages. These are spectacular and National Treasures.

Transportation in Marijampole early 1900s. Downtown Marijampole in about 1910.

Ithadbeenmyintentiontosendpostcards,butIneglectedtotakemyaddressfileinalast minute frenzy. Although we had months of planning, a comedy (?) of errors developed at the finalhours,andweboardedtheplanewithnotamomenttosoon.

Standing on Lithuanian soil and being in the land of our ancestors was an emotional experience.SeeingtheLithuanianflagflyingeverywhereandtobeabletosingtheNationalAnthem in a free Lithuania brings tears to ones eyes.

Meetingwithourcousinswasjustwonderful.Magdelenaandherfamilyarefine,gra-cious, and loving people. We fell in love with them all. It was amazing to see the family similarity both in character and physical appearance.

Magdelena is a true Abracinskas, a stately, warm-hearted woman with strong determina-tion and a lively personality. Her husband Algirdas is a very tall, shy man, very decent and with the heart of a true Lithuanian Patriot. Magdelena’s daughter Danute is quite lovely and sweet and has a very vivacious spirit. Danute’s husband Albertas is very much of a gentleman and did very much to make our trip comfortable and safe. Magdelena’s son Rimvydus is gregarious and a charmer. His wife Edita is a beautiful young woman. Danute and Albertas have a beautiful daughter, Yurga. Her photographs do not do her justice. Yurga is a quiet, respectful teen-ager with long blonde hair and a gorgeous smile.

We visited the old Abracinskas farmstead on the outskirts of Marijampole. To be in the same housethatmygrandmothergrewupinwasaterrificfeeling.AtthefarmsteadwemetMagdele-na’s brother Joseph’s widow Leva and her children and grand children. They use the old farm as a summerhouse. They all made us feel very welcome and we had a really nice visit with everyone. The old farmstead was very interesting to see, especially because of its age. The exterior shows its age but the interior has been kept-up perfectly. It is so charming because it looks today as it probably appeared during my grand mother’s time.

A little point of interest: storks summer there and build their nests in old wagon wheels. In the fall they return to Africa.

We were only in Marijampole one day, which was not nearly enough time. There is so much to see in Lithuania that two weeks is not nearly enough time. We traveled from border to border, but everything was so interesting that we would have liked to stay longer in each area.

Our cousin Sister Concepta was also in Lithuania this summer. It appears that our paths crossed and we were never aware of it.

Ihopethisletter(morelikeatome)findsyouandyourfamilywell.With love,Dolores

Dolores Pydeski’s daughter Nadine contacted me in April 2009 and told me that her mother had passed away in November 2008. She mentioned that she had her grandmother’s spinning wheelfromtheoldAbracinskashomesteadinLithuania.ShedonatedittotheBalzekasLithuanianMuseum inChicago, Illinois alongwithbiographical information about her grandmother,OnaAbracinskasDauksys.

There were other Abracinskas’ that lived in Worcester, Mas-sachusettsthatIdonotknowhoworwhotheyarerelatedtoinLithuania.AdamAbrazinskiwasbornJanuary1,1877inLithu-ania.HisfatherAdamwassupposedlymurderedinLithuaniasohe ran away and came to America. He went to Bridgeport, CT and thentoWorcester,MA.Hedidn’tliketotalkaboutthepasteventhoughhehadarelationshipwithMichaelAbracinskaswhenMi-chaellivedinMontello,MA.

Adam married Mary Degutis and they had four children,Adolph,Joseph,MaryMargaret,andWilliamPeter.AdamdiedNovember5,1951,MarydiedJanuary18,1957,andbothwereburiedinSt.Joseph’sCemeteryinWorcester,MA. Adolph J. Abrazinski was born in Worcester in 1902. He worked as a foreman until he retired. Adolph married HelenChesluk(Ciesluk)andtheyhadthreechildren,Doris,ElinorMa-rie,andJoyce.AdamdiedonApril11,1966,HelendiedonNo-vember 29, 1983, and both were buried at Notre Dame Cemetery inWorcester,MA.

Joseph William Abrazinski was born on February 2, 1903 in Worcester. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves from 1928 to 1933. He married Mary Ridickas and they had one child, Maryann born about 1929. Mary died, then Joseph wed Techa “Teresa” Kaderov-ich in about 1930. They had three children, Claire Techa born July 8, 1932, Albert Joseph born April 28, 1935, and Richard Paul born March 22, 1939. Joseph was a semi-pro baseball play-er. He operated a fuel service in Worcester. He died on February 1, 1976, Teresa died on Oc-tober 22, 1983, and both were buried in Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Mary Margaret Abrazinski was born on August 12, 1906 and never married. She was called “Mae” and worked as a bookeeper and clerk. She died on January 22, 2000 at Shrewsbury Nursing HomeinShrewsbury,MassachusettsandwasburiedinMemorialCemeteryinPaxton,Massachusetts.

William Peter Abrazinski was born on October 12, 1908. He married Alice Rogers. He served in the USAF in the Solomon Islands during World War II and got malaria. He died on Feb-ruary 15, 1975 in Columbia County, Florida.

Adam Abrazinski married Mary Degutis and lived in Worcester, Massachusetts about 1901. They had four children, Adolph, Joseph William, Mary Margaret, and William Peter.

The second generations and beyond - William “Vincent” Abraczinskas.

MygreatgrandparentsMichael(Mykolas)andElizabeth(Elzibetha)BrundzaAbracinskasandtheirsixchildrensettledinShenandoah,PA.There was William, Michael Jr., Joseph, Elizabeth Ona, Andrew, and Vic-tor,allborninLithuania.MichaelandElizabethareburiedinOldSaintGeorge’s Cemetery in Shenandoah, PA.

William“Vincent”cametoAmericaabout 1888. He worked around Shenan-doah, PA, in his brother Joseph’s gro-cery store, and on brother Andrew’sfarm near Slabtown. He married Ma-ria (Mary) Brusokas in Shenandoah inabout 1897. They had two children in Shenandoah, Maria and William George.

WhiletheAbraczinskasfamilieswereRomanCatholic,Wil-liamjoinedtheJehova’sWitnessesandpressedhisotherbrotherstojoinbuttheydidn’t.WilliamandhisfamilymovedtoIllinoisinaboutearly1900andlivedonWest3rdStreet,SpringValley,HallTwp, Illinois. The 1900 census indicated that William was born in April1870andcametoAmericain1888.MarywasborninApr1878 and came in 1896. They became naturalized citizens in 1910. The 1920 census indicates they lived at 1224 49th Avenue, Cicero Township, Illinois and his name as shown on the census form was Abraczinskas.Williamwasaminer,Marywasatailor,WilliamJr.wasaprinter,Juliawasatai-lor, and Anastasia was in school. In 1930 they lived at 1820 South 49th Avenue, Cicero, Illinois.

William “Vincent” Abraczinskas and Maria Brusokas had five chil-dren,Maria(Mary)bornin1897,WilliamJr.bornMay30,1899,Juliaborn August 25, 1902, Anastasia born October 6, 1906, and Charles bornJanuary1,1908.Itisnotexactlyclearwhen,why,andwhointhefamilychangedtheirnamefromAbraczinskastoAbar.WilliamJr.andCharleshadthenameAbarbutwhenJuliadiedinSt.Petersburg,Florida in 1988, her death certificate still showed Abracinskas spelled withoutthe“z”.

William Sr. worked in the mines near SpringValley, Illinois for 50 years. He died in about1952 and is buried in Peru City Cemetery, Peru, Illinois.ItisunknownwhenhiswifeMariadied.Shewasstilllivingin1951whenshevisitedhersonCharlesAbarinCaliforniawherethepictureshownhereontherightwastaken.

Wedding photo of William Abraczinskas and Maria Brusokas in Shenandoah, PA in about 1897.

Michael and Elizabeth’s grave in Shenandoah Heights, PA.

Maria Brusokas - abt 1930.

Maria“Mary”AbraczinskasAbarwasborninShenandoah,PAinabout1897.Her Godparents were Michael Abracz-inskas(William’sbrother)andRosella“Rozzie” Ritelis. Mary married JohnGavin who was in the U.S. Army Corps inWWII(hemayhavebeenkilledinthe war). Mary and John Gavin had a son named John Jr. John Gavin Jr mar-riedAgnesandtheyhadfourchildren,Remi, Tony, Joan, and Cheri. Tony and Joan are twins. In 1988 they lived inWorth, Illinois. Later Mary Gavin mar-riedamanwiththelastnameofButis.

William George Abraczinskas Abar was born in Shenandoah, PA on May 30, 1899. His godparents were Joseph Abraczinskas (William’s brother) and Agata Urbanavich of Shenandoah. His Registration Card dated September 12, 1918 indicated that he worked as a Machine Hand at theHillPumpWaterCompanyinChicago. It isnotknownwhoWilliamwasmarried to(pos-sibly to Josephine and then divorced). They had two children, a daughter named Jeanette born in October 1926 and a boy named Jerry born September 30, 1927. The 1943 Morton School year booklistedaJerryAbarasaviolinistintheschoolorchestra.MycousinJeromeAbraczinskas,Duke’s son, told me that William George attended one of the Frank and Helen Petuskey girl’s weddinginPennsylvania.JeromealsosaidthathepersonallyvisitedWilliamAbaronceinChi-cago while on a business trip in the early 1960s. William George Abar died on January 15, 1966.

Julia Abracinskas was born on August 25, 1902 in Spring Valley, Illinois, never married and was living in St. Petersburg, Florida when she died on July 25, 1988. Her occupation was a “binder” at a publishing company. The informant on her death certificate was Dolores Dilegge from Lisle, Illinois.JuliawasburiedintheSt.CasimirCemetery,afamousLithuaniancemeteryinChicago.

AnastaciaAbracinskaswasbornonOctober6,1906inSpringValley, Illinois. She married John Galdik (Galdikas) and they hadfourdaughters,Dolores,Lorraine,MaryAnn,andJeanie.DoloresmarriedJosephDileggein1957andin1989theylivedin Lisle, Illinois. They had three daughters Laurell, Lynn and Ja-net. Joseph died in 1963 and Dolores died in Lisle in June 2005. Lorraine married Louis Raimondo in June 1954 and in 1989theylivedinSanDiego,California.LorrainewasarealtorthereinSanDiego.MaryannmarriedSteveKurthinSeptember1965andin1989theylivedinWashington,Illinois.JeanniemarriedRalphSergottandin1989theylivedinLouisville,Kentucky.AnastaciawaslivinginanursinghomeinLouisville,Kentuckyin1989.ShehadAlzheimer’sdisease.Presumably itwasherdaughterJeanniethatwaslookingafterher.

Mary (Gavin) Butis and her sec-ond husband with children of John Gavin Jr, presumably, Tony, Joan, Cheri, and Remi.

John Gavin and Mary Abar abt 1942.

John Galdik and wife Anastacia Abracinskas celebrating their anniversary.

CharlesRobertAbarwasbornonNewYearsday1908inIllinois.Hebecameaseamanandlived and worked in Galveston, Texas. Charles used to work and sail on ships that carried oil and fuel. He sailed on the SS A.C. Rubel in 1943,and the L.P. St Clair in 1946. They were tanker ships that served the U.S. Navy sailing up and down the west coast during the war. A typical tanker crew then included 42 to 45 mariners and 17 Navy Armed Guard. Charles was a mariner.

Charles met Elizabeth “Betty” Toth, a stenographer from Cleveland, Ohio, and they were married in Lake Charles, Louisiana

on November 27, 1941. They moved toCalifornia andhad three children,Charles Robert Jr. born August 15,1946,ElizabethMaryAnnbornMay26, 1949, and Dolores Dawn born March 21, 1951. Charles and Betty loved their children and traveled of-ten with them. Their two daughters Elizabeth and Dolores enjoyed rid-ing horses. Charles used to collectpetrified wood around California. In herlateryears,Bettytookuppainingandproducedanumberofbeautiful miniature floral paintings. She corresponded with me ofteninthelate1980sbecauseshewantedtolearnmoreabouther husband’s genealogy, and she sentme several small paint-ings. My aunt Frances Balschi would visit them quite often at 345PinoleAvenueinRodeo,California.Inthe1980s,itwasmyaunt Frances that heightened my curiosity about the Abar’s and I startedgatheringinformationaboutthemforthefamilytree.

Lorraine Galdik and Louis Raimondo wedding June 4, 1954.

Maryann Galdik and Steve Kurth wedding September 25, 1965.

L to R standing. Maryann. Jeannie and Dolores Galdik daughters of Anastacia Galdik (sitting). At Do-lores Diligge’s daughter Laurell’s christening in 1959.

Charles and Betty Abar shortly after they were married. The car license plate is 1942.

Charles Jr., Dolores, and Elizabeth Abar - 1952.

CharlesAbarJr.wrotemea letter in March 1990 tellingmeabouthisfamilyandmotherBetty who was in the hospitalatthetime.HemarriedBeverlyConeinDecember1973inSanFrancisco, California. Beverly has aMaster’sDegree inPsy-chology.Shehad twochildrenfromapreviousmarriagenamedBethany and Bryan. BethanywasbornonJune15,1966andattendedgraduateschoolattheUniversity of California at Da-

vis. Bryan was born on No-vember 23, 1968 and attended auniversityinNewZealand.

Charles Jr. is an entrepreneur andhas owned andoperated a successfulwholesale distributingbusiness in San Carlos, California. Today, he and his wife Beverly live in Central Pond, Oregon.

Elizabeth Maryann Abar married Arthur Ransome Taylor and they adopted a son, Matthew born September 19, 1984. They lived in Anchorage, Alaska for several years and moved to Tenino, Washington in 1992. They divorced after 30 years of marriage and then Elizabeth changed her name to Shay. In 2002 Elizabeth married retired Doctor Harry Smith and he passed away in 2005. Much to my surprise in April 2009, Elizabeth sent me an email and it was wonderful hearing from her.

DoloresDawnAbarmarriedLawrenceBrooksandtheyhaveadaughterDianaLeebornFebruary 9, 1972. They lived in Vallejo, California for a while. They moved to Oregon and live along the North Umpqua River east of Roseburg enjoying the solemn peace and quiet there.

Maria Abar, Charles Jr., Eliza-beth, William Abar, and Charles Abar in San Franscisco - 1951.

Charles Jr., Frances Balschi, and Charles Abar in Rodeo, Califor-nia at Christmas - early 1980s.

Betty Abar relaxing at home in 1989. She impressed me as being very friendly, very talented, and very warm. I regret not ever meeting her in person - Ray Abraczinskas.

Dolores Abar Brooks and her lovely daughter Diana in August 1987.

The second generations and beyond - Michael Abraczinskas.

MygreatgrandparentsMichael(Mykolas)andElizabethAbracinskasandtheirsixchildrensettled in Shenandoah, PA. There was William, Michael Jr., Joseph, Elizabeth Ona, Andrew, and Victor, all born in Lithuania. Michael died on January 17, 1914 and Elizabeth died on February 22, 1912. They are buried in the Old Saint George Cemetery in Shenandoah, PA.

Michael Jr. was born February 28, 1869 in the farming country southofMarijampole,Lithuania.HearrivedinAmericain1888andlivedinShenandoah,Pennsylvania.HeworkedasaforemanintheminesaroundShenandoah for 20 years making $100 per month. In 1900 he was 31 years old and married Ursula Zelonis from Mahanoy City, PA and they lived at 29 W. Coal Street in Shenandoah.. She was 16 and the oldest of seven chil-dren. The name Zelonis means “green” in Lithuanian and so many of the Zelonis children ended up with the last name of Greene, e.g., Charles, John, Carl, and Victor Greene.

Ursula was the oldest daughter of John and Mary Zelonis, who in 1900, lived at 617 West SpruceStreetinMahanoyCity,Pennsylvania.Interestingly,alsointheearly1900s,SimonAbra-cinskas (Brown) lived a few doors away at 623 W. Spruce Street in Mahanoy City. Presumably, theremayhavebeenafamilyconnectionbetweenSimonAbracinskas’sfamilyinMahanoyCityandtheMichaelAbracinskas’familyinShenandoahbutitisunknownwhattheconnectionwas.

Michael Abraczinskas (on left) stands in front of his 3-story apartment house in Montello (“the vil-lage”) in Brockton. His family are on the porch behind him. This picture was taken in about 1912.

Michael Abracinskas Jr. in about 1892.

In 1908 Michael and Ursula moved to Montello(called“thevillage”)inBrockton,Mas-sachusetts.Heandhisfamilylivedat187AmesStreet.Hebuiltthreeapartmentbuildingsandop-eratedastoreinoneofthemneartheSt.RoccoCatholicChurchwherehewasveryactiveintheparish and different organizations. He was oneof the first organizers of the LDS -- Darbininkas -- a Lithuanian newspaper. He became a Direc-tor of the Brockton Trust Company. Around 1917 or1918,acommitteeofthreeincludingMichaelAbracinskashadameetingwithPresidentWood-rowWilsontodiscussthepossibilityofassistancetoLithuania.Heassistedandsponsoredmanyofthe Lithuanian people in Montello in receivingtheir United States Citizenship papers.

In 1920, “Nellie” and Edward Sandusky were living with Michael and Ursula. Anna “Nel-lie” Sandusky is Ursula’s sister and she and her husband Edward Alexander “Ned” worked in a shoe shop in Brockton and then he operated a barber shop at 27 Upland Road for many years. Ned diedinBrockton,MAinOctober1979andNelliediedinBrocktoninMarch1984.

In1937,MichaelsoldhisbusinessandapartmentstoLeonardKumpaandbecauseofpoorhealthwithdrewfromhisactivitiesinmanyorganizationsthathewasactivein.

The same 3-story aparment houses in Mon-tello (“the village”) in Brockton. I took this photo while attending Fr. Al Abracinskas’ 50th anniversary in the priesthood - 1990.

St. Rocco’s church festival in the park. That’s Michael Abracin-skas kneeling in the front center (on the right arm of the man with the white hat). In the right back-ground are three apartment houses he built in the early 1900s. This photo was taken in about 1915.

Michael and Ursula had seven children, Pauline born January 5, 1901, Peter born January 31,1903,MichaelandAmbrosepossiblytwinsborninabout1905anddiedasinfants(possiblyfrom a cholera outbreak then), Edward born July 3, 1909, Albert born March 23, 1912, and Eliza-beth born September 23, 1913.

In the early 1940s, Michael and Ursula made a trip to Pennsylvania to visit relatives and spend the day on his brother Andrew’s farm. Through the years, Abraczinskas relatives enjoyed visitingAndrew’sfarmwhichleftmanywithhappymemoriesandstoriestotelltheirlovedones.

MichaeldiedinBrocktononJune7,1946.MichaelwasburiedJune11,1946inCalvaryCem-etery in Brockton. Ursula was born on October 16, 1884 in Marijampole, Lithuania and died May 30, 1967 at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home in Brockton. She was buried on June 2, 1967 in Calvary Cemetery.

Pauline Nellie Abracinskas was born in Shenan-doah,PAonJanuary5,1901.Shewascalled“Palessie”inschool. In about 1923, she married Francis Albert “Frank” Reynolds, a General Practice Physician, who graduated from Tufts College Medical School in Boston. They lived in Athol, Massachusetts at 43 Cottage Street where Dr.Reynolds maintained an office. Dr. Reynolds served in various positions on the Athol Credit Union Bank Board andasCountyMedicalExaminerforWorcesterCountyformanyyears.In1956hewasaDirectoroftheAtholBankand Trust Company.

Pauline and Frank Reynolds had two children, Pa-tricia Marie born May 7, 1925 in Athol, and Francis Al-bert Jr. born September 20, 1928 in Athol. They had two children,SharonandRobert.PatriciaMariedivorcedherhusbandRobertinApril1960.Shewasshotandkilledinahorrible incident in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in Dec. 1960.

“A visit to the farm.” L to R. Andrew and wife Margaret, Michael and wife Ursula, and Joseph and wife Ursula. Three Abra-cinskas brothers in about 1940.

L to R. Andrew, Joseph, Joseph’s wife Ursula, Mary Abraczinskas holding son Raymond (me) on her lap, Michael’s wife Ursula, Andrew’s wife Margaret, Duke’s wife Anna holding son Jerome on her lap, and Michael.

Patricia Reynolds wedding. L. to R. Fr. Albert Abracinskas, Patricia, Robert Palco, Pauline and Frank Reynolds.

Francis Albert “Fran” Reynolds Jr. served in the U.S. Marine Corps fromSeptember1946toSeptember1948.HeservedinChinaanduponhis return to the U.S. in early 1948, he came cross country by train and stoppedinChicagotovisithissisterPatriciaandherhusbandRobert.

He married Alberta McAdams in Athol, Massachusetts in 1950. Fran andAlbertacouldnothavechildrensotheyadoptedaboyMichael.

When Fran’s sister Patricia Reynolds was murdered in Florida in 1960, Fran and Alberta adopted Patricia’s two children, Sharon and Rob-ert Joseph. He and Alberta divorced in the late 1940s. Then Fran mar-riedRobertaPattenin1971inSterling,Massachusetts.Robertawasmar-riedanddivorcedfromCharlesCook,theyhadtwochildren,BettyandRobert. Fran and Roberta live in New Hampshire. In early 2009, I had

several very nice telephone conversations with Fran renewing old acquaintances and obtaining informationforthefamilytree.

PeterV.AbracinskaswasbornJanuary31,1903inShenandoah,Pennsylvania.Hemar-riedDorothyStridebornJune8,1917inMaine,andtheylivedinMiddleboro,Massachusetts.NotmuchisknowntodayaboutPeter.HeworkedforawhileatAndrewAbraczinkas’sfarmnearCatawissa.HisbrotherEdwardrememberedhimas“aniceman...saidthathehadatoughtime...buthewasindependent...eventuallygotmarriedbuthadnochildrenofhisown...theyadoptedasonandnamedhimPaulAlbert.”Peter’swifeDorothyworkedasadietaryaideinMiddleboro,Massachusetts. Peter passed away in September 1968 in Sebring, Florida. Dorothy passed away on March13,1980inMiddleboroandwasburiedonMarch17,1980inColebrookCemetery,Whit-man,Massachusetts(eastofBrockton).

IdonotknowntheexactinformationaboutMichaelandAmbrose,thechildrenofMichaeland Ursula that died as infants in about 1905 or 1906 in Shenandoah, PA. It was at the time of a widespreadcholeraoutbreakandsofromtheinformationinthememoirsofBettyAbracinskasDuke,itissurmisedthattheysuccumbedtoit.It’spossiblethattheyweretwins.

The next child born to Michael and Ursula was Edward Ambrose, born in Brockton, Mas-sachusetts on July 3, 1909. He graduated from Boston University Medical School and after com-pletinghisresidency,movedtoHolyoke,MassachusettschosenoverDetroit,Michiganbecausehethoughtthatthewatertastedbetterandthatthesurroundingsweremuchnicer.Dr.Abbotpurchasedapracticefromaretired“eye”doctorthereandwasan“eye,ear,nose,andthroatphysician.”In1939 his four-suite office was located at 225 High Street in Holyoke. In 1940 their residence was at1675NorthamptoninHolyoke.EdwardandHelenhadonechild,EdwardJr.bornonMarch8,1940inHolyoke.

Dr. Edward volunteered for the U.S. Navy and served in the Medical Corps as a Navy Lt. HestartedatChelseaNavyHospital inBoston,wenton theCampPerryoutsideNorfolk,VA,where they were setting up the first training camp for construction workers that would become Seabees eventually. Then he was sent to a hospital set up at a small Naval Air Station in southern

Roberta and Fran Reynolds - May 2002.

Great Britain near a town called Dunkswell. Afterthewarended,hewasshippedhomeandheresumedhispracticeinHolyoke.Heretiredinthe1970sandeventuallymovedtoNewSmyrnaBeach, Florida in about 1980.

Edward and Helen attended a formalNewYear’s dinner at Duke andAnnaAbracz-inskas’ home in New Smyrna Beach in Janu-ary1980whichIandmyfamilydroppedinonwhile visiting my in-laws in Florida. They were all very cordial and invited my family to jointhem.Iwillneverforgetthegoldsilverwareonthetable,thebeautifulopulence,andtheenjoy-ableconversationswehad.Itookthephotoshownhereandalthoughitisofpoorquality,showingit here is warranted. Edward and Duke regularly visited together and played shuffleboard often.

Dr.EdwardAbbottdiedinNewSmyrnaBeachinJanuary1987. His wife Helen passed away on March 2, 2009 and both Edward and Helen are buried at St. Thomas Aquinas Church CemeteryinBridgewater,Massachusetts.

EdwardAbbotJr.wasbornonMarch8,1940.HewasanAmerican History teacher at the Sidney High School. Hemarried Maureen Kathryn O’Shea from Chicopee, MA. They have three children, Kathyrn Mary Francis born on May 27, 1966, Kristine Helen born on October 26, 1968, and Edward A. III born on February 1, 1971.

Kathryn “Katie” Abbot married Michael Struzik a musicteacher on July 13, 1991 in Sidney, NY. They have two chil-dren,ChristopherJosephbornonJanuary17,1996andMat-thewEdwardbornonMay11,1998bothborninRochester,NewYork.

Kristine Helen Abbot married Andrew Garfinkel and they have three children, Emma Syd-ney, born on May 4, 1997, Abigal Ruth born on July 19, 2000, and Joshua. Andrew and Kristine both work in Washington, DC and in 2009, they live in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

EdwardA.AbbotIIImarriedKirstenRadellonJuly10,1999andtheyhavetwochildren,Kevin Edward born on May 6, 2001 and Kiley Ann born on March 23, 2004. Ed works as a Gov-ernment Contracting Agent in Washington, DC and in 2009, they live in Leesburg, Virginia.

“Duke” and Anna Abraczinskas with Edward and Helen Abbot in New Smyrna Beach, Florida having New Year’s dinner - January 1980.

Dr. Edward and Helen Abbot - 1985.

Albert C. Abracinskas was born in Brockton, Massachusetts on March 23, 1912. He went toschoolinBrocktonandworkedinhisfatherMichael’sstorehelpingtodelivergroceries.Hegraduated from Brockton High School in 1929 and Boston College in 1933 (with honors). He studiedforthepriesthoodandwasordainedinHolyCrossCathedralinBostononMay3,1940.HeservedatSt.Peter’sChurchinSouthBoston,ImmaculateConceptionChurchinCambridge,St. George’s Lithuanian Church in Norwood, and St. Casimir Church in Brockton.

May 6, 1990 was designated Fr. Al Abracinskas Day by proclamation of the Mayor of Brockton.Itwasthedaythatover400peoplegatheredinChristosIIhallinBrocktonandcel-ebrated Fr. Al’s 50 year Golden Jubilee in the priesthood. I flew out from Grand Rapids, Michigan andwithmydaughterDiane,whowasworkinginBoston,wenttothegloriouscelebration.Otherrelatives also attended; Mummy Abrachinsky, his wife Josephine, son Charles, and brother George Abrachinsky came fromShenandoah.EdAbbot Jr. andhis family came fromSidney,NY, hisdaughter played the piano and her fiance played the trombone - it was beautiful! Jim Duke and his wife Irene and family, Joe Duke and his wife, and Fran Reynolds and his wife were there also. In themorning,wehadbreakfastwiththesistersattheConventincludingSisterConsolata(SusanChepacavage), a friend of my mother and relative of Fr. Al.

IdrovearoundAmesStreetandtookphotosoftheAbracinskashouses.DianeandIattend-ed the 3 p.m. celebration Mass in St. Casimir Church. There were 25 priests assisting. Fr. Al gave abeautifulhomilytalkingaboutthemeaningofaPriest’sidentity.SisterImeldaandhermotherwereatthechurchandthedinner.Hermotherwas101yearsoldthenandshewalkedtochurch.

Front Row L. to R. Lily the family collie, Joshua Garfinkel, Abigail Garfinkel, Kevin and Kiley Ab-bot, and Matthew Struzik. Rear Row L. to R. Emma Garfinkel, Kristine Garfinkel, Andrew Gar-finkel, Ed Abbot III, Kirsten Abbot, Kathryn Abbot Struzik, Michael Struzik, Christopher Struzik, Maureen Abbot, and Edward Abbot - March 2009.

The celebration dinner was fabulous! Fr. Al’s fishing friend Fr. Salunas told a story about how they would sneak past NO TRESPASSING signs to go fishing on their favorite lake. Jim Ches-ter from South Boston told how Fr. Al used to raffle off a car at the ball-park in Boston to raise money for theconvent.He said that it seemedlike they raffled the same car off for six or seven years (but it wasn’t true). Fr. Al’s favorite song was“Youaremysunshine”anditwassungsev-eraltimesduringthedinner.Afterthedinnerthatevening, Fr. Al closed with some brief parting wordsofadvice.Hesaid,“Patsomeoneontheback before they go six feet under. They won’t hear your grief and see your flowers you give to them as they are lowered into the ground, buttheycanhearyourpraise.”

Afterretiringin1984,heresidedatthepriest’shomeonthegroundsofOurLady of Sorrows Convent on Thatcher Street near Massaqoit College in Brock-ton.Manytimesweexchangedletters.HewasappreciativeofalltheworkIwasdoingwiththeAbracinskasfamilytree.HetranslatedseverallettersformethatIreceived from Abracinskas’ in Uruguay written in Lithuanian.

Fr. Al Abracinskas died on May 11, 2003 and was interred in Calvary Cem-eteryinBrockton.IwenttothefuneralceremoniesheldinSt.CasimirCatholicChurchandIwillneverforgetit.Whilethere,Igavethoughttoallthatthismanhad done. The church was originally St. Rocco’s and Fr. Al’s father, Michael along withmanyotherLithuaniaimmigrants,helpedbuilditthen.St.Rocco’sChurchburned down and in 1952, it was eventually rebuilt as St. Casimir’s on Sawtell Avenue. Sadly, in June 2008 the Boston Diocese decided to close St. Casimir CatholicChurchanditwasdismantled.Itwas114yearsold.

Elizabeth Leona “Betty” Abracinskas, the youngest of Michael and Ursula’s seven chil-dren, was born at 187 Ames Street in Brockton on September 23, 1913. She married Konstanti (Constant) James Dauksewicz (Duke) of North Abbington, Massachusetts in 1936. They had two children James Constant born on April 5, 1939 and Joseph Michael born on February 2, 1945. James graduated from the M.I.T. and acquired a PhD. He married Irene Tavin in 1970. They had two children James David born on August 31, 1973 and Pamela Ursula born on August 19, 1975.

JosephDukemarriedVictoriaMekoshin1975andtheyhavetwochildren,JosephMichaelborn on January 28, 1971 and Rebecca born on December 31, 1974. Joseph divorced Victoria and later married Rebecca Daigle in 1981. They have two children, Miranda and Jeffery Thomas.

BettyDukeandIcorrespondedthroughthelate1980sandtheearly1990s,shewasimpressed

Fr. Al Abracinskas’ 25th anniversary as a priest. Standing L. to R. Dr. Edward Abbot (brother), Fr. Al, Elizabeth Duke (sister), Pauline Reynolds (sister) and their mother Ursula - May 1965.

Fr. Al - 1990.

with my genealogy work. In October 1992 she sent me a copy of her recent handwritten memoirs fromwhichthefollowinginformationistaken.

Mom and dad were born in Europe - Lithuania. They emigrated to America and bothfamilies settled inShenandoah,Pennsylvania.Dad’s family inShenandoahandMom’sparentsinMahanoyCity.DadwasabouteighteenyearsoldandMomwasabouttwo.In1900,MichaelAbracinskasandUrsulaZelonis(Greene)weremarried.Hewas32andshewas16.

ActuallyIwasacoalminer’sdaughter,becausemyDadworkedmanyyearsinthecoalminesasaforeman,earning$100permonth.Aftermanyyears,hedevelopedminer’sasthmaandwasadvisedbyhisDoctortogiveuphisjobinthecoalmines.

OntheadviceofMichael’sphysician,heandUrsuladecidedtostartanewlifeandcareereitherinDetroit,MichiganorBrockton,Massachusetts.Theyhadacquaintancesinbothcities.He checked out Detroit first but did not like their drinking water or surroundings as much as he likedBrockton,whichwasmorelikecountrywithtrees,etc.,andwasasmallercity.Thiswastheirchoice.ThereweremanyLithuanianfamiliessettledinBrockton.

A six-family house was constructed with a store on the first floor, which was to be a grocery store,hisnewoccupation.Momandchildrenarrivedlaterafterthehousewasbuilt.AlongwithhercamePaulineandPeter.Thatwasperhapsintheyear1908.Edward,Albert,andElizabethwere born in Brockton. A midwife delivered five of Mom’s children. She was her mother-in-law ElizabethAbracinskas(marriedJosephFelesky-FleckinShenandoah).AlbertandIweretheonlyonestobedeliveredbyDr.Boucher,aFrenchDoctorinBrockton.

GrandmotherGreene(Zelonis)motherwasFrenchandgotmarriedduringthewarwithEurope.IthinkIowehermyloveformusicanddancing.

Momsufferedaseriousillness-smallpox.Shehadtohaveherhairshavedfromherheadandnomirrorswereallowedonthepremises.Thehospitalwasquarantinedtoallvisitors.Onecouldonlygetaglimpseofthevisitorsbeyondthefencedgrounds.Shewasabeautifulwomanandfortunatenottohavedeeppockmarksonherfaceasaresultofthesores.ThisoccurredinPennsylvania-afewyearsafterhermarriage.

Iwasalmost given thenameofRegina, but ournext-doorneighbor,Mr.Miller,whosewife’snamewasRegina,persuadedmyMomtomakeanotherchoice.Consequently,IwasnamedElizabethformygrandmotherAbracinskas.Asababy,IlovedbeingheldbygrandpaGreene.Hehadalonggreybeard,whichIlovedtostroke.ThiswouldkeepmequietwhenIwasfussy.Intheyearsthatfollowed,Dadhadatwelve-familyandasix-familyhomeconstructed.Thiswasashortstreet,atoneendofthestreetwasaplayground.

DadwasselfeducatedandcouldreadandwriteEnglish.HewasanaturalizedcitizenandsponsoredandassistedmanyotherLithuaniansintheParishtodothesame.Hewasstrict,butgenerous,kindandfair.Athome,wewereonlyallowedtospeakLithuanian,ournativetongue.WhenheheardusspeakingEnglish,heorderedustostop.MytwobrothersandIwenttoLithu-

anian School in the Parish Hall every Saturday. We also attended Catechism Class tolearn our prayers in Lithuanian. I practiced playing the piano one hour per day, the pi-ano was in the living room above the store. He always debated with me whether or notI played the full hour. Apparently he and the customers were enjoying the free concert.

Nooneinthefamilysmokedandheforbadecustomersandsalesmanfromsmokinginhisstore.Thiswasabouttheyear1910.Thestorewasopensixdaysaweekandthehourswerelong,fromsixinthemorningtoeightatnight.Atonetime,Dademployedseveralworkers.Momwouldservemeals(lunch)forthemaswellasthefamily.Shewouldoftenbaketwelvepiesatatime.Dadwouldoftentakeanapafterlunch.Momoroneofuschildrenwouldtendthestore.Withoutusingcookbooks,Momwasanexcellentcook!

Momwasalsoself-educated,shecouldreadandwriteEnglishandwasalsoaNaturalizedCitizen.Shewasalwayseagertolearnmore.Iwouldcomehomefromgrammarschool,outcametheblackboard,andherEnglishlessonscommenced.Ienjoyeddoingthisbecausemydreamwastobeaschoolteacher.DaddiscouragedmefromdoingthisbecausehesaidthatifImarried,Iwouldnotbeabletoteach.Thiswastrueinthosedays.Amarriedteachercouldonlysubstitute.Therefore,ItaughtmyMotherEnglish,Catechismclassatourchurch(inLithuanian),andmuchlaterinyears,EnglishandMathtothePortuguesechildreninthePublicSchool,asavolunteer.Thiswastheextentofmyteaching.

Momwasabeautifuldressmaker.Shewouldstudythepatternsmostlyfromthepicturesanddiagramsandaddsomeofherownideas.Icanrememberhersewinglateintothenighttocompleteadress.Hercrochetworkwasoutstanding!Shecouldstudysomeone’sdesignandmakeaduplicate.

Ihaddoublepneumoniaattheageofthreeandwasseriouslyill.Dadhiredaprivatenursetotakecareofmedayandnight.ThefeverwashighandIspokeincoherently.IwouldtellMomaboutdifferentpicturesIsawonthewall.Thisupsether.Aftersomanydays,thecrisiscame.MomsaidmybodystiffenedandthenIlayverystill.Sheprayed,thecrisiswasoverandIregainedmyhealth.

I had scarlet fever during the first grade at Grammar School. I was ill for a period of two months.ThehousewasquarantinedandIwasinbedformanyweeks.Manyafternoons,myMomwould move the bed in front of the window (this was on the first floor) where I could see my friends outside. They would entertain me singing and dancing. This gave me a big lift. I finally returned to school, first grade, on the last day of school. Miss Clarke was my teacher, I was overjoyed to learn thatIwaspromotedtothesecondgrade.Atthetimeofmyillness,thethree-familyhouseat187AmesStreetwasquarantined,asignwaspostedonthefrontdoorbytheHealthDepartment.

LateSaturdaynights,justbeforethestoreclosed,Momwouldcomeupstairstoputmyhairincurlers.IrememberbeingverysleepywhilewaitingforherbutitwasamustforSunday.

Iwouldhatewearinglongundiesinthewinter,andIrememberrollingthemupabovemykneessotheywouldnotshowundermystockings.Weworeskirtsinsteadofslacks.

One day when I was five years old, I decided to go to school. My brothers attended the FranklinSchoolandIdidnotunderstandwhyIwasnotgoingtoo.IcameincontactwithMissTidd,thePrincipal.Shewasverykindandunderstanding.ThenexttripIwenttherewasonaFri-day.Shetalkedwithmeforawhileandthentoldmetoreturntomorrow.TomorrowhappenedtobeSaturday.ItoldmyMomofthisincidentandsheexplainedtomethatIwastooyoungandnotreadyforschool.

Onanotherday,IdecidedtovisittheLithuaniaPriestatthechurchrectoryafewhousesawayfromus.ThehousekeeperinvitedmeinandIconversedwithherandthePriest.TheyinvitedmeforlunchandIaccepted.Momdidnotknowofthisincident,unlesstheytoldher.WhenthePriestscametothehousetotaketheParishcensus,Iwasalwaysaskedtoplaythepiano.

WhenIwasalittlegirl,MommadefrequentvisitstoPennsylvaniatovisitheMomandfamilyandshewouldtakemewithher.WewouldboardthebusinBrocktontoFallRiver,Mas-sachusetts.FromtherewewouldgobyshiptoNewYorkCity.Itwasanovernighttrip,sleepingonboardtheship.Atonetime,Irememberbeingseasick.InNewYorkCity,wewouldboardthetrainforPennsylvania.

InMahanoyCity,grandpaandgrandmaGreene (Zelonis)ownedaseriesof tenementsconnectedtogetherasonebuilding.Thereweresteepstairsleadingintothecellar,whichwasthekitchen.Irememberfallingdownthosestairsatonetime.ApparentlyIdidnotgethurtandnooneknewaboutit.

Thereweremanyliquorbarroomsinthevicinityandontheircounter,fortheircustomers,werethetastiestpretzels.MyuncleswouldusuallytakemeinsoIcouldenjoythem.Ialsolovedbananas,sograndmaGreenewouldgivememoneytobuysome.Grandmaandothersintheareathere(MahanoyCity)had“outhouses”whichwerequiteanexperienceforme.Iwasafraidtomakeavisitatnight,eventhoughtheywerewelllit.

AftervisitinggrandmaGreene,wewouldgototheCatawissafarmtovisituncleAndrewandhis family,myDad’sbrother.The lifestyle therewasdifferentandIenjoyed it.Helen,mycousin,andIhadfunplayinginthebarnwheretherewasahayloft.Irememberlosingmyringthere. It slipped off my finger. All the cousins walked barefoot on gravel and sandy paths. They wouldrun,asIhobbledalongslowlyandpainfully.Therewasalargekitchenwheremyrelativesandthefarmworkersate.Thefoodwasplentifulanddelicious.MybrotherPeterworkedthereforawhile.MyuncleownedmuchpropertyinCatawissa,PA.Onthefarm,heraisedChristmastreesandappletrees.

MysisterPaulinewastwelveyearsolderthanme,marriedtoaDoctor,andlivinginAthol,Massachusetts. I was flower girl for her wedding. Many of my summers I vacationed in Athol. We wenthorsebackriding,thehorseIhadseemedveryslow,exceptwhenanautomobileapproachedandthenhewouldgolikecrazy.WewouldalsogoswimmingatWhite’spondandLakeRohunta.TherewerebloodsuckersinLakeRohunta,thatIdidnotlike,andyouwerechargedafeeforgoingthere.TheAtholLithuanianPriesthadacottageatWhite’sPondandwewenttheremoreoften.Therewerebeautifulpondliliesthere.IdidnotknowhowtoswimandIwore“waterwings,”

whichItiedaroundme.OnedayIforgottoputthemonanddiscoveredthatIwasswimmingindeepwaterwithoutthem.Ineverused“wings”again.The4thofJulywasabigtimeatmysister’splace in Athol. They bought beautiful fireworks and the parades were great.

OurfamilylivedacrossfromtheLithuanianchurch(St.Rocco’s).Becauseofthis,IwasusuallythelastonetoarrivefortheMass,fortunatelyIsanginthechoir,whichwaslocatedatthebackofthechurch.

TheMissionFatherswouldholdaMissionatthechurchonceayear.Ononeoccasion,theirsermoninspiredmesomuch,thatwhenIreturnedhome,IhelpedmyMombywashingasinkfullofdirtydishes.InanotherincidentmyfriendMaryandIweretobepromotedtotheseniorchoir and some of the senior members were against it, but the final vote was in our favor.

Momwouldaskmetowriteletterstoherrelatives,inreturnshewouldwashthedishesIwassupposedtodo.OnMother’sDay,Iwouldalwaysbuyheragift.IrememberaskingmyDadforhmoneyandhewouldneverrefuse.HewasalsogenerousingivingMomthemoneytobuyherselfandthechildren’sclothes.Irememberhimsayingtobuysomethingprettyforme,dressesofsatinorvelvet.

Therewouldbemoviesonceaweekatthechurchhall.Therewouldalsobeanexcitingserialwhichwascontinuedfromweektoweek.Wecouldnotwaittoseewhatwasgoingtotakeplacethenextweek.Therewouldbeapianoplayerplayingmusicforthemovies,whichweresilentpictures.

WehadaVictrolainourkitchen.Irememberplayingthesong“Chicago.”Myfriend,AnnaandIwoulddancetothemusic.Ifourstepsweretooheavy,Dadwouldbangonthecellarrafters,alsoifwespokeEnglish.

WehadawhitePomeraniandognamed“Fluffy.”Iwouldtakehimforawalkeveryday.Ilovedtopickblueberries.SometimesIwouldsellthemtoarestaurantnearby.Momboughtmerollerskates.Iwassohappywiththem,itseemedIwasskatingonthemdayandnight.Inschool,atmydesk,IfeltIhadmyrollerskateson.Afterlunch,goingbacktoschool,Momwouldgivememoneyforcecream.Instead,Iwouldbuyasourvinegarpickle.Ittastedsogood!

Wechildrenhadstrictorderstobeinthehouseassoonasthestreetarclightswenton.Threeofmydearfriendsdiedatanearlyage,oneboyandtwogirls.

Oneday,myDadaskedthefamilytodecidewhetherweshouldhaveasunporchaddedtothehouse,orbuyanautomobile.Theanswerwasanautomobile.MysisterPauline,twelveyearsolderthanme,wastobethedriverofthe“Page”automobile(theGrahamPageautomobilewasmanufacturedinEvansville,Indianstartinginabout1916).MyDaddecidedotryanddrive.Hewasdrivingdownhillandinsteadofapplyingthebrakes,hesteppedonthegas.Thatwastheendofhisdriving.

On a Sunday we would take a trip to Nantasket Beach (near Hull, MA), a distance oftwenty-five miles from where we lived. The ocean was very cold most of the time. I can remember mylegsturningbluefromthecold.Momlikedtogointhewater,butDadwouldrolluphistrousersandwadeclosetoshore.Afterthat,wewouldenjoyapicniclunch.

MorethanoneHalloweenIwoulddressupinmybrotherAlbert’sclothes.Theyworeknick-ersplusacapthosedays,thenIwouldvisitmyDadinthestore.Hewouldalwayspretendhedidnotrecognizeme.ThatwastheextentofmyHalloween.Iwouldthengobacktothehouse.

Dad would not allow us to eat candy, and at one time I had a difficult time proving to him thatafrozenpopsiclewasnotcandy.Heinsisteditwas.OnoneoccasionhecaughtmeeatingoneandIwastoldtogotothehouse.

Everyweek,theragmancamebywithhishorseandwagon.MyfriendMaryandIyearnedforarideinthiswagon.Weaskedthedriverandhesaid,“someday.”Ourwishcametrue,hedroveusforalittlewhileandbroughtusback.Wewereveryexcited.Thingsweredifferentinthosedays.

OnetimeIwentshoppinginBrocktonCenterandrememberleaningagainstsomefreshpaintinastorewindow.Idon’tremembertheoutcomeofthat.

WhenIwasalittlegirl,IcamehomefromSundayMasswithmybestdresson.Wehadapumpoutsidewithabarrelofwaternexttoit.MomtoldmetochangemydressbeforeIgotitwet.Guesswhat?Igotitwet!AnothertimewaterwasrushingdownthegutteronAmesStreetafteraheavyrainstorm.Momfoundmesittinginthegutter,playingwiththewater,inmybestclothes.

Anothertime,thefamilywasatapicnicinNorwood.Iwaswadinginthepondthere.AllofasuddenIsteppedintoaholeandcouldn’tgetbacktoshallowwater.Icouldnotswimatthetimeand remember being very frightened. I finally “dog paddled” my way out of the hole. I think that wastheonlytimeIcameclosetodrowning.

TheLithuanianPriesthadapowerfultelescope.Hewouldbringittothechurchhallwhenwehadchoirrehearsal,afterrehearsalwewouldtaketurnslookingattheskyandstars,throughthetelescope.

Many times Iwasasked toplay thepianoatchurchaffairs,orprograms.Manyotherswouldparticipate.Iwouldbealittleafraidofdoingthis,butmydeterminationwonout.Iwouldteachmyselftoovercomethesefears.Thentherewasthosepianorecitals,consistingofpianoso-losandduets.IenjoyedthepianomoreasIgrewolder,itwasanoutletforme.Iconsidereditafriend.

Fourgirlsandmyself,atachurchaffair,oncedancedwithtambourinestothemusicof“StarsandStripesForever.”WeworeacostumeandIreallyenjoyedthis.Ilovedmusicanddanc-ingandfeelIowethistomyFrenchgreat-grandmother.Iwastheonlyoneinthefamilythatwassoinvolvedwithmusic.Ialsoenteredmanydancecontests.

Some of the church choir members were chosen by the choir director to participate intheplay,“PiratesofthePenzance”attheCityTheaterinBrockton.Wehadbeautifulcostumes,dresseswithhoopskirts,andsanginthechorus.Iwasoneofthechosenonesandenjoyedit.

Iwouldblusheasily,sometimesfornoreasonatall.AfewtimesmyDadwouldtellmetowashmyface.HewouldsayIhadmakeupon,andIcouldnotconvincehimotherwise.IwouldalsoblushinschoolwhenIwascalledontorecite.OnewaytoavoidthiswastovolunteertorecitebeforeIwascalledontorecite,thenIwouldnotblush.Manytimestheywouldaskforvolunteers.Mary,myfriend,andIwerereprimandedfortalkingandlaughingduringclassonetime.Thiswasinjuniorhigh.Theteachertoldustoremainafterclass.Thiswasneverrepeatedagain.

Aunt Nellie, my Mom’s sister (Nellie Sandusky) took me to the fist circus performance I attended.Thatwasfun!Ihadblueyesandnaturalcurlyhair,theseIinheritedfrommyMom.My“quicksmile”wasfromMomandDadandtheAbracinskasfamily.

Iwasthriftyand“droveahardbargain.”WhenIwenttowork,DadaidIwouldnothavetopayboardifIprovedtohimthatIcouldbuymyownclothesanddepositsomethingregularlyinabankaccount.ThisIcompliedwithandenjoyedwatchingthemoneygrow.

“Ward6Playground”waslocatedat theendofourstreet(WebsterStreet).Therewereswings,see-saws,andotherformsofamusement,alsoteacherstoinstructusindifferentcrafts.Afterhours,whentheswingsweretakendown,Iwouldclimbalongthetopbarsandworkmywayalongtotheotherside.

Cannedraspberrieswereafavoriteofmine,fortunatelymyDadsoldtheminhisstore,soIcouldenjoythemonceinawhile,toppedwithicecream.

On Christmas Eve, I would hang my stocking up, the next morning I would find several oranges,otherfruitandnuts,plusagiftwrappedpieceofcoal,ontheverybottomwouldbeanew$1bill.

Ourhousewaslocatedatthebottomofahill.Inthewinter,wewouldtakeoursledandgoslidingdownthehill,AmesStreet.Onceinawhile,someonewouldcomealongwithadoublerunner,twolongsledswithaseatacrossthetop.Thiswouldreallygosailingdownthehillandcontinueatleastanotherquarterofamileafteritreachedbottom.Fortunatelytherewaslittletraffic on this street.

TherewasaMontello(public)swimmingpoolcloseby.Thiswasgreatonahotsummerday.Asmallfeewaschargedforadmissionandlocker.Iwassusceptibletonosebleedsformanyyears,ifIdivedinthepool.Theforceofthewaterwouldcauseanosebleed,sothatwastheendofthat.MomandIwouldgotoPennsylvaniatovisitgrandmaduringthesummer.Nosebleedswouldoccurtherealso,Iwastolditwasbecauseofthehighelevation.Yearslater,theysubsided.

When I was sixteen years old, I had a birthday party, my first. Sixteen boys and girls were invitedandMomandmyAuntNelliewerechaperones.Thatwastheageweallhadouroneand

onlyparty,itwassimilartoagraduationofsomekind.Thefoodwasgoodandwehadlotsoffunandgames.Oneofthemwas“SpintheBottle.”Wherethebottlestopped,youkissedthepartnerthatthebottlepointedtoo.

Myhobbiesweresewing,embroidering,reading,andplayingthepiano.I lovedtoplaymusicbyear,whatevercametomymind.Itwasanoutletforme,relaxedme,Ilostmyselftomymusic,feltapartfromeveryoneelse.

I studied piano for eight years, first from a Miss Pickering (whom I like best) and a Mr Burkewhowasachoirdirectorandchurchorganist.TherewererecitalswhereIwouldplaysolosandduets.

Moviesandicecreamwereatreat,mainlyonSundaysandHolidays.MyparentsgavememoneyforthebustoBrocktonHighSchool,whichwasamileandahalffromourhouse.InsteadIwouldwalkandsplurgethemoney,whenIhadenough,onasundae.

Laterinlife,IwasonaRussianShip,theMihailLermontov,fromNewYorktoLaHavre,France.ItookafewlessonsinRussianspeakingandlessonsinaRussianfolkdance.Otherpas-sengersontheshipdidthesame.Oneevening,weperformedthisdanceonthestageduringthefloor show. The ship crew gave fantastic shows every evening. The voyage lasted eight days over andeightdaysback.

Inmyearlytwenties,Iwasaskedtosewupababyduck’shead.Hegotcaughtinabarbed-wirefenceandtheskinwastornfromhisforeheadtothetopofhiseyelid.Idecidedtotryasheneededhelp.Igotsomesilkthreadandaneedleandheldhiminthepalmofmylefthand.Hewasveryquiet.IthinkhesensedthatIwasgoingtohelphim.Icommencedwiththeoperation.Iwasveryproudofmyselfbecausetheoperationwasasuccess.Thebabyducklivedandgrewuptoafullsizeduck.

IenteredBrocktonHighSchoolin1927,studiedtheCommercialCourseforfouryears,andgraduatedin1931,inthemonthofJune.1931wasthestartofthe“Depression.”Itwasdif-ficult to find any type of employment. The month of August, after looking through newspapers, the“WantAds”,anddiscouraged,IstudiedtheadvertisingsectionforBusinessSchools.UpondiscussingitwithmyDad,hegavemepermissiontoattendBryantStrattonBusinessSchoolinBostonforatwo-yearPrivateSecretarialCourse.ThiswasanIndividualAdvancementCourse.Icompletedthecourseintwoweekslessthanoneyear.

My first position was working for a lawyer. Later I was employed by the New England Wine Company.IhadtocommutetoBoston,whichIdidnotmind,itwasgoodtohavefoundemploy-ment,andthetrainservicefromBrocktonwasgood.

1936wastheyearofmymarriagetoConstantDauksewicz(Duke)aPolishyoungmanfrom North Abbington, Massachusetts. 1939 was the year our first child was born, a boy whom wenamedJamesConstant.1945wastheyearoursecondsonwasbornwhomwenamedJosephMichael.Theybothweighedninepoundseach(eachone).InbetweenthemIlostababygirl.

The first son, James, married Irene Tavin and they have two children, Jamie and Pamela. OursonJamesisaLieutenantCommanderintheNavy.HeenrolledinNROTCafterhegraduatedfromBrocktonHighSchoolandenteredMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology.ThefamilyresidesinFurlong,Pennsylvania.TheirsonJamie,graduatedhighschoolthisyear,June1992.

Oursecondson,Joseph,marriedRebeccaDaigle.Theyhavefourchildren,Jeffery,Miran-da,Joseph,andRebecca.TheyresideinLebanon,Pennsylvania.OursonisFoodServiceDirectorfortheWoodCompany,Allentown,PA.Hehasreceivedmanyawardsandpromotions.Joseph’swife,Becky,isDirectorofCommunityServicesatCornwallManor,Cornwall,PA,aretirementareawithbeautifulhomesandsurroundings.

Lastbutnotleast,ImustmentionmyhusbandConnie.Hewasaforemaninaweavingcompany.HewasalsoamusicianwhoplayedtheviolinandthedrumsandhelovedtoPolka.

Justanothernote,Iwonthreedanceawards.Onewasawaltzcontest tochoose“MissPlymouthCounty”whichwasheldat theLithuanianNationalHall inBrockton.CongressmanWigglesworthpresentedtheaward,asilverlovingcup,tothewinner,me,ElizabethAbracinskas.The secondwasat thepolishClub inMattapan,Massachusetts (a suburbofBoston).A silverlovingcupwaspresentedtothewinnersofthePolkaDanceContest,ElizabethAbracinskasandConstantDuke.ThethirdawardwasattheLithuaniaChurchhallinNashua,NewHampshire.APolkaContestwasscheduledforaSaturdaynight.ThewinnersofthePolkaDancewereElizabethAbracinskasandConstantDuke,theprizewasabottleofliquor.

Thisistheendofmymemories,suchastheyare,thegoodandthebad.IhavecompletedwhatIattemptedtodothree...fouryearsago,suchastheyare.Itwillbemy79thbirthdayonSeptember23,1992,andIamgladthatIhaveaccomplishedthis,withthehelpofmydaughter-in-law’stype-writer(Becky’s),whilevisitingwiththeminLebanon,Pennsylvania.Shekindlyletmeborrowit.

It was always apleasure receiving lettersfromElizabethDuke, shewrote with excellent pen-manshipandperfectEng-lish.She spokepositivelyabout her family andfriends,Iregretneverhav-ing the pleasure of meet-ingherinperson.

In June 2009, I met with her two sons Jim and Joe Duke in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania andtookthemaroundshowingthemtheSt.JosephChurchandCemetery.Wealsofoundthead-dressoftheZelonishomeonWestSpruceStreetbutunfortunately,ithadburneddownabouttenyearsearlier.WedrovetoShenandoahandstoppedattheAbrachinskyStoreonWestCoalStreetand then drove up to the Old Saint George Cemetery and showed them Michael and Elizabeth Abracinskas’headstone.Itwasafunreunion!

Elizabeth Betty Duke - 1965.

L. to R. Ray Abraczinskas, Jim Duke and Joe Duke at the Zelonis home site in Mahanoy City - June 2009.

The second generations and beyond - Joseph Michael Abracinskas.

Joseph(Juozas)MichaelAbracinskaswasthethirdchildofMichael(Mykolas)andElizabethAbracinskas.HewasbornonafarmsouthofMarijampole, Lithuania on February 27, 1873.

Josephandhis sisterAnnacame toAmerica together fromHam-burg, Germany on the ship Bohemia, arriving in New York on June 10, 1892. He was 19 years old and she was 18 years old. Both could not speak, read, or write English. They settled in Shenandoah, Pennsylva-nia. From then on his name became Abrachinsky. The 1900, 1910, and 1920 cen-sus information indicatesthat they lived at 29 West CoalStreet.

Josephwasthequietone.Hewasa“thinker”andbuiltastoreintheirhometosellfrom.Inthefam-ily, he was always known as the “grocery man.” The 1930 census indicates their home was at 27 West Coal Street (so the store was in the building next door at 29 WestCoalStreet).

During the course of building the store andselling different wares, Joseph invented different fix-turestoimprovethestore.HeobtainedseveralPatents.

Joseph married Hilarion Ursula Agnes Unitas in Shenandoah on May 3, 1903. They had six children, Victoria, Mamero, Michael, Albert Joseph, Anna Ursula, Joseph Edward, and George Clarence. Joseph died on June 18, 1944, Ursula died on October 4, 1961. Both are buried at the

Old Saint George’s Cemetery in Shenandoah Heights, Pennsylvania.

Joseph and Ursula had a daughter named Vic-toria born in May 1904but there was a choleraepidemic and she diedonJune16,1906.

Joseph Michael Abra-cinskas in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania - 1892

Shown here is one of Joseph Abrachinsky’s several Patents, this one for a store fix-ture with built-in sliding storage drawers.

Mamero, Victoria, and Joseph Abrachinsky - about 1906.

The headstone for Joseph and Ursula Abra-chinsky in old Saint George’s Cemetery.

Joseph Michael Abrachinsky and Ursula Agnes Unitas were married in St. George’s Church in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania on 24 May 1903. These photos were provided by Joseph’s grand daughter Barbara Abrachinsky Brabeck.

Joseph’s wife Ursula was from a large family. They lived onWestCoalStreet inShenan-doah,PA.HermotherMargaretwasinitiallymarriedtoAndrewUnitas in Lithuania and they had four children, Ursula Agnes, Margaret Mary who becameSr. Anthony Marie, Anna, andMary. Andrew Unitas died in about1897,thenMargaretmar-ried Joseph Paulonis in about1898. They had three children, Agnes, George, and Mary.

L. to R. standing. Margaret (Sr. Anthony Marie), Agnes, Mary, and Anna. L. to R. sitting. Ursula, George, and Margaret Unitas.

The pipe organ and choir loft in Saint George’s Church in Shenandoah. Decorated in 1988, closed in 2006.

Josephandhisfamilyattended,andwereavidsupporters of, Saint George’s Roman Catholic Church just three blocks away at 129 South Jardin Street. The Lithu-anian Parish in Shenandoah was established in 1872, the cornerstoneofthepresentchurchwaslaidin1891.SaintGeorge’s was completely refurbished in 1988 under the supervisionofRev.RobertJ.Pottsanditwasbeautiful.Ivisitedin1989andobtainedinformationfromthevisit-ing Priest about Abracinskas’ in Uruguay. Saint George’s was closed in May 2006. There were pieces of the stone-workfallingoffthetowersandthefrontofthechurch.The Diocese apparently decided that the repairs would be tooexpensivetoundertake,eventhoughthecongregationinsistedtheywouldcomeupwiththenecessaryfunds.

By the decision of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Saint George’s church was declared a Pennsylvania historical monument in October 2007.

In June 2009, my wife and I visited Shenandoah and drove around the church. It was closed and fenced off but still the beautiful stained glass windows and doors were intact. There was fenc-ing around the two towers supposedly to contain the stonework from falling. There were pieces of stonework laying on the sidewalk but some claim they were placed there for effect. Things have changeddrasticallyin118years.

Saint George’s Church in Shenandoah, PA in June 2009. Black fencing surrounds the two towers to retain the stonework.

On pair of the front doors on Saint George’s Church in Shenandoah. The beautiful stained glass windows are still intact.

Mamero“Mummy”MichaelwasbornonMay11,1906.HeworkedinJoseph’sstoreandattended Shenandoah High School where he played football. He married Josephine PetranellaLukasiewicz on February 17, 1935 in Saint George’s Church. They were devote Catholics. They had four children, Charles Joseph born on November 13, 1935, George William born on January 16, 1938, Mary JobornonOctober7, 1939, andBarbaraAnnRitabornonMay16,1945.

In1989,mysisterRegina,mywifeKatherine,andIvisitedMummyandJosephineinShenandoahandhewasstillthegracioushosthealwayswas.Abottleofsoda,cookies,friendlyconversation,andstories.Hewentwithmeup to thecemeteries inShenandoahHeightswherehepointedoutthevariousfamilygravesitesinsev-eralcemeteriesthere,includingwhereheandhiswifeJosephineplanto be interred in the Our Lady of Fatima Cemetery. I took pictures andlearnedalotaboutourfamily.JosephinediedonApril1,1991andMummydiedonOctober6,1996.

The Joseph Abrachinsky family in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania in about 1925. Front row L to R. George, Joseph, and Ursula. Rear standing L to R. Albert, Anna, Mamero, and Joseph, Jr.

Mummy Abrachinsky the football player about 1922.

Albert Joseph Abrachinsky was born inShenandoahonMay16,1908.HemarriedSo-phia Catherine Oshman on August 25, 1927. They had four children, Albert Joseph born on July 4, 1928, Joseph Anthony born on Septem-ber 18, 1931, Dolores born on September 21, 1937whowentintotheConventandbecameSisterAlbertDolores,andMaryAnnbornonDecember 11, 1943. Sophia died on March 25, 1969inPottsville,Pennsylvania.JosephdiedonOctober13,1988inWilkesBarre,Pennsyl-vania and is interred at Queen of the Universe CemeteryinPottsville.

Anna Ursula Abrachinsky was born in Shenandoah on February 22, 1911. She went to schoolinShenandoahandworkedinherfather’sstore.ShemarriedJosephBogdon(Bogdona-wich) on January 7, 1932 in Philadelphia, PA. They had three children, Ursula Ann born October 13,1934,JohnCharlesbornonJune17,1940,andJosephwhodiedveryyoung.JoeBogdonlivedonafarmnearBrandonvillenorthofShenandoahandheworkedinthemines.HediedonSeptem-ber 17, 1903 and Ursula Ann died on February 22, 1911. Both are interred in Our Lady of Fatima CemeteryinShenandoahHeights,PennsylvaniawiththelastnameofBogdonawich.

JosephEdwardAbrachinsky,Jr.wasborninShenandoahonAugust19,1915.Heattendedschool in Shenandoah and worked in his father Joseph’s store. He enlisted in the U. S. Army on November 19, 1942. After the war, he married Bertha Berger on July 29, 1945 and acquired the nickname of “Tiger”. They had two children, Virginia born in January 1947 and William Edward borninOctober1950.

I distinctly remember “Tiger” and his wife Bertha attending the Abraczinskas family re-unions held at the “Abraczinskas grove” on the first Abraczinskas farm near Millgrove, usually in the late summer just before school would start. They would tell stories, play horseshoes, and play cards with my father Evon, and other relatives. “Tiger” liked to hunt and he would occasionally go on moose hunting and fishing trips to Quebec with my father in the 1950s.

George Clarence Abrachinsky was born in Shenan-doah on April 21, 1918 and was the youngest of Joseph senior’s family. He attended school in Shenandoah andworked in the Abrachinsky Store on West Coal Street. Heenlisted in the US Army on April 9, 1941 and achieved the rank of Corporal. He married Lillian T. Setavage on Sep-tember 21, 1947 in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania. They had three children, Gale born on February 28, 1948, George J. Jr.bornonJune6,1949,andPaulJohnbornonOctober13, 1952. George was a member of Saint George Roman Catholic Church, St. George’s Holy Name Society, Catholic

Ray Abraczinskas, Regina Filipowicz, Mummy and Josephine Abrachinsky in Shenandoah, PA - 1989.

Lillian and George Abrachinsky having a good time at the “Abrac-zinskas family reunion” in 1989.

War Veterans of the USA, Knights of Colum-bus, Shenandoah AMVETS, and was a partner and proud owner of Abrachinsky’s HardwareStore, known as Toyland to many in the 1950s. In his younger years, he was an avid fisherman, par-ticipated in helping firefighters, and was always a joker.Heenjoyedsharinghisknowledgeofnatureand annually passed blessed palm crosses to thesick and elderly unable to attend Easter services.

George also enjoyed fishing and hunt-ing in Quebec with my father Evon. George Clarence Abrachinsky passed away on Sep-tember 6, 2005. His wife Lillian passed away on January 19, 2001. Both George and Lil-lian are interred at Our Lady of Dawn Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights, Pennsylvania.

Daughter Gale Lorton and George Abrachin-sky at the last Abraczinskas family reunion held at the Abraczinskas Grove in 1989.

The second generations and beyond - Elizabeth Ona “Annie” Abracinskas.

ElizabethOna“Annie”AbracinskaswasthefourthchildofMichael(Mykolas)andEliza-bethAbracinskas.ShewasborninJuly1874inSuwalki,LithuaniaandcametoAmericawithherbrother Joseph together from Hamburg, Germany on the ship Bohemia, arriving in New York on June 10, 1892. He was 19 years old and she was 18 years old. Both could not speak, read, or write English. They lived in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania at 29 West Coal Street where she worked in her brotherJoseph’sstore.

In about 1893 Annie married Youzas “Joseph” Faleckis “Fleck” who had a grocery store at 124 East Coal Street in Shenandoah, PA. Her two brothers Michael and Joseph were in the small weddingceremony.Anniebecamea“midwife”helpingmanyAbracinskasfamilieswithbirthsandsicknessinShenandoah.Intheearly1900s,AnniehelpeddeliverthreeofherbrotherMichael’sand his wife Ursula’s babies (Pauline, Peter, Michael, Ambrose, and Edward).

Annie and herhusband Joseph Fleck had two children, An-thony Andrew born onSeptember 24, 1898 and Joseph,Jr.bornin1899anddiedaninfantdeath.

Andrew becamea Doctor of Dentistrygraduating from theUniversity of Pennsyl-vania in 1923. He was adentistinShenando-ah and simply knownas “Doc Fleck.” He mar-ried Catherine CooganonNovember4,1933inPhiladelphia,shetaughtattheJ.W.CooperHighSchoolinShenandoah.

I remember Doc Fleck attending the Abraczinskas Reunions held at the Abraczinskas Grove in the 1950s. He would be smoking a bigcigarwhileplayingcardsandhavingagoodtime.HiswifeCath-erinediedin1947attheHahnemannHospitalinPhiladelphiaandhepassedawayinShenandoah,PA.in1963.

Joseph Fleck died on June 1, 1932. His wife Annie died on July 3, 1934. Both are buried in the Old Saint George Cemetery.

Elizabeth Anna Abracins-kas Fleck in the early 1900s. She helped as a midwife at many Abraczinskas births.

Joseph Faleckis “Fleck” and Elizabeth Anna Abracinskas Fleck wedding in Shenandoah, PA in about 1893. Back L.to R. are Elizabeth’s brothers, Joseph and Michael Abracinskas.

Dr. Anthony Fleck was a dentist in Shenandoah.

The second generations and beyond - Andrew Adam Abraczinskas.

Andrew Adam Abraczinskas was the fifth child of Michael and Elizabeth Abracinskas born May6,1877,inafarmvillageafewmilessouthofMarijampole,Lithuania.HecametoAmericafrom Hamburg, Germany, arriving in New York on October 17, 1896 on the ship Viktoria. He lived at 29 West Coal Street in Shenandoah, PA with his parents, brothers, and sister and worked in the minesatthePAC-3colliery.HisbrotherJosephstartedagrocerystoreinthehouseandAndrewwasapartnerinthestore.AndrewalsodidoddjobsaroundShenandoahandwasacarriagedriverforweddingsandfunerals.It’snotknownwhenheadoptedthenameAbraczinskaswitha“z”init,hisbrotherWilliamchangedhisname toAbarandhisbrother JosephbecameAbrachinsky.

Andrew married MargaretGinnis in Shenandoah on Octo-ber 9, 1901. She was the daugh-ter of Anthony Ginnis and Evelyn Maczis. In April 1907 Andrewpurchased a farm from HarveyMenschintheRoaringCreekVal-ley near Catawissa. There he plant-edChristmastreesandcuttimber.Inthe1930s,heusedsomeofthelumber to build on to the houseaddingoverhangingroomsonthefront of the house, under whichhewouldsellfruitandChristmastrees.

In1916,hepurchasedasecondnearbyfarmownedbySamCherringtonandraisedfarmproduce,i.e.,potatoes,apples,andgrains.HealsoraisedChristmastreesandsawedlumber.HereceivedandstudiedalltheagriculturalbulletinsfromthePennsylvaniaAgriculturalService.Hisshrewddeterminationtolearn-by-doingcausedhimtobecomeverywelleducatedinagricultur-

al growing.All the Catholic Priests inShenandoahusedtocometoAndrew’sfarm to visit. He enjoyed it becausetheywereeducatedpeopleandAndrewlikedtotalktoeducatedpeople.Once,aPriestinShenandoahwantedAndrewto go back to Lithuania and start fruitorchardsthere.Hewasevenwillingtopay him butAndrew would not leavehis growing farm. It was a haven forAndrew’s friends and relatives fromShenandoahwhowouldcomeandvisitoften on weekends. There was always food,drinks,andconversationtobehad.

Margaret and Andrew stand on newly sawn lumber they used to add on to their first house in the Roaring Creek Valley - 1908.

The first Andrew Abraczinskas homestead in the Roaring Creek Valley near Catawissa, Pennsylvania, in the 1940s.

While visiting once, Andrew told his cousin, Elizabeth Abracinskas Duke. “The family (Abraczin-skas)shouldneverforgeteachother-evenifitonlymeantsendingacardatChristmas.”

In the 1920s and 1930s, Andrew had many farm hands working for him and boarding at his farm. There was Freeman Miller, Robert Miller, Stanley Toback, Adam Papechkis, Peter Petuskey, JosephSzalaszawicz,CharlieKichas,SabastinButaitis,WilliamLaskey,PeteYonkus,andmanyrelatives(somenamesareprobablymisspelledfromtheobscurityofthe1930censusrecord).

In July 1930, Andrew purchased the 120-acre Tewksbury farm 2-miles south of Catawissa, which my father Evon lived on (I grew up there). On it was a wonderful flowing spring known as“Shakespeare’sSprings”becauseitwasonceownedbyadescendentofWilliamShakespearenamed David Shakespeare who received it from William Penn. The flowing spring fed a small pondfullofgreentastywatercresswhichisstillharvestedandsoldyettodaybymysisterRegina.A“springhouse”wasbuiltaroundthespringandinitfruitandmilkfromthefarmwaskeptcold.Belowthespring,a“rampump”workedendlesslytopumpthecoldwater300feetuptothehousewhere it filled a 300 gallon copper tank on the third level, which then supplied water to the house and barn. Daffodils grew in the field around the spring house making a beautiful sight in early spring. We used to discover arrowheads in the nearby fields around the spring where Indian hunters would probably bag deer going to the springs for a drink. The stream that flowed from the spring meanderedthroughanappleorchardandcontainedmanymuskratsinthewinterwhich,asayoungboy,Iwouldtrapforthefurs.

Andrew and Margarethadsixchildren,Mary(Mari-utie), Evon (Javanas) my fa-ther, Frances (Franciska), Telesforos, Anthony (Anta-nas),andHelen(Helena).An-drewandMargaret,orMaggieas she was called by many,enjoyed retirement years liv-ing in New Smyrna, Florida. Ivisitedthemoncein1955asIwasintheMarinesstationedat NAS Jacksonville.Andrewdied in New Smyrna BeachonOctober4,1956.Margaretdied there on June 1, 1961.AndrewandMargaretarebur-iedattheOurLadyofMercyChurchCemetery,nearSlabtown,Pennsylvania. Andrew and Margaret’s first child Mary (Mariutie) was born on 14 September 1902 in Shenandoah, PA and died four months later. She is supposedly buried in the Old Saint George CemeteryinShenandoahHeightsbutthereisnoknowngravemarker.

The E.M. Tewksbury farm house near Catawissa, PA that Andrew Abraczinskas purchased in 1930. The Evon Abraczinskas family grew up in this house. The house burned down in 1986.

Evon (Javanas) Anthony was born in Shenandoah, PA on 27 October 1903.WhenhisfatherAndrewmovedtotheRoaringCreekvalleyfarmin1906,Evongrewupworkingonthefarm.Heattendedthegrade school atKulp, which was just over thehill from the farm.Later,heattendedtheNewlinSchool inNumidia.WhileattendingaCountymeetinhis4thyear,Evonwontheshot-puteventandhisrecord stood until the 1950s. He graduated in 1923 and started attend-ing Penn State in the Fall studying agriculture, but he got the mumps andwasquarantinedforfourweeksmissingschool,thenneverwentback.Heweighed185poundsand thevarsitycoachatPennStatewanted he to come back, offering him a varsity position butAn-drewneededhimonthefarmsohestayedonthefarm.Evonwentto the Pennsylvania Farm Products Show in 1923 and won a prize forthebestcorn.LaterinSeptember,EvonshowedsomepigsattheBloomsburg Fair and won an award. He was an experienced farmer.

In June 1926, Evon married Mary Mikolaitis from Shenan-doah. Regina Mary was born on October 31, 1927. Evon Anthony was born on December 27, 1928. William Joseph was born on March 22, 1930. They lived on Andrew’s farm until 1931 when they moved to the E. M. Tewksbury farm in Catawissa Township. Andrew had bought the farm from Hannah Tewksbury in July 1930.

In1931,Evonhiredmentoworkforhiminthebusinessand to do farm work. Robert “Pappy” Miller who worked forAndrew on Andrew’s farm began working to fix up the former Tewksbury house by adding asphalt siding and a porch around the perimeter, including a glassed-in sun porch. The big two-story house had four bedrooms, a large kitchen area, a smallformal living room and dining room which were hardly everused. It had a dug out basement with a coal fired furnace provid-ing steam heat with radiators in each room that went pssssttttallwinterlong.Evonusedtosellcoalinthe1930sby“robbingthepillars”inthevacatedcoalminesaroundShenandoah.“Rob-bing thepillars” isanoldmining termthat refers toapractice inwhichminerswouldremovethepillarsofcoalthatweresupposedtoholduptheshaftandsellit.Itwasadangerousprac-ticethatresultedinnumerouscave-inseitherimmediatelyoryearslater.EvonandPeteYonkus(aworkeratAndrew’s farm)used todig thecoalbyhandandsell it topeople in theRoaringCreekValley.OncehesoldatruckloadtoaJudgeanditdidn’tburnsoEvonhadtoreplaceit. In themid1930s,alongwithfarming,Evonused tohaul thingssuchascoal, fertilizer,lumber,peaches,cantalopes,andcork.HehauledallthecorkforthecoldstoragebuildingatAn-drew’sfarmnumberone,fromNewark,NewJersey(whereAnnaAbraczinskasDauksysandherhusbandJohnlived).HehadanoldtruckandheusedtohaulantracitecoalwesttocentralPenn-sylvania.Once,heheardaboutanInternationalpotatoplanterforsaleoutaroundStateCollege.

Evon Abraczinskas at the Pennsylvania Farm Prod-ucts Show in 1923.

Mary Abraczinskas holding newborn Regina Mary - 1927.

He bid $50.00 and got it. He then took a load of coal to State College and sold it and bought the potatoplanterhome.HeusedtodelivercoaltotheEdisonPowerPlantatYork,PA.Hewouldbuycoal for $3.00 a ton and sell it for $8.00 a ton. He sometimes would buy fertilizer at the Demp-wolf’s plant in York and haul it home with his 12-ton Dodge tractor-trailer. Sometimes he would returnwithaloadoflimefromBellefonteforhimselforotherfarmers.

In1939,EvonbecameadealerfortheMassey-Harriscompanyandotherfarmequipment.NewmachinerywasbeinghauledfromtheMassey-HarrisfactoryinBatavia,NewYorkandtheA. B. Farquar Company in York, PA. A building was built to serve as the “office” for the business andthebusinessbegantogrow.

EvonandMary’sfamilystartedtogrowmorealso. Robert John was born on March 28, 1933 but thenatragedyhappenedwhenlittleEvonwasstruckby a car while crossing the Route 42 highway in front ofthehouse.HediedonMay1,1933andwasburiedin the back northwest corner of the old Saint George Cemetery in Shenandoah Heights, PA. There is no gravemarker.OnJuly19,1936,me,RaymondJameswas born, and finally on April 21, 1943, my younger brotherDennisEdwinwasborn.

In 1947, tragedy struck again with Wil-liam Joseph “Bill” experiencing a burst bloodvessel while playing basketball at the CatawissaHigh School after working hard all morning toload a trailer truck full of potatoes. He was trans-ported to the Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphiaand eventually died there on May 21, 1949 end-ing a potential baseball career as a pitcher for the NewYorkYankees team. He was going topitch for their Cornell, NewYork farm team. Bill was buried in the back northwest corner ofthe Old Saint George Cemetery in Shenandoah Heights, PA. There is no known grave marker.

Regina Mary, William Joseph, and Evon Anthony sitting on the garden bench - 1933.

A truckload of shiny new tractors from Massey-Har-ris just arrived. L to R. William, Robert, and Raymond are sitting on them ready and want-ing to drive them away in the sum-mer of 1941.

The Evon Abraczinskas homestead and farm implement business located along Route 42 two miles south of Catawissa, PA (where I grew up as a young man). Andrew Abraczinskas purchased it in 1930 from E.M. Tewksbury of Catawissa. The house on the left was the former Tewksbury residence in the late 1890s. It burned down in January 1977. The barn in the background was built in about 1829 and burned down on March 6, 1951. It was replaced with a modern concrete block building. The sales showroom and shop on the right was built in 1949 and in 2009, it serves as the headquarters for the operations of Abraczinskas Nurseries, Inc., which has been selling Christmas trees since 1910.

The house that the Evon Abraczinskas’ family lived in as it appeared in the 1960s. The upper window shown here was an attic that contained a huge water tank which was filled by the ram pump located several hundred feet below the spring. It was the water supply for the house and the barn.

WhenIwasolderinthe1950s,andabletodriveabigtruckonthehigh-way,IusedtomaketwotripsaweekhaulinghaybalersfromtheNewHol-landfactoryinNewHolland,Pennsyl-vaniainpreparationforthebusyhayingseason. There was a joke about driving toNewHollandwhichislocatedinthePennsylvania Dutch region southeastofEphrataandnortheastofLancaster.They had some funny names for their towns. There was Paradise, Blue Ball, Rheems,Intercourse,Smoketown,andthe like. The joke saying was, “To get toParadise,you’vegot togo throughIntercourse,Rheems,andendupgoingthroughBlueBall.”

Evon and Mary’s children: Regina, Robert, Raymond, and Dennis all grew up and eventu-ally left the farm. Regina married Leonard “Flip” Filipowicz from Kulpmont, PA in New York City in April 1948. Robert married Mary Ann Patricia Glenn from Tunkhannock, PA in August 1960. RaymondmarriedKatherineAnnOleksyfromCharlevoix,MichiganinAugust1963,andDennismarriedPatriciaLaganainAugust1966.

Mymother,MaryAbraczinskas,wasactiveinchurchactivitiesattheOurLadyofMercyChurch in Slabtown, PA during her life. She loved flowers and she enjoyed playing bingo. She died inJune1976andwasburiedattheOurLadyofMercyChurchCemeteryinSlabtown.

MydadEvonretiredfromthefarmimplementbusinessinthelate1970sendinga40-yearlegacy.HesoldthepropertytotheAbraczinskasCorporationrunbyhisbrotherDukeAbraczins-kas and his children. Then he spent relaxing retirement years in New Smyrna Beach, Florida fish-ing and playing shuffleboard with relatives where he died on January 2, 1980. He was buried at the OurLadyofMercyChurchCemeteryinSlabtown,PA.

Andrew and Margaret’s next child born was Frances Mary (Franciska) born on October 10, 1904 in Shenandoah, PA.WhengrandpopAndrewboughtandmovedtothefarminthe Roaring Creek valley and when Frances was old enough, shestarteddoinga lotof thehousework,evenpainting thekitchenwallswithwhitewash,asolutionoflimeandwatercalled calcimine. Frances married Stephen John Balschi in October 1924 and they had three children, Alvin (1925), Ar-lene (1926), and Stephen (1936).

The next child born to Andrew and Margaret was a boy named Telesforas, born on January 5, 1906. In that year there was a lot of chronic cholera occurring. Telesforas died on August 2, 1906 and was buried in the northwest corner section of the old Saint George’s Cemetery in Shenandoah Heights, PA. There is no grave marker.

AndrewandMargaret’snextchildwasAnthonyAl-bert(Antanas)bornonMay10,1909.Inlateryears,hewasbetterknownas“Duke”toallofhisfriendsadrelatives.Dukeworkedonthefarm,attendedKulpSchooljustoverthehill,andcarriedonwithAndrew’sgrowingandsellingChristmastrees. They expanded operations by purchasing other farms to grow trees on, becoming one of the largestsuppliersofChristmastreesineasternPennsylvania.

Anthony “Duke” married Anna Domanski on November 12, 1932 in the Our Lady of Mer-cyChurchinSlabtown,PAinadoubleweddingceremonywithDuke’ssisterHelen,whomarriedFrank Petuskey. Duke and Anna eventually had four children: Anthony (1933), Donald (1934), Jerome(1938),andEugene(1944).

Margaret Abraczinskas holding Telesforos born January 5, 1906. On her right arm is Frances Mary born October 4, 1904, and on her left arm is Evon born October 27, 1903. Baby Telesforas died in August 1906.

The next child born to Andrew and Marga-retwasdaughterHelenMarie(Helena)bornonNovember 6, 1914. She married Frank Petus-key on November 12, 1932 and they had four children: Larry (1936), Jane (1941), and twins Teresa and Patricia (1945).

In the 1940s and 1950s Frank and Helen lived at the first Abraczinskas homestead where the huge cold storage facility was located and used to store apples that were grown on the farm. There they would also sell fruit and Christmas trees. Later on they lived at the saw mill facility located down the road from the cold storage. They were alwaysfriendlyandlikedtoplaycardgames(pinochle)withotherrelatives.

HelenPetuskeypassedaway on December 9, 1966andisburiedattheOurLadyof Mercy Church Cemeterynear Slabtown, PA. Severalyears after Helen’s passing,Frank Petuskey married Hel-en Puchino and they livednear the Our Lady of MercyChurchinSlabtown,PAwherehewasactiveasacommenta-tor. Frank died on August 9, 1995.

A beautiful double wedding ceremony at the Our Lady of Mercy Church in Slabtown, PA. L. to R. Helen Abraczinskas married Frank Petuskey and Anna Domanski married Antho-ny Abraczinskas - November 12, 1932.

Anthony Abraczinskas standing tall in the center of the back row. There were five students and one teacher at the one-room Kulp School in 1923. The small school is shown on the right.

Selling Christmas trees. Helen Abraczinskas Petuskey shows a potential customer two scotch pine Christmas trees in 1946.

The second generations and beyond - Victor Abraczinskas.

Victor Abraczinskas was the sixth child ofMichaelandElizabethAbracinskasbornonOc-tober 10, 1882, in a farm village a few miles south of Marijampole, Lithuania. He came toAmericafromRotterdam,HollandarrivinginNewYorkonAugust9,1898,ontheshipSpaarndam.

VictormarriedAnnaDiscavageonJanuary9,1907 in Shenandoah, PA. They had four children: Florent Victor (1911), Raymond Joseph (1912), MaryAnna(1915),andAlverda(1917).VictordidoddjobsaroundShenandoahandworkedinthecoalminesasasuperintendent.HiswifeAnnadiedin1919andtragically,hewaskilledinaminedisas-ter in August 1929. Their children were then raised byAnna’sniece,EllaDiscavagePopik.BothVic-torandhiswifeAnnaareburiedintheOurLadyofFatima Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights, PA.

Florent Victor was born on November 28, 1911 in Carbon, PA. He married Ann Shigo onMay 25, 1935 in Minersville, PA. They had two children: Florent Edward born on December 10, 1936 and Victor Brian born on December 23, 1945. Florent’s wife Ann died on July 7, 1968 and Florent Victor died in November 1985 in Tamaqua, PA.

Their son Florent Edward was in the U. S. Navy serving aboard submarines. When he gotoutoftheNavyin1957,hechangedhislastnametoAbbey.HemarriedRuthAnnRickertinBoundbrook,NewJerseyin1960.HestartedanappliancerepairbusinessnowcalledtheAbbey-Graham Appliance Repair Co., 5590 Macy, Jacksonville, Florida 32211, which he is still operating in 2009.

Victor Brian joined the U. S. Army achieving the rank of Specialist 4th Class. He died dur-ingtheKoreanwarinKoreaonSeptember19,1967frompreviousnon-battlerelatedinjuries.

Victor Abraczinskas and Anna Discavage were married on January 9, 1907 in Shenandoah, PA. The “best man” and “brides mate” are unknown but possibly are Joseph Popik and his wife Ella Discavage Popik.

The third generations and beyond - William “Vincent” AbraczinskasWilliam (Vincent) ABRACZINSKAS (ABAR) b. 1 Nov 1867, (Grabowo) Mariampolis, Lithuania d. 1952, Near Chicago, IL& Maria (Mary) BRUSOKAS b. 1878, Lithuania div. | Maria (Mary) ABRACHINSKY*| b. 1897| d. Willow Springs, IL| & John GAVIN| | John GAVIN Jr.| | b. abt 1941| | & Agnes| | | Remi GAVIN| | | Tony (twin) GAVIN| | | Joan (twin) GAVIN| | | Cheri GAVIN| Maria (Mary) ABRACHINSKY*| b. 1897| d. Willow Springs, IL| & ? BUTUS| William George (ABRACINSKAS) ABAR| b. 30 May 1899, Pennsylvania| d. 15 Jan 1966, Chicago IL area (Cicero)| & Josephine ?| b. 1906| | Jerome “Jerry” W. ABRACHINSKY (ABAR)| | b. 30 Sep 1927| | d. 25 Apr 1999, Guadalupe, TX| | Jeannette ABRACHINSKY (ABAR)| | b. Oct 1926, Cicero, IL| | & Frank OSESANKO| Julia ABRACINSKAS| b. 25 Aug 1902| d. 25 Jul 1988, Hotel Cordova, St. Petersburg, FL| Annastacia C. ABRACHINSKY (ABAR)| b. 6 Oct 1906| d. May 1979| & John GALDIK (GALDIKAS)| b. abt 1907| | Dolores J. GALDIK| | b. 14 Feb 1935| | d. 6 Jun 2005, Lisle, IL| | & Joseph DI LEGGE| | b. 13 Sep 1933, Cook County, IL| | d. May 1963| | m. 1 Feb 1957, Cook County, IL| | | Laurell DELEGGI| | | b. 1959| | | Lynn DELEGGI| | | Janet DELEGGI| | Lorraine M. GALDIK

| | b. Cook County, IL| | & Louis P. RAIMONDO| | m. 4 Jun 1954, Cook County, IL| | Mary Ann GALDIK| | & Steve KURTH| | m. 25 Sep 1965, Chicago, IL| | Jeannie GALDIK| | & Ralph A. SERGOTT| | b. Jun 1941, Live in Louisville, KY| Charles Robert (ABRACHINSKY) ABAR| b. 1 Jan 1908, Cook County, IL| d. 20 Oct 1985, 345 Pinole Ave., Rodao, CA 94572| & Elizabeth Margaret (Betty) TOTH| b. 28 May 1920, Cleveland, OH| d. 3 Sep 1991, Contra Costa, CA| m. 27 Nov 1941, Lake Charles, LA| | Steve (ABRACHINSKY) ABAR| | b. 11 Mar 1945, Alemeda, CA| | Charles Robert, Jr. (ABRACHINSKY) ABAR| | b. 15 Aug 1946, Alameda County, CA| | & Beverly A. CONE| | b. 8 Mar 1944| | m. 8 Dec 1973, San Francisco, CA| | | Bethany ABRACHINSKY (ABAR)| | | b. 15 Jun 1966| | | Bryan ABRACHINSKY (ABAR)| | | b. 23 Nov 1968| | Elizabeth Maryann ABRACHINSKY (ABAR) SHAY*| | b. 26 May 1949, Alameda County, CA| | & Arthur Ransome TAYLOR| | | Matthew Arthur TAYLOR| | | b. 19 Sep 1984| | Elizabeth Maryann ABRACHINSKY (ABAR) SHAY*| | b. 26 May 1949, Alameda County, CA| | & Harry SMITH| | d. 2005| | Dolores Dawn ABRACHINSKY (ABAR)| | b. 21 Mar 1951, Solano County, CA| | & Lawrence BROOKS| | b. 28 Sep 1943| | | Diana Lee BROOKS| | | b. 9 Feb 1972

The third generations and beyond - Michael AbracinskasMichael ABRACINSKAS b. 28 Feb 1869, Mariampolis, Lithuania d. 7 Jun 1946, Brockton, MA& Ursula ZELONIS (GREENE) b. 16 Oct 1884, Mariampolis, Lithuania d. 30 May 1967, St. Joseph’s Nursing Home, Brockton,MA m. 1900, Shenandoah, PA| Pauline Nellie ABRACINSKAS| b. 5 Jan 1901, Shenandoah, PA| d. Aug 1982, Athol, MA| & Francis Albert “Frank” REYNOLDS (RINGAILA) Dr.| b. 24 May 1895, Winthrop, MA| d. 29 Jul 1992, Pompano Beach, Broward, Florida, United States of America| m. abt 1923| div. | | Patricia Marie REYNOLDS| | b. 7 May 1925, Athol, MA| | d. Dec 1960, Murdered in ft. Lauderdale Fla.| | & Robert Joseph PALCO| | b. 24 Dec 1923| | d. 27 Sep 1971, Broward, FL| | div. Apr 1960, Ft. Lauderdale, FL| | | Sharon REYNOLDS| | | & Kevin TULLY| | | Robert Joseph| | Francis Albert “Fran” REYNOLDS Jr.*| | b. 20 Sep 1928, Athol, MA| | & Roberta B. PATTEN| | b. 8 Nov 1920| | m. 1971, Sterling, MA| | | Sharon REYNOLDS| | | & Kevin TULLY| | | Robert Joseph| | | Michael Francis REYNOLDS| | Francis Albert “Fran” REYNOLDS Jr.*| | b. 20 Sep 1928, Athol, MA| | & Alberta McADAMS| | m. abt 1950, Athol, MA| | div. | | | Sharon REYNOLDS| | | & Kevin TULLY| | | Robert Joseph| | | Michael Francis REYNOLDS| Peter V. ABRACINSKAS| b. 31 Jan 1903, Shenandoah, PA| d. Sep 1968, Sebring, FL| & Dorothy G. STRIDE| b. 8 Jun 1917, Maine| d. 13 Mar 1980, Middleboro, MA| | Paul Albert ABRACINSKAS*| | b. 1951, Brockton, MA| | & Ruth Marie BARBER| | b. 1954, Baltimore, MD

| | m. 4 Apr 1969, Florida| | div. 11 Sep 1974, Highlands County, Florida| | | Paul Albert ABRACINSKAS Jr.| | | b. 27 Mar 1973, Brockton Hospital, Brockton, MA| | | & UNNAMED| | | Michelle Ann ABRACINSKAS| | | Amy ABRACINSKAS| | Paul Albert ABRACINSKAS*| | b. 1951, Brockton, MA| | & Debra| | b. Jun 1955| Michael ABRACINSKAS| b. abt 1905, Shenandoah, PA| d. abt Aug 1905, Shenandoah, PA| Ambrose ABRACINSKAS| b. abt 1905, Shenandoah, PA| d. Aug 1905, Shenandoah, PA| Edward Ambrose (ABRACINSKAS) ABBOT Dr.| b. 3 Jul 1909, Brockton, MA| d. 6 Jan 1997, New Smyrna Beach, Florida| & Helen F. DOMIN| b. 17 Oct 1912, Boston, MA| d. 2 Mar 2009, New Smyrna Beach, FL| | Edward (ABRACINSKAS) ABBOT Jr.| | b. 8 Mar 1940| | & Maureen Kathyrn O’SHEA| | b. 26 Jun 1942, Chicopee, MA| | | Kathryn Mary Frances ABBOT| | | b. 10 Dec 1965, Kingsville, TX| | | & Michael STRUZIK| | | b. 27 May 1966, Woonsocket, RI| | | m. 13 Jul 1991, Sacred Heart Church, Sidney, NY| | | | Christopher Joseph STRUZIK| | | | b. 17 Jan 1996, Highland Hospital, Rochester, NY| | | | Matthew Edward STRUZIK| | | | b. 11 May 1998, Highland Hospital, Rochester, NY| | | Kristine Helen ABBOT| | | b. 26 Oct 1968| | | & Andrew GARFINKEL| | | b. 3 Feb 1965| | | | Emma Sydney GARFINKEL| | | | b. 4 May 1997| | | | Abigal Ruth GARFINKEL| | | | b. 19 Jul 2000| | | | Joshua GARFINKEL| | | Edward A. ABBOT III| | | b. 1 Feb 1971| | | & Kirsten RADELL| | | b. 27 Dec 1970| | | m. 10 Jul 1999| | | | Kevin Edward ABBOT| | | | b. 6 May 2001| | | | Kiley Ann ABBOT| | | | b. 23 Mar 2004, Maryland

| Albert C. ABRACINSKAS Reverend| b. 23 Mar 1912, Brockton, MA| d. 11 May 2003, St Josephs Manor, 215 Thatcher St., Brockton, MA 02402| Elizabeth “Betty” Leona ABRACZINSKAS| b. 23 Sep 1913, 187 Ames St., Brockton, MA| d. 5 Apr 2000, Annville, PA| & Konstanti (Constant) James DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ)| b. 4 Jul 1912, Abington, MA| d. 2 Mar 1994, Lebanon, PA| m. 30 Aug 1936| | James Constant DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ) Dr.| | b. 5 Apr 1939, Address 2002: Box 419, Forest Grove, PA 18922-0419| | & Irene TAVIN| | b. 6 Apr 1945| | m. 26 Apr 1970, Norwood, MA| | | James David DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ)| | | b. 31 Aug 1973| | | Pamela Ursula DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ)| | | b. 19 Aug 1975| | | & Jeffrey COBB| | | m. 26 May 2002| | | | Connor James COBB| | | | b. 3 Apr 2005, Pennsylvania| | | | Ryan Jeffery COBB| | | | b. 21 Jul 2008, Pennsylvania| | Joseph Michael DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ)*| | b. 2 Feb 1945, Brockton, MA| | & Victoria MEKOSH| | m. 1969| | div. 1976| | | Joseph Michael DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ) Jr.| | | b. 28 Jan 1971, Quakertown, PA| | | & Leslie DENNIS| | | | Cassandra Alexis DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ)| | | | b. 25 Feb 1996, Perkasie, PA| | | | Nicholas DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ)| | | | b. 8 Jul 2002, Perkasie, PA| | | | Michael DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ)| | | | b. 19 Apr 2003, Perkasie, PA| | | Rebecca DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ)| | | b. 31 Dec 1974| | Joseph Michael DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ)*| | b. 2 Feb 1945, Brockton, MA| | & Rebecca DAIGLE| | b. 8 Jan 1952, Philadelphia, PA| | m. 26 Sep 1981| | | Jeffery Thomas DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ)| | | b. 27 Oct 1983, Selingsgrove, PA| | | Miranda DUKE (DAUKSEWICZ)| | | b. 6 Nov 1979

The third generations and beyond - Joseph Michael AbracinskasJoseph (Juozas) Michael ABRACHINSKY b. 27 Feb 1873, Mariampolis (Suwalki), Lithuania d. 18 Jun 1944, Shenandoah, PA& (Hilarion) Ursula Agnes Unitas (JONAITIS) b. 5 Feb 1885, Lithuania d. 4 Oct 1961, Shenandoah, PA m. 24 May 1903| Victoria ABRACHINSKY| b. May 1904, Shenandoah, PA| d. 16 Jun 1906, Shenandoah, PA (Cholera)| Mamero Michael ABRACHINSKY| b. 11 May 1906, Shenandoah, PA| d. 9 Oct 1996, Shenandoah, PA| & Josephine Petronela LUKASIEWICZ| b. 30 May 1916, Shenandoah, PA| d. 1 Apr 1991, Shenandoah, PA| m. 17 Feb 1935, Shenandoah, PA| | Charles Joseph ABRACHINSKY*| | b. 13 Nov 1935, Good Samatarian Hosp., Pottsville, PA| | & Grace Irene MUSSER| | b. 7 Feb 1938, Grier City, PA| | m. 2 Sep 1957, Washington DC| | div. | | | Michelle Marie ABRACHINSKY*| | | b. Barnesville, PA| | | & Donald W. RINALDI| | | div. | | | | Nicole ‘Nicci” iMarie RINALDI| | | | & Keith HAFER| | | | | Wyatt HAFER| | | | | Abigal Grace HAFER| | | | Vito Vincent RINALDI| | | Michelle Marie ABRACHINSKY*| | | b. Barnesville, PA| | | & James SMITH| | | div. | | | | Brandon James SMITH| | | | Joshua SMITH| | | Terry Charles ABRACHINSKY| | | b. Aug 1961, Barnesville, PA| | | & Cathy McDONOUGH| | | b. Aug 1961| | | | Joseph Edward McDONOUGH, III| | | | & Heather Mae ENGLE| | | | Stephen ABRACHINSKY| | | | Holly ABRACHINSKY| | | Brian Carl ABRACHINSKY| | | b. Apr 1966, Barnesville, PA| | | & Joy Maria HOWLEY| | | | Carla ABRACHINSKY| | Charles Joseph ABRACHINSKY*| | b. 13 Nov 1935, Good Samatarian Hosp., Pottsville, PA| | & Tina Marie LESLIE

| | George William ABRACHINSKY| | b. 16 Jan 1938, Pottsville, PA| | & Rosanne Theresa MELNICK| | b. 8 Jul 1945, Shenandoah, PA| | m. 11 Sep 1962| | | Mark William ABRACHINSKY| | | b. 28 Mar 1963, Barnesville, PA| | | & Lisa M. LAWIN| | | b. Apr 1939| | | | Cody (twin) ABRACHINSKY| | | | b. 3 Feb 1995| | | | Wyatt (twin) ABRACHINSKY| | | | b. 3 Feb 1995| | | Pamela Ann ABRACHINSKY| | | b. 26 Mar 1965, Barnesville, PA| | | & Michael MARTIN| | | | Nathan MARTIN| | | | b. 15 Nov 1994| | | Michael George ABRACHINSKY| | | b. 21 May 1975, Barnesville, PA| | | & Nicole Marie WAGNER| | | m. 2 Oct 2004| | | | Olivia ABRACHINSKY| | Mary Jo ABRACHINSKY| | b. 7 Oct 1939, Shenandoah, PA| | & Thomas Joseph DOHERTY| | m. 1 Jun 1963, Laguna Beach, CA| | | Diane Marie DOHERTY| | | b. 25 Jan 1954, Laguna beach, CA| | | & Eric GESHKIE| | | | Lauren GESHKIE| | | | b. 2 Mar 1990, Chicago, IL| | | | Scott GESHKIE| | | | Riley GESHKIE| | | | Thomas GESHKIE| | | | b. 1997| | | Susan Marie DOHERTY| | | b. 3 Jul 1955, Laguna Beach, CA| | | & Howie ROSEN| | | | Juliana ROSEN| | | | Sam ROSEN| | | Jennifer DOHERTY| | | b. 12 Feb 1958, Laguna Beach, CA| | | & Gregory GONZALES| | | b. 31 Oct | | | | Elise GONZALES| | | | b. 22 Mar 1996| | | | Mitchell GONZALES| | | | Matthew GONZALES| | | Thomas Joseph, Jr. DOHERTY| | | b. 8 Apr 1969| | | & Kim| | | | Alicia Mary DOHERTY| | | | b. 1998

| | Barbara Ann Rita ABRACHINSKY| | b. 16 May 1945, Shenandoah, PA| | & Thomas Richard BRABECK| | b. 5 Jun 1947, St Paul, MN| | m. 2 Aug 1969, St Catherines Church, Laguna Beach, CA| | | Christopher Thomas BREBECK| | | b. 23 Jan 1970, Laguna Beach, CA| | | & Tracy FARMER| | | b. KANSAS CITY, KS| | | m. Sep 1996, LAS VEGAS, NV| | | Matthew Michael BREBECK| | | b. 25 Jul 1975, LAGUNA BEACH, CA| Albert Joseph ABRACHINSKY| b. 16 May 1908, Shenandoah, PA| d. 13 Oct 1988, Wilkesbarre, PA| & Sophia Catherine OSHMAN (AUSHMAN)| b. 17 Nov 1907| d. 25 Mar 1969, Pottsville, PA| m. 25 Aug 1927| | Albert Joseph ABRACHINSKY| | b. 4 Jul 1928, Pottsville, PA| | d. 31 Jul 2008, Pottsville, PA| | & Jennie N. ROSS| | b. 14 Jun 1922| | | Maryann C. ABRACHINSKY| | Joseph Anthony ABRACHINSKY| | b. 18 Sep 1931| | d. 25 May 1932| | St. Albert Dolores (Nun) ABRACHINSKY| | b. 21 Sep 1937, Pottsville, PA| | d. 2 Dec 1995| | Mary Ann ABRACHINSKY| | b. 11 Dec 1943, Pottsville, PA| | & Norman Paul LEIBEL| | b. 12 Jan 1932, Pottsville, PA| | m. 11 Feb 1977, Mary Queen of Peace Church, Pottsville, PA| | | Kevin Fredrick LEIBEL| | | b. 26 Jan 1978, Baltimore, MD| | | d. 31 Dec 2003, Truckee, CA| | | Kimberly Louise LEIBEL| | | b. 2 Jul 1980, Towson, Md| Anna Ursula ABRACHINSKY| b. 22 Feb 1911| d. 6 Jun 1976, Shenandoah, PA (65 yrs old)| & Joseph (Joe) BOGDON (BOGDONAWICH)| b. 17 Sep 1903| d. May 1973, Shenandoah, PA| m. 7 Jan 1932, Philadelphia, PA| | Ursula Ann BOGDON| | b. 15 Oct 1935, Shenandoah, PA| | & John COMINSKY| | b. 13 Oct 1934, Morea, PA| | d. 29 May 1992, Johnstown, PA| | m. 28 Jun 1953, Shenandoah, PA

| | | John Joseph COMINSKY Jr.| | | b. 26 Nov 1954, Pottsville, PA| | | d. 21 Aug 2002| | | & Darlene| | | div. | | | | Kimberly Ann COMINSKY| | | | Brian COMINSKY| | | | Paul COMINSKY| | | David COMINSKY| | | b. 15 Sep 1957, Pottsville, PA| | | Mark COMINSKY| | | b. 28 Dec 1960, Pottsville, PA| | | & Tina M. FAAR| | | b. Jan 1967| | | m. 13 Oct 1994| | | | Blake COMINSKY| | | | Jacob COMINSKY| | | Brian Michael COMINSKY| | | b. 13 Dec 1964, Johnstown, PA| | | & Connie CUSTER| | | b. May 1964| | | | KELLY COMINSKY| | | | Kristi COMINSKY| | | Joseph COMINSKY| | | b. 15 Aug 1967, (Twin of Michael) Johnstown, PA| | | & Claudia J. MANGUS| | | b. 22 Aug 1967| | | m. 1988, Johnstown, PA| | | | Joseph COMINSKY| | | | b. Oct 1995| | | Michael COMINSKY| | | b. 15 Aug 1967, (Twin of Joseph) Johnstown, PA| | | & Cynthia LUCAS| | | b. 12 Dec 1966| | | | Michael Andrew COMINSKY| | | | b. 14 Oct 1983| | | | Kayla Marie COMINSKY| | | | b. 23 Aug 1990, Johnstown, PA| | John Charles BOGDON*| | b. 17 Jun 1940| | & Mary BARTUCIK| | sep. | | | Susan BOGDON| | | b. 11 Mar , Shenandoah, PA| | | | Veronica FEGLEY| | John Charles BOGDON*| | b. 17 Jun 1940| | & Shirley ?| | Joseph BOGDEN| | d. Died| Joseph Edward “Tiger” ABRACHINSKY| b. 19 Aug 1915, Shenandoah, PA| d. 3 May 1992, Shenandoah, PA| & Bertha BERGER

| b. 12 Jun 1924, Pine Grove, PA| d. Mar 1989, Shenandoah, PA| m. 29 Jul 1945, Shenandoah, PA| | Virginia “Ginny” ABRACHINSKY*| | b. Jan 1947, Shenandoah, PA| | & Edgar W. BUSILA, JR| | b. 13 Nov 1946| | d. Aug 1980, Mahanoy City, PA| | div. | | | Leisa BUSILA| | | Jason BUSILA| | | b. Jan 1976, Shenandoah, PA| | Virginia “Ginny” ABRACHINSKY*| | b. Jan 1947, Shenandoah, PA| | & Dave MARTIN| | div. | | William Edward ABRACHINSKY| | b. Oct 1950, Shenandoah, PA| | & Deborah M. BUHL| | m. 12 Mar 1979, Elkton, M aryland| | | Dana Marie ABRACHINSKY| | | b. 11 Dec 1979, Shenandoah, PA| | | & Anthony Joseph CHUPLIS, III| | | m. 6 Sep 2003| | | Dustin William ABRACHINSKY| | | b. 22 Jun 1983, Shenandoah, PA| George Clarence ABRACHINSKY| b. 21 Apr 1918, Shenandoah, PA| d. 6 Nov 2005, Shenandoah, PA| & Lillian T. SETEVAGE| b. 26 Jan 1924, Mahoney City, PA| d. 19 Jan 2001, Shenandoah, PA| m. 21 Sep 1947, Mahoney City, PA| | Gale ABRACHINSKY| | b. 28 Feb 1948, Shenandoah, PA| | & Ron LORTON| | m. St. Catherine’s Church, Laguna Beach, CA| | | Kimberly Ann LORTON| | | b. 30 Aug 1969, Laguna Beach, CA| | | | Wyatt| | | | b. 25 Mar 2005, Chelan, WA| | | Tamara Ann LORTON| | | b. 18 Aug 1974, Laguna Beach, CA| | | & Brett BURCH| | | m. Kauai, HI| | | | Brayden BURCH| | | | b. 7 Nov 2004, Laguna Beach, CA| | | | Sienna BURCH| | | | b. 7 Dec 2006, Laguna Beach, CA| | | Eric Justin LORTON| | | b. 23 Oct 1979, Orange Co., CA| | George J., Jr. ABRACHINSKY (ABBY)| | b. 6 Jun 1949, Shenandoah, PA| | d. 4 Mar 1982, (killed driving to Vermont)

| | & Mary Katherine COUGHLIN| | b. 16 Jan 1952, RINGTOWN, PA| | | Matthew Peter ABRACHINSKY (ABBY)*| | | b. 1976| | | & Charity Ann MCROBERTS| | | div. | | | | Kendra ABRACHINSKY (ABBY)| | | | b. 23 Feb 1995| | | | Kelsie ABRACHINSKY (ABBY)| | | | b. 23 Feb 2000| | | Matthew Peter ABRACHINSKY (ABBY)*| | | b. 1976| | | & Unnur| | | m. 5 Nov 2001, Iceland| | | Johnathan ABRACHINSKY (ABBY)| | Paul John ABRACHINSKY| | b. 13 Oct 1952, Pottsville, PA| | & Marie Irene SOSNO| | b. Shenandoah, PA| | m. 10 Jun 1973| | | Paul Robert ABRACHINSKY| | | b. 5 Oct 1974, Pottsville, PA| | | & Ann Louise FARNSWORTH| | | m. 2 Oct 1999| | | | Shai ABRACHINSKY| | | | Cierra ABRACHINSKY| | | | Issac ABRACHINSKY| | | Nicole “Nickie” Marie ABRACHINSKY| | | b. 13 Apr 1979, Pottsville, PA| | | | Alyssa

The third generations and beyond - Andrew Adam AbraczinskasAndrew Adam ABRACZINSKAS b. 6 May 1877, Mariampolis, Lithuania d. 4 Oct 1956, New Smyrna Beach, FL& Margaret “Maggie” K. GINNIS b. May 1885, Pennsylvania d. 1 Jun 1961, New Smyrna Beach, FL m. 9 Oct 1901, Shenandoah, PA| Mary (Mariutie) ABRACZINSKAS| b. 14 Sep 1902, Shenandoah, PA| d. 21 Jan 1903, Shenandoah, PA| Evon (Javanas) Andrew ABRACZINSKAS| b. 27 Oct 1903, Shenandoah, PA| d. 2 Jan 1980, New Smyrna Beach, FL| & Mary Eleanor MIKOLAITIS| b. 24 Jan 1905, Shenandoah, PA| d. 25 Jun 1976, Geisinger Hospital, Danville, PA| m. 12 Jun 1926, Shenandoah, PA| | Regina Mary ABRACZINSKAS| | b. 31 Oct 1927, Catawissa, PA| | & Leonard Joseph “Flip” FILIPOWICZ| | b. 10 Feb 1927, Excelsior, PA| | d. 3 Mar 1986, Catawissa, PA| | m. 10 Apr 1948, New York, NY| | | Mark Stephen FILIPOWICZ| | | b. 27 Apr 1949, 9:20 a.m., New York, NY| | | d. 11 Oct 1966, Catawissa, PA| | | Karen Rose (FILIPOWICZ) PENSYL| | | b. 30 May 1952, 3:32 a.m. EST, Bloomsburg, PA| | | & Bill PENSYL| | | d. Got killed in an accident| | | div. | | | | Valerie Ann PENSYL| | | | b. 25 Oct 1970, Bloomsburg, PA| | | | & John MENSCH| | | | m. 1989| | | | | Shayna MENSCH| | | | | b. 14 Feb 1990| | | | | Jeremy MENSCH| | | | | b. 25 Aug 1995| | | Charles Edwin FILIPOWICZ*| | | b. 7 Apr 1955, 6:12 p.m., Bloomsburg, PA| | | d. Add: 1134 E. Springfield Dr., Bellefonte, PA 16823-8285| | | & Sandy FITZ HARRIS| | | div. | | | | Charles Paul “Chuck” FILIPOWICZ| | | | b. 16 May 1983, Catawissa, PA| | | Charles Edwin FILIPOWICZ*| | | b. 7 Apr 1955, 6:12 p.m., Bloomsburg, PA| | | d. Add: 1134 E. Springfield Dr., Bellefonte, PA 16823-8285| | | & Theresa WINTERSTEEN| | | b. 27 Feb | | | | Kenton FILIPOWICZ| | | | b. 22 Mar 1990

| | | | Clayton Joseph FILIPOWICZ| | | | b. 18 Apr 1994, Bloomsburg, PA| | | | Lauren FILIPOWICZ| | | | b. 26 Oct 1995| | | Leonard Joseph FILIPOWICZ Jr.| | | b. 27 May 1959, 3:28 a.m., Bloomsburg, PA| | Evon Anthony ABRACZINSKAS Jr.| | b. 27 Dec 1928, Catawissa, PA| | d. 1 May 1933, Catawissa, PA| | William Joseph ABRACZINSKAS| | b. 22 Mar 1930, Catawissa, PA| | d. 21 May 1949, Hahnemann Hospital, Philadelphia, PA| | Robert John ABRACZINSKAS| | b. 28 Mar 1933, Catawissa, PA| | & Mary Ann Patricia GLENN (GUZENSKI)| | b. 23 Nov 1933| | m. 6 Aug 1960, Tunkhannock, PA| | | Robert ABRACZINSKAS Jr.| | | b. 7 Apr 1963, Sussex, NJ| | | Mary Ann ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 1 Dec 1965, Sussex, NJ| | | & Ron ROMANO| | | b. 1953, Bronx, NY| | | m. 4 May 1997, Princeton, NJ| | | | Justin ROMANO| | | | b. 19 Dec 2000, New Jersey| | | William Joseph ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 31 Dec 1966, Sussex, NJ| | Raymond James ABRACZINSKAS| | b. 19 Jul 1936, Bloomsburg, PA| | & Katherine Ann OLEKSY| | b. 3 Aug 1941, Charlevoix, MI| | m. 15 Jun 1963, Charlevoix, MI| | | Laura Marie ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 9 Sep 1964, St. Charles, MO| | | Diane Renee ABRACZINSKAS MD| | | b. 27 Jun 1966, Grand Rapids, MI| | | & Raymond Taeyong CHUNG MD| | | b. 7 Sep 1960, Madison, WI| | | m. 29 Oct 1994, Grand Rapids, MI| | | | Nicole Catherine Shinae CHUNG| | | | b. 4 Aug 2000, Boston, MA| | | | Camille Elizabeth Jonghee CHUNG| | | | b. 2 Oct 2002, Brookline, MA| | | Carol Ann ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 5 Sep 1967, Grand Rapids, MI| | | David James ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 12 Aug 1969, Grand Rapids, MI| | Dennis Edwin ABRACZINSKAS| | b. 21 Apr 1943, Bloomsburg, PA| | & Patricia Ann LAGANA| | b. 24 Sep 1943, Brooklyn, NY| | m. 6 Aug 1966| | | Michael Augustus ABRACZINSKAS

| | | b. 9 Apr 1975, Bloomsburg, PA| | | & Jennifer GOODWIN| | | b. 11 Sep 1972, Kingston, NY| | | | Hannah ABRACZINSKAS| | | Nicholas John ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 31 Jul 1978, Bloomsburg, PA| | | & Catherine Rachael MASICH| | | m. 12 May 2007, Harrisburg, PA| Frances (Franciska) Mary ABRACZINSKAS| b. 10 Oct 1904, Shenandoah PA| d. 1 Jun 1995, Geisinger Med Ctr., Danville, PA| & Stephen John “Steve” BALSCHI| b. 10 Dec 1895| d. 29 May 1975, Mausdale, PA| m. 13 Oct 1924| | Alvin James BALSCHI| | b. 14 Jul 1925, Catawissa, PA| | d. 27 May 1994, Catawissa, PA| | & Elizabeth Rose ‘Betty’ PETUSKEY (PETUSZKA)| | b. 10 May 1922, Shenandoah, PA| | d. 15 Mar 1999| | m. 21 Aug 1949, Shenandoah, PA| | | James Alvin BALSCHI*| | | b. 18 Aug 1950, Bloomsburg, PA| | | & So Ling CHAN| | | b. 21 Sep 1955, Hong Kong, China| | | m. 19 Aug 1979, New York, NY| | | | Ian Wai Cue BALSCHI| | | | b. 9 Mar 1988, Boston, MA| | | | Sean Wing Cue BALSCHI| | | | b. 28 Jul 1992, Birmingham, AL| | | James Alvin BALSCHI*| | | b. 18 Aug 1950, Bloomsburg, PA| | | & Jane ULMAN| | | b. 31 Aug 1951| | | Judith Ann BALSCHI| | | b. 5 Nov 1952, Danville, PA| | | & James Michael “Mick” JAEGER Dr.| | | b. 22 Mar 1953, Allentown, PA| | | m. Aug 1975, Catawissa, PA| | | | Lauren Elizabeth JAEGER| | | | b. 10 Jun 1983, Burlington, VT| | | | Audrey Leigh JAEGER| | | | b. 15 May 1986, Burlington, VT| | | Elizabeth Ann (Beth) BALSCHI| | | b. 13 Jun 1960, Danville, PA| | | & Vito James GALLUCCI| | | b. 8 Mar 1967, Bronx, NY| | | m. 2001| | | div. | | Arlene Mary Frances BALSCHI| | b. 4 Oct 1926, Catawissa, PA| | & Edmund LUKE (LUTKIEWICZ)| | b. 18 Mar 1921

| | d. 30 Jan 1989, Denver, CO| | m. 17 Feb 1946| | | Dion Michael LUKE| | | b. 26 Nov 1947, Bloomsburg, PA| | | & Dixie Lee JACOBS| | | b. 9 Aug 1948, DELTA, CO| | | m. 11 May 1968, PAONIA, CO| | | | Reubecca Jane LUKE| | | | b. 13 Jul 1968, Paonia, CO| | | | & Jason Allen YOUNG| | | | b. 21 Mar 1968, Long Beach, CA| | | | m. 2 Jul 1995, Glenwood Springs, CO| | | Gregory Scott LUKE (LUTKIEWICZ)*| | | b. 19 Jan 1951, Colorado| | | & CATHERINE “KATHY” TODD| | | Gregory Scott LUKE (LUTKIEWICZ)*| | | b. 19 Jan 1951, Colorado| | | & Karen PETERITE| | | m. Denver, CO| | | div. | | | | Asti Alexandria LUKE (LUTKIEWICZ)| | | | b. 14 Nov 1982, Colorado| | Stephen Jay “Steve” BALSCHI*| | b. 13 May 1936, Catawissa, PA| | & Pamela Kay POWERS| | b. 16 Dec 1941, Bell Garden, CA| | m. 5 Sep 1960| | | Stephen Jay, III BALSCHI| | | b. 20 Mar 1962, Lynnwood, CA| | | & Michele Louise PASTORET| | | b. 5 Jan 1963, Loyalton, CA| | | m. 30 Jun 1984, Northglen, CO| | | | Daniel Jacob (PASTORET) BALSCHI| | | | b. 13 Feb 1979, Daly City, CA| | | | Dustin Joseph BALSCHI| | | | b. 6 Apr 1992, Santa Rosa, CA| | | | Kristen Nicole BALSCHI| | | | b. 23 Sep 1993, Santa Rosa, CA| | | Richard “Rick” BAIRD| | Stephen Jay “Steve” BALSCHI*| | b. 13 May 1936, Catawissa, PA| | & Vivian Mildred ROBERTSON| | b. Apr 1923| | d. 2003, Glenwood Springs, CO| | Stephen Jay “Steve” BALSCHI*| | b. 13 May 1936, Catawissa, PA| | & Joann M. KOCHER SHANNON BALSCHI| | b. 23 Jun 1936, Danville, PA| | m. 4 Apr 2003, Riverside, PA| Telesforos ABRACZINSKAS| b. 5 Jan 1906, Shenandoah, PA| d. 2 Aug 1906, Shenandoah, PA| Anthony Albert (Antanas) “Duke” ABRACZINSKAS| b. 10 May 1909, Near Millgrove,Pa

| d. 20 Aug 1984, Geisinger Hospital, Danville, PA| & Anna Rose DOMANSKI| b. 23 Jul 1911| d. 29 Sep 1988, New Smyrna Beach, FL| m. 12 Nov 1932, Slabtown, PA| | Anthony Albert, Jr ABRACZINSKAS| | b. 4 Apr 1933, Roaringcreek Twp, PA| | d. 27 Aug 1998, R D 1, Catawissa, PA| | & Sara “Sally” SCOVERN| | b. 16 Sep 1933| | m. 6 Jun 1953, SHAMOKIN, PA| | | Catherine “Kitty” Ann ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 19 Jul 1955, Catawissa, PA| | | & David Wayne SCHOPF| | | b. 27 Sep 1955, York, PA| | | m. 7 Nov 1981, BLOOMSBURG, PA| | | | Rebecca Marie SCHOPF| | | | b. 21 Mar 1985, Lancaster, PA| | | | Elizabeth Ann SCHOPF| | | | b. 29 May 1989, Lancaster, PA| | | Peter Paul ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 16 Jul 1958, Danville, PA| | | & Nancy M. KRAYNAK| | | b. 28 Jul 1958, Shamokin, PA| | | m. 23 Aug 1980, Kulpmont, PA| | | | Sarah Theresa ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 9 Jan 1981, Ashland, PA| | | | Jennifer ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 23 Oct 1984, Bloomsburg, PA| | | | Bethany ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 27 Apr 1987, Bloomsburg, PA| | | Anthony Albert “Tony”, ABRACZINSKAS III| | | b. 29 Jun 1963| | | & Sharon Helen CARUSO| | | b. 15 Jul 1963, Providence, RI| | | m. 27 Jun 1987, Robert bellarmine Church, Providence, RI| | | | Emily Catherine ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 1 Feb 1989, Bloomsburg, PA| | | | Melissa Marie ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 24 Jun 1992, Willamsport, PA| | | | Julie Grace ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 26 Jul 1995, Bloomsburg, PA| | | | Gina Renee ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 26 Oct 1997, Bloomsburg, PA| | Donald Anthony ABRACZINSKAS| | b. 23 Jun 1934, Roaringcreek Twp, PA| | d. 29 Jun 1995, Halifax Med Ctr, Daytona Beach, FL| | & Jeanette JODLOWSKI| | b. 2 May 1936, Shamokin, PA| | m. Apr 1953, Shamokin, PA| | | Donald Anthony ABRACZINSKAS Jr.| | | b. 13 Jan 1955| | | & Susan Gabriella TADDEO| | | b. 21 Apr 1955, DANVILLE, PA

| | | m. 5 May 1984, ATLAS, PA| | | | Chloe Monyah ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 1 Aug 1985, Bloomsburg, PA| | | | Evan Patrick ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 25 Aug 1986, Bloomsburg, PA| | | Gregory Michael ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 5 Jun 1959| | | & Kathy Marie FENSTEMAKER| | | b. 26 Feb 1958, DANVILLE, PA| | | m. 2 Jul 1988, Catawissa, PA| | | | Alicia Marie ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 19 May 1992, Bloomsburg, PA| | Jerome Edward ABRACZINSKAS| | b. 1 Mar 1938| | & Marion Elizabeth KISTLER| | b. 24 Oct 1940| | m. 19 Sep 1959| | | Andrew B. ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 28 Jun 1960| | | & Mary E. BOSTWICK| | | b. 24 Nov 1959| | | m. 8 Jun 1985| | | | Megan ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 2 Feb 1990, Matamoras, PA| | | | Lauren ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 24 Dec 1992, Matamoras, PA| | | Jean Marie ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 4 Jun 1961| | | d. 29 Sep 1968, Hit by a car at Millville,PA| | | Jerome ABRACZINSKAS Jr.| | | b. 18 Sep 1962| | | & Gwen WEEKS| | | William Joseph ABRACZINSKAS*| | | b. 5 Nov 1963| | | & Karen M. KOONS| | | b. 6 Oct 1967| | | m. 9 Mar 1988| | | div. 17 Nov 1991| | | | William Jerome ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 2 Sep 1988| | | William Joseph ABRACZINSKAS*| | | b. 5 Nov 1963| | | & Kerrylee CARTER| | | b. 15 Jun 1960| | | m. 1 Oct 1994| | | Michael ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 15 Dec 1969| | | & Charleene LOPEZ| | | | Caleb ABRACZINSKAS| | | | b. 18 Aug 2004, Raleigh, NC| | Eugene Dennis ABRACZINSKAS*| | b. 6 Feb 1944| | & Maryann B. ZYSKOSKI| | b. 12 Apr 1944

| | d. 27 Dec 1993, Catawissa, PA| | m. 13 Aug 1966| | | Marianne V. ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. 1 Oct 1967, Danville, PA| | | & Edwin R. FREEMAN| | | b. 20 Sep 1962, Shamokin, PA| | | m. 9 Jul 1993, Bloomsburg, PA| | | | Rachel Elizabeth FREEMAN| | | | b. 2 Apr 1994, Bloomsburg, PA| | | | Nicholas Samuel FREEMAN| | | | b. 25 Dec 1997, Bloomsburg, PA| | | Michelle ABRACZINSKAS| | | b. Oct 1984| | Eugene Dennis ABRACZINSKAS*| | b. 6 Feb 1944| | & Patricia “Patsy” Margaret (DORASKI) MOLICK| | b. 29 Sep 1946, Bloomsburg, PA| | m. 6 Jul 2002, Slabtown, PA| Helen (Helena) Marie ABRACZINSKAS| b. 6 Nov 1914, Near Mill Grove, PA| d. 9 Dec 1966, Bloomsburg Hospital, Bloomsburg, PA| & Frank A. PETUSKEY| b. 16 Jul 1912, Shenandoah, PA| d. 9 Aug 1995, Slabtown, PA| m. 12 Nov 1932, Slabtown, PA| | Lawrence “Larry” A. PETUSKEY*| | b. 4 Sep 1936| | d. 30 Nov 1993, Sailors memorial Hosp., Wellsboro, PA| | & Nancy ULBINSKY| | b. 31 Jul 1937| | | Marcia PETUSKEY| | | b. Jun 1957| | | & Paul BREECH| | | Annette PETUSKEY| | | d. Apr 1998, Wellsboro, PA| | | & Greg GREGO| | | Mary Jo PETUSKEY| | | & David I. CHALLICE| | | b. ENGLAND| | | m. 15 Jun 1991, North Holmwood, England| | | Lawrence “Larry” A. II PETUSKEY Jr.| | | b. 20 May 1964| | Lawrence “Larry” A. PETUSKEY*| | b. 4 Sep 1936| | d. 30 Nov 1993, Sailors memorial Hosp., Wellsboro, PA| | & JOANNE (Darling) OLMSTEAD| | b. May 1932| | m. 16 Jul 1983, Wellsboro, PA| | Jane Mary PETUSKEY| | b. 19 Feb 1941, Roaring Creek Twp., PA| | & David John G. BULL| | b. 5 Mar 1939, Lambeth, UK| | m. 25 May 1963, Slabtown, PA| | | Lara Ellen BULL

| | | b. 29 May 1967| | | & David Alexander BONTEMPO| | | b. 1 Sep 1966| | | m. 9 Nov 1991, Stanley, VA| | | | Sean Edward BONTEMPO| | | | b. 1 Mar 1998, Silver Spring, MD| | | | Alexander Joseph BONTEMPO| | | | b. 8 Apr 2001, Annapolis, MD| | | Meglyn Rebecca BULL| | | b. 21 Jul 1971, Silver Spring, MD| | | & Kevin WALSH| | | b. 12 Dec 1970| | | m. 8 Nov 1997, Whitefield, NH| | Teresa “Terry” PETUSKEY| | b. 8 Jan 1945| | d. Sep 1976| | & Robert WATSON| | | Tracy WATSON| | | Tricia WATSON| | Patricia PETUSKEY| | b. 8 Jan 1945| | & Frank ANGELO| | b. 13 Apr 1941| | d. abt 2008, Catawissa, PA| | div. | | | Christine ANGELO| | | b. 2 Aug 1968, Bloomsburg, PA| | | & William Joseph FREEMAN| | | b. 23 Apr 1966, CT| | | m. 25 Aug 1990, Shamokin, PA| | | | Kate Marie FREEMAN| | | | b. 7 Sep 1994, Bloomsburg, PA| | | Jeanine ANGELO| | | b. 7 Mar 1970

The third generations and beyond - Victor AbraczinskasVictor ABRACZINSKAS b. 10 Oct 1882, Mariampolis, Lithuania d. 22 Aug 1929, Killed In Mines, Shenandoah, PA& Anna (Ona) DISCAVAGE (DESZEWICZ) b. 12 Mar 1885, Shenandoah, PA d. 9 Jul 1919, Shenandoah, PA m. 9 Jan 1907, Shenandoah, PA| Florent Victor ABRACZINSKAS| b. 28 Nov 1911, 18255 Weatherly, Carbon, PA 18255| d. Nov 1985, Tamaqua, PA| & Anna SHIGO| b. 3 Mar 1916| d. 7 Jul 1968, Sommerville, NJ| m. 25 May 1935, Minersville, PA| | Florent Edward (ABRACZINSKAS) ABBEY| | b. 10 Dec 1936| | & Ruth Ann RICKERT| | m. 1960, Boundbrook, NJ| | Victor Brian ABRACZINSKAS| | b. 23 Dec 1945| | d. 19 Sep 1967, Killed in Korean War| Raymond Joseph ABRACZINSKAS| b. 16 Dec 1912| d. 1913| Mary Anna “Abby” ABRACZINSKAS| b. 23 Jan 1915| d. 1998, Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton, PA| & Stephen Peter “Steve” YELITO| b. 18 Dec 1905| d. 6 Jan 1958, Coaldale, PA| | Joan YELITO*| | b. 6 Aug 1935| | & George SUROTCHAK| | b. 26 Jul 1933| | div. abt 1973| | | Bruce SUROTCHAK| | | b. 2 Jun 1955| | | Wendy SUROTCHAK| | | b. 26 Sep 1960| | Joan YELITO*| | b. 6 Aug 1935| | & George WARGO| Alverda ABRACZINSKAS| b. 8 Feb 1917| d. 2 Nov 2001

Other Abracinskas Information - Ursula Abracinskas Gabreau (Gabris)

Ursula Abracinskas is a sister to twins Michael and Matthew Abracinskas described earlier inthisbook.ShewasborninLithuania.Herbirthdateisunknown,butpresumablyitwasinthesecond quarter of the 1800s. She married Louis Gabreau (Gabris) circa 1856 and they had five children, Louis (Ludwic), Stanley, Joseph, Ursula, and Jonas.

The name Gabreau is understood to be French, probably from the era of Napoleon be-ing stationed there. Many French soldiers stayed in Lithuania and eventually married Lithuanian women.However,likemanynamechangesthatoccurredwhenpeoplecametoAmerica,thenameGabreau got changed to Gabris.

Not very much is known about Louis (Ludwic) Gabreau Gabris and his family (Louis and Ursula’s first son). I did come across a photograph of one of his daughter’s wedding photos and the only person that was identified in it was Elizabeth Gabris, Stanley Gabris’ daughter, who mar-riedMichaelMilas.In1930,theylivedinBrooklyn,NewYorkinthesamehousewiththeJoseph“Anthony” Gabris family at 563 Crescent Street. Her mother Margaret (Verbyla) was living there also.Shewas68yearsoldthen.

Louis and Ursula Abracinskas Gabreau (Gabris) family. Left to Right is Louis and Ursula’s daughter Ursula, sitting next to her is her husband (name unknown) holding their daughter (name unknown), Ursula (Abracinskas) and husband Louis Gabreau (sitting). Standing is Louis and Ursula’s son Jo-seph, then Louis and Ursula’s son Jonas. Photo circa mid-late 1880s.

Stanley Gabris married Margaret Verbyla (Werbyla) in Lithuania in about 1882. They had threechildren,Anthony,Elizabeth,andJosephAnthony. Ihaveno informationaboutAnthony.ElizabethwasbornonJanuary31,1889.ShemarriedMichaelMilasinBrooklyn,NewYorkandthey had two children, Felix (about 1906) and Ferdinand (1911). Michael Milas was a rail road inspector in New York City. Felix Milas was a driver for a truck company in New York and later he became a Baptist minister at the Delhi First Baptist Church in Delaware County, NY. Ferdinand Milas was a seaman working on the U.S.S. Galveston. Elizabeth Milas died in February 1982 in New York City. Ferdinand Milas died in 1995 in Largo, Florida.

Joseph Anthony Gabris was born on September 6, 1903 inBrooklyn, NewYork. He workedasachauffeurforatruckcompanyin New York. In 1923 he married Anna Lillian Milasauckas (1905)from Scranton, PA. They had two children, Eugene Frank (1925) and Arthur Stanley (1927). In 1940,mymomanddad(MaryandEvon)tooktheirfamilytotheNewYork World’s Fair and we stayed with the Gabris’. After he got out of the U.S. Navy, Eugene Gabris woulddriveabigmotorcycleandhe would come on it all the way

fromNewYorktoourfarminPennsylvaniaandgiveusrides.HelivedinMountVernon,NewYorkandhadawinterhomeinLargo, Florida where he died in April 2007. His brother Arthur Stanley Gabris died in May 1960.

MargaretVerbylahadasisterMarywhomarriedJohnNavisky (Navicas). They had four children, Mary, Constance “Connie”, Anthony, and Steven. Mary Navisky was born in1911 and died in Florida in 1982. Constance Navisky was born in1913.ShemarriedLaurie“Larry”Salerno in June1931 inQueens,NewYork.ConnieandLarrySalernohad threechil-dren,PatriciaJoan(B1933-D1984),LawrenceJoseph(Larry)(B1935),andRobertJohn(Bob)(B1938).Icanremembervis-itingthemandstayingattheirhouseinQueens,NewYorkinthelate1940sandgoingtoRockawayBeachandtoConeyIslandandbackontheelevatedtrainwhichranneartheirhouse.

One of Louis Gabris’ daughter’s wedding. Everyone is un-known except the woman in the dark dress is Elizabeth Gabris, Stanley and Margaret Gabris’ daughter. She married Michael Milas in Brooklyn, New York. This wedding photo was taken at the G.Benson Studio at 324 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn.

Eugene Gabris visiting the Evon Abraczinskas farm at Catawissa, Pennsylvania shown with Regina Abraczinskas in about 1945.

Larry Salernodied inAugust 1984in Hudson, Florida and Connie Salernodied in September2000 in New Bern, North Carolina. Lar-ry Salerno, Jr. livesin Galloway, New JerseyandIstillkeepin touchwithhim in2009.

Not much isknown about Louisand Ursula Gabreau Gabris’ son Joseph and daughter Ursula. Louis and Ursula’s youngest son, JonasGabris was born in Lithuania in about 1844. In 1912 he

was living in Rasiai, Lithuania, several miles northwest of Kalvarija. Jonas Gabris married Louisa Konstantis (Konstantinovich). They had five children, John, Magdalena, William “Vincent”, Ur-sula, and Mariona who was called Anna. Jonas Gabris died in Lithuania in 1928.

According to information from Anna Chepucavage Putirskas, Louisa Gabris was a “coun-try doctor” in Lithuania. That is, she acquired the knowledge in the use of herbs to effect cures.

All that is known about Mariona Gabris is that she married a man named Stachokas and she died in 1952.

The next child, Magdalena Gabris, was born on March 4, 1882 in Lithuania,possiblyinVilkaviskis,located16milesnortheastofMarijam-pole.ShemarriedPeterCepukevicius(PeterChepucavage)inLithuania.AccordingtohisNaturalizationpapers,hewasborninNaumiestis,Lith-uania on April 16, 1872 and he arrived in New York on the ship Lapland on 19 February 1912 from Antwerp, Belgium. He lived and worked in Essen, Germany before he came to America. He and Magdalena had four childreninLithuania,Peter(B1901),Anna(B1903),Adele(B1904),andSusan(B1910).MagdalenaandtheirfourchildrencametoAmericafrom Bremen, Germany arriving in New York on November 1912 on the ship Barbarossa. They lived in Scranton, Pennsylvania and had two more children,Agnes(B1913),Clement(B1915)andMargaret(B1919).Pe-terChepucavageworkedintheminesandwaskilledinamineaccidenton May 6, 1927. Magdalena died in Scranton on March 4, 1955.

Constance “Connie” Navisky and Laurie “Larry” Salerno were married in June 1931 in Queens, New York.

Louisa Konstantis and Jonas Gabreau (Gabris) in Lithuania.

Magdalena Gabris Chepucavage arrived in New York in February 1912.

PeterandMagdalenahadsevenchildren.PeterwasborninLithuania in1901anddiedinScrantoninMarch1971.Heworkedinthecoalminesandafterretirement,hesuccumbedto“blacklung”disease.PetermarriedMaryMeikleandtheyhadonechild,Peter,marriedtoKateConnolly and they have two children, Thomas and Michael. Peter is a lawyer in Washington, DC (2009) and provided me with a copy of the genealogy book that Anne Marie (Nancy) Sabia fin-ishedwritinginJanuary1995,justbeforeshepassedawayinSeptember1995.

Anna was born in Essen, Ger-many inAugust 1903. She workedinalacefactoryinScrantonmakinghandkerchiefs. In 1922, Anna mar-ried Peter Purtiskas. For years, Peter operatedthePurtiskasJewelryStorein Scranton. They had five children, Victoria, Constance, Dorothy,AnneMarie (Nancy), and Peter Clement.AnnaChepucavagePurtiskasdiedin1993: Peter died in 1974.

AdeleChepucavagewasborninDecember1904.ShemarriedAl-exander Astrosky. They had two children, Helen and Florence. Adele died at the age of 25 in 1930. Helen married Harold Hoke and they hadfour children, Susan, Florence, Pau-lette, and Harold, Jr. Florence mar-riedEdwardRiceandtheyhadthree

children, Edward, Jr., Gerry, and Michael. Florence died in 1991 from cancer.

SusanChepucavagewasbornin1910.SheenteredtheOrderofPoorSistersofJesusCru-cified and of the Sorrowful Mother and is known as Sister Marie Consolata. She resided in the Mother House in Brockton, MA for many years serving with Fr. Albert Abracinskas. (WhenFr.Alcelebratedhis50thgoldenjubileeinthepriesthood,IhadbreakfastwithSr.Consolata-RayAbraczinskas).Sr.ConsolatadiedinBrockton,MAin1995.

Agnes Chepucavage entered the Order of Servants of Jesus Crucified and was known as Sr. Angela.Shediedinin1939MinersMillsnearWilkesBarre.

ClementChepucavagewasbornin1915anddiedshortlythereafterasainfant.

MagdalenaChepucavagewasborninDecember1919inScranton,PA.ShetooenteredthesameorderashersisterSusan(Sr.Consolata)andwasknownasSr.Concepta.Mymother,MaryAbraczinskas,usedtostayintouchwithherandcherishedherphotograph.Inherlateryears,Sr.ConceptaresidedinaConventinWilkesBarre,PA.

L. to R. Peter Chepucavage, Nancy Putirskas Sabia, Sr. Con-solota, Peter Sabia, Florence Rice, Dorothy Putirskas Cal-laghan, Jimmy and Brian Callaghan, and Anna Chepucav-age Putirskas holding Theresa Sabia. Photo circa 1962.

Other Abracinskas Immigrants Information

On December 28, 1910, Dominik Abraczinsky, age 18, single, was listed as a laborer arriv-inginSt.John,NewBrunswickonthesteamshipS.S.MontrealfromAntwerp,Belgiumafter16days at sea. He was going to join his brother Stanislaw Abraczinski in Grand Forks, Nebraska. He was unable to read or write in English. The trip was paid for by his brother and he had a ticket to travel to Grand Forks.

On May 16, 1900, Tomasz Abrazanckas, age 18, single, arrived in NY from Antwerp, Bel-giumontheshipWesterland.HewaslistedasRussianandhislastplaceofresidencewaslistedasBrzozowa. He was going to his brother Anton Abrazanchas’ home in Shenandoah, PA. The 1911 Canadian census for Saltcoats, Saskatchewan showed Thomas Abrachinsky, age 19, single, living as a “servant” with Charles Millare and Theresia there in Saltcoats. The record indicated Thomas wasborninJuly1881andheimmigratedintoCanadain1911.Saltcoatsstartedin1887asarail-waytownontheManitobaandNorthwesternRailroadandwasnamedafterSaltcoats,Scotland.

On 8 June 1900, Vin Abraczinski, age 49, single, lived at 214 West Camden Street, Balti-more, Maryland in apartment 2 C. He immigrated in 1888 and was in America for 12 months when thecensuswastakenon8June1900.HisbirthdatewaslistedasSeptember1850.Hecouldread,write,andspeakEnglish.

In 1890, William Abrashynski, age 19, lived at 100 Bower Street in Shenandoah, PA. The followingappeared in the census.AlthoughShenandoah is oneof theyoungest, it is themostpopulousboroughinthecounty.Itowesitsexistenceandprosperityentirelytothedevelopmentof the coal mines surrounding it. As late as 1862 it was a wilderness, infested by bears, deers and smallgameinabundance,beingafavoritehuntinggroundforloversofsport.Itwasincorporatedas a borough on the 16th of January 1866, and in spring of the same year, borough officers were elected. Frederick Wright being the first Chief Burgess. The borough is divided in 5 wards and contained a population of 2,951 in 1870; 10,061 in 1880 and 15,365 in 1890.

On June 29, 1913, a Maria Abraiczisky, spelled Abraiczuty in the records, arrived in Balti-more,MarylandontheshipS.S.Main.ShewasLithuanian,age18,single,andlistedasamaidser-vantfromLithuaniagoingtoPhiladelphia.HerfatherwaslistedasJosefAbraicziskyofKowno.Shewasborninabout1895makingherapossibledaughterofJosephAbracinskas.

On April 25, 1904, Wincenty Abraczinskas arrived in New York on the ship S. S. Columbia from Glasgow, Scotland. He lived in Bellshill, Scotland, which was commonly referred to as “little Lithuania”becausemanyLithuanianimmigrantssettledtheretoworkinthenearbycoalmines.Wincenty was age 28 (born about 1876), single, worked as a miner, and was going to Mahanoy City,Pennsylvania.HiscousinJozas(couldbeAbraczinskas)wholivedat635W.(???)inMaha-noyCitypaidforhistrip