Steve’s Genealogy Blog

My father received the results of the analysis of his mitochondrial DNA, representing his matrilineal heritage.

Romualda and I shared news and photographs, and then Romualda gave me a gift that I treasure: a skirt my great-grandmother Anastasia made for my grandmother 100 years ago.

Late last year, I ordered several DNA tests from Family Tree DNA. Not all the results are in yet, but the results so far have provided good start on understanding my genetic ancestry. At the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, I was able to meet with two of the folks from Family Tree DNA who were kind enough to help explain the results obtained so far.

My grandmother, Helena Chmielewska, was born on a farm in Likiszki, Russia (now Lithuania), a tiny village with only five houses. Growing up on the farm, Helena’s closest companion was her sister Anna, two years her junior.

My paternal grandfather, Michał Dańko, died in 1953. I never met him because he died before I was born. His wife, Marianna Dziurzyńska, died in 1969. We called her “Nanny”.
My maternal grandfather, Konstanty Niedziałkowski, died in 1978. We called him “Pa”. His wife, Helena Chmielewska, died in 1980. We called her “Ma”.
All were gone before I […]

Lisa at 100 Years in America wrote about where her ancestors were in 1908 - 100 years ago. She then challenged others to do the same. In 1908, only one of my ancestors was in America. The rest were still in Europe.
My paternal grandfather, Michał Dańko, was in America, exactly where I’m not certain. He immigrated […]

My grandmother’s half-brother, Joseph Meleski was listed in the Worcester, Massachusetts Directory in 1924.

On Wednesday, 24 October 2007, my cousins Vitas, Liliana, and I visited Seirijai, Lithuania where Vitas’ and Liliana’s grandparents Jonas Samsanavicius and Ona Chmielewska lived. Ona was the sister of my own grandmother, Helena Chmielewska.

While living in the Lithuanian village of Likiškės, my grandmother’s family attended church in Butrimonys, although some records show that, at times, they attended church in Stakliškės.

The Church in Butrimonys - 1
SOURCE: The Church in Butrimonys - 1. Photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 24 October 2007.

The Church in Butrimonys - 2
SOURCE: The Church in Butrimonys […]

In years past, a road ran by the main house on the Chmielewski farm in Likiškės, Lithuania, and on that road, close to the house stood this shrine. One of the neighbors told us that, on their way to the local cemetery, the villagers would stop at this shrine to pray.

Shrine at the Chmielewski Farm
SOURCE: Shrine […]