Steve’s Genealogy Blog

While searching for additional records on the family of Emil Niedzialkowski, I found his World War I Draft Registration Card.

World War I Draft Registration Card for Emil Niedzialkowski - Front

World War I Draft Registration Card for Emil Niedzialkowski - Back

SOURCE: “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2008), Emil Joseph Niedzialkowski, serial no. 5093, order no. A7687, Draft Board 3, Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut; citing World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, NARA microfilm publication M1509C, roll CT35.

Click on the images above to enlarge them. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the World War I Draft Registration Card for Emil Niedzialkowski.

The record states that:

Emil Joseph Niedzialkowski resided at 797 N. Main, Waterbury, New Haven County, Conn.;
His Serial Number was 5093;
His Order Number was A7687;
He was 35 years old and was born on 22 Jun 1883 in Russia Poland;
He was of the white race and was a non-declarant alien;
He was a tool maker for Chase Metal Works, Waterbury, Conn.;
He listed his wife, Josefa Ploska Niedzialkowski, at 797 N. Main, Waterbury, Conn. as his nearest relative;
He was of medium height and medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair;
He had no other obvious physical characteristics;
His card was signed by Louise Solimin, registrar for Local Board 3, Court House, Waterbury, Conn.
He registered on 12 Sep 1918.

I still have no proof that Emil Niedzialkowski is related to me, but the fact that he shares the Niedzialkowski surname with my maternal grandfather and came from the same village in Poland as my great great grandfather suggests there may be a connection.

This record provides me with an additional piece of information I did not have before. It appears that the maiden name of Emil’s wife is Ploska.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

In the course of searching for records on Damijan Niedzialkowski, I found his World War I Draft Registration Card.

World War I Draft Registration Card for Damijan Niedzialkowski - Front

World War I Draft Registration Card for Damijan Niedzialkowski - Back

SOURCE: “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 May 2008), Damijan Niedzialkowski, serial no. 11805, order no. 263, Draft Board 4, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts; citing World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, NARA microfilm publication M1509H, roll MA158.

Click on the images above to enlarge them. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the World War I Draft Registration Card for Damijan Niedzialkowski. The record states that:

• Damijan Niedzialkowski was assigned serial no. 11805, order no. 263;
• He resided at 83 Ward, Worcester, Mass;
• He was 24 years old and was born in June 1893;
• He was an alien, born in Lomzyenskiej, Poland, Russia, and was a citizen of Russia;
• He worked as a grinder for Norton Grinding Co., Greendale, Mass.;
• His mother in Poland was dependent on him;
• He was single and of the Caucasian race;
• He had not previously served in the military;
• He was of medium build, 167 lbs., with blue eyes, brown hair (not bald);
• He had not lost an arm, leg, hand, foot, or both eyes; he was not otherwise disabled;
• He registered in Ward 5, Precinct 2, Worcester, Mass.;
• His registration card was signed by James J. Rourke on 05 Jun 1917.

The information on this draft registration card matches up with other information I have on Damijan Niedzialkowski. From his signature, I believe I now have the correct spelling of his first name: Damijan.

One other note is that Damijan stated that he was born in Lomzyenskiej, Poland, Russia. Lomzyenskiej indicates that he was born in the Łomża Gubernia, but no more specific information about his place of birth is provided on this document.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

On Sunday at the Annual Conference of the Polish Genealogical Society of America, Paul Valasek discussed Haller’s Polish Army in France and how the records of Haller’s Army can be of use to family historians.

Paul Valasek

SOURCE: Photograph of Paul Valasek. Photographed by Stephen J. Danko 30 Sep 2007.

The Polish Army in France, also known as Haller’s Army, was recruited from American and Canadian residents mainly of Polish ethnicity. This volunteer army fought in France at the end of World War I and continued to fight for Poland’s independence in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1921.

Recruitment centers were formed in Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre, New York, Boston, and Bridgeport starting in October 1917. Recruitment for the army for Polish independence continued until February 1919.

Because the US government opposed the training of a foreign army on US soil, recruits were trained at Butler’s Barracks at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. The first troop left for France in December 1917.

The commanding general of this force, Jozef Haller, was born in Galicia (Austrian-Poland) near Krakow. He served as a colonel in the Austrian Army in World War I and traveled through Russia to France.

As Europe’s borders were redrawn after World War I, Haller’s Army joined with former prisoners of war and Pilsudski’s Legions to establish Poland’s eastern borders with the Soviet Union.

At the end of the Polish-Soviet War, many members of Haller’s Army returned to North America to rejoin their families.

Paul Valasek has published a book on Haller’s Army, including much historical information and details of records generated by the army:

Valasek, Paul S. 2006. Haller’s Polish Army in France. [Naples, Fla.]: Whitehall Printing.

Copyright © 2007 by Stephen J. Danko

At the same time I received a color copy of my paternal grandfather’s World War I Draft Registration Card, I received the color digital image of my maternal grandfather’s card:

World War I Draft Registration Card for Konstanty Niedzialkowski (Front)

World War I Draft Registration Card for Konstanty Niedzialkowski (Back)

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the World War I Draft Registration Card for Konstanty Niedzialkowski.

Notice that this registration card is different than the card my grandfather, Michael Danko, completed. Michael Danko registered for the draft on 12 September 1918, while Konstanty Niedzialkowski registered on 05 June 1917. In addition to these two registrations, there was also a registration held on 05 July 1918. Different cards were used for the three registrations.

The date on which each man registered was determined by his date of birth.

In this record, my grandfather spelled his first name Konstanty, which is the correct spelling in Polish. Most of the rest of his life, he spelled his name Kostanty. I don’t know why he dropped the letter “n” from his first name. The only other spelling he used was Konstanti; this spelling appeared in both his passenger departure manifest from Rotterdam and his passenger arrival manifest at Ellis Island. His name was certainly not changed at Ellis Island.

After I posted Michael Danko’s WWI Draft Registration card yesterday, my friend Cindy in Georgia wrote to tell me:

Did you know that all the WWI draft registration cards are in the National Archives here in Georgia?  They actually bring out the boxes and let you thumb through the actual cards.

Sounds to me like a good reason to visit Georgia!

Copyright © 2007 by Stephen J. Danko

I recently obtained color digital images of the World War I Draft Registration Card for my grandfather, Michael Danko.

World War I Draft Registration Card for Michael Danko (Front)

World War I Draft Registration Card for Michael Danko (Back)

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the World War I Draft Registration Card for Michael Danko. 

I had previously obtained copies of the World War I Draft Registration Cards from either Ancestry.com or from microfilms at the Family History Library (FHL). These digital images from NARA are far superior to those obtainable from either Ancestry.com or from the FHL because the NARA images are digital images of the actual cards, not images from microfilm.

I didn’t even know that color digital images were available from the National Archives until Ewrann left the following message on my post “Not All Microfilms Are Created Equal”:

You can order a scan from the originals held at the NARA (National Archives & Records Administration). They offer a b&w photocopy of the original OR a 200dpi color .jpg. Cost is $10 each. Here’s an example of what they are SUPPOSED to look like: http://www.doctorjazz.co.uk/jrmdraftf.jpg

The NARA site is at: https://eservices.archives.gov/orderonline/start.swe

Click on “Made To Order Reproductions” and the rest is self-explanatory.

Well, I ordered this image online on Saturday, September 15 and it arrived in my e-mailbox on Thursday, September 20. What service!

Thanks for the great tip, Ewrann!

Copyright © 2007 by Stephen J. Danko

When attempting to find the birthdates for the children of Clark Gibson, I realized that the job would not be easy.  There were no civil registrations available for the children, and because Clark’s family apparently adhered to no religion, there were no infant baptisms available for the children.

For Ada May, I used a combination of her age in the 1861 Canadian Census Record and her stated date of birth listed in her adult baptism to determine that she was born on 04 Aug 1859 in Canada.

For Arnold, I used a combination of his age in the 1910 and 1920 US Census Records, his absence from the 1861 Canadian Census Records, and his stated date of birth on his Death Certificate to determine that he was born on 17 Aug 1862 in Vermont.

For Lewis Dwight Gibson, the route to finding the date of birth required a third approach.  I found the World War I Draft Registration Card for Lewis where he stated that his date of birth was 24 Jan 1874.  The 1910, 1920, and 1930 US Census Records provided Lewis’ age as 36, 45, and 55, respectively, indicating he was born between 1873-1875, so the date in the World War I Draft Registration is consistent with that in three census records.

The World War I Draft Registration for Lewis Dwight Gibson - Front

The World War I Draft Registration for Lewis Dwight Gibson - Back

SOURCE: Louis Dwight Gibson, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Micropublication M1509 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration), roll VT5. 

Click on the link for a PDF Copy of the World War I Draft Registration for Lewis Dwight Gibson.  The record shows that:

• Lewis Dwight Gibson lived at R.F.D. Fairfield, Franklin Co., Vermont
• On September 12, 1918, Lewis was 44 years old; his birthdate was 24 Jan 1874
• He was white
• He was not a native US citizen, he was not naturalized, but he was a US citizen because he was younger than the age of majority when his father became of citizen
• Lewis was a farmer and was employed by Ward Paradee of R.F.D. Fairfield, Franklin Co., Vermont
• Lewis’ nearest relative was Mrs. Carrie Gibson of R.F.D. Fairfield, Franklin Co., Vermont
• Lewis was tall, of medium build, with hazel eyes, brown hair, and no deformities

The Registrar filled out this form, and spelled Lewis’ first name as Louis.  Lewis correctly spelled his name when he signed the form.

Mrs. Carrie Gibson, and Ward Paradee, are listed on the form.  Carrie Gibson was Lewis’ wife.  Ward Paradee was Lewis’ employer.  Ward Paradee’s son, Ward Sturgess Paradee, would later marry Lewis and Carrie Gibson’s daughter, Grace Irene Gibson.

Of note is the fact that Lewis had derivative citizenship, since his father became a US citizen before Lewis attained the age of majority.  Since I don’t have any idea where the family lived between 1861 and 1900, this piece of information shows that Clark Gibson had become a US citizen no later than the early 1890s.

Take a look at the year of birth as written on this card.  At first glance, the year looks like 1884, but close inspection reveals that the year is actually 1874, as evidenced by the curved downstrokes on the ”8″ and the strong, straight downstroke on the “7″. 

Yesterday I wrote about the World War I Draft Registration Card I found for Allister Rawding.  The images I presented were downloaded from the internet and were fairly difficult to read.

While filing that record, I found I had electronic images from FHL US/CAN Film 1684748 that I had saved several years ago.  To my surprise, the record I had saved from the Family History Library microfilm was of much better quality than the image I obtained from an online database.  Compare the images below with those I published yesterday and see for yourself:

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding - Front

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding - Back

SOURCE: Allister Daniel Rawding, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Micropublication M1509 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration), Roll MA40, Microfilm No. 1684748, Family History Library [FHL], Salt Lake City, Utah.

Click on the link for a PDF Copy of the World War I Draft Registration Card for Allister Rawding.  I was surprised at how much clearer these images are than the same images I had downloaded from the internet.  I suspect the difference in quality of the electronic images was related to the quality of the microfilm from which the electronic images were prepared.

Many historical documents have been microfilmed multiple times, by different agencies.  Sometimes I’ve found that the Genealogical Society of Utah (the Family History Library) has, itself, filmed the same documents multiple times, with one filming of much better quality than another.

But even the Family History Library does not necessarily have the best microfilm copies of a set of records.  Several years ago, I looked up some newspaper obituaries on microfilm at the Family History Library, but found them almost unreadable.  I found a different filming of the same newspaper at a Local Public Library that was incredibly better.

The lesson here is, if the microfilm copy of a set of documents is of poor quality, there might be a better film housed at some other facility.

Copyright © 2006 Stephen J. Danko

Allister Rawding, the father-in-law of my Aunt Nat, registered for the World War I Draft on 05 Jun 1917.  In 1901, he was living with his parents and siblings in Nova Scotia, but in 1917 he was living in Norwood, Massachusetts, the United States of America.

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding - Front

WWI Draft Registration for Allister Rawding - Back

SOURCE: Allister Daniel Rawding, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Micropublication M1509 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration), roll MA40.

Click on the link for a PDF Copy of the World War I Draft Registration for Allister Rawding.  The document states that:

Allister Daniel Rawding, age 24, registered for the World War I Draft in Norwood, Norfolk County, Massachusetts on 05 Jun 1917
Allister lived at 49 Prospect Ave, Norwood, Massachusetts with a wife and child
He was an alien, an English subject, born on 19 May 1893 in Millville, Kings County, Nova Scotia
He was married, Caucasian, and worked as a steamfitter for the Geo. H. Morrill Ink Mill in Norwood, Massachusetts
Allister was tall, of medium build, had light blue eyes, dark brown hair, and no disabilities
Based on this information and that in the 1901 Census, Allister emigrated to the United States, married, and had a child between 1901 and 1917.

As a final note, not all microfilm copies of a record are equal.  The images shown here are from the Ancestry.com database, but the microfilm copies at the Family History Library are of much better quality, even though the films are of the same records.

Copyright © 2006 Stephen J. Danko

A few days ago I posted some photographs that Lewis Michaels shot while in Verdun, the site of one of the costliest battles of World War I.  Today, I’m posting some of my own photos from Verdun.  A map of the area shows the locations of Douaumont and Fleury.

The Verdun Memorial

The Verdun Memorial is a museum that depicts the devastation that was wrought on the area during the battle at Verdun.  The museum includes artifacts from World War I, dioramas depicting the battle, and audio-video presentations about the War.

Observation Posts and the French Flag

Lewis and I both took several photos of the observation posts at Verdun.  This area moved from French control to German control and back again several times during the battle.  Today, the French flag provides a stirring reminder of how much this battle cost the French defenders.

The French National Cemetery

In front of the Douaumont Ossuary is the French National Cemetery.  Some 15,000 French soldiers are buried here in graves marked by a white cross with a nameplate and a rose planted in front of the cross.  Muslim soldiers are buried under a gravestone facing towards Mecca.

The Village of Fleury-devant-Douaumont

The village of Fleury is one of nine villages that were never rebuilt after the war.  The ground is still full of ammunition and metal and the landscape remains cratered to this day from the intensive bombardment of the area.  A small chapel has been built on the site and the location of streets, homes, and shops are marked with signs as a memorial to this once thriving village.

The battle of Verdun was a war of attrition:  German General Erich von Falkenhayn intended to “bleed France white” in order to weaken their resistance.  In the end, both the French and German armies were decimated.

John Jwanauski served in the U.S. Army in World War I.  He was stationed in the Gérardmer Sector, Vosges, France and was deployed in the Meuse Argonne Offensive, the battle that led to Germany’s signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918.  Today, November 11 is celebrated in the United States as Veteran’s Day and in Canada as Remembrance Day.

Several years ago I traveled to France and visited Verdun, site of one of the worst battles of World War I.  Verdun is located not far from the location of the Meuse Argonne Offensive that ended the war with Germany.  The treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, and the final peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire (today known as the Republic of Turkey) was signed at Lausanne on July 24, 1923.

World War I Bunkers at Verdun
Photograph copyright 2001 by Lewis Michaels, used with permission

The trip was an adventure, not only because it was my first trip to France, but because I flew there shortly after the terrorist attacks on America.  My flight to Paris was cancelled and I had to book a flight on another airline.  While in Europe, SwissAir went bankrupt, and again my flight was cancelled.  Then, the day before I was to return home, the United States invaded Afghanistan.

Bunkers and Barbed Wire at Verdun
Photograph copyright 2001 by Lewis Michaels, used with permission

I toured France with Lewis Michaels, a colleague from work.  Lewis served as my tour guide and interpreter in France and arranged for us to visit Verdun.  I was completely unprepared for what I saw there.  The Battle of Verdun lasted from February 21, 1916 to December 1916.  During that time 26,000,000 bombs were dropped on the area, and at the end of the battle, 300,000 French and German soldiers were missing.

Steve in the Douaumont Cemetery
Photograph copyright 2001 by Lewis Michaels, used with permission

Much of the area is maintained as a memorial to the battle.  Craters where the bombs fell are still in evidence.  Unexploded shells are still found in the woods surrounding the area.  The Douaumont Ossuary and Cemetery was constructed as the final resting place of those French and German soldiers killed in the battle, with the remains of those who could not be identified interred in the Ossuary.

The Douaumont Ossuary
Photograph copyright 2001 by Lewis Michaels, used with permission

Tomorrow:  Searching for John Jwanauski in the Ellis Island Records