Anton Kukowski

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52209549

1840 birth / baptism: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FYR-RCLZ

1865 marriage: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZML-MMNN

Anton was from Czapiewice (Kashubian name: Czôpiewice & German name: Czapiewitz), gmina Brusy, powiat Chojnice, voivodeship Pomorskie, Poland. The community of Brusy for centuries was an important center of the Kashubian region called Zabory - covering the present day parishes: Brusy, Leśno, Kosobudy, Wiele, Karsin and Czersk.

1868 left Czapiewice in West Prussia for the United States.

Anton, Elzbieta & Anne Kukowski arived in Quebec on 17 June, 1868 (left Bremen, Germany on 18 April, 1868) on the ship “Emil” (Capt. E. Hechmann); Also arriving on the Emil were: John & Julianne Schreiber, Anton & Marianna Kostikowsky, Wilhelm & Eva Dittmer, Thomas & Catharine Lezinski, Casimar & Victoria Maliszewski, John & Josephine Blaczinski, Wilh. & Anna Woychiechowski, Josef & Veronika Marek and Thomas & Francisca Wirkus.

1870 living at Winona, MN.; Anton signed his intent of citizenship to the U.S. & renounced his allegiance to the Kingdom of Prussia at Winona 4 Nov. 1873;

Between 1875 & 1880, the family moved to a farm in the Pine Creek/ Dodge area of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin.

1880 census Dodge, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin Census: Anton KUKOWSKE Self M Male W 40 PRUSSIA Farmer PRUSSIA PRUSSIA Lisabeth KUKOWSKE Wife M Female W 32 PRUSSIA Keeping House PRUSSIA PRUSSIA Anna KUKOWSKE Dau S Female W 15 PRUSSIA Servant PRUSSIA PRUSSIA Frantz KUKOWSKE Son S Male W 9 MN PRUSSIA PRUSSIA August KUKOWSKE Son S Male W 6 MN PRUSSIA PRUSSIA Peter KUKOWSKE Son S Male W 8 MN PRUSSIA PRUSSIA Victoria KUKOWSKE Dau S Female W 4 WI PRUSSIA PRUSSIA Mary KUKOWSKE Dau S Female W 1M WI PRUSSIA PRUSSIA.

In 1895 they moved & homesteaded in Barto Twsp, Roseau Co., Mn.; The first mass in Barto Twsp. was in Anton & Elzbieta's home;

1900 census Anton Kukowski, Elzbieta Kukowski, Leon Kukowski & Rosa Kukowski are living at Barto, Soler & Polonia Townships & T.162/R.44, Roseau County, Minnesota, United States.

Anton’s Homestead Certificate #11693 dated 30 December, 1902, “north-west quarter of section 32, in township 161 north, of range 43 west, of the 5th Principal Meridian, in Minnesota containing 160 acres”

1905 census Barto Township, Roseau County, Minnesota Census: Anton Kukowski (65yrs) & Lizzie Kukowski (63yrs).

A large group of Kaszubian Poles came to Trempealeau County, Wisconsin and Winona County, Minnesota between 1860 and 1880. Kaszubian Poles are a distinct ethnic group living in Parishes like Ugoszcz, Półczno, Brusy, Bytów, Leśno, Wiele, and Lipusz, in Poland. They first came to Winona / Trempealeau area, where some moved on to Roseau County, Minnesota and Walsh County, North Dakota.

Anton and Elizabeth (Shriber) Kukowski

Anton Kukowski was born in 1840, in Chuch Kovo, Poland. He married Elizabeth Shriber in about 1865, in Poland. Both were of German and Polish descent. They immigrated to America in 1868 and lived in Wisconsin, until they moved to Roseau County in 1895, and settled the NW 1/4 Section 32 in Barto Township, five miles northwest of Greenbush, Minnesota. Anton and Elizabeth were among the first settlers who took homesteads in 1897. During that time, they traveled to Stephen, Minnesota, with horses to buy supplies and groceries. He was a farmer, and it was difficult for him to make a living because his land was rocky and the soil was poor. Their pastime activities consisted mainly of playing cards and reading books. They had seven children: Anne (Andrew Pelowski); Frank (Lena Cybulski); Peter (Elizabeth Stanislawski); August (Julia Zabrocki); Victoria (John Stanislawski); Leo (Stella Cybulski); and Rose (John Kulas). [An interesting note: A Polish custom was to use only first names for their children; a middle name chosen by the child would be used for Confirmation. Sometimes they would choose their dad's first initial, because there could be more than one person with the same first and last names in those days.] Anton Kukowski and his sons helped build the St. Aloysius Catholic Church at Leo, Minnesota (rural Greenbush) in 1898. Before the church was built, the first Mass in that area was at their home in 1897. Also, the last marriage at their home was for their son, Peter, in October 1897. Anton passed away on March 21,1910, and Elizabeth on August 31, 1916. They are buried in the St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery. Submitted by Elinor (Kukowski) Koshenina.