Frank Wirkus, Sr.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52209673

Frank and Anna (Wisinski) Wirkus Joseph and Mariana (Briski) Wojciechowski

Frank and Mariana (Briski Wojciechowski) Wirkus - Frank Wirkus (1865-1954) was born in Poland. He came to the Leo community, in Barto Township (seven miles northwest of Greenbush) in the 1870s. He married Anna Wisinski (1866-1909) at Winona, Minnesota, in 1886.

In 1905, he homesteaded land seven miles northwest of Greenbush [NE 1/4 Section 26 164 N Range 44 W]. It was unorganized at that time. It is now called Polonia Township. This land was bought by Leo Kukowski in 1936, then sold to his son, Tony, in 1949. Adrian Dolney purchased it in 1966-1968. At the present time, Mr. and Adrian Dolney live there in a new home. The area where they was mostly wild undeveloped country and swampland. Much of their entertainment consisted ofhouse parties and dances held at their home, or at the homes of others who lived in that part of the country. They often walked to these events, sometimes the distance ofseven or eight miles!

Frank and Anna had seventeen children, including four sets of twins; nine children died at an early age, some at birth. Anna and their last child died during childbirth.

Later, Frank married Mariana (Briski) Wojciechowski (1866-1946), after the death ofher husband, Joseph Wojciechowski.

Joseph and Mariana came to the Greenbush area in the "early days" and settled on a homestead in Barto Township, NW 1/4 Sec.1O. Mariana was one of those hardy pioneer who helped develop that sparsely populated area, and lived to it evolve into a fine community of homes and farms.

They had ten children: Peter; John; Maggie; Max (Lena Lowe Chamberland); Frank (Frances Gonshorowski); Alex (Elizabeth Blawat); Frances (James Srnrstik); Stella (Rudy Anderson); Violet; and Joseph.

Into the union of Frank and Mariana one child, Marian (1911-2003) was born. Marian married John L. Kukowski in 1929.

Mariana was bedridden for many years with a lingering illness, and passed away in 1946. Frank passed away in 1954. They are both buried at the St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery, rural northwest Greenbush.

By Elinor (Kukowski) Koshenina.

http://www.greenbushmn.govoffice2.com/vertical/sites/%7B597068FB-D7...

1905 census Frank Wirkus (40yrs Poland), Anna Wirkus (39yrs Poland), Lizzie Wirkus (18yrs Minnesota), Lizzie Wirkus (18yrs Minnesota), Mike Wirkus (16yrs Minnesota), Ferances Wirkus (15yrs Minnesota), Anna Wirkus (10yrs Minnesota), Weronika Wirkus (9yrs Minnesota), Stella Wirkus (7yrs Minnesota), Frank Wirkus (6yrs Minnesota), Serfina Wirkus (2yrs Minnesota), Stanley Wirkus (2yrs Minnesota) & Joce Wirkus (1yr Minnesota) are living at Polonia township, Roseau County, Minnesota.