John Głodowski II

The John Glodowski Family

John Glodowski was born in Suleczyno parish, Gdansk province, Poland. His wife, Antonina Krefta, was also born there. They were married in Poland. They had a daughter, Mary, in 1859 and a son, Joseph, in 1861.

On May 10, 1862, the family left from Hamburg bound for Quebec on the ship “Elbe.” Family tradition says the baby, Joseph, died during the voyage. Also immigrating on the same ship were Albrecht and Marianna Krefta, Antonina’s parents. Her sister, Julianna and brother-in-law, John Gawin, also moved at this time with their children, Juliana and Franz.

By Nov. 6, 1863, the Glodowskis entered into an agreement to buy 40 acres of wild land - the SW¼ of the NE¼ of Section 12, Township 24 North of Range 1 - town of Sharon. In the 1870 census, John and Antonina Glodowski were in Dwelling No. 143 in the town of Sharon. Living in close proximity were members of both sides of the family. In Dwelling No. 144 were Antony and Julia Glodowski and three children. In Dwelling No. 145 were Jacob and Frezina Gawin with four children. In Dwelling No. 148 lived John and Julia (Krefta) Gawin with their daughter and her parents, Albert and Mary Krefta. Jacob and Paulina Glodowski lived in Dwelling No. 147 with their daughter. Albert and Catharine Gawin lived in Dwelling No. 148 and Joseph and Mary Gawin with their son lived in Dwelling No. 149. In 1880 these same people still lived together with the addition of the Frank Eichendorf family. His wife was Josephine Krefta, another sister of Antonina Krefta Glodowski.

John and Antonina Glodowski had the following children: Mary (John Kizewski), Joseph (died at sea), John F. (Rosa Repinski), Peter (Lucy Karcz), Martin (first married Martha Wesorska, second married Anna Bigalka), Frances (Frank Shulfer), Leon died at age 10, Julie (John Cisewski) and Charles (Martha Zynda). Many of their descendants remain in Portage County today.

John Glodowski acquired land and continued to farm in the town of Sharon, town of Stockton and finally in the town of Amherst. His sons received farmland from their parents when they married. John Glodowski was a big, powerful man. He and his wife were members of Fancher Church.