John A. Stanislawski

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In 1875, John Stanislawski was born in Winona, Minnesota, to Joseph and Augustina Stanislawski, who were both born in Germany. John came to Roseau County about 1898 or 1899 and homesteaded the NE 1/4 Section 19 in Barto Township, across the road to the west of the Leo church. John's brother, Joseph Stanislawski, had the quarter, a mile west and a mile south, which was about a half mile across country in Section 24 PoIonia Township. John's father, Joseph Stanislawski, had the NW 1/4 of Section 30, Barto Township. About two years after coming to the Leo area, John married Victoria Kukowski. Victoria was born in 1876, in Dodge, Wisconsin, to Anthony Kukowski and Elizabeth Schrieberg. Unlike most of the new homesteaders, both John and Victoria spoke English.

On April 29, 1927, John died a sudden death while dynamiting stumps. He was only 52 years old. The Greenbush Tribune reported, "For a number of years he was the storekeeper and postmaster at Leo and held township offices many times. He was one of those genial, God fearing men, whom everybody was glad to have'as a friend. Although not enjoying the best of health of late years, he could not remain idle and was up and doing whenever possible. He was a jovial disposition and had a welcome smile and cheery word for all."

After the first postmaster, P. Y. Johnson, became ill, the post office was moved to the Stanislawski comer by the Leo Church, where John Stanislawski was postmaster until December 1913.

John and Victoria's children were: Joe (1898-1978), Peter (19001964), Agnes (1901-1973), Helen (1902-1990), Leo (1904-1952), Alex (1907-1984), and Theresa (1921-1989).

Joe, Agnes, Helen and Leo lived with their widowed mother and never married. Leo died young of multiple sclerosis. Theresa moved to Chicago and never married. Hilda Carolyn Johnson boarded with the family in the 1930s,when she taught at District 13 a mile south of Leo. Alex and Peter married local girls. Peter married Rose Dolney and moved to Racine, Wisconsin. Their children were Lorraine Widmaier, Marie Anderson, Dorothy Wells, Irene Holly, and Robert Stand. Robert was in business and changing his name was expedient. Alex married Frances Efta, who told him it was a good thing she came along so he would have somebody to marry, because everyone else in the neighborhood was related to him. Alex and Frances lived and farmed in Section 23, Polonia Township, until their retirement. Their children are Georgine (John McMartin), Alice (Floyd Blawat), Louise (Dennis Brekke), Gerald (Renee Larson), John (Connie Loken), and Kathy (Tim Timm).

Victoria was over eighty years old when she died in 1960. The homestead remained in the family throughout the years. John W. and Connie Stanislawski live on Grandpa John and Grandma Victoria Stanislawski's homestead at the present time.

By Myrna Sovde. Source: Frances Stanislawski and Alice (Floyd) Blawat, Greenbush Tribune. See Joseph and Augustina Stanislawski history.