Whenever I am asked about my biggest brick wall, I always have the same answer. It's really no contest. It is my great-grandfather, Anton Martinek. But is that really his name?
Here's the information I have on Anton Martinek. He was born on 11 October 1876 in the Silesian area of Austria. He married my great-grandmother Marie Mienciel on 14 December 1903, and they divorced in 1912. Other than the divorce, I have no proof of any of it. The other information came from the family.
Here are some other things that might be true or might not be:
- The name might have been Marcinek or Martinek. It might have been spelled Martinec or Marcinec or Martineck or Marcineck - or some other variation.
- His first name may have been Anton, Anthony, Tony, Antony or Andros.
- Anton was married once before he married Marie.
- Anton may have had a son from that first marriage, or perhaps a brother named Kasimir who came over with Marie and her children.
- In 1910, Anton used the name Andros Menson in the Jefferson County, Ohio, census.
- Anton may have traveled to the US on the same ship as Albert Butzek, Marie's second husband.
- Marie may have met Albert on the ship coming over (likely only a family story).
- Anton left Austria because he was one step ahead of the law.
- Anton was jealous and beat a man in Austria.
- Anton may have gone to Pennsylvania after the divorce.
- Anton obviously died--when and where is a mystery.
- My aunt Lila may have known more information about her father, but she never shared it before she died.
One of these days, I will sit down, build a detailed research plan, and dig in to find the answers to some of these questions. It will require searching a variety of records, some in a language I don't read. But I definitely plan to solve this mystery.
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This week's #52Ancestors prompt is Brick Wall Revisited.
