Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Four Brothers? Or Not?

ANTON NABOROWSKI, the first of my son's Naborowski line to come to the U.S., was born about 1868 in Włocławek (alternately known as Russia or Poland depending upon the year.) Włocławek is a town in central Poland, on the Vistula River. Anton (or Anthony) lived in Chicago selling groceries and owning a dry goods/tailor shop. According to his grandson John G. Naborowski, Anton "had a sort of dry goods and tailor shop. It was located at about 7004 Higgins Road. I remember he had candy and toys in a showcase. We used to like to go there to get candy and toys."

Anthony died 11 October 1939 in Chicago. On his death certificate he is listed as about 71 years old, born in Włocławek. His profession was listed as a tailor, he was widowed and his parents were unknown. The information came from his son Gorgonicz Naborowski

This was the information I knew when I started my research.

Further digging provided the following information:
  1. Anthony does not appear to be in the 1900 or 1910 census.
  2. The 1920 census states that Anton Naborouska, aged 54 arrived in the U.S. in 1900 and that paperwork for his naturalization had been filed. He is living with his wife Mary, aged 55, son John, aged 27, son Gorgonza, aged 19, daughter Mary, aged 16 and a grandson, Charles Moeller, aged 5. He is a Grocery Salesman.
  3. I can find no record of Anton in the 1930 census. 
  4. Anton's wife Mary dies in 1932. They are living at 6052 Giddings. 
  5. In 1939 when Anton dies he is listed as living at 5541 N. Natchez Ave. 
  6. Anton is buried in St. Adalbert's Cemetery in Niles Illinois.
Initial research failed to find either a passenger/arrival record or a naturalization record. 

As I was researching, I found another Naborowski family in Chicago. They were on the south side whereas "my" Naborowski family were strictly north/west siders. Initially I could find no connection but didn't discount them as possible relations as Naborowski is not a very common name.

In reading additional biographical information provided by John G. Naborowski my late father-in-law, he referenced two cousins from his dad's family - Stanley and John. The only Stanley and John I can find are two sons of Konstantyn Naborowski, the southsider. 

That got me looking further into that family.  

Konstanty or Konstantyn's death certificate, dated 5 May 1943, states he was born in Roclawek Poland and he was about 70.  It lists his parents as John Naborowski, born Wroclawek Poland and Anna Sinko, B. Budapest Austria. The informant was his son Walter. Unfortunately Anna Senko is the name of Konstantyn's wife and so it is apparent that Walter was confused.  It is unclear as to whether John is Konstanty's father's name but it was obvious that Konstanty was from the same town in Poland as Anton.

Konstantyn's oldest son Stanley was listed as being born in 1899 in Canada. That sent me into Canadian records where I found an Oath of Residence, made by Konstantyne Naborowski, formerly of Wloclawek, Russia, now residing in Montreal Canada. This was dated June 1896. And it appears as though Konstantyne became a naturalized Canadian citizen at that time.

The 1910 census which has Konstantyn living in Chicago states that he came to the US in 1900 and his next child, Walter Naborowski, was in fact born in Chicago in 1903. I also uncovered a passenger list for an Adam Naborowski, dated 10 August 1904, which stated that Adam was going to Konstanty Naborowski's residence at 1842 W. 48th Street in Chicago. 

Konstantyn most likely married Anna Senko in Canada about 1899. He was eventually naturalized in the U.S. in 1913 without any mention of his Canadian residency.

Looking into Canadian Passenger lists I uncovered this record......

27 June 1893, the ship Polaria arrived in Montreal, Quebec. On the manifest was the following all listed together:

Anton Naborowsky, aged 26, farmer, Married. Going to Montreal 
Adam Naborowsky, aged 25, laborer, single, Going to Montreal
Jan Naborowsky, aged 18, laborer, single, going to Montreal
Konstant Naborowsky, aged 30 laborer, single, going to Montreal.

It was noted that Belgians and German Poles boarded in Antwerp on 14 June 1893. There was no further information as to where they came from or their relationship. But being listed on the same manifest all together would indicate a relationship of some sort. Other information shows that Adam and Konstant were brothers so it's not a stretch to surmise that all four might be brothers.

Adam Naborowski appears to have moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he is listed in 1908-1915 City directories as a tailor (same occupation as Anton). On his passenger list in 1904 he is listed as aged 35, married and a taylor. Besides the other info about going to his brother Konstanty as noted above, it also stated that he had been in the U.S. previously and then listed 1893/1894 Montreal Canada - another confirmation that this Adam is the same as listed in the above 1893 passenger list. His last residence was listed as Włocławek. Why did he end up in Milwaukee?

Adam doesn't seem to appear on census records and it is unclear what happened to him but he appears to have died in Chicago in 1949. A death certificate, which I believe belongs to Adam, is full of unknowns. He is listed as about 80, B in Poland and the informant was from Hospital Records. He is buried in Oak Forest which most likely means he died in the Oak Forest Hospital which was a pauper's hospital at the time. There's no record of his wife, parents, or any real information.

So what of the 4th person on the passenger list - Jan Naborowski, aged 18. He remains a mystery. There is a marriage record in Ontario Canada, dated 1896 for a John Naboroski. He is listed as being born about 1874 in Polonia and his parents are listed as Joseph and Martha Naboroski. His wife was listed as Clara Sckhek. Is this the same person? More research needs to be done.

Of the 4 people listed on the Polaria in 1893, Adam and Konstant are known brothers. Jan and Anton most likely are related to Adam and Konstant but it is still unclear as to whether or not they were for brothers. More research needs to be done - specifically in Włocławek to uncover birth or church records.