The Family Piechorowski - Family History

The Ancient Piechurowski's - Pre 1800
We beleive these Piechurowski's are related to our family line, however due to the loss of records over the years, we are not able to make any direct connections as of yet. Click here to review the ancient Piechurowski's.

Jan Piechurowski - abt 1790 to after 1815
The birth record for Michalena describes Jan as "Murator" or a Stone Mason...as a child I remember Dad telling me our forbearers were stone masons.

"status plebei inquilinus " of rural condition (belonging to the peasant condition) , landless peasant ( inquilinus is used for Polish komornik and for chalupnik)

Around 1812 he married Justyna in Slupy, Poland.

In 1815 they had their son, Andrew.

Andrew Piechurowski - 1815 to 1891
The verifiable history of the Piechurowski Family begins in 1815 in the village of Brzyskorzystew, near Znin with the birth of our G.G. Grand Father Andrew Piechurowski, son of Jan and Justyna who were born in the 1790's and married about 1812. The destruction of St Katherine of Alexandria by fire in 1820 eliminated local records prior to that date.

Andrew married Michaela Selerzynska October 24, 1843 in Brzyskorzystew. They had six children, two of who survived Jan and Joseph.

Andrew was a property owner in the area around Brzyskorzystew. The village has its roots in the 11'th century when it was mentioned in a Papal Bull by Pope Innocent II. The first church was built in 1450 and burned in 1820.

Andrew was educated and politically active. We have a copy of a letter he wrote to the German Government protesting the appointment of a local German sympathizer to govern the taxation of the school and local properties. The family left the country six months after the letter was written. In the border of the letter the German official commented "They Can Afford It, Proceed". The
letter was a gift from the local priest who located it in the Archives of Bydoszcz, Pl. while researching church records. Andrew signed his name like John Hancock.

We do not know how the family acquired the means purchase property in Poland. There is no evidence to date of a "Service Grant".

Upon leaving Poland, Andrew sold his property to Major Ludomir Fezer a Pole who served with the Prussians and made an advantageous marriage to Wanda Van Arnt, heiress to the Villa at Brzyskorzystew. The proceeds purchased the farms in Terra Coupe, St. Joseph County,Indiana where the Sons of Jan and Joseph began their life in America.

Andrew died of old age in Terra Coupe, In. on January 27, 1891 and was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, In.

Jan Piechurowski - 1848 to 1926
Jan Piechorowski was born on May 20, 1848 in Brzyskorystewko, Kreis Znin, Posen, Prussian Poland, to Andrew Piechorowski and Michaela Selergnski.

Jan Piechorowski married Emeila Chmielewski, daughter of Peter Chmielewski and Francis Gorska, in the parish church of Slupy, Posen, Prussian Poland on October 28, 1874 by Father J. Sobieski.

Jan was 26 and Emelia was 21.

The marriage certificate states that Jan was the “OVITIO” or “Shepherd” from the village of Brzyskorystewko which is near Slupy. Emelia was described as “The Daughter of a Farmer from Chrpalewo”, another village near Slupy.

They remained in Brzyskorystewko for 8 more years, having five children. Helena, Casimer (who died as an infant), Stanislawa, Jozefa, and Stanislaus.

The family, including Jan’s parents Andrew and Michilana, immigrated in April of 1882, leaving the German port of Bremen on the SS Donau and landing in Castle Garden, New York City on April 15, 1882.

The Ships Maifest for the SS Donau describes the family as:

• Johann, 34, M, Farmer


• Emelia, 27, F, Wife


• Helene, 4, F, Child


• Stanislaus, 3, M, Child


• Josefa, 2, F, Child


• Stanislawa, 9mo, F, Infant


• Andreas (Andrew), 59, M


• Michaline, 50, F

By July 5, 1882, Jan purchased the first portion of the farm in Terre Coupe, IN for the sum of $435 from John and Anna Floew. He later purchased additional land from Jacob Kaugon for $225 on January 24, 1885 and from John Brake for $200 on May 30, 1888.

The first thing they did was build a log cabin for the family to live in as they worked the farm. This cabin still stands on the family property to this day.

Over the next 18 years they had six more children. Leon, Frances, Ludwik, Mary, Anna and Julian.

They worked the land by hand, using a team of four draft horses, all the way into the 1930’s. Their cash crop was peppermint, which they sold to a local processor.

We do not know why Jan lied on his naturalization papers stating the took passage on the SS Elbe which landed a week later in New York. Perhaps it was the beginnings of the Dementia which eventually claimed his life or the fact that there was little trust in goverment by Poles of that time who were mistreated by the Germans and held in contempt by the locals as the lowest rung on the immigration ladder.

Jan did not become a citizen until 1918 when it was necessary to pass land to the children and he required the protection of the US Title Laws.

As a former resident of Prussian Poland he was considered an enemy alien after World War I making citizenship prudent given the German/Communist/Jingoist sentiment in post war America.

Jan passed away at 6:50 PM on November 22, 1926 in Terra Cope, IN after two weeks of illness, of complications - Senility one year and rhumetisum. Services were held in St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church in Terre Coupe, Rev. Michael Swiatkowski officiating. He was buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery.
Jan’s Obituary.

Oral history says that, on Jan’s passing, Ludwik and Julian disagreed over the division of farm assets. Julian took his family and moved into South Bend, IN and never spoke with Ludwik again. This rift has remained between the two branches of the family to this day.

After Jan’s passing, Emeila moved into South Bend, IN and took up residence with her daughter Anna. She remained there until her passing on August 10, 1938 after two days of illness that followed a stroke of apoplexy.

He was the first Piechorowski born in the United States and was brought into this world in the log cabin on Sage Rd.

On July 13, 1909 he married Konstancya Janowiak, daughter of Gregory Janowiak and Marianne Skibinski, in St. Adalberts Roman Cathlic Church. The marrage was witnessed by John Janowiak and Frances Piechorowski.

From the 1910 Census we learn that Leon worked as a cabinet maker at Singer.

Leon and Konstancya took up residence at 427 South Jackson in South Bend, IN.

Over the next 11 years they had six children. Sophie, Harriet, Irene, Frank A, Eleanore and Clarie.

Leon passed away at the age of 37 at 6:45 PM on September 16, 1920 of complications of Peritonitis (burst appendix). Services were held in St. Adalberts Roman Catholic Church, Rev. John Osadnik Officiating. He was buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
Leon’s Obituary.

Four years after Leon’s passing, Konstancya remarried to Joseph Piasecki.

Frank A. Piechorowski - 1916 to 1985
Frank A. Piechorowski was born to Leon Piechorowski and Konstancya Janowiak on January 30, 1916 the fourth of six children. Frank's God Parents were Stanley Janowiak and Mary Piechorowski.

Frank's father Leon passed away when Frank was 4 years old.

When Frank was 8 his mother Konstancya married again to Joseph Piasecki, a marriage which would give Frank four half sisters.

When the Great Depression hit, Frank went off to CCC Camp. He was a member of Company 1531, stationed in Madaryville, IN.

They taught him how to be a baker there.

He used to make the BEST pie crusts. He would mix them up right on the counter top, no measuring... did it all by feel. I remember he would take all the extra crust bits and cut them into strips and bake them with Cinnamon and sugar. I can still taste them 25 years later.

Once, he and the boys snuck out of camp one night and raided a local watermelon field, they brought all the watermelons back to camp and hid them all in the ceiling. The weight of the melons up there caused the ceiling to sag the commander noticed and had one of the men get a ladder and nail the ceiling back up. Well of course the when he tried to nail it back up, he hit a watermelon and this red liquid started to drip down on the floor, the commander though they had a body up in the ceiling. He said they got in SO much trouble.

In another, he told me of one way they would "Initiate" the new guys. They would come in, in the middle of the night, and have a "Short Arm Inspection". One guy would act as the officer, and one as a doctor. The "Doctor" would have a can of black shoe polish. After they were "Inspected" they would get a dab of shoe polish on them. Of course, as soon as they saw their "doctor" in the ranks with them they knew they had been had, but shoe polish can't be washed off... It has to wear off.

When Frank's mother Konstancya passed away in 1936, when Frank was 20, he went to work for Ludwick (Uncle Louie) on the fram. He worked out on the farm for 3 years.

Frank and Evelyn were introduced by Aunt Elsie when she was fifthteen. She played basketball for St. Adelbert's grade school.... Frank played ball on the men's team. Elsie and Evelyn used to go to dances and ZB Falcon's almost every Saturday night, and one night Elsie introduced them. Elsie's Husband Uncle Elmer was in CC Camp with Frank.

Frank Earned the money to buy both Evelyn's engagement ring and their wedding ring with the help of Ludwik (Uncle Louie). Ludwik gave frank a plot of land on the farm that Frank was to grow and tend pickles on. All the money that he made from the pickles is what he used to buy the rings.

Frank took and purposed to Evelyn on Christmas eve, 1937. He bought a box of chocolates and put the ring in the box for her to find. When she opened the box she said "Ohhh Chocolate...", and was very disappointed because he had bought her candy for Valentines day. She thought, but didn't say "Am I ever going to be engaged to you?". Frank could see that she was disappointed so he let her stew for a few days and called her back asking if she had eaten the candy yet. She said she had had a few pieces. He told her to go have some more and tell him how she liked them... that's when she found the ring.

Frank and Evelyn were married on August 05, 1939. The marriage was witnessed John Rakowski & Eleonora Piechorowski

Kasper Slisz, Evelyn’s Father taught Frank how to hunt and fish, in that time for food, not for sport.

After he married Evelyn he went to work for Oliver Corp. He worked there until he was forced to retire from Oliver's in 1974 on disablility.

On September 25, 1942, their only child James was born.

Frank Passed away on December 5, 1985 in South Bend IN. Services were held in Pius X church in Granger. He was buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

James Piechorowski - 1942 to ?
Friday, September 25, 1942 4 pm temp 30* and snowing "I was born" of Evelyn Piechorowski in Epworth Hospital (Memorial) South Bend In. Dad rode his Bike from Olivers in the snow to come and greet me as he did not own a car until the early 1950's. I would imagine that Mom began her life long obsession of feeding me as soon as she was able to clutch a bottle that same day. The doctors had to finally step in and stop her as I grew into a Fat little Guy to quickly. I have always attributed my life long battle with weight to moms insistance on force feeding anyone who entered the house. I spent my early years at 1417 Van Buren St South Bend In, attending Holy Cross Grade School, playing football which I was never very good at, and being forced to try to play the accordian which I hated and was even worst at. However I did survive and in 1955 we moved from South Bend to 52166 Fir Rd in Granger were the family home remains to this date.

In 1956 I attended Washington Clay High School where I was a fair to Middle student, did some Wrestling which I liked "Team Captain" and discovered Girls which has been the " love of my life". But life was good and I would'nt trade or change a minute for all the money in the world.

I graduated from Clay in 1960 middle of the class and went to IUSB where I nearly fluncked out until I was assured by the dean of men that I could get my act together or be certain that Siagon would be beautiful in the Spring. in addition dad put me to work at Olivers and insured that I had every crap job in the plant. You could always find me where it was hottest and dirtyest for the summer of 1962. I was on the honor role for three years after that experience never dropping below a 3.6 and nearly getting a 4.0 on an 18 hour load which was spoiled by an ROTC instructor who gave me a B+ for missing a parade.

I loved IU Bloomington joined Sigma Phi Epslion Social Fraternity "Like I needed to be more social" and met and married Patricia Lee Duncan in 1965 who was the great love of my early life.

I finished under and grad school and went to work for Whirlpool in 1965, in 1973 I switched to Miles Laboratory where I have worked ever since. Frank came along in St Joe Michigan in 1966 and Devon followed him in Constantine Mi in 1976. The two of you have given meaning and substance to my life. I hope you will remember me as at least having tried to do my best and never / ever thought of deserting you irrespective of the circumstances we found before us. I love / loved you both dearly.

Patricia and I divorced in 1978 and in about a year I remarried Carolyn Humphery in South Bend. The difficulties of trying to put two families together was more than we were able to handle and the marrige ended in 1984. I wish her well.

In 1987-88 after four years of Disco Duck and Ski Bumming I met and married Sharon Louise Metzler who cleaned up my act and lets me think I am running the operation. If I had a buck for every "Yes Dear" which somehow always ends up the way Sharon intended it I would be retired on the beach in St Thomas. After 13 years I have managed to hang on to this one and life is good.

General comment for an Obituary...Piech's Life

"From the Rim to the Dregs it Ran Sweet and Clear ... It was a very Good Year"

Frank D Piechorowski - 1966 to ?

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