The Family Slisz - Family History

The Name "SLISZ" originates from the polish word SWISTAWKA or WHISTLE......It could pertain to one who played the flute or most likely one know as a Happy go Lucky ....Whistling Fellow......

Anton Slisz- 1855 to 1815?
Anton Slisz was born to Kasper Slisz and Marianny Labudzinska on May 2, 1855 in Kolaczyce, Jaslo, Galicia, Austrian Poland also known as "Little Poland " the land of the dark haired and eyed peoples.

Kasper was married at least twice his first wife passing in 1852 after three children and Marianny 1854 who gave birth to Anton. The other children include:

Joanna born March 17, 1856 in Kolaczyce
Leon born March 24, 1858 in Kolaczyce
Aniela born August 18, 1860 in Kolaczyce

We know nothing of Anton’s early life in Kolaczyce.

Oral History says that he married his first wife of the Stecz family in Kolaczyce prior to 1880. His first son, Kasper Victor arrived December 24, 1881 the birth certificate states he was born of Marianne Stecz. It is possible but unconfirmed that she died in childbirth.

Upon her death, Anton married his wife’s unwed sister Marya, which was to custom at the time. Anton came to America alone in 1882 and settled in Pittsburgh Pa. In 1884 Marya and Kasper followed via the Port of Baltimore on the SS America landing April 4, 1884.

After 8 years Anton Naturalized on September 20, 1890 in Allegheny County Pittsburgh PA. His sponsor was Joseph Goldman, a notion peddler who lived on Oldave Street in Crafton, Pa. It is possible that Anton was also a peddler at this time. We believe that the Slisz family lived in the area around Carrick, Pa and attended St. Adelberts Church in what is known in Pittsburgh as “South Side” of the river.

Anton and Mary had a son Michael, in September of 1886 in Pittsburgh, the baptismal record at St. Adelberts was the key to the discovery of the home village in Galicia. We also know that one of the God Parents Aniela was Anton’s sister who obviously survived and came to the USA. We have not yet been able to find the other siblings of Anton in America.

Oral history states that Anton was a colorful Guy. He was a self taught Herbalist and bone healer. He traveled about doing this type of thing. I have found nothing to support this in his work history.

In 1892 Anton moved his family from Pittsburgh to South Bend, In. where Anton worked at Singer and resided at 1115 Hancock.

On February 8, 1896 Marya died of Consumption in South Bend In. The grave record in Cedar Grove Cemetery Notre Dame, In. lists her as "First Wife of Anton” this statement is still at question.

On May 5, 1896 Anton married Balbina Laskowski Gorazewski in St. Hedwige Church, South Bend. The marriage was witnessed by Roman Marouta & Rosalia Klimek

She was the first wife of Walter Goraczewski and lived with her brothers at 1101 Hancock, while Marya was alive. Perhaps she knew the family from church or was Marya’s nurse. This is lost to time, however the speed of the marriage would suggest they knew each other while Marya was alive.

They took up residence at 1101 Hancock in South Bend, IN and had two daughters together, Francis born March 5, 1897 and Theodozia born May 29, 1900. In 1899 Cedar Grove records list Anton Slisz paying $3 for a casket and burial of an infant unknown, there may have been another child in stillbirth.

Theodozia Slisz died April 6, 1902 of Consumption at the age of 2 and was buried beside Marya at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

One month later Michael passed away of Consumption in May 24, 1902 at the age of 16. Sexton’s records state that Anton paid $40 for his funeral.

In 1904 Anton and his son Kasper Victor went into business as, Anton Slisz & Son Meat Market at 426 So. Lincoln, South Bend In. 1906 employed Anton at Studebaker Wagon Works and we assume the business failed.

Balbina passed away on November 23, 1910 of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and sadly, Francis, who had been caring for her ill mother then passed away on December 19, 1913 of Pulmonary Tuberculosis at the age of 16.

They all lay at rest together on the same lot in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, In.

The 1914 South Bend City Directory lists Anton as residing at 1101 W. Hancock, retired at the age of 59.

On May 29, 1914, Anton received U.S. Passport #30879 for travel between the USA and Galicia. He left Galicia about September 22, 1915 and exited via Rotterdam on the SS Ryndam arriving in New York, October 17, 1915. The ships manifest list him traveling with Annie Slisz, Wife, age 35, his fourth.

Anton or Annie do not appear in the 1920 census although his son Kasper and family appear at 1345 Dunham. Kasper’s wife Mary appears as a registered voter in 1921.

The last record of Anton’s existence is the 1921 South Bend City Directory residing at 1101 W Hancock, employed at Studebakers approximate age 65-66.

To date, no domestic record of death exists for Anton or Annie, our research currently centers on Kolaczyce under the assumption that they may have returned to Poland after WW 1

Casper Victer Slisz- 1855 to 1815?
Kasper Victer Slisz, son of Antoni Slisz and Marya Stetz, was born somewhere in Galacia, Austrian Poland on December 24, 1881.

Kasper’s mother Marya passed away when Kasper was a baby.

When Kasper was 5 years old, in 1886, Kasper and his father Antoni emigrated to America.

They settled in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County PA, where they lived until at least 1888 when they naturalizied.

Sometime between then and 1896 they moved to South Bend, IN

On February 04, 1904, in South Bend, IN, Kasper married Mary Andrysiak, daugher of Jozef Andrysiak and Antionette Damach.

Kasper’s step mother, brother and sisters all had died of consumption by 1913, when Kasper would have been 32.

Evelyn Rita Slisz - 1916 to ?
Evelyn’s birth records from St. Casimir’s Church lists her as “Regina” with “Evelina” added at a later date different script. She was baptized March 12, 1916 the daughter of Kasper Slisz and Mary Andrysiak. She was the sixth of nine children born of this marriage.

Oral History from Evelyn:
My mother used to say, when I was young, "That one's going to be a clean one", because when by the time I was old enough to pick up a rag, I was going around the house dusting.

Oral History from James F.:
Knowing Mom’s other habits she was probably trying to “force feed” any poor soul who wandered in her way. She was the product of a working class family, who was not blessed with an abundance of food or money. As Evelyn would say “ We were always one step ahead of the Landlord” she also remembered a particularly hard time when they lived next to a Bakery and the smell of the cooking would be hard to bear for children without a lot to eat. She would say to me “ You don’t know what hunger is” when I would tease her about force-feeding any living creature. She was right and thanks to her and Dads hard work I never have! The Baker “God Bless Him” would feed the children day old pastries.

Evelyn attended and graduated from St. Adalberts Grade School in 1933 with “ All A’s ”. She was rightfully proud of her accomplishments, but the depression made High School impossible and she went to work underage at the Notre Dame Laundry for $4 a week. The nun’s knew, you helped each other survive in those days.

On August 5, 1939 Evelyn married Frank A Piechorowski at St Adalberts Church in South Bend
The witnesses were John Rakowski & Eleonora Piechorowski.

Both Mom and Dad were very handsome people.

Oral History from Evelyn
When I first met Frank, he didn't turn me on, he came over at least 3 times that night and asked me to dance, but I came up with an excuse each time. Several Saturdays after that he kept coming and asking me to dance, so finally I figured, what can it hurt, and I danced with him. We had the rest of that evening. He took me home and we made a date for next Tuesday because the Cole Brothers Circus was in town. That was our first date.

Our first home was at 1417 Van Buren St, where I (James F) grew up and attended Holy Cross Grade School. In 1955 we moved to 52166 Fir Rd in Granger.

During all my life I never knew a time when Mom and Dad did not both work to gain some of the better things in life that they missed as children and to ensure that their child and grandchildren never knew what hunger was.

Evelyn’s husband, Frank passed December 12, 1985 of a Heart attack and Evelyn suffered a stroke on September of 2000, which left her unable to care for herself. She is a resident of Holy Cross Rehabilitation in Granger In.

Evelyn had not seen the inside of a Hospital from the date of my birth to Sept 2000.

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