The
church interior picture is of St. Hedwig after the original 1891 church
was torn down and the congregation was joined by the parishioners from
the Polish National church. The new St, Hedwig on the same 1891 ground
was built using brick, had three entrances, and three aisles between
four rows of pews. The picture is also in the form of a post card. On
the back is my mother's name with her printed name.in her printing. This
is the only item I have ever seen her name printed on, so it may have
been shortly before she learned to write. My mother was Eva Wiater, nee
Graikowski. I recognize my mother as she is an exact look alike with my
sister lorraine Jarecki, nee Wiater. This picture is circa 1913 or 1914.
Since my mother, Eva only went thru the third grade and was born in 1907
the picture dating is quite accurate. I am guessing that the postcard
may have been a handout at her first communion. Mike and Josephine, nee
liesnewski, Graikowski, had a farm on the south side of section 26 of
Withee township. By the 1930 there were a number of Both the Joseph
liesnieiski and John Griakowski families were settler farmers, and my
great grandparents. Their children owned a number of farms in Withee
township. Bothe families have numerous family members buried in the
cemetery adjoining St Hedwig Church and the new St Hedwig cemetery. Adam
and Eva Wiater, my parents are buried there, along with my sister
lorraine, my brother Stanly, and a nephew Adam Jr. I attended Sterling
State Graded School from 1943 thru 1949 and graduated with Norbert
Teclaw, Richard Teclaw and Donald Nevela.
John Graikowski
1852-1927 /Mary Imbierowitz 18XX?-1935
SE corner sect 26
Moved to west side
section 25 when Michael took over
Michael Graikowski
1880-1976/Josephine
liesnewski
1884-1976
East side sect 26
John farmed in NW
corner section 35
Sophie
Eva 1907-1993/Adam
Wiater 1906-1981
Bought Michael
Graikowski farm
Stanley 1929-1949
lorraine
Jarocki 1932-1989
Richard 193~
Adam Jr 1943
Cecelia
Michael
Stanley
John Graikowski
1885-1966/Mary Swienarski1890-1968
middle sect 35
Cecelia 1909-1918
Joesph 1916-2003/Jennie
Romanowicz 1915-1991
Rose 1909-1924 Killed by tornado that drove a stick thru her chest
Joesph
Graikowski 1916-1954
Was willed forty
acre farm section 25 when Mary died
Joseph liesnewski 1854-1954/Eva JZawacki 1856-1931
NW sect 36
Anton
1893-1970/Helena
Jurkowski
1893-1954
Took over homestead
in sect 36
Edna 1896-1991/Frank Jasinek
1893/1956
farmed in sect 36
Josephine
1884-1976/Michael Graikowski 180-1976
Frank 1915-1997/lorraine
Adam 18XX-1973/mary 1892-1989
There were other
children but I did not know them
By Richard M. Wiater
915 Reily Road
Cincinnati, Oh 45215
rwiater@cinci.rr.com
May 15, 2011