27 December 2005 -- e-mail from Dawid

Hello!
I'm Dawid and I'm writing from Poland. ...My grandfather was born in Łeki Dolne and his name is Ciurej.  ...Could you help me build my Family Tree?

In response to questions I asked Dawid about his family I learned:

My grandfather-Tadeusz Ciurej. Born In Leki Dolne (Wygoda) [date private].

My great-grandfather-Jan Ciurej.(18xx-19xx). He went to USA in 1920 and he worked in USA for 3 years. After 3 years he [brought] to USA his brother-Kazimierz and returned to Poland. Kazimierz stayed in USA but he never [wrote] letter to Lęki.

Note: At this point we do not know where in the U.S. Jan and Kazimierz went.  When I searched the census records at Ancestry.com the only CIUREJs with this exact spelling came up in Omaha, Nebraska.  Tracing back Jan's ancestry, I found he was born in Łękawica, Galicia Poland.  I was unable to find a baptism record for Kazimierz in the Łękawica records.

[Jan] went to U.S. and he worked in abattoir [packing house]. He returned to Łęki  and he bought country [land] and horses.

[Jan] married with Maria Oszkędy....  [They had]  4 children: Joseph, Sophia, Genowefa and Teresa.

[Jan] married Anna Sztorc.  Dawid listed 7 children, the youngest is his grandfather.
Anna SZTORC's siblings were: Jawiga (married a LABNO), Tadeusz, Piotr, Wojciech, Ludwik, and Wladislaw.

I was interested in searching for Dawid's family for a several reasons.  Dawid is 16 years old, and I was impressed that he wanted to learn more about his family history.  Dawid's great grandmother was Anna SZTORC, and SZTORC is one of my family names.  Also, I grew up in the South Omaha parish of St. Francis of Assisi, where there were several CIUREJ families; I wondered if there might be a connection between Dawid's family and the South Omaha CIUREJs.

The surname CIUREJ is not very common in the Łęki Górne parish.  After scanning through the later baptism records and not finding any CIUREJ, I started at the end of the marriage records and worked back.  I found the following record.  

Marriage record of Joannes CIUREJ and Maria OSZKANDY

This record gave us the name of a previous wife, Anna TULICKI and the names of Jan's parents, and his place of birth.

Currently, there is only one Mormon Family History Center in Poland, which is located in Warsaw.   I decided to order the two LDS microfilms from my Family History Center for the Łękawica Parish:  microfilms 2037796 and 2037797, Roman Catholic parish registers of baptisms, marriages and deaths for Lekawica (Tarnów), Galizien, Austria; now Lekawica (Tarnów), Kraków, Poland. Text in Latin.)

I was able to find 11 children born to Adalbert CIUREJ and his wife Maria WZOREK.  However, I have not located a baptism record for Kazimierz, nor have I located him anywhere in the U.S.  There was a Kazimierz CIURA in the Detroit, Michigan 1920 census, age 33, immigrated 1910, working as a machinist in an auto factory, but Dawid did not think this was his great grandfather's brother.

I did not find the marriage record of Jan CIUREJ and his first wife Anna TULICKI in the Łękawica / Lekawica microfilm, but I did find them listed in the the marriage index.

I hoped that I could link some of the Omaha CIUREJ to Dawid's family, but so far that has not happened.  I did find baptism records for a few of the Omaha CIUREJ in the Łękawica films.  I've transcribed the records I found for Dawid's family and for some of the South Omaha CIUREJ.  I have this information in my World Connect family file at Rootsweb.

---

While waiting for the Łękawica microfilms to arrive, both Dawid and I searched the Ellis Island site for CIUREJs who immigrated through New York.  I checked the census records at Ancestry.com.  At the Omaha downtown library I checked the Omaha City Directories and the Douglas County Marriage License microfilms.

Ellis Island Entries

Ship Manifest, S.S. Rotterdam, sailing from Rotterdam, August 15, 1903. Arriving at Port of _____ August 26, 1903

Line 8
Josef Ciurej, age 25 (abt 1878), single, subject of Austria, nationality Polish, last residence Lekawica, final destination Omaha, Nebraska, passage paid by cousin, going to be with cousin Jan Zych, 27 L Str. S. Omaha, Nebraska

---

Ship Manifest, S.S. Kaiser Wilhelm V, sailing from Bremen, August 7, 1906.  Arriving at Port of New York August 14, 1906

Line 26
Bednarz Jan, age 23 (abt 1883), male, single, farm laborer, subject of Austria, nationality Polish, last permanent residence Lekawica, final destination Omaha, Nebraska, going to relative or friend: friend, Ciurej, Jozef, __ 32 K 873, S Omaha, Nebr
Line 27
Ciurej Jan, age 23 (abt 1883), male, single, farm laborer, subject of Austria, nationality Polish, last permanent residence Lekawica, final destination Omaha, Nebraska, going to relative or friend: brother

---

Passenger Manifest, S. S. Potsdam sailing from Rotterdam July 20, 1907.  Arriving at Port of New York July 30, 1907.

Line 15
Ciurej Jacob, age 29 (abt 1878), married, laborer, subject of Austria, nationality Polish, last residence Austria L('u' or 'n')kawicz, name and address of nearest relative or friend in home country: Wojciech Ciurej, Lukowice Gal, final destination Nebr. So Omaha
Name and address of person going to: bril (brother-in-law) W. Piska, So. Omaha, Nebr, place of birth: Austria, Lukawic
Line 16
Ciurej, Josef, age 25 (abt 1882), single, laborer, subject of Austria, nationality Polish, last residence Austria L('u' or 'n')kawicz, name and address of nearest relative or friend in home country:  Wojciech Ciurej, Lukowice Gal, final destination Nebr. So Omaha
Name and address of person going to: brother J. Ciurej, 1121 31 Street So. Omaha, Nebr, place of birth: Austria, Lukawic

---

Ship Manifest, S. S. Amerika sailing from Hamburg, August 28, 1911.  Arriving at Port of New York N.Y. September 7, 1911

Line 24
Ciurej Baska, age 18 (abt 1893), female, single, farm maid, subject of Austria, nationality Ruth., last residence Austria Lankewica, name and address of nearest relative or friend in home country: mother Anna Ciurej, final destination Nebr. So. Omaha
Name and address of person going to: brother Jan Ciurej, 831 43rd St. So. Omaha, Nebr, place of birth Austria, Lenkawica

---

I found the following at a later time.  It is the entry for Jan / John CIUREJ, son of Lawrence CIUREJ, going to his brother Lawrence in South Omaha, Nebraska.  According to the 1920 U.S. census for Nebraska, John S. CIUREJ immigrated in 1913.  John S.'s father was Lawrence, and he had a brother Lawrence.  Interesting to note was a Jan STORC, going to cousin Lawrence CIUREJ in South Omaha.  This may be a clue to link the Omaha CIUREJ with Dawid's great grandparents in Łęki / Leki: Jan CIUREJ and Anna nee SZTORC.  More about John CIUREJ.

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival
S.S. Columbia sailing from Glasgow 15th March 1913, arriving at Port of New York, 25th March 1913

Line 7
Ciurej, Jan, age 18 (b about 1895), male, single, laborer, can read and write; country of which citizen or subject, Austria; race or people, Polish; last permanent residence, Lekawica; name and complet address of nearest relative or friend in country whence alien came, father Wawrzyn Ciurej, Lekawica 283 Tarnow; final destination Nebr. South Omaha; has ticket to final destination; paid passage himself; has not been in U.S. before; going to join brother Wawrzyn Ciurej, 1007 St 39, South Omaha, Nebr.; height 5'2", fair complexion; brown hair; grey eyes; place of birth Austria Lekawice
Line 8
Storc, Jan, age 20 (b about 1893), male, single, laborer, can read and write; country of which citizen or subject, Austria; race or people, Polish; last permanent residence, Lekawica; name and complet address of nearest relative or friend in country whence alien came, father Jan Storc, Lekawice 110 Tarnow; final destination Nebr. South Omaha; has ticket to final destination; paid passage himself; has not been in U.S. before; going to join cousin Wawrzyn Ciurej; height 5'5", fair complexion; brown hair; grey eyes; place of birth Austria Wola

(Information added 7 Apr 2008)

Omaha City Directory Entries (select years) (with additional notations)

1907	no Ciurej
1908	Ciurj	George	lab(orer)	r	1027 N 29th	South Omaha
1909	Ciurey	Jos	lab(orer)	b	Geo Czerwiske.	South Omaha
1910 census, a Joseph Chura, age 30 (b abt 1880) is residing with George Czerwenski; immigrated 1907
	Ciurj	Geo	lab(orer)	r	1027 N 29	South Omaha
1913	Ciurej	Jno (John)	lab(orer) Armour & Co	r	1001 N 20th	South Omaha
1915	Ciurej	Jno (John)	lab Cudahy Pkg Co	r	1121 N 49th	South Omaha
	Ciuren	Barbara	lab(orer)	b	831 N 43d	South Omaha
	Ciuron	Jno (John)	lab(orer)	b	1009 W 39th	South Omaha
		Jos	lab(orer)	b	1009 N 39th	South Omaha
		Lawrence	l	b	1009 N 39th	South Omaha
When South Omaha became a part of Omaha in 1915 the addresses changed
1918	Ciurej	Chas	butcher	r	4523 S 27th
	Ciurej	Jno (John)	lab(orer)	r	4110 S 40th
1920	Ciurey	Chas	butcher	r	4523 S 27th
	Ciurey	Jos (Joseph)	butcher	r
	Ciurey	Lawrence	grocer		4436 S 33dr
	Ciurey	Stanley	butcher	r	4523 S 27th
1921	Ciurey	Chas	butcher	r	4523 S 27th
	Ciurey	Frank	butcher	r	1458 S 13th
	Ciurey	Jno (John)	pkr	r	4330 S 38th
	Ciurey	Jno (John)	lab(orer)	r	4115 S 38th
	Ciurey	Jno (John)	lab(orer)	r	4111 S 39th
	Ciurey	Jos (Joseph)	butcher	r	4413 S 27th
	Ciurey	Lawrence	grocer		4436 S 33d
	Ciurey	Stanley	butcher	r	4523 S 27th
1923	Churrey	Jno (John)	lab(orer)	h	4111 S 39th
	Ciurey	Jno (John)	lab(orer)	h	4330 S 38th
	Ciuro	Frank	lab(orer) Swift & Co	h	1424 S 11th
1925	Ciuray	Lawrence	insptr	h	4413 S 34th
	Ciurej	Jno P (John)	lab(orer)	h	4111 S 39th
	Ciurej	Jno S (John)	car repr C B & Q RR	h	4330 S 38th
	Ciurej	Jos (Joseph)	grocer		3572 S 36th
	Ciurej	Stanley	driver	h	4523 S 27th
	Ciuro	Frank	lab(orer) Swift & Co	h	1457 S 14th
1929	Ciurej	John	lab(orer)	h	4115 S 38th
	Ciurej	John P	tankman	h	4111 S 39th
	Ciurej	John S	carp(enter)	h	4330 S 38th
	Ciurej	Jos	gro(cer)		3572 S 38th
	Ciurej	Karolina	butcher Armour & Co	r	4413 S 27th
	Ciurej	Lawrence	repr	h	4323 S 33d
	Ciurej	Leon	clk (clerk) Paxton & Gallagher Co	r	3572 S 36th
	Ciurej	Stanley	clk (clerk)	h	4523 S 27th
1931 is the first year names of wives were listed
1931	Ciurej	Anna	lab(orer)	r	4111 S 39th
	Ciurej	John (Agata)	lab(orer)	h	4115 S 38th	More info
	Ciurej	John P (Kate)	lab(orer)	h	4111 S 39th	More info
	Ciurej	John S (Bernice)	lab(orer)	h	4330 S 38th	More info
	Ciurej	Joseph (Mattie)	gro(cer)	h	3572 S 36th
	Ciurej	Joseph (Mary)	lab(orer)	h	4413 S 27th
	Ciurej	Lawrence (Barbara)	inspr CB& Q RR	h	4420 S 33d	More info
	Ciurej	Mary		r	4111 S 39th
	Ciurej	Stanley (Victoria)		h	4523 S 27th	More info
1935	Ciurej	Caroline Mrs.	trimmer Armour & Co.	h	4008 S 34th
	Ciurej	Frances		r	3572 S 36th
	Ciurej	Frank S	student Creighton Univ High School	r	4523 S 27th
	Ciurej	Helen		r	4008 S 34th
	Ciurej	John (Agata)	lab(orer)	h	4115 S 38th
	Ciurej	John S (Bernice)		h	4330 S 38th
	Ciurej	Joseph (Mary)	grocer & meats	h	3572 S 36th
	Ciurej	Joseph	student	r	4523 S 27th
	Ciurej	Joseph J (Caroline)		h	4008 S 34th	More info
	Ciurej	Stanley (Victoria)	beverages 2601 L	h	4523 S 27th
	Ciurej	Walter	student	r	4008 S 34th
	Ciurey	Annie	lab(orer)	r	4111 S 39th
	Ciurey	Creighton		r	4111 S 39th
	Ciurey	Edw(ard) F		r	4111 S 39th
	Ciurey	Eliz(abeth)	lab(orer) Cudahy Pkg Co	r	4111 S 39th
	Ciurey	John P (Kate C)	lab(orer)	h	4111 S 39th
1964	Ciurej	Agatha	widow John P	h	4115 S 38th
		B A	with Cudahy Packing Co	r	4107 S 38th	probably Bernice A
		Caroline A	widow Joseph K; retd	h	4008 S 34th
		Edw L (Gertrude V)	White Eagle Bar	h	3141 S 17th
		Florian	with Cudahy Packing Co	r	4115 S 38th
		Francis U.		r	4115 S 38th
		Frank S (Loretta A)	Clk Int Rev Serv	h	4302 S 41st Av
		John E	Cle PO	r	4115 S 38th
		John P (Kate C)	retd	h	4111 S 39th
		John S (Bernice)		h	4107 S 38th
		Joseph F	Royal Bar	h	4523 S 27th
		Joseph J (Cecelia M)	White Eagle Bar	h	5827 S 20th
		Joseph L	Clk Bickel's Gro & Locker	r	4467 A St
		Lawrence (Mary)	retd	h	3232 1/2 L St
		Leonard J (Vernie A)	Custom Auto Body Co	h	3071 S 42d St
		Stanley	lab Cudahys	r	4401 S 40th
		Stanley	Roofing Contr	h	4115 S 38th
		Theo J (Alice M)	Swtchmn UPRR	h	4101 S 38th
		Victor	Lab Price Uphol	r	4115 S 38th
		Victoria	widow Stanley J	h	4523 S 27th
	Ciruo	Rose H	widow Frank P	h	1536 S 25th

John and Agatha CIUREJ - More information


John P. and Kate CIUREJ - More Information John S. and Bernice CIUREJ - More Information

Joseph and Caroline CIUREJ - More Information



Lawrence and Barbara CIUREJ - More Information

Stanley and Victoria CIUREJ - More Information

Sources - Resources

St. John Cemetery, Sarpy County - just south of Omaha on 36th street,  Walked by Don Nichols
Posted at Tombstone Transcription Project https://sites.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/nebraska/ne-sarpy.html

Omaha City Directories, Downtown Omaha Public Library, 3rd floor

Census records, Ancestry.com; Census microfilm also available at Omaha Downtown Library

LDS microfilms 2037796 and 2037797, Roman Catholic parish registers of baptisms, marriages and deaths for Lekawica (Tarnów), Galizien, Austria; now Lekawica (Tarnów), Kraków, Poland. Text in Latin.
http://familysearch.org

Obituaries, Downtown Omaha Public Library, 3rd floor, Genealogy room

Online Social Security Death Index http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi

Omaha Area Marriages and Anniversaries by Greater Omaha Genealogical Society http://omahamarriages.wordpress.com/

---

BACK to my Miscellaneous Research page

Our Family Trees Page Marge's Surnames

Marge's Family Files at Rootsweb's World Connect

Photographs of Podlesie / Łęki Górne, Podkarpackie, Poland by Roman Witek

Created 15 May 2006
Graphics by Marge
From photo of Forget Me Not flowers from my Mom's garden