Again, Jill has done a marvelous job at documenting this family and we have attached links to the documents she has scanned in... AWESOME RESEARCH & DOCUMENTATION.  As you have read on the previous pages, Maryann Zacharias  was born 18 Mar 1884 in Ohio -- the second child born to Frank Zacharias (also spelled Zacharyasz or Zaharris) and Marianna Banaszynski.  This makes her the granddaughter of Charles & Hattie Banaszynski.  Maryann met Martin Kwapiszewski in Angelica Twp., and on 02 Jun 1903, they were married...and this is their story... including a little on Martin's father, Casimer Kwapiszewski, an earlier settler in Angelica Twp.

Casimir (Kazmierz) Kwapiszewski was born on about Feb 1850, or 1851 in Poland.  Pelagia (Palgiae) Kobza, Kobsa or Kobra was born about 1857 in Poland.  Casimir (age 24) married Pelagia (age 18) in 1875 in Czerniejewo, Poznan, Poland.  The German name for this town is, Schwarzenau.  Casimir and Pelagia’s children birth records state that Casimir was from Kryszewo and Marzynie, Posnan, Poland and Pelagia was from Rafiele and Widau, Posnan, Poland.  Casimir and Pelagia had a number of children, but it is not known exactly who all of their children are. We know for sure that they had children Martin (Marcin), John (Jan), Eva (Ewa) #1, Eva (Ewa) #2, Adam, Hedwig, (Jadwiga) and Stanislum, or Stanislam. (Note- It is unknown which name is written on this child’s baptismal record, as the writing is not illegible.  Stanislum is Latin for either Stanislaw in Polish and Stanley in English.  Stanislam is Latin for Stanislawa in Polish and Stella in English).   

We do know that Casimir and Pelagia’s son Martin was born on 11 Nov 1876 in Poland.  Their son John was born on 11 Dec 1879 in Poland as well.  Once the family was living in Pittsburgh, PA Casimir and Pelagia had at least two more children.  They are Stanislum, or Stanislam who was born in Pittsburgh on 07 May, 1886.  Their daughter Hedwig was born in Pittsburgh on 19 Sep 1888.  It is not known where their other children Eva #1, Eva #3 and Adam were born.  It is also not known if the couple had any more children other than those mentioned. 

Family folklore is that Casimir fled the old country to avoid involuntary service in the Czar’s Army. So he took his family and they immigrated to the US. Immigration records for the family have not been located.  However, census records show Casimir immigrated sometime between 1882 and 1886.  Census records for his grown children Martin and John show that the sons immigrated in either 06/1882, 1882, or 1883.   

Once the family came to America the family settled in a large Polish settlement in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, CO., PA.  Perhaps they were coming to be near family, as there were other Kwapiszewski’s living in PA at the time.  While living in Pittsburgh, Casimir was said to have went into the accommodations business, where he owned and operated a hotel in the area.  The family heard that Wisconsin’s rich in fertile soil was a good place to raise crops.  A land developer named J.J. Hoff from Milwaukee, WI appealed to immigrants in the Polish settlements of OH, PA, Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI to purchase inexpensive land in a newly developing area located in Angelica Twp., Shawano CO., WI.  Land records show that on 25 Jan 1890, Kazmir Kwapiszewski of the City of Pittsburgh, State of PA purchased for $1.00 and other valuable consideration 40 acres of land;  South ½ of North ½ of Southeast ¼, section 14, township 26, North Range 18 East.  

Although Casimir purchased this land on 25 Jan 1890, he was still living in Pittsburgh, PA when he was naturalized on 11 Apr 1891.  Eventually the family would head north, relocating in Angelica Township, Shawano CO., WI.  It is unclear when and if Angelica Twp, WI was the first place the family resided in before finally settling in Angelica Twp, but it appears to be.  The earliest record of their arrival in Angelica Twp, is his daughter Eva’s death which occurred on 1 Feb 1892 in Pulaski, WI.  Their arrival was met with much tragedy.  Within a two year period of time, at least five members of their family passed away.  Daughter Eva #1 died on 10 Feb 1892.  Daughter Eva #2 died on 30 Mar 1893.  Daughter Hedwig died on 09 Sep 1893.  Son Adam died on 06 Mar 1894.  Mother Pelagia died on the same day as Adam.  It is not known what their cause of death was.  However research shows that there was a great mortality rate from cholera and typhoid fever epidemics that swept the Angelica Twp. WI area from 1891 to 1900.  It continued into 1920, but to a lesser degree.  So perhaps these illnesses could have been their cause of death.  All of these children are buried around the same headstone as their mother Pelagia, in the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church Cemetery located in Pulaski, WI.  It should be noted that we have found no records for their child Stanislum, or Stanislam Kwapiszewski ever living and/or dying in Angelica Twp, WI.  So perhaps this child died in Pittsburgh, PA.  

The next record showing Casimir Kwapiszewski arrival in Angelica Twp. is the 1900 Angelica Twp., Brown CO., WI census.  The census states Casimir is now married and is living with his new wife Josephine and Casimir’s son, Martin. Also living with the family is Josephine’s daughter, Catherine and her husband Leon (Leo) Spakowicz (Spakowitz).   They are all living in one farmhouse, on a parcel of land that both the Kwapiszewski’s and the Spakowicz’s own on Old Route #3. This is now named Town Hall Road, between Elm Road and Green Valley Road.    

It was very common at that time when you lost a spouse that you would marry soon thereafter.  This practice was done not only for love and companionship, it was also was done so there would be someone that could help raise the children.  Casimir was no different from others in this same sad situation.  After his wife Pelagia died on 06 Mar 1894 census records show that he remarried in either 1894, or 1895.  He married an area woman named Josephine (Jozefa) nee Michalak, or Michalik.  Josephine was born 17 Mar 1850 in Germany/Poland.  She is the daughter of J.W. Michalak, or Michalik and L. Czronoz.  Josephine was married before her marriage to Casimir.  This first husband’s surname is Busiala, Burzolaor, Burzola, or Burzalla.  It should be noted that a 1898 Angelica, Twp Plat Map shows the land and home that Casimir and Josephine were living on in at least 1900 to the 1920’s, is the same piece of land owned by a John Burzalla in 1898.  Perhaps John Burzalla was Josephine’s first husband and eventually ownership of this parcel of land went to Josephine, but the name was never transferred on the 1898 plat map to reflect this.   

The 1900 Angelica Twp, Brown CO., WI census states Josephine was the mother of #3 of #3 living children.  The 1910 Angelica Twp. census states that Josephine was the mother of #2 of #5 living children at that time.  This is an obvious error as she was too old to have children.  However it does prove that she and her first husband had an unknown number of children together.  The 1900 census clearly shows Josephine’s daughter is Catherine Spakowicz.  Catherine married Leon (Leo) Spakowicz in about 1900. The Spakowicz’s went on to having children Helen, Joseph, Martha, Harry, Rosalie and Dominic Spakowicz.  Both the Kwapiszewski and Spakowicz families lived on the family homestead that they shared for many decades. 

Around the turn of the century Casimir’s son Martin met an area girl named, Maryann Zacharyasz/Zacharias.  It was on 02 Jun 1903 that the couple would wed.  Shortly thereafter the couple headed to Milwaukee, as there were Zacharyasz /Zacharias and Banaszynski family already living there.  Martin and Maryann went on to having children Louise, John, Louise, Clemens, Alex, Casimir, Roman and an Unknown Kwapiszewski child.  The couple raised their children all of their lives on the south side of Milwaukee until their deaths.  Maryann Kwapiszewski was a very progressive woman of her times.  Back around the turn of the century many Poles were discriminated against.  They were mocked and ridiculed for their Polish accents and because of their ethnicity; they were changed double and triple the costs for goods and services.  Out of necessity Poles banded together and formed, “Little Polands” in which only Poles would live.  They depended on each other and bartered for goods and services.  Maryann was a progressive woman, very uncommon for her time.  Early in her marriage, people from this little Poland would bring her flour sacks that she would turn into clothing. She also ran a sewing school from her home, where she taught other woman the art of sewing so they too would have a skill.  By the 1930’s, Martin and Maryann separated.  Maryann ran for political office, something that was not done by women at that time.  She was a Democratic Candidate for the Assembly of the 12^th District in the 12^th and 14^th Wards of Milwaukee.  However, she lost the election.  But that did not stop Maryann.  She kept busy with the many properties that she owned on Milwaukee’s south side.  In addition she owned and operated a tavern for many years.  Mary was very successful raising her children.  All of her surviving sons obtained jobs in the medical filed.  Son John David Kwapiszewski/Kwapy/Shultz, PHD.RPH was a Pharmacist in Milwaukee.  Son Alex Stephan Kwapiszewski/Kwapy, M.D. was a Chiropractor in Milwaukee.  Son Clemens Kwapiszewski/Kwapy, M.D. moved into Pulaski, WI in 1935 and the first Emergency Room Hospital was started.  Doc Kwapy as he was called by Pulaski town’s folk, had his office located on the corner of Pulaski St. and St. Augustine Street for many years.  In addition to Pulaski, WI he practiced medicine in Pakistan, India, Oconto and Peshtigo, WI as well as other parts in northern WI. He finished his career in Milwaukee, WI.  Both Martin and Maryann Kwapiszewski continued to live in Milwaukee, WI until their deaths.  They are buried along side each other at St. Adalbert Cemetery in Milwaukee, WI. 

There is no record of Casimir and Pelagia Kwapiszewski’s son John living at any time in WI.  He may have stayed behind in Pittsburgh, PA perhaps living this other relatives that continued to run Casimir’s accommodations business.  However assuming that the family came to Angelica Twp. in about 1892, (the year of daughter Eva’s death) son John would have been about 13 years old.  That would seem to have been much too young to be left behind with some relatives in Pittsburgh.  So he may have come to live with his parents in Wisconsin but returned to Pittsburgh a short time later, as he was living there by 1902. Records show John would marry Martha Kaczmarek in about 1900.  The couple would go on to have children Helen, Frank, Paul, Eleanor, Edward and Ralph Kwapiszewski.  The family would reside in the Pittsburgh and Snowden, PA area all of their lives until their deaths.  They are buried alongside father, Casimir at St. Josaphat Cemetery in Pittsburgh, PA. 

Not much is known about the life and times of Casimir and Josephine Kwapiszewski, other than the fact that they all lived together on the family homestead from at least 1900 to the 1920’s.  Josephine died of stomach cancer on 14 Apr 1924 in Angelica Twp and is buried at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery in Pulaski, WI.  Shortly thereafter, Casimir sold his portion of the property to son in-law Leo Spakowicz.  Casimir then moved back to Pittsburgh, PA to live out his remaining years with his son, John Kwapiszewski and John’s wife Martha.  Casimir died of old age on 28 Mar 1926 and is buried at St. Josephat Cemetery, in Pittsburgh, PA.

Descendants of Casimir Kwapiszewski (pdf format - use 200% for easy reading)
NOTE: If you cannot use pdf files to open the Descendancy Charts, email me and I can send it in another format to you.

Family Group Sheet (19 Mar 2008)
Prepared by Jill Carol Kwapiszewski Bartell

Kwapiszewski means the fine tufts of a feather

Kwapiszewski = Most Kwapiszewski’s went by the name Kwapiszewski

Kwapy = It wasn’t until the time of the depression that some Kwapiszewski descendant’s changed their surname to Kwapy.  At that time it was very hard to find work.  It also was an era in which many Polish people were discriminated against because of their Polish heritage.  So many Poles of that era changed their names to something more American sounding.

Note: Casimir & Pelagia Kwapiszewski had two surviving children, Martin and John Kwapiszewski. (The other children all died probably before the age of 5).

Son Martin and his wife Maryanne Kwapiszewski had surviving children; Louis, John, Clemens (went by name Clemence Kwapiszewski/Kwapy) and Stephan Alexander (went by names Stefan, Steve and Alex Kwapy/Kwapiszewski.)

The adjacent picture is Clemens Kwapiszewski's marriage to Pauline Sylvia Pawelek - Circa Possibly 1930's.
Best man is Clemens' brother, Stephan Kwapiszewski and possibly Pauline's sister.

Clemence Kwapiszewski/Kwapy (or as he was better known by his patients as Doc Kwapy) was the 1st Emergency Room physician in Pulaski, Wisconsin and also held practice there in the 1930's.  He also was an Eye, Ear and Nose Specialist (ENT).