Kashubian Emigrants in Wisconsin

Abstract

In the present paper, the author concerns himself with the history of the village of Polonia, Wisconsin, 11 miles away from Stevens Points. Colonisation of the area was begun by Michał Kożyczkowski, an immigrant from Gdańsk district in Poland. His discendants associate his name with the village of Kożyczkowo near Kartuzy in the Kashubian territory.

The first church in Polonia was built in 1865 under the leadership of Rev. Bonawentura Buczyński. Also Rev. J. Dąbrowski, who arrived at Polonia in 1870, played an very significant part in the parish.

The paper presents a characteristic of contemporary Polonia including the church, cemetery and the convent of Felician Sisters where most traces of the Polish community survived. The author points out to the parish registers, especially to the register of marriages and deaths preserved from 1888, as an invaluable genealogical material for study. Changes and alterations in the spellings of Polish names are commented upon, and a list of the names of people comming from the Kashubian territory of Pomerania (including the division into administrative districts) is inclosed.