Rząsa Families in Chicago
My ancestor was Franciszek Rzasa who was born in 1884 in Palikowka, Rzeszow, Poland to Sebastian Rzasa and Rosalia Gancarz alias Halak.
Sebastian Rzasa and Rozalia Gancarz had seven children:
Sebastian Rzasa was born in Palikowka on 20 Jan 1844 to Sebastian Rzasa and Agnes Wilk. He married a widow, Rozalia Gancarz, in Palikowka on 17 Oct 1876. Rozalia was born in 1854 in Palikowka to Martin Gancarz recte Halak and Hedwig Naworol.
Rozalia Gancarz's first marriage was to Adalbert Barszcz, who was listed as a new soldier in the Fuhrwesens Corps, on 22 Oct 1872 in Palikowka. They had one child Laurentis, born on 10 August 1873. Adalbert Barszcz apparently died sometime after that.
Sebastian Rzsasa occupation was agricola which was a Latin term meaning farmer. Sebastian Rzasa died in Palikowka on 25 April 1916.
Sebastian Rząsa's father, also Sebastian was born about 1796 in Palikówka to Mikołaj Rząsa and Zofia Szufnar. Sebastian Rząsa married Agnes Wilk in Paliówka on 09 May 1837. Sebastian was 41and was listed as a miles emerytus or retired soldier and she was 30. Agnes died on 11 June 1855 of Cholera. Sebastian remarried to Marianna Wiencek on 27 Oct 1857 but they had no more children. He died March 1 1866.
The Halak and Gancarz Name Mystery
The last name of Rozalia, husband of Sebastian Rzasa caused some confusion. Her father's last name is listed on several documents as Gancarz recte Halak. Recte is Latin for "actually". After talking with some researchers in Poland, I found that this meant that he used two names. Halak was his family name and Gancarz, which is Polish for "potter" was his occupational name. This was not too uncommon for peasants to take such a name.
On Franciszek Rzasa's first marriage record, he listed his parents as Sebastian Rzasa and Rozalia Naworon. Naworol was Rozalia's mother's last name. On his second marriage record, he lists his parents as Sebastian Rzasa and Rozlia Chalak. On Helen Rzasa's marriage record, she listed her parents as Sebastian Rzasa and Rozalia Halak.
Franciszek Rzasa immigrated to Chicago in 1902. His naturalization papers, filed in 1941, stated he arrived in New York City aboard the ship SS Bulgaria on March 22, 1902 but the ship was not in port on that date and the closest date shows no Franciszek Rzasa on the ship. In fact he came in on March 20, 1902 aboard the ship Moltke.
In 1941, Franciszek Rzasa listed his occupation as a pipe-fitter. He was living at 8742 Commercial Avenue in South Chicago.
Franciszek Rzasa's first marriage was to Honorata (Nora) Nurkowicz from Strazow, Rzeszow, Poland. Her name was spelled Norenkiwicz on her 13 Nov 1904 marriage record in St. Joseph's parish in the "Back of the Yards" neighborhood of Chicago. They had one child, Joseph, that was born on 4 March 1906 in Immaculate Conception parish in South Chicago. Honorata's name was spelled Norkowicz on that document. Honorata died on 30 Dec 1912 of an apparent congenital heart defect. She was 26 years old.
Franciszek Rzasa remarried in Immaculate Conception parish on 27 May 1913 to Mary Fugiel from the Krasne, Rzeszow area. She was born on 12 August 1886 to Onufry Fugiel and Catherine Bednarz
Helen Rzasa immigrated to Chicago on Jan 22 1910 aboard the S.S. Vaderland. She listed her father as Sebastian Rzasa living in Palikowka and that she was going to live with her brother Franciszek in Chicago. This document actually helped me identify the village of Palikowka as the Rzasa birth place. She married Martin Jablonski on 31 July 1911at St. Michael's church in South Chicago. They had several children:
Strangely enough, there was another Franciszek Rzasa from Palikowka living at 8503 Kingston Avenue in South Chicago in the early 1900s. His parents were Laurentis (Warwzyniec) Rzasa, a farmer, son of Blasius Rzasa and Margaritha Gawel, and Sophia Wawrzkowicz, daughter of Laurentis Wawrzkowicz and Agnes Kopa. This Frank Rząsa was the second cousin once removed from my great grandfather Frank Rząsa.
On 3 Nov 1909 Franciszek Rzasa married Sophia Pietrasik (widow) in Immaculate Conception parish in South Chicago. She was the daughter of Thomas Kopec and Catherine Barszcz.
The 1920 US Census shows Franciszek Rzasa and Sophia Pietrasik had several children:
Other Unrelated Rzasa Families in Chicago
John Rzasa, son of Bartholomew and Maria Rzasa and and Maria Metrych, daughter of Jan Metrych and Mary Jamroz, married on 10 Sep 1911 in St. Peter and Paul church in Chicago.
Michael Rzasa, son of Jacub Rzasa and Marianna Benacka, and Maria Wilk, daughter of Joseph Wilk and Theresa Branas, married on 11 Feb 1914 in St. Peter and Paul church in Chicago. Witness was Adalbert Rzasa.
Michael Rzasa, son of Adalbert Rzasa and Hedwig Burek, and Maria Rzepka, daughter of Jan Rzasa and Catherine Tokarz, married on 5 Sep 1910 in St. Peter and Paul church in Chicago. Witness was Michael Rzasa.
Sophia Rzasa and Michael Mucha on 5 May 1913 in St. Salomea church in Chicago.
On the Ship SS Gera, Feb 16 1899, came Anielia Gawel, 30, from Palikowka and her children Katherine 7, Antonie 4, and Anna 2 1/2. She was coming to stay her husband Blazej on 8355 Superior in South Chicago.
Ellis Island manifest- SS Patricia on Feb 3 1905 shows Tadeusz Rzasa, 19, from Palikowka, going to visit his cousin Frannz Stepien on 1082 31 Forne (sp?) St. in Chicago.
Ellis Island manifest- SS Arcadia on July 15 1907 shows Marek Rzasa (spelled Rzousa) 17, from Palikowka, going to visit his brother Franz Rzousa on 8634 Baltimore Ave in Chicago. He was traveling with Wojtek Pietraszek from Straszow.