Early Pionke and Pionek Families in Chicago and Wisconsin

This post is the first in a series examining the early Pionke, Pionk, Pionek, and Piontke families in Chicago, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.

Joseph Pionke c.1908

When my sister and I began researching our ancestor Joseph Pionke, we soon learned there were other Pionkes in Chicago. Naturally, we wondered how they might be related to each other, and to us. It was tempting to guess that these other Pionkes - of the same age range, living in the same neighborhood - were Joseph's siblings.

And then we discovered the Chicago Catholic parish records on microfilm. There were far more Pionkes or Pionks than I could have guessed. Fortunately, most marriage records included the names of the bride and groom's parents, which helped me to sort these Pionkes into family groups.

As I got deeper into Pionke research, I came across a few claims that all Pionkes in Illinois and Wisconsin are related. But is that true?

It is true that some photos of various Pionke and Pionek ancestors seem to share a resemblance. And it is true that most of these Pionkes settled in the same areas when they first arrived here - specifically, Chicago's St. Stanislaus Kostka and St. Josaphat parishes, and Portage County, Wisconsin.

Is there a family resemblance? See for yourself!

A few Find A Grave members have been kind enough to include photos of their Pionke or Pionek ancestors. Do they all look like cousins to you? Here is Leon Pionke (group 1), my great-grandfather. And this is Martin Pionek (group 2), his second cousin. Finally, another Martin, this one a Pionke (group 9).

However, there were actually at least NINE different Pionke family groups in Chicago and/or Wisconsin in the late 1800s. There were Pionks and Pionkes, and then later Pioneks and Pionkeys. Some were clearly close relatives; others were not. These families are outlined below.

This map shows the villages in Poland where families 1-7 lived. Relatively small distances separate them.

1. Descendants of Valentin Pionk and Josephine Stefanowska

Naturally, I shall begin with my own Pionke line. Valentin Pionk or Pionke was the son of Paul Pionk and Anna Bazowa. He was born in Zęblewo and baptized in Strzepcz. He married Josephine Stefanowska in Kielno in 1852. Their children were baptized in the Kielno and Szemud parishes. The family lived in Mały Donimierz in Wejherowo County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland (formerly Klein Dennemörse, kreis Neustadt, West Prussia).

After Josephine's death, Valentin Pionke and all six of his living children immigrated to Chicago between 1881 and 1891. All of them belonged to the St. Josaphat parish and all remained in Chicago until their deaths. Valentin's son, Joseph, was my 2nd great-grandfather. Before St. Josaphat's opened in 1884, he was a member of St. Stanislaus Kostka church, Chicago's first Polish parish.

• Anna Pionke married Frank Sychowski - 15 children.
• Joseph Pionke married Marianna Freibis - 10 children.
• Mathilda Pionke married Frank Specht - 11 children.
• Josephine Pionke married Albert Piefke or Piwka - 10 children
• John Pionke married (1) Martha Marszal - 1 child; (2) Josephine Renachowska - 10 children.
• Frank Pionke did not marry.

Read full article on the family of Valentin Pionke and Josephine Stefanowska here.

2. Descendants of Jacob Pionk and Francisca Leik

Jacob Pionk or Pionke was the son of Paul Pionk and Anna Bazowa, and the brother of my ancestor Valentin Pionke. He was also born in Zęblewo and baptized in Strzepcz. He married Franciska Leik in that parish in 1853. Their children were baptized in the Strzepcz and Kielno parishes.

All six of Jacob and Franciska's living children also immigrated to Chicago before 1883; all lived in the St. Josaphat parish. After living in Chicago for several years, son Valentine moved to Wisconsin, where he used the "Pionek" spelling. The rest lived in Chicago until their deaths. Like Joseph Pionke above, Albert and Valentine also belonged to St. Stanislaus Kostka parish when they first arrived.

• Josephine or Sophie Pionke married (1) Charles or Carl Briske - 5 children; (2) Charles? Schenk.
• Albert Pionke married (1) Anna Burchacz - 3 children; (2) Francisca Renachowska - 6 children.
• Valentine Pionke or Pionek married Augustine Hennig - 10 children.
• Anna Pionke married Joseph Burchacz - 1 child.
• Joseph Pionke married Anna Białas - no children.
• Frank Pionke married Frances Labuda - 8 children.

Read full article on the family of Jacob Pionk and Francisca Leik here.

3. Descendants of Johann Pionk and Friderika Byzewska

Johann Pionk or Pionke was the son of Martin Pionk and Franciska Klein. Like Valentin and Jacob Pionke above, he was baptized in the Strzepcz parish, but I do not know how he is related to them. Johann was born in Rzepecka. He married Friderika Byzewska in Strzepcz in 1855, and their children were also baptized in that parish. They lived in Miłoszewo.

Johann and Friderika's son August Pionke immigrated to Chicago before 1891. He was closely associated with Anna (Pionke) Sychowski's family in Chicago, which understandably led several researchers to assume that they were siblings. August and his family lived with the Sychowski family in 1900 and, in several cases, they acted as baptism sponsors for each others' children. August Pionke also belonged to St. Josaphat's parish.

• August Pionke married Augustina Piwka or Piefke - 7 children.

Read full article on the family of Johann Pionk and Friderika Byzewska here.

4. Descendants of Joseph Pionk and Susanna Mrozewska

Joseph Pionk or Pionke was the son of Johann Pionk and Marianna Małoszycka. Like the Pionkes above, he was also baptized in Strzepcz, but I do not know how he is related to them. Joseph Pionk was born in Będargowo. He married Susanna Mrozewska in 1846 in Strzepcz and their children were baptized in Strzepcz and Sianowo.

At least four of Joseph and Susanna's children immigrated to Chicago. Like the other Pionkes above, they lived in the St. Josaphat parish. John and Albert both moved to Portage County, Wisconsin and used the "Pionek" spelling. Antonia and Rose remained in Chicago until their deaths.

• John Pionke or Pionek married Anna Tessmer - 10 children.
• Albert Pionke or Pionek - did not marry.
• Antonia Pionke married Frank Potrykus- at least 7 children.
• Rose Pionke married (1) Joseph Bystram - no children; (2) Joseph Ranachowski - 12 children.

Read full article on the family of Joseph Pionk and Susanna Mrozewska here.

5. Descendants of Franz Pionk and Josephine Perschon

According to Strzepcz parish records, Franz Pionk or Pionke was the son of Johann Pionk and Marianna Łystowa. However, I suspect this may be an error, and that his mother was actually Marianna Małoszycka -- which would mean that Franz was the brother of Joseph Pionke above. Franz was born in Będargowo and baptized in Strzepcz. He married Josephine Perschon, his second wife, in that parish in 1855. Their children were baptized in the Rozłazino and Chwaszczyno parishes.

Franz and Josephine's son Albert immigrated to Chicago in 1881. He is the only one of all the Chicago Pionkes to attend German rather than Polish churches - St. Michael's and St. Alphonsus. There is no indication that he associated with any other Pionkes in the area. Albert resided in Chicago until his death. He used the "Pionke" spelling.

• Albert H. Pionke married (1) Rosalia Rumptz - 4 children; (2) Augustina Czapp - 2 children; (3) Josephine Campbell - no children; (4) Anna Metz - no children.

Read full article on the family of Franz Pionk and Josephine Perschon here.

6. Descendants of Johann Pionk and Marianna Uzdrowk

Johann Pionk or Pionke married Marianna Uzdrowk sometime before 1834, likely in the Strzepcz parish. Their children were baptized in Strzepcz and Kielno. I don't know how Johann Pionk was related to any of the other Pionk families listed here.

Johann and Marianna's youngest son August was born in Mały Donimierz, the same village where my 2nd great-grandfather Joseph Pionke was born. August was one of the earlier Pionkes to immigrate to Chicago, arriving in 1879. Unlike the other Pionkes, he lived on the south side and was a member of the Polish parishes of St. Adalbert and later St. Mary of Perpetual Help. This family used multiple spellings of the surname but eventually settled on "Pionkey".

• August Pionke (Pionky, Pionkey) married Amelia or Wilhelmine Klotzke - 9 children.

Read full article on the family of Johann Pionk and Marianna Uzdrowk here.

7. Descendants of Jacob Pionk and Augustina Orzeszk

Jacob Pionk married Augustina Orzeszk in 1843 in the Luzino parish. Their children were also baptized there. I don't know if they are related to my Pionks or any of the other above families. However, they did not live far from the Strzepcz parish; several records show that they lived in Milwino. This Jacob may have been one of the three Jacob Pionks baptized in Kielno and Strzepcz in 1816, 1818, and 1822.

Four of Jacob and Augustina's children had immigrated to Chicago by 1874; they were the earliest Pionkes I've found in Chicago. The widowed Augustina and daughter Matylda arrived a bit later but before 1880. Albert and Alexander both moved to Shawano County, Wisconsin and used the "Pionek" spelling. This Pionk family lived in Chicago's first Polish parish, St. Stanislaus Kostka. Unlike my Pionke relatives, they did not switch to St. Josaphat's parish when it opened.

• Bernard Pionk - married Antonina Tobias - at least 2 children.
• Albertina or Bertha Pionk married Frank Arendt - at least 6 children.
• Albert Pionk or Pionek married Frances Zywicki - at least 6 children.
• Matylda Pionk married Joseph Roda - at least 7 children.
• Alexander Pionk or Pionek married Michelina Kluzak - 12 children.

Read full article on the family of Jacob Pionk and Augustina Orzeszk here.

8. Descendants of Michael Pionk and Christina Dominik

Michael Pionk or Piontke married Christina Dominik in Swarzewo in 1855. According to his death record, he was born in Polczyno, Puck county (formerly Polzin, kreis Putzig, West Prussia). This is a good distance away from the area where my most of the above families lived. It is unlikely that this group is connected to the others.

After the death of Michael Pionk in 1881, his widow Christina and several of their children immigrated to Chicago. While there, the family belonged to the St. Stanislaus Kostka parish. Son Johann died in Chicago. Daughter Marianna moved to Florida and then back to Chicago. The rest, including the widow Christina, moved to Wisconsin and South Dakota. This family used the "Pionk" spelling.

• Anna Pionk married August Schulz - at least 7 children.
• Jacob Pionk married Katherine Snaza - 13 children.
• Christine Pionk married Joseph Elwart - at least 8 children.
• Marianna Pionk married Anton Kuhr - at least 11 children.
• Joseph Pionk married Agnes Snaza - 12 children.
• Johann Pionk - did not marry.

Read full article on the family of Michael Pionk and Christina Dominik here.

9. Descendants of Johann Pionke and Anna Maryanna Janke

Johann (John) Pionke or Piontke and Maryanna Janke resided in Ujście (formerly Usch, kreis Kolmar, Posen, Prussia). After his wife's death, John and at least three children immigrated to the U.S. in the mid 1880s. They resided in Portage County, Wisconsin, like several of the Pionke families above. All remained in Wisconsin until their deaths.

Ujście is located about 220 km southwest of Strzepcz. I do not know if this Pionke group is related to any of the others above, but it seems less likely. Of course it is possible that a common ancestor may have migrated there at some point in the past. This family used the "Pionke" spelling.

• Martin Pionke married Cecilia Brotski (Brocki) - at least 7 children.
• Julia Pionke maried Ernest McLaughlin - at least 5 children.
• Joseph Pionke married Anna Brotski (Brocki) - at least 7 children.

Read full article on the family of Johann Pionke and Anna Maryanna Janke here.

NOTE - Sources for Pionke/Janke group: Find A Grave and Roloff Family Tree on Ancestry.com


This map shows the location of group 8 (Swarzewo), the home parish of groups 1-6 (Strzepcz), and the location of group 9 (Ujście). You can see the considerable distance separating them.




Note: I have outlined more early Pionke and related families in a second article (read here).

Pionke Friday: We will post more about the Pionkes next Friday. This is the first post in a series about the Pionke, Pionk, and Pionek families here in the U.S. and back in the home country.


Related posts:

• More Early Pionke and Related Families in Chicago, Wisconsin, and Michigan
• Family of Valentin Pionke and Josephine Stefanowska
• Family of Jacob Pionke and Franciska Leik
• Family of Johann Pionk and Friderike Byzewska
• Family of Joseph Pionk and Susanna Mrozewska
• Family of Franz Pionk and Josephine Perschon
• Family of Johann Pionk and Marianna Uzdrowk
• Family of Jacob Pionk and Augustyna Orzeszk
• Family of Michael Pionk and Christine Dominik
• Family of Johann Pionke and Anna Marianna Janke
• Będargowo - Part I: A different story of Adam and Eve
• Będargowo - Part II: What the Prussians tell us
• On the trails of our ancestors
• Pionke — The mystery of a name

© TreeQuest: An Unexpected Journey 2016.

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