Family of Franz Pionk and Josephine Perschon

This post is the seventh in a series examining the nine early Pionke, Pionk, Pionek, and Piontke family groups in Chicago, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. Today's post continues with the descendants of Johann Pionk and Marianna Małoszycka of Będargowo, focusing on their son Franz.


Franz Pionk or Pionke was, I believe, the second child and eldest son of Johann Pionk and Marianna Małoszycka. He was born on 21 March 1815 in Będargowo and baptized in Strzepcz Catholic parish (St. Mary Magdalene).

There appears to be an error in his baptism record; his mother's surname is recorded as "Łystowa" or maybe "Tystowa". Neither of these is a surname found in this parish. There were two different couples named Johann and Marianna Pionk in the early Strzepcz and Kielno baptisms; the two Mariannas had surnames Müller and Małoszycka. Further analysis reveals the connection of our Franz Pionk to the family of Johann Pionk and Marianna Małoszycka and thus I am confident that these are in fact his parents.

Franciscus Pionk, 1815 baptism record, Strzepcz parish

Franz Pionk was married twice—first to Franciska Ritt or Ritter and later to Josephine Perschon. Unlike many of his siblings, he did not remain in the vicinity of his birthplace for his entire life. This map shows the locations of the parishes Strzepcz, Luzino, Rozłazino, and Chwaszczyno; and the villages and towns Będargowo, Łebno, Barłomino, Bożepole Małe, and Mały Kack.

Franz Pionk and first wife Franciska Ritt

Franz Pionk's first wife was Franciska Ritt or Ritter, daughter of Paul and Anna (née Cierocka). She was born on 15 September 1815 in Łebno and baptized in Strzepcz parish.

Franz Pionk and Franciska Ritt were probably married in Strzepcz parish, about 1838. At first they lived in Łebno, where their first three children were born. Around 1843, they moved to Barłomino in Luzino parish. They had eight children in 15 years. Unfortunately, most of their children did not survive to adulthood.

• Michael Pionk was born on 10 September 1839 in Łebno and died before 1844.
• Marianna Pionk was born on 23 February 1841 in Łebno and died on 7 April 1847 in Barłomino.
• Johanna Pionk was born on 11 October 1842 in Łebno. She died on 9 April 1864 in Bożepole Małe at age 21.
• Augustina Pionk was born on 15 December 1844 and died on 5 January 1846 in Barłomino.
• Franciska Pionk was born on 16 February and died on 27 March 1847 in Barłomino.
• Emilie (or Wilhelmine) Pionk was born on 28 Sep 1848 and died on 30 August 1849 in Barłomino.
• Eva Pionk was born on 7 July 1850 and died on 25 July 1852 in Barłomino.
• Adam Franz Pionk was born on 28 April 1853 in Barłomino.

Franciska (Ritt) Pionk died in Barłomino on 1 May 1853, a few days after her last child was born. Her husband Franz was left with one daughter, Johanna, and baby Adam. At this point, I believe Franz moved back to Będargowo where his parents and several siblings resided, perhaps seeking help with the care of his infant son.

Franz Pionk and second wife Josephine Perschon

Franz Pionk married Margaretha Josephine Perschon (Perszon, Perszonka) on 7 October 1855 in Strzepcz parish. Both were residents of Będargowo. Franz was 40 and Josephine was 28 and single. Josephine was born in Dargolewo on 27 May 1827 to parents Mathias Perschon and Franciska Łaga.

Franz Pionk - Josephine Perschon 1855 marriage record, Strzepcz parish (item #16)

After their marriage, Franz and Josephine settled in Bożepole Małe in the Rozłazino parish, where their first five children were born. They moved to Mały Kack (Chwaszczyno parish) around 1865 and later to Gdynia.


Children of Franz Pionk or Pionke and Margaretha Josephine Perschon:

• Albrecht Heinrich (Albert Henry) Pionke was born on 14 April 1856 in Bożepole Małe.
• August Felix Pionke was born on 23 August 1847 in Bożepole Małe.
• Theresia Pauline Pionke was born on 19 May 1859 and died on 28 July 1860 in Bożepole Małe.
• Bertha Julianna Ewa Pionke was born on 13 June 1861 in Bożepole Małe and died on 29 September 1864 in Ankerholz (near Bożepole Wielkie).
• Franz Marcell Pionke was born on 17 May 1863 in Bożepole Małe and died on 8 October 1864 in Ankerholz.
• Friedrich Wilhelm Pionke was born on 23 January 1866 and died on 16 May 1866 in Mały Kack.
• Anna Henriette Pionke was born on 13 October 1867 in Mały Kack.

Josephine (Perschon) Pionke died on 8 January 1891 in Gdynia at age 63. Franz Pionke died on 10 April 1892 in Gdynia at age 77.

I do not know what became of Franz Pionke's children Adam, August, and Anna. Anna was the informant on her father's death certificate; she was single and living in Gdynia at the time. However I have not found marriage, death, or emigration records for any of these three.

Albert Henry Pionke in Chicago

Albert H. Pionke married Rosalia Romptz (Rompca, Rumpza) in 1880, Oksywie parish, before they emigrated. They arrived in Chicago in 1881 and their first child was born the following year. Like my Pionke family, Albert and Rosalia settled in Lake View, which was just north of Chicago at the time. Unlike my Pionkes, however, Albert did not attend St. Josaphat's, the Kashubian parish. Instead, he and his family belonged to the German parishes of St. Michael's and St. Alphonsus.

The map below shows where Albert H. Pionke lived in the 1880's and 1890's (converted to modern street names and numbers) and also the churches St. Josaphat's, St. Alphonsus, and St. Michael's. You can see there was quite a distance from his home to St. Michael's! Interestingly, Albert lived very near to his Pionke or Pionek cousins (addresses shown in the last article), all of whom attended St. Josaphat's.




Albert H. Pionke married four times. After the death of his first wife Rosalia in 1890, he married Augusta Czapp at St. Alphonsus later that year. She died in 1909 and Albert was briefly married to the widow Josephine Campbell Schmidt. In 1923, Albert married widow Anna Slavin Metz. Albert lived in Chicago until he died in 1937 at age 82. He was the father of five children and one stepson, whom he adopted. Among his descendants was grandson Earl Pionke, owner of the Earl of Old Town in Chicago, who was quite well-known and well-regarded locally and in the folk music scene. A future post will cover the family of Albert H. Pionke in greater detail.

Pionke Friday: We will post more about the Pionkes next Friday. This is the seventh post in a series about the Pionke, Pionk, and Pionek families here in the U.S. and back in the home country. Next: the family of Johann Pionk and Marianna Uzdrowk.

Related posts:

• Family of Joseph Pionke and Susanna Mrozewska (Joseph was the brother of Franz)
• Early Pionke and Pionek Families in Chicago and Wisconsin
• More Early Pionke and Related Families in Chicago, Wisconsin, and Michigan
• 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.

Reference:

• Family History Library Films: 162398, 850293 (Item 3). Katholische Kirche Strepsch (Kr. Neustadt).
• Family History Library Films: 528006, 528007. Kościół rzymsko-katolicki. Parafja Luzino (Wejherowo).
• FamilySearch.com: Illinois, Chicago, Catholic Church Records, 1833-1925 [must login to view images]
• GenBaza.com: AP Gdansk, Urzedy Stanu Ciwilnego, Chylonia (1987, books 054 and 057); Parafie katolickie, Chwaszczyno (1415, book 0002). [account and login required]
• PTG Pomorskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne (Pomeranian Genealogical Association) - birth, marriage, death indexes.

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