Family of Johann Pionk and Marianna Uzdrowk

This post is the eighth in a series examining the nine early Pionke, Pionk, Pionek, and Piontke family groups in Chicago, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.


Johann Pionk or Pionke was born around 1805, presumably in or near Będargowo or Łebno. He married Marianna Uzdrowk around 1833, most likely in Strzepcz parish (St. Mary Magdalene). Unfortunately, as the relevant parish records are missing, I do not know Johann and Marianna's birth dates or places, their parents' names, nor their marriage date.

As a newlywed couple, Johann and Marianna Pionke resided in Łebno, where their first two children were born. Around 1837, they moved to Mały Donimierz, about 4 km away. Five more children were born to them in that village. Later baptism records indicate that Johann was a Käthner, someone who rented a small piece of land with a house and a garden.

This map shows the parishes Strzepcz, Szemud, and Kielno and the villages Będargowo, Łebno, and Mały Donimierz. Mały Donimierz belonged to Kielno parish (St. Wojciech) and later to Szemud parish (St. Nicholas).




Interestingly, Johann Pionk's family must have moved to Mały Donimierz around the same time my ancestor Paul Pionk moved there with his family. This coincidence, together with some overlap in their children's godparents, makes me wonder whether they were closely related. Perhaps they were brothers, uncle and nephew, or first cousins.

Johann Pionk and Marianna Uzdrowk had seven children in 16 years. The first two were baptized in Strzepcz parish; the rest in Kielno.

• Anna Pionk was born on 7 January 1834 in Łebno.
• Johann Pionk was born on 11 January 1835 in Łebno.
• Josephine Pionk was born on 16 October 1837 and died on 10 December 1840 in Mały Donimierz.
• Michael Pionk was born on 29 October 1840 in Mały Donimierz.
• Barbara Pionk was born on 3 June 1843 in Mały Donimierz.
• Franciska Pionk was born on 17 January 1846 in Mały Donimierz.
• August Pionk was born on 1 January 1849 in Mały Donimierz.

Johann Pionk died on 10 October 1872 in Mały Donimierz at age 67. He was survived by his wife Marianna and four adult children. I have not found a death or remarriage record for Johann's widow Marianna. Nor do I know exactly which four children survived him.

Johann Pionk, 1872 death record, Szemud parish

It is certain, however, that Johann and Marianna's two youngest sons were among those four. Michael Pionke married Marianna Rybandt in Strzepcz parish in 1869. They had at least four children. August Pionke married Wilhelmine (Amelia) Klotzke in Strzepcz parish in 1875. August and Amelia had two daughters before emigrating to the U.S.

August Pionke and Amelia Klotzke in Chicago

In 1879, August and Amelia Pionke came to Chicago with their two daughters and some of Amelia's relatives. Seven more children were born in Chicago.

Unlike the rest of the Chicago Pionkes, this August Pionke settled on the South Side, in St. Adalbert parish. St. Adalbert's was Chicago's third Polish parish. The family moved to St. Mary of Perpetual Help parish—which was closer to their home—when it opened in 1887. In the early years, both parishes include a notable number of Kashubs as well as other Poles.

The below map shows the locations of St. Josaphat parish (where my Pionkes lived) and the parishes of St. Adalbert and St. Mary of Perpetual Help.



Also distinguishing this Pionke family from the rest is their choice of surname spelling. As with all Pionkes, one can find a large varieties of spellings in the records—from Piąk in church records to Piontki on August's death certificate to the standard Pionke on his headstone. However, this family mostly used the unique spelling Pionkey, which is what August and Amelia's descendants are called today.

A future post will cover the family of August Pionkey or Pionke in greater detail.

Pionke Friday: We will post more about the Pionkes next Friday. This is the eighth post in a series about the Pionke, Pionk, and Pionek families here in the U.S. and back in the home country. Next week: a guest article by Michael Pionke.

Related posts:

• 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. Katholische Kirche Strepsch (Kr. Neustadt).
• Family History Library Films: 742703, 529815. Kościół rzymsko-katolicki. Parafja Kielno (Wejherowo).
• FamilySearch.com: Illinois, Chicago, Catholic Church Records, 1833-1925 [must login to view images]
• GenBaza.com: AP Gdansk, Urzedy Stanu Ciwilnego, Strzepcz (2098/4); Parafie katolickie, Szemud (1442/1). [account and login required]
• PTG Pomorskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne (Pomeranian Genealogical Association) - birth, marriage, death indexes.

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