Family of Michael Pionk and Christine Dominik

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


Today's post is our first look at a Pionk family whose origin lies outside the Strzepcz parish. Michael Pionk (or Piontke) was born in Połczyno (Polzin) on 1 October 1826 and baptized in the Puck (Putzig) parish. His parents were Michael Pionk and Marianna Hewelt.

Michael Piontke - 1826 baptism, Puck parish

Michael Pionk's father (Michael) was also baptized in Puck. He was born in Puck on 11 September 1792 to parents Nicholas Pionk (Piontk, Piontke) and Magdalena Schomburg. Nicholas Pionk and Magdalena were married in Puck in 1783. Thus Michael Pionk's family was in the Puck parish since at least the 1780's.

Michael Pionk and first wife Magdalena Kandau

Michael Pionk married Magdalena Kandau, daughter of Johann Kandau and Rosalia Paczocha, in Swarzewo parish in 1855. Magdalena was a resident of Władysławowo (formerly Grossendorf or Wielka Wieś), a village on the Baltic coast. Michael's elder brother Johann had resided there in 1840; perhaps Michael met his bride through his brother.

Michael and Magdalena had one daughter, Rosalia Franciska, born in 1856. Sadly, Magdalena died that year and Rosalia died a few years later, at less than three years of age.

Michael Pionk and second wife Christine Dominik

Michael Pionk married second wife Christine Dominik in Swarzewo parish in 1858. Bride and groom were both residents of Władysławowo. He was 27 and she was 23. Christine may have been the daughter of Matthaeus Dominik and Veronica Trendel, a couple from Starzyno parish. Michael and Christine had eight children in 20 years, all born in Władysławowo and baptized in Swarzewo. Michael was an Einwohner, an agricultural laborer renting from a farmer.

The map below shows villages Połczyno and Władysławowo, and parishes Puck, Swarzewo, and Starzyno.

Children of Michael Pionk (Piontke) and Christina Dominik:

• Anna Marianna Pionk was born in 1859.
• Jacob Joseph Pionk was born in 1861.
• Michael Martin Pionk was born 1863. He died on 15 August 1881 in Władysławowo.
• Christine Julianne Pionk was born in 1866.
• Marianna (Mary) Pionk was born in 1870.
• Joseph Johann Pionk (Pionek) was born in 1872.
• Johann Pionk was born on 19 February 1875. He died on 7 July 1885 in Chicago.
• Franciska Pionk was born on 23 August 1877 and died on 15 August 1881 in Władysławowo.

Michael Pionk or Piontke died on 26 June 1881 in Władysławowo. As you can see above, two of his children died only two months later. The family began to emigrate the following year.

Emigration and life in Chicago

Michael and Christine's eldest son Jacob was the first to emigrate. He sailed from Bremen, Germany in April 1882 aboard the Baltimore, and arrived in Baltimore on 8 May. According to the passenger list, his destination was Chicago. Interestingly, his surname was spelled "Pionke" in this record.

Jacob Pionk was joined by the rest of his family the following year. His mother Christine and siblings Anna, Christine, Marianna, Joseph, and Johann traveled together on the Braunschweig and arrived in Baltimore on 22 March 1883.

Jacob Pionke - 1882 Baltimore passenger list

Christine (Dominik) Pionk and her family settled in Chicago's St. Stanislaus Kostka parish, Chicago's first Polish parish. Her son Johann died at age 10, only two years after coming to the U.S. He was buried at St. Adalbert Cemetery.

Michael and Christine's three daughters were all married at St. Stanislaus Kostka. Anna married August Schultz, son of Johann Schultz and Franciska Koss, only seven months after arriving in the U.S. August may have been from Łebcz in Swarzewo parish (the handwriting in the marriage record is unclear). Christine married Joseph Elwart, son of Christine Elwart, the following year. Joseph was also from Władysławowo. Marianna married Anton Kuhr, son of Franz Kuhr and Marianna Górska of Wejherowo, in 1888.

Family of Jacob Pionk and Augustina Orzeszk

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


Jacob Pionk was born around 1818 in West Prussia. His origins are a bit of a mystery. According to his marriage record, he lived in Milwino (Luzino parish) in 1843. However, he was not baptized in that parish; in fact, there are no Pionk baptism records to be found in Luzino parish records between 1800 and 1844.

So where did Jacob come from? If you look at the map, you can see that Milwino is not too far away from some familiar villages, such as Łebno and Donimierz, in the Strzepcz and Kielno parishes. Indeed, there were three Jacob Pionks baptized in those parishes between 1816-1822. I believe one of them must be this Jacob Pionk.

The map below shows the villages Wyszecino, Milwino, Donimierz, Łebienska Huta, and Szemudzka Huta.

Parents of Jacob Pionk: three theories

1. Thomas Pionk and Marianna Starosta

Thomas Pionk and Marianna Starosta had three children (Johann, Jacob, and Eva), all born in Bagielnica (south of Będargowo) and baptized in Strzepcz. Son Jacob was born on 1 May 1816.

Thomas Pionk died about 1818 and his widow Marianna (Starosta) married Anton Kreft by 1819. Anton and Marianna had three more children in Bagielnica before moving to Wyszecino in Luzino parish around 1825. Wyszecino is very close to Milwino where Jacob Pionk lived in 1843. However, I have found nothing that specifically connects Jacob to this family or to Wyszecino. The only possible clue: a Franciska Starosta was named godmother to son Jacob in 1852. But again, I do not know if this Starosta has any connection to the elder Jacob's possible mother Marianna Starosta.

Nonetheless, the proximity of the two villages and the similarity in ages makes this family a good possibility.

2. Jacob (Johann?) Pionk and Marianna

Jacob Pionk, son of Jacob and Marianna, was born on 26 April 1818 in Donimierz and baptized in Kielno. This is the only record of a couple named Jacob and Marianna Pionk at this time and place. Because there are no further baptism records for these parents, I suspect that an error was recorded in the church book. Unfortunately, there are numerous such errors.

It is possible that these parents are actually Johann Pionk and Marianna Müller, who appear in the Strzepcz and Kielno baptism records during this time. This child's birth would fit quite well into the family of Johann and Marianna. They had two children born in Łebienska Huta (1814, 1816) and then two born in Donimierz (1820, 1823). The child Jacob born in 1818 would fit perfectly into the gap between 1816 and 1820 and may have been their first child born in Donimierz.

But again, I have found nothing specific to connect our Jacob to Johann and Marianna or their other children. This family remains a strong possibility, though, because this Jacob's birth year matches our Jacob's marriage and death records perfectly.

Jacob Pionk & Anna Pozenck

Jacob Pionk, son of Jacob and Anna, was born on 29 April 1822 in Szemudzka Huta and baptized in Kielno. Personally, I believe this Jacob is a bit too young to be a match. However, we cannot entirely eliminate the possibility either. As with the other two possibilities, I have found nothing to connect our Jacob Pionk to this family.

Marriage and children

Jacob Pionk married Augustina Orzeszk in Luzino on 16 January 1843. The groom was 24 and the bride was 29 and both lived in the village Milwino. Augustina Orzeszk was the daughter of Adalbert Orzeszk and Dorothea v. Mach. She was born in Dąbrowka (Damerkau) on 23 October 1813 and baptized in Luzino parish (St. Lawrence). After their wedding, Jacob and Augustina resided in Milwino, where all but one of their children were born.

Jacob Pionk - Augustina Orzeszke
1843 marriage record, Luzino parish

Jacob Pionk and Augustina Orzeszk had seven children in 14 years, five of whom lived to adulthood. All were baptized in Luzino parish.

• Johann Bernard Pionk was born on 22 June 1843 in Milwino.
• Albertine (Bertha) Pionk was born on 16 November 1844 in Milwino.
• Albert Franz Pionk (Pionek) was born on 1 May 1847 in Milwino.
• Alexandra Mathilda Pionk was born on 26 August 1849 in Milwino.
• Jacob Theophil Pionk was born on 9 January 1852 and died on 5 July 1852 in Milwino.
• Alexander Pionk (Pionek) was born on 20 April 1853 in Milwino.
• Jacob Pionk was born 28 May 1857 in Dąbrowka. He died later that day.

Jacob Pionk died on 8 April 1863 in Dąbrowka at age 45. His widow and five surviving children remained in that village until they began to emigrate in 1873.

Jacob Pionk death record, 1863 Luzino parish

Bernard, Jacob Pionk's eldest son, married Antonina Tobiaska in Luzino in 1871. He likely emigrated soon thereafter. His sister Mathilda (Matylda) married Joseph Rohde (Rhode, Roda) in 1874, also in Luzino. They had four children before emigrating.