John Zigmund Jankowski
(Jannowski)
1898-1972
The following biography is based upon numerous documents collected thru years of genealogical research. This biography is written with notations to the specific documents on which the statement can be assumed as factual. New documents may add to or alter this biography as known research is interpreted at this time.
Age 14 (1912) Age 24 (1922) Age 51 (1949)
John Zigmund Jankowski was born on December 20, 1898(1) in Vilna, Russia, which is presently Lithuania(2). He was the only son of Zigmund Jannowski and Barbara Apanasewicz(3). At an early age, John's father was killed in 1905(4), during the failed 1905 Russian Revolution(15). It is believed that John and his mother moved to Kabeli, Russia (15). It is also believed that they moved in with relatives, possibly John's grandparents on his Jannowski side(18). John lived in Kabeli for the next seven years and attended school.
In January of 1912, John's mother immigrated to the US, possibly leaving him with the Jacov Awlesawicz family(5). During the immigration process of Johns' mother, Barbara, the family surname of Jannowski was changed to Jankowski. When John immigrated to the US, passenger ship records show him listed as Iwan Jankowski. Jankowski was now the legal family surname used by John for the rest of his life. By June, John's mother had saved enough to send for him. On June 25, 1912 John boarded the SS Kursk at the port of Libau with two of his cousins to immigrate to the US. He had just enough money to purchase his own ticket. He also carried with him tickets to get him from New York City to Kenosha, Wisconsin, which had been sent him. John arrived at Ellis Island on July 8, 1912. John then joined his mother at 456 Lyman Avenue to share living accommodations with his cousin's family, Constantine Apanasewicz(5).
John attended school full time for only a very short period at St. Casimir Grade School. He quit school to obtain factory assembly-type work to help his mother. At John's first job, he needed a wooden box to stand on to properly reach the assembly bench(15). At the urging of a priest from St. Casimir, John attended night classes to complete his formal eighth grade education(15). John always valued education. I remember very clearly him constantly saying that you must go to college. But if you do not, you must learn a trade.
By 1918, John was hired at the Nash automobile factory in Kenosha. This started a forty-three year career with that company, which finally became American Motors(7). Between 1918 and 1921, John worked as a machinist helper(6)(8). It was also during this time that he acquired his trade in electrical maintenance(9). In time, John became an Electrical Supervisor and finally retired at that position(7).
John tinkered with everything and was very mechanically inclined. In his younger days, sometime before 1920, he bought himself a belt driven Indian motorcycle. He also became a member of a "motorcycle club" in Kenosha during this time. I remember one story of his that he was pulled over several times by "the same Irish policeman" and told that he had to get a tag for his motorcycle. Finally, he made one up out of cardboard, put it on his cycle, and got away with it for about two years before he finally had to get a real one(15). At John's funeral, one attendee was the last survivor from that motorcycle club. He had other interesting tales to tell.
John did become a naturalized citizen of the US. He started the process of citizenship with the filing of his Declaration of Intent on January 15, 1919(2). This process ended on October 13, 1925 with him taking his Oath of Allegiance and receiving his Naturalization Certificate(10).
After 1918, John supported his mother. They lived at 754 Jenne(6), 376 Division in 1920(8), and 768 Pearl in 1921(9). During this time, John courted and finally married Mary Czajkowski on October 10, 1922 at St. Casimir Church, 1009 Washington Road in Kenosha(3). John moved his extended family to 369 Lemon Street, renting the front half of the house(12). The Czajkowski family owned and were living in the back half of the same house(16). John and his family lived there until 1928. During this time, John and Mary had their only daughter, Lorraine, born on August 8, 1926(12).
By 1928, John and Mary had saved enough to have a house built for them at 3807 19th Avenue(13)(14). John lived there until his death in 1972. John was one of the lucky ones who was employed during the Great Depression. During this time, though, he sold the family car and relied on public transportation for a number of years(15). John lived the rest of his life as a normal family man. He saw his mother grow old and die in 1940. He saw his only daughter grow up and get married. He saw his three grandchildren grow up and one get married. He was even able to see one of his many great grandchildren. I personally remember specific habits that he had. He never drank alcohol and disliked gambling. He always smoked either a pipe or cigarettes. He always watched the news on television and read the Kenosha News newspaper. He liked to purchase large blocks of cheese, and then age them in the old basement coal room, which was no longer used after the house furnace was converted from coal to natural gas. He always had to have something sweet to finish his meal. He was able to speak Polish and Russian. John was Roman Catholic and a member of St. Casimir Church. He was also a member of the Electrical Maintenance Engineers. Finally, he was a member of the Kenosha Eagles and frequented the downtown Kenosha hall after retirement(7).
After having two strokes, both not serious, John opted for retirement in 1962(7). He had only one serious surgery during his life, having a leg artery replaced that was causing poor circulation after retirement. He died in his sleep while taking an afternoon nap from congestive heart failure on October 1, 1972. This was just one week before a family planned celebration of John and Mary's 50th wedding anniversary. John was laid in wake at Bruch Funeral Home, 3503 Roosevelt Road. Services were held at St. Casimir Church. John was buried on October 4, 1972 in St. Casimir Cemetery in Kenosha(1).
John Zigmund Jankowski was my grandfather.
References used in the above biography are as follows:
