Stephan Ryckowski
1858-1909
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.
Author's Note: The surname Ryckowski (ritz-Coff-ski) has been a very interesting name to research. It is a name that I believe has been transformed from the original Polish surname Rydzkowski (ritz-Coff-ski). Researching this family name has uncovered numerous variations or misspellings of the surname. These variations have been documented in 19th century West Prussian birth and marriage records, immigration records, and early 20th century US censuses, marriage, and court records. Variations of the surname Rydzkowski now stands as follows: Rickofski-Rickowski-Ryckowski-Rezkowski-Riczkowski
According to West Prussian records, Stephan Rydzkowski was born on December 24, 1858 at 6am in the town and Catholic parish of present day Cekcyn, Poland. He was baptized on December 26, 1858(1). These same official church parish records list his parents as Paul Rydzkowski and Marianna Chmara. Stephan was the 5th of six children to be born into this family(2). Stephan grew up in the town of Cekcyn.
At the age of 21, Stephan immigrated to the US on March 4, 1880 aboard the SS Parthia, arriving in the port of New York City. The ship had set sail from Liverpool/Queenstown, England(3). That same year Stephan moved on to Chicago, Illinois as his city of residence.
Stephan became a naturalized citizen of the US, with final papers being filed on October 28, 1884 in the Circuit Court of the City of Chicago(4). He was proud of his new country and exercised his right to vote(5). It was also there that Stephan met Felixa Nowacki. At age 28, Stephan married Felixa at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church on October 20, 1886(6). Stephan fathered eight children with Felixa. Two children died before the age of two. Six children lived to adulthood. All are listed in the order of their births: Edna(1887-1941)(7)(8), John(1889-1975)(9)(10), Marian Martha(1891-1892)(11)(12), Joan Ann(1893-1895)(13)(14), Stella(1895-1985)(15)(16), Edward(1900-1947)(17)(18), Stanley(1900-1928)(19)(20), and Stephen(1904-1971)(21)(22).
By late 1892, the Ryckowski family was living at 126 Cleaver Street in Chicago, IL.(23). The Ryckowski family was Roman Catholic and belonged to the parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka, only one block from the Ryckowski house. St. Stanislaus still stands at its current address of 1300 N. Noble.
By 1900, the Ryckowski family had purchased a house, paying a mortgage, and moved to 134 Cleaver Street, just a few doors down. Stephan was gainfully employed as a day laborer. He could also read, write, and speak English(23).
In 1907(24), the Ryckowski family sold their first house and purchased their second house at 469 Howland Avenue in Kenosha, Wisconsin(25). Howland Avenue is currently known as 22nd Avenue. In 1926 the City of Kenosha revamped and organized its street numbering system. The family belonged to St. Casimir Church at 1009 Washington Road. St. Casimir Church was closed around the year 2001 and its congregation was merged into St. Elizabeth Church.
On April 8, 1909 Stephan had a severe stroke. He passed away two days later on April 10, 1909 from heart and respiratory failure(26). Stephan was buried at St. Casimir Cemetery, Kenosha on April 13, 1909(26). To date, in St. Casimir Cemetery, there is a large family headstone in the Ryckowski family burial plot. On that marker lists Stephan Ryckowski with his birth and death dates as 1859-1909. Birth years of those who immigrated to the US around the beginning of the 20th century, or earlier, are often off by a year or two. This happens because the informant at the time of death gave inaccurate information being under duress. More often these early immigrants were not educated and did not know exactly when they were born, or arrived without bringing with them official documentation of birth from their homeland.
Stephan Ryckowski was my great-grandfather.
References used in the above biography are as follows:
