Elizabeth Rostalski- Kromarek- Jekar (Freda's mother)

• 1875 born in the Germany/ Poland region to Michael and Catherine Rostalski.
• 1894 married Johan Kromarek in Odolanów [Adelnau] at the Protestant Church.

• 1895 her husband, John, left for America ( he arrived in Nov, 1895). She stayed in Germany while pregnant for her first child.
• 1896 her first child, Emil was born Jan 9, 1896 in Grandof, Germany.
• 1896 she arrived in America on May 22, 1896, traveling with her 3 month old son, her 15 year old brother Karl, and John Eckert (possible cousin). Ship name: Halle , Departure Bremen, Germany

Text manuscript via Ellis Island. 

• 1899 her daughter Freda was born August 5, 1899.
• 1901 her daughter Irene was born.
• 1902 she is listed in the Monessen directory on page 210                                                                             "Kromarek John (Lizzie), merchant tailor, Schoonmaker Ave., h do"

• 1910 she is listed on the 1910 census the record living with her husband, 3 children and 2 boarders-1 of which is her father. 

• 1918 her husband, John passed away.
• 1919 she married Frank Jekar on July 5th at Fayette County, PA.
• 1920 she was listed on the census living in Millsboro.

• 1930 census she lived with her husband, Frank and son ,Emil in Millsboro, East Bethlehem, PA.

• 1940 census she lived in the same place with her husband and son.

• 1946 she died at Brownsville Hospital of congestive heart failure on Nov 1.

She is buried in Millsboro Cemetery.

Special thanks to Brenda Miklish for taking the photo of the gravestones and sending for the records.

Johann Kromarek, part 2

Last blog post we left John facing fraud charges, making front page news from the paper he supported with his business advertisements.

• 1907 Moved to California, PA. 
• There aren't any digitized records to search, for future ads or news about the Kromarek business. Many years of the local paper are at the California University Library but I haven't had a chance to visit the archives.

1910 Census info they lived on Union Street in California, PA. With this record he does still own his own shop, his father-in-law lives with the family as a border ( he is also a tailor). John Kromarek is also listed as a naturalized citizen. ( I'll find out about ordering those records.) It also lists they had 5 children, 3 surviving. 

• 1918 ( 25 April) John Kromarek dies in Washington County, PA source page212 

John Kromark aka Johann Kromarek (father of Frieda)

Coming from Southwestern Pennsylvania I have always felt a connection to the strong immigrant work force that made this country amazing. It took months to uncover John Kromark but when I did the history poured out from the very area we call home. He, and the men like him, made this country great, I can't wait to share his story.

Johann Kromarek, the son of Johann Kromarek and Christine Rostalski

• 1868 Johann was born in Germany (possible Prussia/ Poland depending on the varying border)
• 1894 he married Elisabeth Rostalski image seen below in Odolanow [Adelnau] is the same place, a Polish/German name. 

• 1895(Nov15) he arrived in New York heading to Charleroi, Pa , occupation Tailor

• 1896 (Jan) His son Emil was born in Grandorf, Germany
• 1896 (May22) His wife Elisabeth and son Emil( 3 months) arrived in NewYork.
• 1897 John was listed in the city directory, living in Mckeesport working for F.Moltz as a tailor.
• 1899 (Aug) his daughter Frieda was born in Pennsylvania.
• 1901 his daughter Irene was born.
• 1902 (Dec2) He owned his own shop in Monessen, PA. John Kromarek, Merchant Tailor. I have found nearly 40 copies of advertisements.

                                             

• 1906 His business moved and added a line of ready-to-wear clothing.
• 1906 he was a recorded member of the GBU- German Benefical Union and he helped organize the Christmas festival. In most census records he had other tailors residing in his home, as borders, helping to get others started in business.
• 1907 (Jun22) Things changed dramatically, this time not an advertisement...the headline read in the Monessen Daily Independent

Story Continued 

1930 census image, Tawney Family (3 generations)

I'm not sure how this will load but it shows three generations of Tawney's.
William and Frieda, their children are listed, and the William' parents were neighbors ( Edward and Eva).
Saved image from Archives.com Archives search result.

Lenora I. Squires - Greene County Messenger: Obituaries

Lenora I. Squires - Greene County Messenger: Obituaries

William Parker Tawney

William Parker Tawney was born 19 Nov 1899 and died 19 Mar 1958. He was married to Frieda Kromark in 1919 and they had 14 children. He was the son of Edward Tawney and Eva Mae Harrison.

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• 1899 William Parker Tawney was born 19 Nov 1899 in Pennsylvania to Edward and Eva Tawney.
• 1900 census he was 1 year old, his family lived in Jefferson, Fayette Co, Pennsylvania. (He resided with his parents, two sisters Violet and Lizzie, and his Uncle William Henry Harrison.)Census 
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• 1918 United States WWI Draft Registration Draft Card (image) at 19 living in Roscoe, he was working as a pipe fitter at General Chem Company of Newell, Fayette, PA.
• 1919 he married Frieda Kromark.
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• 1930 census record, living in East Bethlehem LDS census record (text) , image

• 1940 census record , they lived East Bethlehem, Washington, PA LDS census record   *He is the only listed at the bottom of the census image, the remainder of the family is listed on the next page.     Key points listed on the record: He was a coal miner at the time, with a 6th grade education, supporting 10 children. 
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• 1958 he died the 19th of March . (Evening Standard, Uniontown, Pa 28Mar1958)
  

Freda Kromark

Frieda Alma Kromark ( 6 Aug 1899- 01 May 1981) married William Tawney in 1919. She had 14 children.

• Freda was born in 5 Aug 1899 in Pennsylvania. 
• She was the daughter of German immigrants, Johann Kromarek and Elizabeth Rostalski.
• She had a brother, Emil, and a sister, Irene. I have not found any information on Irene except she was listed on the 1910 census. According to family she died in her youth but I have not found any record at this time. LDS 1910 Census Record
• She lived in Charleroi, PA till 1908 and the family moved to California, PA
• 1917, she was listed in the Pittsburgh Directory as a domestic worker
• 1918, her father John Kromarek died in Washington County, PA
• 1919, she married William Parker Tawney
• 1920 had her first child, William.
• 1930 census they lived in East Bethlehem, Washington, PA LDS 1930 Census Record
• 1940 census they lived in Elco, Washington, PA 1940 Census Record
• edit.
• 1940's she was the President of the Friendly Neighbor Club
• 1950's she was a member of the Masontown Jolly Times Club
• 1958 her husband, William, died.
• 1960's she was active in the Little Knight's Lady Auxillary
• 1981 she passed away in Masontown, PA Social Security Death Index