Biography of Franciszek "Frank" Polkowski from Kopytkowo

Birth: Franciszek Polkowski was born in Kopytkowo, in the parish of Jaminy, Poland on 14 August 1890 to Jan Polkowski and Anna Krystopa. He was the grandson of Maciej Polkowski (1824-1898) and Katarzyna Dziądziak (1813-1895). Maciej was born in Polkowo, moved to Augustow and then to Tajno. Franciszek was the great grandson of Ludiwk Litwinko/Polkowski (1790-1839) and Antonina Waszkiewicz (1788-?) from Polkowo. This is where our families are connected.

Immigration: Franciszek Polkowski immigrated on 30 August, 1906 on the ship SS Kaiserin Aug. Victoria from the port of Hamburg to New Yourk and naturalized in September, 1911. His sponsors were Paul Polkowski, [his uncle] a tailor residing in Chicago and Harry Polkowski, a city employee from Chicago, Paul's son. Frank lived with his uncle in Chicago for a while before relocating to Rockford in 1907.

Marriage: Franciszek Polkowski married Elizabeth Thompson, on 2 April 1916 in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Malcom Thompson and Sarah Hullen, from Missouri.

Residence: On his Petition for Naturalization in 1911, he listed his residence as 424 S. Horsman? Street in Rockford. In the 1920 US Census he was living at 226 Howard Avenue. In the 1930 US Census he lived at 204 N. Rockford Avenue and remained there until his death.

Children:

1. Frank George Polkowski, born 1919 in Missouri. Frank George Polkowski became a civil eningineer. He married Betty Jane Van Aken in the Fall of 1940. He died May 3rd 1976 of a heart attack as his home at 131 N. Rockford Avenue, in Rockford Illinois.

2. Evelyn Polkowski, born 1923 in Rockford, Illinois. Married Harry Van Aken on 13 June 1942 and lived in Rockford.

3. Dorothy Polkowski, born 1925 in Rockford, Illinois. Married Carl Blabaum and lived in Madison, Wisconsin.

4. Lawrence Polkowski, born 22 February 1929 in Rockford Illinois. He married Marianne Loper from Lodi, Wisconsin. Lawrence Polkowski served as an Combat Engineer Officer in the Korean Conflict and earned his Doctorate of Engineering in 1958 from UWM. He was living in Madison Wisconsin in 1971. He became a Professor of Engineering at Iowa University.

Occupation: Frank served in the Winnebago County Highway Department, County Auditors Office, and 28 years in the Winnebago Treasurer's Office, being appointed Deputy Treasurer in 1946 and serving until his retirement in 1962.

Death: Frank Polkowski died on 22 August 1971 in Swedish-American Hospital in Rockford and is buried in Marsh Cemetery in Rockford. His wife Elizabeth died on March 14th, 1984.

Frank Polkowski had two half-brothers still living at the time of his death; Bruno (Bronisław) living in St. Petersburg Florida and John, living in Dearborn Michigan.