Ulaszek Families  in South Chicago

There were many Ulaszek families in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century. They settled in two major neighborhoods that provided most of the employment for immigrants.  The first was the South Chicago neighborhood with its steel and related industries. The second neighborhood was the "Back of the Yards" and Bridgeport neighborhoods surrounding the meatpacking industry. 

My great grandfather was Michal Ulasek who married Marianna Czarny, also from Osobnica, on 20 May 1895 in St. Michael's parish in South Chicago. Witnesses at this marriage were Frank Lesniak and Frances Kuchta, both common names from Osobnica.

Michael Ulaszek married Marianna Czarna from Osobnica on 20 May 1895 in St Michael's parish in South Chicago.

Michael Ulaszek and Marianna Czarna's children were:

  1. Jan Ulaszek (1897-1897)

  2. Anna Ulaszek (1898-1983) married Konstanty (Gus) Iwinski in 1924 in Chicago.

  3. Agnes (1900-1984), married Harry Orbik in 1924.

  4. Hedwig Ulaszek (1903-1903)

  5. Catherine (1905- ?), married Boleslaw (William) Pik in 1928 in Chicago.

  6. Andreas (1908-1908)

Michael Ulaszek

Marianna Czarny Ulaszek

Agnes Ulaszek and Harry Orbik

Anna Ulaszek and Konstanty "Gus" Iwinski

 

 

Catherine Ulaszek and William Pik

 

Catherine Pick, Agnes Orbik, and Anna Iwinski - The Ulaszek girls later in life.

Other Ulaszek families in South Chicago

8401 Ontario (now Brandon) Avenue

The 1910 census also showed living at 8401 Ontario Avenue, John and Anna (Budziak) Ulaszek and their family. John Ulaszek was born in 1871. His parents were  Michal Ulaszek and Apolonia Łątka from Osobnica. John and Anna (Budziak) Ulaszek were married 8 August 1899 in Holy Cross Church in Joliet Illinois.

(There are two conflicting documents involved here. One is John's death certificate which lists his parents as Michael and Apolonia. Another man Martin Ulaszek, married in St. Mary of Perpetual Help parish, listed his parents as Michael and Apolonia Ontkow. Witness at that marriage were John Ulaszek and Peter Ladka. I believe the Onkow name was actually a misspelling of  Łątka, pronounced "Wowntka" in English. There was only one Michal and Apolonia in Osobnica and she was a Łątka).  John was a saloon keeper in the neighborhood. According to family stories, his bar was called "Gallaghers" by the locals because the actual name  "Galician" after the area they were from, was too difficult for English speakers to pronounce.

In 1920, John Ulaszek and Anna Budziak's children were:

  1. Walter Ulaszek, born 1900.

  2. Joseph Ulaszek, born 1903.

  3. Caroline Ulaszek, born 1906.

  4. Katherine Ulaszek, born 1908.

  5. Leo Ulaszek, born 1909

  6. Alice Ulaszek, born 1911.

  7. Stella Ulaszek, born 1915.

  8. Dominik Ulaszek, born 1917.

There was also a John Ulaszek, boarder living at 8401 Ontario in 1910. He was born in 1883.

8409 Ontario (now Brandon) Avenue

The first record of an Ulaszek in Chicago is a marriage record dated 9 June 1884 between Franciszek Ulaszek and Marianna Betkowska in the parish of  St. Stanislaw Koska parish in the old "Polish Downtown" neighborhood. Franciszek Ulaszek was born in Osobnica in 1856 to Wojciech (Adalbert) Ulaszek and Agatha Gliwa.  

Franciszek and Marianna Ulaszek had their first child Joseph in 1886 in St. Mary of Perpetual Help parish in the Bridgeport neighborhood. Sometime after that they moved to the South Chicago neighborhood and raised their family there in the St. Michael's parish. 

Frank Ulaszek and Marianna Bętkowska had these children:

  1. Joseph Ulaszek, born in 1886 in St. Mary of Perpetual Help parish in the Bridgeport neighborhood. Married Agatha Ulaszek in St. Michael's parish.

  2. John Ulaszek, born 1891. Married Lottie ??. Lived at 8117 Coles Ave in Chicago in 1920. They had a son Emil born 23 Dec 1916.

  3. Veronica Ulaszek, born 1892.  Married Joseph Kolodziejczak in 1912 in St. Michael's parish in South Chicago. They had several children: Edna, Florence , Evelyn, and Norbert (courtesy Debbie Ulaszek). Veronica died 12 Dec 1969.

8331Ontario (now Brandon) Avenue

Franciszek's brother Michael  Ulaszek (born in 1863) immigrated to Chicago in 1891, and  in 1900 was living at 8331 Ontario with his wife Mary Czarny and his young family. Also living at this address was Sophia Czarny, Mary's sister. In the next building, 8317 Ontario, lived Jacub and Agatha Brangiel. Agatha was Mary's other sister. Michael Ulaszek worked for Illinois Steel as laborer. In 1900 Frank Ulaszek and his family was living at 8409 Ontario. 

8411 Ontario (now Brandon) Avenue

The 1910 census had Frank Ulaszek's family, his son Joseph Ulaszek's family, Michael Ulaszek's family and George Ulaszek ,a boarder,  all living in the same house at 8411 Ontario. 

Joseph Ulaszek and Agatha Ulaszeks's children were:

  1. Edmund Ulaszek, born 1908.

  2. Stanley Ulaszek, born 1911.

  3. Edna Ulaszek, born 1913.

  4. Albin Ulaszek, born 1914.

  5. Ursula Ulaszek, born 1918.

  6. Alma Ulaszek, born 1920.

  7. Harry Ulaszek, born 1914.

 

There was another bother of Michael Ulaszek and Frank Ulaszek named Simon Ulaszek who married Anna Szczak in St. Michael's parish. 

8361 Ontario (now Brandon) Avenue

There was also a John Ulaszek and Catherine (Dybas) listed in the St. Michaels parish on 21 Jan 1907 , living at 8361 Ontario in 1920 and 1930.  John's parents were Joseph Ulaszek and Anna Kapanowska. This Joseph Ulaszek was a son of Wojciech Ulaszek and Agatha Gliwa which made him Michael and Frank Ulaszek's brother. This made John Ulaszek a nephew of Michael and Frank Ulaszek

. 

In 1920 John Ulaszek and Catherine (Dybas) were living at 8361 Brandon Avenue. In 1930, they were livng at 8632 Brandon.  Their children were:

  1. Joseph Ulaszek born 1909

  2. Walter Ulaszek, born 1911

  3. Anna Ulaszek, born 1914

  4. Ladislawa "Lottie" Ulaszek, born 1915

  5. Stanislaus "Stanley" Ulaszek , born 7 Feb 1918

  6. Josephine Ulaszek, born 1920.

  7. Edward Ulaszek, born 25 Nov 1922.

  8. Helen Ulaszek, born 13 Jun 1925.

  9. Leo Ulaszek, born 2 Mar 1928.

Below photos and information courtesy of courtesy of Edna Rolewski Ulaszek and Florette Ulaszek..

Marriage of Joseph Ulaszek, son of Franciszek Ulaszek and Marianna Bętkowska and Agatha Ulaszek, daughter of Jakob Ulaszek and Marianna Pietusiak .in St. Michał's parish in South Chicago, 22 Oct 1907. To the right of Joseph Ulaszek is his 1st cousin Frank Ulaszek (son of Jacub Ulaszek and Marianna Marszalek) from back of the Yards in Chicago. Seated next to Agatha Ulaszek is Veronica Ulaszek, Joseph Ulaszek's sister. Since the witnesses at this marriage were Frank and John Ulaszek, it is possible that John Ulaszek, probably Joseph's brother is also in this photo.

 

Frank Ulaszek (son of Jacub Ulaszek and Marianna Marszalek)  and his cousin Veronica Ulaszek. Courtesy of Debbie Ulaszek, granddaughter of Frank. This photo is from the 1907 marriage of  Joseph Ulaszek (1st cousin) and Agatha Ulaszek in St. Michael's parish in South Chicago (above).

 

Joseph Ulaszek, son of Franciszek Ulaszek and Marianna Bętkowska, working at US Steel. Top row far left.

Family of  Joseph Ulaszek, son of Franciszek Ulaszek and Marianna Bętkowska and Agatha Ulaszek, daughter of Jakob Ulaszek and Marianna Pietusiak

Seated, left to right: George (Wojcich) Ulaszek, "Dago George" brother of Agatha Ulaszek, Agatha Ulaszek, daughter of Jakob Ulaszek and Marianna Pietusiak, Joseph Ulaszek, son of Franciszek Ulaszek and Marianna Bętkowska.

Standing, left to right:

  1. Alma Ulaszek, married Henry Szpajer, Had 2 children, Allen and Cynthia.

  2. Albin Ulaszek, wife Adele. Had 1 daughter Andrea.

  3. Ursula Ulaszek, married Burda.Had  4 children, Florette, Kathy, Mitchell, and Celeste.

  4. Edmund "Babe" Ulaszek, married Emily Szpajer, 6 May 1935. Had 2 sons, Tom and Bob.

  5. Edna Ulaszek, married Ed Zielinski, 27 Sep 1937. Had 2 sone, Edmund and Paul.

  6. Stanley Ulaszek, married Virginia Wolak, 1 Sep 1939. Had 4 children, James, Judy, Stanley, and Willard.

  7. Harry Ulaszek, married Edna Rolewski married Dec 28, 1947 in St. Michael's parish in South Chicago and had 1 son Mark, J. Ulaszek.

My ancestor was Michal Ulaszek. He was born 23 April 1863 in house #61 to Wojciech (Aldalbert) Ulaszek and Agata Gliwa. Wojceich Ulaszek died in Osobnica on 1 Feb 1893. Agatha (Gliwa) Ulaszek died in Osobnica on 5 March 1892

Here is the rest of the Wojciech (Aldalbert) Ulaszek and Agata Gliwa family:

  1. Marianna Ulaszek born 30 Sep 1841, married Jakub Marszalek, in Osobnica. 

  2. Jakub Ulaszekborn 18 Apr 1843 married Marianna Marszalak in Osobnica about 1872. Jakub Ulaszek died on 12 VIII 1892 living at 8401 Ontario and was buried in Mt. Olivet in Chicago.

  3. Franciszek Ulaszek born 31 Jan 1845 and died 1845.

  4. Jan Ulaszek born 28 and died 29 Oct 1848.

  5. Jozef Ulaszek born 26 Dec 1849, married Anna Kapanowska

  6. Jan Ulaszek born 2 Jan 1852, married Marianna Marszalak.

  7. Franciszek Ulaszek born 5 Aug 1854. He married Mary Benkoska on 9 June 1884 in St. Stanislaw Koska parish in the old Polish downtown. moved to South Chicago.

  8. Andrzej Ulaszek born 13 Nov 1856, married Jadwiga Zydek in Osobnica. He died died 8 Aug 1941 in Osobnica

  9. Stanislaw Ulaszek born 19 Apr 1859, married Katarzyna Kosek in Osobnica. He died 16 May 1948

  10. Katarzyna Ulaszek born 16 Apr 1861

  11. Michal Ulaszek 24 Apr 1863, married Marianna Czarny also from Osobnica in St. Michael's parish in South Chicago. My Great Grandparents!

  12. Szymon Ulaszek born 4 Jun 1865. He moved to Chicago and married Marianna Szczak in St. Michael's parish in South Chicago.

  13. Zofia Ulaszek 15 Mar 1868