Bio: Myszka, Jacob (1855 - 1938)

 

Contact: Stan

 

Surnames: Myszka, Kedrowski, Rietbrock, Halsey, Johnson, Kitzermann, Klemecki, Bloczynski, Blsczynska, Markowski, Kreft, Rockhold, Schmidt, Tomkiewicz, Miller, Gopa, Wrycza

 

----Source: 1880 - 1980 Rietbrock, Marathon Co., Wis. Centennial, pg. 42 - 43

 

Jacob Myszka (22 Jul 1855 - 19 Aug 1938)

 

Myszka Family

 

Most of our early pioneers were of European origin; they left their native country because they were dissatisfied with the German yoke and the Prussian iron rule of militarism under Bismarck. At the time they came to the United States-the land of the free- Lincoln's abolishment of slavery had just been put into effect.

 

Jacob Myszka was born July 22, 1855, in Leszo Pomorze, Poland. He set sail with his parents Symon and Maria (Kedrowski) Myszka for Montreal, Canada, in 1869, when he was a boy of fourteen. The family later established itself in Milwaukee which was then known as Walker's Point. Living there until the time when Fred Rietbrock, of the Johnson, Rietbrock & Halsey law firm, sought pioneers for its lands in Marathon County, they settled in the Poniatowski vicinity in October, 1876.

 

Baptismal Record

 

Name: Jacob

Father: Michael Myszka

Mother: Maryanna Kiedrowska

Date of birth - July 22 Year- 1855

Place: Widno Chojnive - little village in Leszno, Poland

Baptized: July 24, 1855 Church- in Leszno

 

As records showed February 8, 1929 Father - Kitzermann, Pastor decided their and our future. As a young boy Jacob often told his family how he used to run errands for his mother. He "ran" to Rib Falls or to Marathon City. On one of these errands, Jacob purchased a cabin broom and a window sash for their first log house. When he returned home, he had a broken broom handle and a window sash without a pane, all of which damage was done by his unavoidable hopping around over the wide marshes and over the squirrel lanes which were "pretzelled" with roots of anti-diluvian pines. The first farm purchased by Jacob was a 60 acre tract of land near his father Symon's farm. On November 26, 1879 he married Anna Bloczynski. She was born April 21, 1862 to John and Victoria Bloczynski. The wedding ceremony took place in the Mission church at Poniatowski, Rev. Klemecki of Arcadia, Wis. officiated. From this marriage there were six sons and six daughters, namely, Theodore, Pelagia (Meller), Thomas, Philip, Jacob Jr. Helen (Markowski), Anna (died in infancy), Mary (Kreft), Constantine, Emma (Rockhold), Edward, and Christine (Kosz). After purchasing land from his brother John in 1908 he farmed until 1913 when he sold the place to his oldest son Theodore and wife Frances (Writz). He purchased a section of land near Poniatowski formerly known as the "Belvedere Farm". (The land is now owned by Raymond Murkowski and the home is primary and vital importance toward creating a new community. In this respect, his family is in possession of one of such records, dating back to 1898, at which time he served as a Commissioner of Roads. This private "Memoir" includes an interesting item, because of its contribution to developing the village of Athens. This part reads: "Money recommended for outer roads from Poniatowski into the village of Athens (Black Creek Falls), $80.00,   which was spent chiefly for labor in building a town road". It will be remembered that 1898 was only seventeen years after the one first log house was built in the present village of Athens.

 

In September, 1929, the Jacob Myszka's celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

 

He died August 19, 1938 at the age of 83 and his wife Anna died January 5, 1939, at the age of 77. owned by Edwin and Brenda Schmidt. here a few years, moved to the village awhile, and moved back later to spend years on the farm.

 

He then lived of Athens for his remaining When many of the early pioneers were returning to the cities, because of the untold sacrifices which had to be endured in pioneer life, and as others chose to take their easier lot in city life, Jacob remained in the undeveloped lands of Rietbrock, and devoted his life to help build a new settlement. He was essentially prominent in establishing Poniatowski, the nucleus of the Town of Rietbrock, a settlement which remains--ever since its inception, a most interesting item of mention by the Wisconsin State Historical Society in its collections (Vol. 14, pg. 383).

 

After the community received, in donation, from Rietbrock a twenty - acre tract of land for community purposes Jacob sent to various Polish and Catholic communities in the state seeking financial aid when the settlers were desirous to build a church. It was through his efforts that a school for the Polish language was founded; an outstanding teacher, Helinski, who guided the education of the youth in the town's early history. Jacob encouraged organizations of Polish culture, helped to found the Adalbert Society and during the late nineties, in collaboration with Mr. Tomkiewicz of Edgar, organized a Polish Club. He held various town offices serving as supervisor, chairman, treasurer, and also in county government circles. Local records reveal countless instances of his zealous work in building roads.

 

Family Notes

 

1910 Federal Census, Rietbrock, Marathon, Wisconsin, pg. 6, family 102

 

Jacob Myszka, white, married, male

Household Members
self Jacob Myszka M 55y Germany
wife Anna Myszka F 48y Germany
daughter Helena Myszka F 18y Wisconsin
son Jacob Myszka M 20y Wisconsin
daughter Mary Myszka F 13y Wisconsin
son Kostanty Myszka M 11y Wisconsin
daughter Emma Myszka F 9y Wisconsin
son Edward Myszka M 6y Wisconsin
daughter Christina Myszka F 4y Wisconsin

 

Wisconsin Birth Records

 

Johanna Myszka
gender: Female
birth date: 16 Nov 1899
birthplace: Sharon, Portage, Wisconsin
name note: Jo.../Myazk crossed out.
race: White
father's name: Jacob Myszka
father's birthplace: Prusia
mother's name: Antonina Windoszka
mother's birthplace: U.S.A.

 

Christina Myszka
gender: Female
birth date: 26 Feb 1906
birthplace: Rietbrock
race: White
father's name: Jacob Myszka
father's birthplace: Germany
mother's name: Anna Bloczynski
mother's birthplace: Germany

 

Wisconsin Marriage Records

 

Theodore Myszka
bride's name: Francis Wrycza
marriage date: 17 Aug 1904
marriage place: Marathon, Wisconsin
groom's father's name: Jacob Myszka
groom's mother's name: Anna Bloczyniska
bride's father's name: Ignace Wrycza
bride's mother's name: Cierzan

 

Paul Miller
bride's name: Pelagia Myszka
marriage date: 22 Oct 1906
marriage place: Marathon, Wisconsin
groom's father's name: August Miller
groom's mother's name: Maria Gopa
bride's father's name: Jacob Myszka
bride's mother's name: Blsczynska

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE