Rosanna Dyer Osterman

 Rosanna Dyer was born on 26 February 1809 in Germany. The girl came with her family to America, and they all settled in Baltimore. On 23 February 1825, young Rosanna married Joseph Osterman (1). The man was born in the Netherlands in 1799. In 1838, the Osterman couple relocated to Galveston, TX. They owned a trading business there. Their enterprise started with selling goods from a stall under a tent, and later, turned into a large general store. Soon, Rosanna's brother Isidore joined them in Texas as well. The man became an important figure in the local Jewish community.

Sophienburg Museum, New Braunfels

1842 - Rosanna's husband Joseph retired and passed/sold his business to Isidore Dyer.
In 1850, during the census, Joseph Osterman (age 50), Rosanna (age 40), Hannah Dyer (age 25), Isabella (age 20), and Mary A Browne (age 28) were recorded at Joseph's household in Galveston, TX (2). Hannah was Rosanna's sister and Isabella was Rosanna's niece.

Newspaper clipping: Stuart, H. The Civilian and Galveston City Gazette. (Galveston, Tex.), Ed. 1 Saturday, February 4, 1843, newspaper, February 4, 1843; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth177233/: accessed June 25, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

 
Being of Jewish background, in 1852, Rosanna's influence brought to Galveston a Jewish rabbi by the mane of N N Nathan, who consecrated the Jewish cemetery in Galveston.

1853/54 - yellow fever epidemic touched Galveston. Mrs. Osterman organized a field hospital on her land and nursed the sick there.

1856, on Yom Kippur, the very first Jewish service was celebrated in the home of Isidore Dyer.
Rosanna gave her family recipe for meat biscuits to Gail Borden. The latter, sponsored by Joseph Osterman, worked on the recipe and experimented with it to make it perfect. A result of those works was the invention of condensed milk.

Monday, 19 August 1861 - Rosanna's husband Joseph was accidentally shot at a shooting gallery. Joseph died two days later.

Newspaper clipping: The Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 24, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 28, 1861, newspaper, August 28, 1861; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth236161/: accessed September 6, 2022), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.
 

Newspaper clipping: The Bellville Countryman (Bellville, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 5, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 28, 1861, newspaper, August 28, 1861; Bellville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth177010/: accessed September 6, 2022), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

When the Civil War came, Rosanna turned her place into a hospital and cared for the wounded soldiers (of both sides) there.

Once Galveston was taken by the Union, Rosanna stayed in the city and continued nursing the soldiers in her home hospital. It is said that thanks to the information passed to general Houston by the lady, the Confederate Army was able to retake Galveston on 1 January 1863.

2 February 1866 - Rosanna was traveling on the steamboat WR Carter on the Mississippi River when the vessel exploded. Tragically, she died in the accident.  In her will, Mrs. Osterman provided numerous donations to various charities such as for example, hospitals and also creating a home for widows and orphans.

Newspaper clipping: Cushing, E. H. Tri-Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 31, No. 147, Ed. 1 Monday, February 12, 1866, newspaper, February 12, 1866; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth236296/: accessed September 6, 2022), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

More about

• Galveston Movement: https://www.tshaonline.org/han.../entries/galveston-movement
• Rosanna Dyer Osterman: https://www.tshaonline.org/.../entries/osterman-rosanna-dyer
• Joseph Osterman: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/osterman-joseph
• Isabella Dyer: https://www.tshaonline.org/.../entries/kopperl-isabella-dyer

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This post is part of our series

Sources:
1. "Maryland Marriages, 1666-1970", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4JS-95P : 16 January 2020), Rosanna Dyer in entry for Joseph Osterman, 1825.
2. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-KH2 : 23 December 2020), Rosanna Osterman in household of Joseph Osterman, Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
- "The Jewish Texans. The Texians and the Texans ", Institute of Texan Cultures, University of Texas, Institue of Texan Cultures, San Antonio, 1996.
- https://peoplepill.com/people/rosanna-osterman
- The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women: https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/osterman-rosanna-dyer

J for Jackrabbits

Another letter related-post in "My Texas Alphabet" is dedicated to Texas jackrabbits. We have met them quite often in the countryside. Jackrabbits are considerably bigger than their European cousins. Their long ears give them quite an unusual look.

 I do like those long-eared hoppers.

Video made during our walks in the Texas countryside.

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"My Texas Alphabet" is my, quite a personal, summary of our hitherto life in Texas. 

 

Dunnam Men - Part 2

Not long ago, I wrote about Rev. Samuel B B Dunnam and his sons, who lived in Polk County. Today, the second part, dedicated to the Dunnam men, related to Samuel's brothers and nephews who served in the CA.

Samuel's brothers

Charles Fletcher, born on 12 May 1822 in SC, was a farmer in Colita, Polk, TX.

• 41-year-old Charles was enlisted on 7 August 1863, in Liberty, TX. He was a private in Company D, 1st Regiment Infantry, Texas State Troops.
• August 1863 - the man was staying at Camp Wood, Liberty Texas.
• February 1864 - assignment to Jones' Battery in Beaumont, TX.
• 17 September 1864, Charles provided a substitute in the person of T J Roe and thus was discharged from the service.

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More about
First Texas Infantry: https://www.tshaonline.org/.../entries/first-texas-infantry
Camp Wood: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/camp-wood-tx
Confederate Heavy Artillery: https://www.tshaonline.org/.../confederate-heavy-artillery
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Charles's first wife was ⚭ Eliza Jane Carnes (born on 24 February 1825 in Saint Landry, Louisiana). The two got married in about 1844. In 1850, they lived with their two children 

♦ Martha Frances (born on 3 August 1845) and 
♦ Eugene Harp (born on 19 April 1848, LA) in Rapides, Rapides, Louisiana (1).

Two years later, on 12 July, another son was born to the couple. His name was ♦ Augustus Arthur.
♦ Eliza Jane passed on 7 August 1858 in Polk County, TX.

⚭ 8 March 1859 - Charles married Miss Martha Morris, born in 1828 in SC (2). Some of their children were

♦ Mary Eliza - born on 8 February 1860/died 22 July 1861,
♦ Eunice Agnes Ada - born on 6 September 1862,
♦ Lillah Pauline - born on 29 November 1864,
♦ Frank E - born on 30 August 1867,
♦ Julia Inez - born on 2 October 1870 in Harris, Hunt, TX.

 

1870 - Charles, Martha, and the children lived in Harrisburg, Harris Texas. The children listed in the census were

♦ Augustus,  Charles (born in 1853), 
♦ Sarah (born in abt 1869), 
♦ Dora (born in abt 1851), and 
♦ Lila (3).

♦ Martha, the second wife passed in about 1874. Charles's third wife was ⚭ Frances Elizabeth Patillo (born on 3 June 1835 in Georgia). They were married on 4 May 1875 in Harris, TX (3). Charles and Frances' daughter Eunice Eugenia was born on 24 January 1876.

1880 - Justice Precinct #4, Harris, TX - the family of Charles, Fannie, and 5 children EA (Eunice Agnes), LP (Lillah Pauline), AA (Augustus Arthur), JI (Julia Inez), and EE (Eunice Eugenia) were recorded during the census (4).

 ♦ 14 September 1893 - Charles F Dunnam passed in Harris, TX.
 

Jacob William (Washington) was born on 14 March 1818, in SC.

• At the beginning of the war, Jacob was a precinct captain of the Polk County Militia.
• 30 March 1862 - he was enlisted and was a private in Company E, 20th Texas Infantry (Elmore's Brigade).
• 16 December 1862 - the man was promoted to Corporal.
• February 1863 - sick in General Hospital, Houston, TX.
• 1863 - he was discharged and on 25 September in the same year was enlisted again (as a private) into Company D, 1st Regiment Infantry, Texas State Troops. For some time, the man was stationed in Beaumont.  Later, in December 1863, Jacob was assigned to C W Bickley's Artillery, in Sabine Pass, TX.
• Due to his Militia Service, despite his lower rank in the CA, he was always called "captain".

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More about
20th Texas Infantry: https://www.tshaonline.org/.../twentieth-texas-infantry
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Jacob was married to ⚭ Mary Ann Foreman (born on 26 December 1827 in LA). They had a daughter ♦ Mary Ida, born on 13 October 1851. The girl married Edwin Bryan Adams on 13 October 1869 in Polk, Texas (5).
♦ Jacob W Dunnam passed on 23 July 1891, in Harris, TX.

Clipping source: The Galveston Daily News. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 50, No. 128, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 30, 1891, newspaper, July 30, 1891; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth467087/: accessed June 20, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium. 

Samuel's nephews, sons of Thomas Wilberforce Dunnam and Elizabeth Ann Carnes

John Joseph b 1844 LA/died on 22 09 1902.

• He was a single man when on 15 May 1862 - enlisted in Liberty, TX. A private with Company B, Infantry (T N Waul's Texas Legion).
• August 1862 - on sick leave.
• 4 July 1863, captured at Vicksburg, MS
• Five days later, on 9 July, paroled after taking an oath of allegiance.
• In March 1864, he joined Company D, Timmon's Infantry Regiment, in Galveston, TX.
• July 1864 to August 1864 - on furlough/sick leave.
• 2 June 1865, surrendered by E Kirby Smith in Galveston, TX.

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More about
Waul's Texas Legion: https://www.tshaonline.org/han.../entries/wauls-texas-legion
B Timmons: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/timmons-barnard
E Kirby Smith: https://www.tshaonline.org/han.../entries/smith-edmund-kirby
Vicksburg, battle/campaign facts: https://www.battlefields.org/.../civil-war/battles/vicksburg
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1870 - John Joseph lived with his father and siblings in Subdivision #21, Post Office Livingston, Polk, Texas (6).
1880 - John Dunnam (a farmer, age 36) lived with his wife Sallie (age 35) in Subdivision #188/189, Trinity, TX (7).

 

Thomas Blackwell was born on 7 Dec 1839 in LA. He was a physician.

• 6 November 1861 - enlisted in Galveston. He was a private with Company B, Infantry, T N Waul's Texas Legion.
• 6 October 1832, promoted to 2nd Sergeant,
• February 1863, promoted to 3rd Sgt.
• 4 July 1863, captured at Vicksburg, MS
• 9 July 1863, paroled after an oath of allegiance
• 24 November 1863 - was sick in the Liberty hospital
• January 1865 - on furlough
• 2 June 1865, surrendered by E Kirby Smith in Galveston, TX.

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♦ 22 May 1870 - Thomas' mother Elizabeth died.

 

15 July 1870 - 30-year-old Thomas (merchant) lived with his brother 21-year-old William J who was a merchant clerk (8).
About that time, Thomas married ⚭ Mary Rebecca Rowe (born 7 June 1849 in TX). They had 11 children:

♦ Thomas Sylvan (born 1871), 
♦ Donna (born 1873), 
♦ Frances Henretta (born 1874), 
♦ Francis/Frank (born 1876), 
♦ Mary Olive (born 1877), 
♦ Elizabeth Annie (born 1879), 
♦ William James (b. 1881), 
♦ Thomas S (b. 1883), 
♦ Pleasant Evander (b. 1884), 
♦ Samuel Austin (b. 1884), 
♦ Clarence Blackwell (b. 1886).

1880 - the family lived in 69th Subdistrict, Polk, TX (9).
Three years later, on ♦ 2 February, Thomas' father Thomas Wilberforce Dunnam passed.
♦ Thomas B Dunnam died on 4 November 1894 in Moscow, Polk, TX.

Photos from our walk 31 July 2020.

 
Sources:
1. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCJD-R38 : 22 December 2020), Charles Dunham, Rapides, Rapides, Louisiana, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8B-ZP12 : 22 December 2016), Charles F. Dunnam and Martha Morris, 08 Mar 1859; citing , Polk, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,006,875.
"Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXQ3-X9V : 22 January 2020), C. F. Dunnam, 1875.
"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLY-PWY : 29 May 2021), C F Dunnam, 1870.
4. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNJ-QH7 : 15 January 2022), C. F. Dunnam, Justice Precinct 5, Harris, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 80, sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8B-ZR9F : 10 March 2021), E. B. Adams and Ida M. Dunnam, 13 Oct 1869; citing Polk, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,006,875.
6. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXG4-BBK : 18 October 2021), John J Dunnam in entry for Thomas W Dunnam, 1870.
7. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJF-NVT : 15 January 2022), Jno. Dunnam, Trinity, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
8. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXG4-NJ2 : 18 October 2021), Thomas B Dunnam, 1870.
9. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJW-BQ2 : 15 January 2022), Thomas B. Dunnam, Justice Precinct 2, Polk, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
- "There never were such men before: the Civil War soldiers and veterans of Polk County, Texas, 1861-1865". Ruth Peebles, Livingston, TX, Polk County Historical Commission, 1987.
- familysearch.org
- findagrave.com

TV Series

I have not talked about movies and TV shows for quite a long time. Today I mention a few of the latter ones. We have watched a lot of various TV series, some of them were more, some less interesting.

Here is a portion of those we have finished viewing and which we liked because of various reasons.

Bomb Girls (2012/2014) - quite an interesting story portraying women working at a munition factory in Canada during WW2. The plot shows the main characters from their personal angles unraveling their problems and secrets.

Cadfael (1994/1998) - about a medieval monk (played by Derek Jacobi) detective.

 

Doctors at Large - just a light comedy (1971). The 25 minute episodes were quite convenient to watch when we needed a light theme break.

 

La Otra Mirada (A Different View), made 2018/2019 - set in Spain in the twenties of the 20th century. Quite an involving plot, drama and suspense with personal touch, regarding life stories/disturbances experienced by the series main characters. It is a pity no season 3 was made. By the way, the Spanish language (Castillan Spanish ?) spoken by the actors sounds very pretty.

 

Some History

The Aces' War  (2017/2019) - WW1 history - presents the most known European pilots of that time. Well made but lacks information regarding the non-European pilots and their achievements. Available on Roku TV.

War of 1812 (1919 production) -  quite informative, gives detailed information about the circumstances that led to the war, its main officers, battles, and timeline.

Watch on Tubi:  https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/599197/s01-e01-when-i-meet-my-doom?start=true

 Crime and Drama type show

Men with a Camera - ancient TV drama (1958) - young Charles Bronson plays the main character Mike, a photographer who uses the most modern technology of that time while solving crime-type puzzles.

Credit: 

Photo from: https://canvas.tubitv.com/3f161973-8c94-4f80-a6fd-7a20b9ba39e1/smF11k?w=408&h=583

Frank Manka and Jadwiga Swiontek Family

The photo of Franciszek (Franz) Manka (Mańka) and Jadwiga (Hedwig) Swiontek (Świątek) Manka is displayed in the old museum in Panna Maria, TX.

As usual, I have tried to find out more about those people - the early settlers of Karnes County, TX.

According to the Internet Dictionary of Polish Surnames, nowadays there are 5,438 persons in Poland whose surname is "Mańka". Most of them (over 2,600) live in the Katowice region of Silesia*.

Franciszek (Franz) and his brother Józef (Josephus) Mańka were born in the village of Dziewkowice (nowadays Opole Voivodeship, Poland) on 28 March 1812. The boys were baptized in the parish church in Jemielnica. Their parents were Józef Mańka and Ewa Jarszinin. The godparents mentioned in the church record were Josephus Duda (garden warden), Matthias Anioł, and Marianna Marek (1).

Franz and Josephus' baptism record

What happened to Franciszek's brother Józef I do not know. Franz married Jadwiga Swiontek. The information regarding their children may not be complete. I only "found" four of them:

•     ? Peter - born 11 September 1842/d. 3 June 1843 (2),
•     Jadwiga - born/christened on 12 January 1845,
•     Franciszek Jr. - born in about 1848,
•     Jan - born 18 June 1851 (3).

The family left Silesia and relocated to Texas. After 9 weeks of the sea journey, they landed in Indianola. On 24 December 1854, together with other Silesian immigrants, they came to Karnes County, Texas.

⚭ Jadwiga (Hedwig) married Michał Jaskóła 12 June 1866. They had two girls:

•     Mary - born on 6 September 1867,
•     Karolina - born on 18 August 1869 (5).

♦  Michał Jaskóła died on 23 September 1869. Later, Hedwig Manka married  ⚭ Tomasz Urbańczyk. Their children were:

•     Hedwig - born on 28 September 1871 (6),
•     Frank - born on April 1876,
•     Katherine Hedwig - born on 24 November 1878,
•     Annie - born on 7 February 1881,
•     Alex - born on 11 July 1883 (7),
•     Nick - born on 12 Sept 1886 (8),
•     Frances - born on 9 March 1889 (9).

⚭ Frank (Franciszek) Jr. married Mary Catzer (Kotzur/Kocur) on 5 November 1872 (10).

•     Alexander - born on 30 October 1877 (11),
•     Veronika - born 10 February 1885 (12),
•     Gertrude - born 6 March 1888 (13),
•     Mary - born on 20 July 1890 (14),
•     Joe - born 17 March 1896 (15),
•     Henry - born on 10 Jan 1899 (16).

Frank and Mary's marriage record

 

⚭ John married Maria Banduch on 6 July 1875 (17) - they had ten children.

•     Peter - born about 1877,
•     Marcella Marianna - born 10 January 1878 (18),
•     Katherine Christina - born 13 March 1880 (19),
•     Mary D (Marianna Balbina) - born 24 March 1882 (20),
•     Paulina - born  3 June 1884,
•     John J - born 6 June 1886 (21),
•     Louis - born 5 August 1888 (22),
•     Hedwig - born 12 October 1890 (23),
•     Joe Charles - born 13 September 1893 (24),
•     Felix Joe - born 7 April 1897.

John and Maria's marriage certificate

Clipping source: Malec, Walter. The Tribune (Hallettsville, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, February 7, 1936, newspaper, February 7, 1936; Hallettsville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1036443/: accessed April 30, 2022), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Friench Simpson Memorial Library.

 ♦ Hedwig Swiontek Manka passed on 29 May 1886 at the age of 72 (25), her husband ♦ Franciszek Sr. died a few months later, on  24 February 1887 (26).

If you have more info regarding the family, please share it in the comments below. Thank you. 

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This post is part of our project "They Lived in Texas".

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Resources:
* https://nazwiska.ijp.pan.pl/haslo/show/id/829
 - findagrave.com

1. https://geneteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=gt&lang=pol&bdm=B&w=08op&rid=B&search_lastname=manka&search_name=franc&search_lastname2=&search_name2=&from_date=1810&to_date=
2. familysearch.org
3. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3H8-9DR : 20 April 2022), Frank Manka in entry for John Manka, 02 Feb 1936; citing certificate number 9626, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,784.
4. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52915586/mary-pawelek
5. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39262225/caroline-dragon
6. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3XB-83N : 20 February 2021), Hedwig Manka in entry for Hedwig Zbkiowski, 23 Jun 1966; citing certificate number 35673, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,979.
7. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3HQ-TS3 : 20 February 2021), Hedwig Manka in entry for Alex Urbanczyk, 13 Feb 1961; citing certificate number 16459, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,711.
8. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3Q1-3R3 : 20 February 2021), Hedwig Manka in entry for Nick Urbanczyk, 17 Feb 1953; citing certificate number 14935, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,113,849.
9. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3DY-VQ9 : 20 February 2021), Hedwig Manka in entry for Frances Bednorz, 30 Aug 1970; citing certificate number 65796, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,906.
10. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-JDYN : 23 February 2021), Frank Mank and Mary Catser, 05 Nov 1872; citing Marriage, citing Karnes, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 1,013,387.
11."Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3CH-7MB : 20 February 2021), Francis Manka in entry for Alex Manka, 31 Jan 1955; citing certificate number 13842, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,114,387.
12. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3SC-3VS : 20 February 2021), Frank Manka in entry for Veroneka Wiatrek, 26 Aug 1929; citing certificate number 41089, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,114,969.
13. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSBD-WHS : 20 February 2021), Frank Manka in entry for Gertrude Mzyk, 10 Apr 1966; citing certificate number 21377, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,975.
Mary 20 July 1890
14. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSB5-6QD : 20 February 2021), Frank Manka in entry for Mary M Gawlik, 23 Jul 1969; citing certificate number 46264, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,137,518.
15. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3C5-VB7 : 20 February 2021), Frank Manka in entry for Joe F Manka, 02 Oct 1951; citing certificate number 53120, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,074,869.
16. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K38W-RSX : 18 March 2022), Frank Manka in entry for Henry J Manka, 1975.
17. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-J1L5 : 23 February 2021), John Manka and Mary Bundock, 06 Jul 1875; citing Marriage, citing Karnes, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 1,013,387.
18. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3FH-CGH : 20 February 2021), John Manka in entry for Marcella Wiatrek, 30 Dec 1971; citing certificate number 94902, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,223,550.
19. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3X5-3NB : 20 February 2021), John Manka in entry for Katherine Lyssy, 11 May 1965; citing certificate number 31681, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,755.
20. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3SN-813 : 20 February 2021), John Manka in entry for Mary D Moczygemba, 27 Oct 1967; citing certificate number 65220, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,138,742.
21. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3S2-TRS : 20 February 2021), John Manka in entry for John J Manka, 05 Jan 1958; citing certificate number 4123, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,115,164.
22. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K38D-HSF : 20 February 2021), John Manka in entry for Louis B Manka, 05 Jul 1975; citing certificate number 53048, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,243,826.
23. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K345-D57 : 20 February 2021), John Manka in entry for Hedwig Manka Moczygemba, 22 Apr 1960; citing certificate number 24896, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,265.
24. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3H7-ZHH : 20 February 2021), John Manka in entry for Joe Charles Manka, 27 May 1961; citing certificate number 25731, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,744.
25. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63926948/hedwig-manka
26. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63926934/frank-manka

P for Primary School

The end of school and graduation season makes me think about the state school system I have gone through.

In Poland, at least at my school time, the end of the school year/ graduation was not a big deal. Adults worked, kids studied and everybody was expected to do their part well. No end-of-school parties, or big graduation ceremonies. You just brought your school certificate/diploma home, and your parents were pleased if the final results were good, but nobody made a fuss about that. The school year simply ended and kids were happy. That was all.

My kindergarten graduation day

The exception was the high school prom, I will write about that another time, though. This time I am going to focus on the primary school level.

I need to explain the difference in the meaning of the word "class" regarding the school system. Here in the US, a class = all the students of the same year. In Poland, a class is a formally assigned group of students of the same age/born in the same year. In my school time, it was about 30/33 kids in class. Later, the number was lowered to about 23. Anyhow, the students of the same class/group do the mandatory curriculum subjects together throughout all the years at a particular school. There are many classes/groups of students at each level/year. They are labeled with a number (=school year) and a letter (=group name), eg. class 1A = group A/grade 1.

In the US, each town/city has its independent school district. In Poland, there is one Department of Education (the equivalent of a school district) in each voivodeship (region/the equivalent of a US state). The departments in the country follow the regulations set by the Ministry of Education.

The law defines that for students aged 7 to 18, studying at school is mandatory. They cannot leave school/drop out before the age of 18. If they do quit their schooling, parents are fined then.

The school year starts on 1 September. Two months of summer holidays time finish then. School gala dress worn by kids on the first/last day of school and on school holidays is/was a white shirt and dark (black or navy blue) skirts/ trousers.

The annual photo day - grade 6. At that time, each class in our school had an emblem (a badge sewn on the white shirt). In our case, the emblem (a boat) was sea related. On a regular school day, as all the school kids at that time, we wore blue school uniforms that parents bought at clothes stores. The lady in the photo was our "home teacher" (sea below), she also taught us Arts.

Grade O (preschool) - kids at the age of 6 - organized at schools and kindergartens. This grade is optional, most children attend it, though.

Grade 1-3
The same teacher teaches one group of children for three years. When I worked at the early primary education level, I taught kids all the subjects including Maths, Polish (reading and writing), Environment (elements of Botany, Biology, and Geography), Music (singing, musical notation, and playing percussion instruments), Crafts, Arts, and PE.
These days, from the first year at school, the little ones are also taught a foreign language, usually English.

Grade 4
Transitional year. Subject teachers take over. The norm is that the same teacher works with a group of students till grade 8 - the end of the school.
Maths (including Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry) are taught by the same Math teacher,
Polish (all language areas, reading, writing, grammar, and literature) is taught by one teacher also. Other subjects we had were Biology, Geography, History, Arts, Crafts, and PE. One of the teachers who works with a particular class/group is also their "home teacher" who controls attendance and stays in touch with kids' parents.

Grade 5
More subjects were added: Physics, Chemistry, and Russian. Nowadays, Russian is not part of the mandatory curriculum. Instead of that another Western European language is added.

Grade 8
We had one more subject - Citizenship Education (something like Civics). Among others, we learned a lot about the history of our city.

The modern curriculum is a bit different, there is also IT, of course. As I mentioned before, all the curriculum subjects are mandatory. When I was a student, we had to get positive grades in all of them to pass. It is different now. Whoever failed, repeated a year. However, there is/was no summer school. Nowadays, the ones who fail, in order to pass/get to the next grade, do an extra exam at the beginning of the next school year.

Another difference - there is no recess of the type it is in American schools. Instead of that, there are 5, 10, minute breaks between the classes/lessons. Usually, there is also one 20-minute break during which lunch is served in the school canteen. Kids whose parents decided to pay for the meal, have it in the canteen. The weekly menu is prepared by a school dietitian. The meal is usually the same for all kids and consists of a bowl of soup, a main course, a fruit drink (based on cooked fruits) + a dessert (yogurt or fresh fruit). Other kids bring their lunch from home and have them in the school halls.
When I was a student, there were no vending machines at schools and no cafeteria. I did not like the school meal so I always had my sandwiches/lunch prepared by my mom We had no lunch boxes, though.

School photo day - grade 8

Music classes include singing, learning about the history of music (listening to various music pieces), and basics regarding musical notation. No bands and no instruments playing in regular schools. If one wants to play the violin, for example, they go to a local state music school and have to pass an entry exam to study there. Schools of that type have classes in the afternoons two or three times a week.

🕮

When I was a primary school student, all the learning was theoretical. In Chemistry and Physics classes we only observed science-related experiments done by the subject teacher. We had no labs, and no frogs cutting in Biology classes either.

There have always been Clubs (such as Sports or Choir) = optional classes that take place after school hours.

Oh, and one more thing. In Poland, there was/is no such thing as school detention time.
No school buses at least in city schools, either. Going on a field trip - a school rents a coach/paid by parents, using public transportation is also common.
No showers in older schools - you washed yourself at home.
No school mascots and no school sports gear that you get at school. The dark shorts and white T-shirts which we wore in PE classes were bought by parents in regular stores. Sometimes there was a problem with the white shirts, I do not know why they were not always available.

Instead of the yearbooks, there was an annual photo day. Class/group photos were taken then.
We had no school auditorium either. All gatherings were held at the gym.

Well, we did not have some things, but we did have fun and the quality of the school education was really good.

Any questions regarding the primary school level?

 🕮

This post is part of "My Polish Alphabet" which is about people, places, and things that come to my mind when I think about Poland.

About Happiness

A documentary about the search for Shangri-La made me think of the poem "A Bird is Sitting on A Tree" by Adam Asnyk (1838/1897), a Polish poet.

"Siedzi ptaszek na drzewie
I ludziom się dziwuje,
Że najmędrszy z nich nie wie,
Gdzie się szczęście znajduje. (...)
Trwonią życia dzień jasny
Na zabiegi i żale,
Tylko w piersi swej własnej
Nie szukają go wcale. (...)"

🐦

My free translation:

"A bird is sitting on a tree
And is surprised
That the wisest one of all people
Does not know where happiness is. (...)
They are wasting their time,
exerting themselves and complaining,
But in their own heart
They do not look for it (meaning happiness) at all.

The original words of the poem are "(...) But in their own chest...".

There are people who constantly need to go here and there, be part of a crowd to fill out the emptiness in themselves, or quiet down their thoughts. Wherever they go, they carry their problems as well, and wherever they are, it always seems to them the grass is always greener somewhere else. 

Even the above mentioned poet, who lived so long ago, realized that to find happiness we simply need to look into our inside.

Check out the video by Mr. Craig.

Charles Anton Giesecke & Family

Anton Karl Giesecke came to this world in Bockenem, Germany, in 1811. His parents were Heinrich Friedrich Giesecke (b. 1776 in Gittelde, Germany. 1831 in Bockenem), a merchant, and Luise Amalie Sanders (b. 1785/1871). Luise's father, Anton Christian Sander, was a merchant and Mayor of Elze, Germany.

Anton had three siblings:

• Friedrich (b. 1809), a merchant and cottager. He married Marie Basse in Bremen, in 1844. They had four children.
• Ernst Edward (b. 1815), and 
• Sophie Dorothea Friederike (b. 1819). She married Mr. Johann Georg Adolph Ludecke (b. 1803), who was Royal Hanoverian Tax Collector.

By 1834 Anton Karl had been in Texas. By 1841, the man managed to establish himself quite well. He shipped cotton to Germany and had 6 town lots in Brazoria (1). Besides that, Charles (Karl) had 1107 acres of land (2).

His brother Edward had lived in Brazoria as well. The brothers ran a merchandising business together. Edward ran a store, and Charles ordered goods for the store (mainly from Germany).

On ⚭ 26 July 1844 (3), Edward married 15-year-old Lisette Doby (b. in about 1829), a servant girl of Mecklenburg, Germany. The couple had one daughter (b. in about 1852), Lisette. 

After Edward's marriage, the brothers did not get on well as Charles disapproved of the younger brother's marital union. Soon, their business matters were separated, and Edward ran the store on his own.

Charles ran a farm. At first, he mainly grew tobacco. He also made and marketed cigars and ran a small distillery making whiskey from potatoes that were grown by local farmers.

On ⚭ 26 July 1845 (4), Charles married Miss Sarah May (Mary) Davis (b. 1825, in Missouri), the daughter of Thomas Kincheloe Davis*, land and cattle owner.

Around that time, the oldest Giesecke brother Friedrich served as a German immigration agent and he also visited Texas. Friedrich and his brothers made some attempts to influence German craftsmen regarding their immigration to Texas.

In 1847, Charles (Karl) owned 1511 acres of land, oxen, a cart, and hogs, Edward had 1 town and a merchandise store there (5,6).

Soon, in ♢1848, Charles' first son Thomas Davis was born. 

On ♢ 8 June 1850, daughter Frederika (Reca) was born (7).

Census, 14 November 1850, 38-year-old Charles A, 24-year-old Sarah M, and their two children were recorded in Brazoria County. The record says, that Frederike's other name was Dorothea (8).

♢ 18 November 1852, Cornelius joined the family (9).
♢ 1855, another daughter of Charles and Sarah was born. They called her Jane.

In ♦ 1856, Charles' brother Edward passed. He had been in poor health for some time.

 A note from a local newspaper ("Civilian and Gazette"), 31 August 1858. The spelling of Charles Anton's surname was misprinted. 

 

Newspaper clipping: Civilian and Gazette. Weekly. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 22, Ed. 1 Tuesday, August 31, 1858, newspaper, August 31, 1858; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth177412/: accessed June 2, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

♢ 20 July 1859, Henrietta (Netti) was born to Charles and Sarah (10).

 

12 June 1860, Charles Anton and his family were recorded during the census in Brazoria County, Post Office Columbia. Jane was still alive then (11). When the girl passed, it is not known.

♢ 23 March 1863, Charles Edward, the youngest son was born (12).

In that year, Charles Giesecke owned 3198 acres of land in Brazoria (13), he was also a cattle raiser.

♦ Charles Anton Giesecke passed in 1865 at the age of about 55. His brother Friedrich died in Germany around the same year.

After Charles' passing

♡ Frederike married Joseph A Rhodes on 15 June 1871, in Brazoria (14).

In 1880, Thomas (age 30) was the head of the Giesecke household. His mother (age 54), sister Henriette (age 20), and brother Charles E (age 16) lived in the family home in Justice Precinct #2, Brazoria, TX as well (15).

♡ Thomas Davis married Eliza Jane Clark on 3 December 1894, in Houston, Harris, TX (16).

Sarah May Davis Giesecke lived till the age of 70. She passed on ♦ 2 July 1895.

♡ Cornelius married Emma Rhodes.
♡ Henriette married William Overton King in 1905.

🎕

Charles Anton's paternal ancestors

✤ grandparents
Johannes Zacharias Giesecke (b. 1729/d.1796, farmer and trader + wife Johanne Christiane Boehlke (b. 1742), married in 1766, in Windhausen, Germany

✤ great-grandparents
Hans Juergen Giesecke (b. 1690/d. 1749), Burger with brewing rights, farmer of Gittelde, Germany + wife Anna Orthia Muegge

✤ great-great grandparents
Hans Giesecke (b. 1657/d. 1714), blacksmith of Gittelde + wife Anna Dorothea Timme (d. 1718), married in 1689, in Gittelde

🎕

* Thomas Kincheloe Davis was related to William Kinchen Davis

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This post is part of our series "They Lived in Texas".

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Sources:

• "German & Texans in the Days of the Lone Star Republic", Walter Struve, University of Texas Press, Austin, 1996.  
• Findagrave.com
  

  1. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBMB-8WD : 20 February 2021), C* A Giesecke, 1841.
  2. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBMB-ZMD : 20 February 2021), Chas A Geseiche, 1840.
  3. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLCL-HX8 : 10 March 2021), Edward Gieseke and Lisette Doby, 21 Oct 1844; citing Brazoria, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,008,075.
  4. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MN-P6G : 22 January 2020), Charles A. Gieseke, 1845.
  5. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBMB-6KF : 20 February 2021), Chas A Giescke, 1847.
  6. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBMB-62W : 20 February 2021), Chas A Geiseke, 1847.
  7. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3MK-6LP : 5 April 2023), C A Giesecke in entry for Reca G Rhodes, 1939.
  8. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLV-S27 : 23 December 2020), Charles A Giesecke, Brazoria, Brazoria, Texas, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  9. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K34D-LKF : 6 April 2023), C A Giesecke in entry for Cornelius Giesecke, 1934.
  10. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3S9-4QR : 27 March 2023), Charles A Gieseche in entry for Netti G King, 1949.
  11. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFY-SCH : 18 February 2021), Jane Giesecke in entry for C A Giesecke, 1860.
  12. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K39N-77P : 5 April 2023), Chas A Giesecke in entry for Charles Edward Giesecke, 1946.
  13. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBMB-YP5 : 20 February 2021), Chas A Geisecke, 1863.
  14. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLH1-Z5V : 10 March 2021), Joseph A Rhodes and Fredrica Giesecke, 15 Jun 1871; citing Brazoria, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,008,071.
  15. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFFP-QS9 : 15 January 2022), Henrietta Geisekie in household of Thomas Geisekie, Justice Precinct 2, Brazoria, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
  16. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2ZY-CBQ6 : 22 July 2021), T D Giesecke and Eliza J Clark, 03 Dec 1894; citing Marriage, citing Houston, Harris, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 25,226.

  • Photos taken during our walk on 31 July 2020.