Rev. Leon Moczygemba

Quite a lot has been written about the Moczygemba family, who were some of the first Polish settlers in Texas. Even more has been told about Father Leopold Moczygemba, the man who brought those people to America.

I have checked the old records to see what information they give about Rev. Leon Moczygemba.

 

Leon Vitalis Stanislaus Moczygemba came to this world in Panna Maria, TX, on 8 April 1894 (1). Six years later, little Leon lived with his parents Jacob (age 43) his mother Anna (age 38), and siblings Julia (age 17), Izydor (age 15), Tom (age 13), Dorota (age 11), and Elias (age 2) in Justice Precinct # 2, Karnes County, TX. Mr. Jacob Moczygemba was a farmer (2).

Leon's parents*

In 1910, a Census clerk found the family in Justice Precinct #8, Karnes County. Tom and Dorota had already left the parents' home and another sibling, Eugenia arrived. Leon's paternal grandparents Joseph (age 97) and grandmother Karoline (age 76) lived with the family as well (3).

By June 1917, Leon had been a theology student at St. Meinrad Archabbey in Harrison Township, Spencer County, Indiana (4).

 

 

1919 - Rev. Leo Moczygemba was ordained into the priesthood. I do not know the history of his pastoral service.

According to the records, the man traveled (from 22 June to 5 July 1929) from San Francisco to Honolulu, on the vessel SS President Monroe. His travel companion was his uncle, Thomas J. Moczygemba (5).

It seems the two men visited Germany in 1932 (6). They sailed on the ship SS Europa from Bremen to New York (1 September/7 September 1932). On 8 September, they boarded SS President Adams in New York and arrived in San Francisco on the 27th day of the same month.
1940 Census - Rev. Leo Moczygemba lived and worked at Holy Trinity School in Falls City, Justice Precinct #2, Karnes, TX (7).

The last public record is of his death, which came on 17 November 1959. Rev. Leon Stanislaus Moczygemba lived 65 years. The man was buried at the Catholic church cemetery in Panna Maria, TX.

 

Clipping source: Sulak, John L. The Fayette County Record (La Grange, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, November 20, 1959, newspaper, November 20, 1959; La Grange, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth988894/: accessed February 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fayette Public Library, Museum and Archives.

* The photos of Re. Leon S Moczygemba and his parents are displayed at the old Polish Heritage Museum in Panna Maria, TX

Sources:
1. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K34X-9PN : 20 February 2021), Leo S Moczygemba, 17 Nov 1959; citing certificate number 59829, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,115,990.
2. "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3PQ-DD5 : 30 November 2021), Leon Maczygemba in entry for Jacob Maczygemba, 1900.
3. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2SQ-C1W : accessed 7 February 2023), Leon Moczygemba in household of Jacob Moczygemba, Justice Precinct 8, Karnes, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 110, sheet 15A, family 244, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1567; FHL microfilm 1,375,580.
4. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:78Z2-BC2M : 29 December 2021), Leo Stanislaus Moczygemba, 1917-1918.
5. "Hawaii, Honolulu Passenger Lists, 1900-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9Z-XWRW : 24 March 2022), Leo V Moosygemba, 1929; citing Ship , NARA microfilm publication A3422 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24JG-25M : 2 March 2021), Leo Meczygemba, 1932; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW2Z-1GG : 29 January 2020), Leo Moczygemba, Falls City, Justice Precinct 2, Karnes, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 128-4, sheet 3A, line 25, family 46, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4084.