Jan Labus & Paulina Bronder

We found the photo of Jan Labus and his wife Paulina on the wall of the old Polish Heritage Museum in Panna Maria, TX.

 

Jan's parents were Adam Labus (born 1 July 1829, Jasiona, Silesia, Poland) and Józefa Knopp (born 24 January 1821, Jasiona, Poland). Possibly the original spelling of the surname Labus was Łabuś.

Jan had two younger brothers, Ignatz (born 3 February 1851, Jasiona, PL/died 20 Sept. 1852, Jasiona) and Filip (born 1854/died 21 December 1854, Jasiona).

Jan Labus came to Galveston, Texas with his parents on board the vessel "Weser", on 3 June 1855 (1). They were accompanied by his uncle Franek (Adam's brother), his wife, and children. They settled in Panna Maria, Karnes, TX.

Soon, Jan's siblings were born:

• Franciszek (Francis) - on 8 March 1857,
• Magdalena Maria - baptized on 24 July 1857, Panna Maria Catholic Church, and
• Konstantyna, who was baptized at the same place on 12 April 1862.

👉 By 1860 Jan's father, Adam, had cultivated 25 acres of improved land. Eleven years later, on 30 September, Adam Labus purchased 10 acres of land on the Cibolo River in Panna Maria.

Jan married ⚭ Apolonia Paulina Bronder on 10 February 1874 (2). She was born on 9 February 1855 in Panna Maria, to Simon Bronder and Julianna Poloczek. The baby girl was the first child born in Panna Maria.

Paulina's parents were married in Wisnicze parish, Poland in 1852.

🏠 The young couple, Jan and Apolonia Paulina, settled in Justice Precinct #2, Karnes, TX (3).

Children were born to Jan and Apolonia in Panna Maria:

♦ Marta - 6 November 1874,
♦ Gertruda - 10 January 1876 (died by 1880?),
♦ Jan - 8 March 1877 (?),
♦ Agnes P - 13 June 1879,
♦ Marianna - 24 March 1881,
♦ Kunegunda Helena - 2 March 1883,
♦ Albina - 1 December 1884,
♦ Sophia - 12 May 1887,
♦ Pelagia - 8 June 1889,
♦ Philomena - 25 June 1891,
♦ Magdalena - 19 July 1893,
♦ Jerome - 22 July 1895, and
♦ Vincent Joseph - 19 July 1898.

Jan's mother, Józefa, died on ♦ 7 September 1892. His father, Adam, passed on ♦ 10 May 1898.

⚭ Marta married Alexander Korzekwa on 14 November 1899 (4).

⚭ Agnes P married VS Kowalik on 25 November 1902,
⚭ Marianna married Frank Mzyk on 4 February 1904 (5),

⚭ Albina married Stanislaus Moczygemba on 25 October 1904 (6),

⚭ Kunegunda Helena married Michael Moczygemba on 19 November 1907 (7),

⚭ Sophia married Simon Brysch on 25 November 1908 (8),

⚭ Pelagia married W F Gawlik in 1912,
⚭ Jerome married Gertrude Elizabeth Mika in 1918,
⚭ Philomena married Paul Banduch,
⚭ Magdalena married Izydor Gawlik,
⚭ Jerome married Gertrude Elizabeth Mika in 1918,
⚭ Vincent Joseph married Irene Pollok.

John Labus passed on ♦ 12 October 1909 (9). In 1920, his wife Pauline lived in Hobson with her son Vincent and his wife Irene (10).

 

Apolonia Pauline Labus left this world on ♦ 13 March 1929 (11).

Sources:
Silesian Texans
familysearch.org

Geneteka

1. Galveston Immigration Database
2. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-JD1N: Mon Oct 23 13:50:24 UTC 2023), Entry for John Labus and Paulina Brouder, 10 Feb 1874.
3. "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNR-48C : Wed Oct 04 08:24:27 UTC 2023), Entry for John Labus and Apolonia Labus, 1880.
4. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-JRFB : Mon Oct 23 13:54:23 UTC 2023), Entry for Alexander Korgekera and Marta Labus, 14 Nov 1899.
5. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-JBYG : Mon Oct 23 13:10:49 UTC 2023), Entry for Frank Mzyk and Mary Labus, 04 Feb 1902.
6. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-JT6Z : Mon Oct 23 13:07:09 UTC 2023), Entry for Stanik Or Stanislaus Maczygeniba and Albina Labus, 25 Oct 1904.
7. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-JB8V : Mon Oct 23 13:05:54 UTC 2023), Entry for Michael Moczygemba and Conegonda Labus, 19 Nov 1907.
8. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-JVKQ : Mon Oct 23 13:08:08 UTC 2023), Entry for Sam Brysch and Sophie Labus, 25 Nov 1908.
9. "Texas Death Index, 1903-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZV9-27W : 24 May 2014), John Labus, 12 Oct 1909; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2006); citing certificate number 36738, Karnes, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin.
10. "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC9X-WK6 : Fri Dec 08 02:00:11 UTC 2023), Entry for Vincent Labus and Irene Labus, 1920.
11. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3QK-XBK : Tue Nov 28 01:49:26 UTC 2023), Entry for Paulina Labus and Simon Bronder, 13 Mar 1929.

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.

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. 

---

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

---

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

Polish Heritage Center in Panna Maria

We came back to Panna Maria after nine years, to participate in the opening ceremony of the Polish Heritage Center. On the day of the first visit there, during our honeymoon, we met very few people, maybe four. The second visit was very different as quite a crowd gathered for the opening day celebrations.

 

The event and the call were quite meaningful to us, and they did appear to be full of coincidences or some kind of messages from above. Well, we knew nothing about the origins of the Center besides the fact that the first Polish Silesian settlers in Texas founded Panna Maria. During the opening ceremony, we learned that it was Bishop Emeritus John Yanta who had given the idea of creating the Polish Heritage place. The thought came to him nine years ago - at the same time, when I was still in Poland, we started preparing for our life together and initiated the legal procedure of my coming here.

After the official part, there was sightseeing and looking around time, and the artistic program presented by the Polish folk group from Dallas. Quite accidentally, we met an old acquaintance, who was that group member. The three of us had used to be part of the original Polish-American Dance Ensemble which had its base in the Dallas area.

We also re-experienced the places that we visited during our first Panna Maria call - the old Pilarczyk store and visitors center, the old church, and the school that years ago, was the only museum place there.

 

Some things have changed within those years. New statues near the church had been founded. We also noticed many changes in the Panna Maria area, including the oil rigs that had emerged around.

I like that part of the Heritage display. However, it is a bit confusing. The nun is pointing at the word "słoń" (=elephant). The word "koń" (=horse) is next to it, to the left. Was it meant to be like that?

The Polish Heritage Center is quite an impressive and interesting place. We were glad we could be in Panna Maria on that special day. Another coincidence was that I had not looked for the information about the place/event. I simply did not know it was being built. It found me on its own, by chance. Or maybe not. Maybe we were meant to be there.

More about our first visit to Panna Maria, years ago, in the old post here.