Introduction

Two, three and four generations ago a large number of people from many European countries sought a new life in America and immigrated to the United States in the late 1800's and early 1900's.  Many immigrants came from Poland which was still in the state of partition by Russia, Prussia (Germany) and Austria.  At that time the immigrants settled in specific areas in the United States and formed ethnic communities.  My Polish grandparents were part of that immigration, arriving in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the early 1900's.  

COMMUNITY:   

For the most part, my grandparents settled in the Polish community in "North Minneapolis".  The specific community centered on the Polish Catholic church and grade school in the area.  The church was St. Philip's, built in 1906, and the pastor was Father Frank Rakowski (1919-1962).  Click St. Philips Church for a photograph of the old church, as we knew it. 

The church was an important part of our family's life and at the time many Polish customs were practiced there and many of the traditional hymns were sung in Polish, including the thousand year old Polish Christmas cradle song called "Lulaj-ze Jezuniu" the melody Chopin incorporated in his Scherzo in B Minor, Opus 20.  The old St. Philip's Church was replaced in 1964 with a new liturgical church.  

GRANDPARENTS:  

My grandparents, from my father's side, whose surnames were Rys and Głowczak settled in this Polish community on the north side of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Click Jan Rys Family for an early photograph.  My father was raised in this community.  

My Rys grandparents purchased a house on May, 1912 at 23rd Avenue and 2nd Street, near Broadway and Washington Ave.  Click 2311 2nd Street for a photograph.  For a photograph of our backyard click backyard for a look.

My grandparents, from my mother's side, whose surnames were Jarosz and Maciaszek (Americanized to Macosek), settled nearer downtown Minneapolis on the north side.  Click Lawrence Maciaszek Family for an early photograph.  My mother was raised there and attended Basilica grade school.

ELLIS ISLAND RECORDS:

I located three records in the Ellis Island database.  One record for each of my grandfathers and one record for a paternal great-grandmother.  Some Ellis Island database material is incorporated into this website and can be accessed by the three links below.  The Ellis Island database is located at www.ellisisland.org

1) Jan Rys, my paternal grandfather, arrived at Ellis Island aboard the ship called the Kronprinz Wilhelm (Crown Prince Wilhelm) from Bremen, Germany on May 28, 1902  .

 CLICK Jan Rys for a view of the Ellis Island record and for a picture of the ship called Kronprinz Wilhelm.

2) Lawrence Macosek (Wawzsyniec Maciaszek), my maternal grandfather, arrived at Ellis Island aboard the ship called the Barbarossa from Bremen, Germany on August 3, 1910.

CLICK Lawrence Macosek for a view of the Ellis Island record and for a picture of the ship called Barbarossa.

3) Katarina Glowczak, a paternal great-grandmother arrived at Ellis Island aboard the ship called the Finland from Anterp, Belgium on August 29, 1905.

CLICK Katarina Glowczak for a view of the Ellis Island record and for a picture of the ship called Finland.

PARENTS:  

My Father's name was Anthony (Tony) Rys and my mother's name was Mary E. Macosek.  They raised three children: Joanne Rys, John Rys (myself) and Mary Lou Rys.  For an early photograph click Anthony Rys family.

My own family has five members, myself, my wife Judy, and our three children. 

PHOTOGRAPHS:

For a lager picture click on the image.  After viewing the photograph, use back button to return to this page

Original Home	Backyard of Original Home	St. Philip's Church
Home at 2311 2nd Street North on the north side of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  I assume my grandparents are on the porch.	John Rys (That's me in the center) growing up in the Polish community  on the north side of Minneapolis, Minnesota.	St. Philip's Church on the north side of Minneapolis.  The church was on the second floor and the grade school was on the first floor.
(Photo taken circa 1930)	(Photo taken circa 1947)	(Photo taken in 1930-1940)

Jan Rys Family	Lawrence Maciaszek (Macosek) Family	Anthony Rys Family
Photo shows l-r:  Jan Rys, Teresa Rys (Sister Florentine, OSF), Anthony (Tony) Rys, Louise (Glowczak) Rys, and Magdelene Rys.	Photo shows back row l-r Lawrence Macosek, Jr., Rose (Jarosz) Macosek, Elizabeth (Dean) Macosek, Clarence Dean.  Seated l-r Lawrence Macosek Sr., Mary (Rys) Macosek.	Photo shows back row l-r Joanne Rys, Mary (Macosek) Rys, Anthony (Tony) Rys.  Front row l-r  Mary Lou Rys and (myself) John Rys.
(Photo taken circa 1914)	(Photo taken circa 1934)	(Photo taken circa 1946)

DEDICATION:

This Home page is dedicated to my children, my sisters, nephews, nieces, and other relatives interested in their family roots and heritage. 

Now we, some of the second and third generation offspring seek to recapture some of our roots and we seek to understand our grandparents and great-grandparents, those who took a perilous voyage to find and begin a new life.  We thank them for their individual hardships and sacrifices.  In the hopes that I can find more of this past, I place my roots, as best as I can determine them, on the this home page.