Even when children make it to adulthood, there is no guarantee that their lives will go on.
In the 1930 census, Joseph and Mary Solwoski were found at 25 Jones Street in Buffalo, New York, with their family:
Joseph Solwoski, age 46
- Mary Solwoski, age 36
- John Solwoski, age 14
- Stella Solwoski, age 12
- Joseph Solwoski, age 10
- Walter Solwoski, age 8
- William Solwoski, age 6
But in 1940, there was no mention of their son John at 25 Jones Street:
Joseph Solowski, age 55
- Mary Solowski, age 45
- Stella Solowski, age 22
- Josephine Solowski, age 20
- Walter Solowski, age 18
- William Solowski, age 16
The Buffalo Courier Express explained why on February 12, 1939.
A similar article appeared 13 Feb 1939 in Dziennik dla Wszystkich, “Everybody’s Daily,” the Buffalo, New York, Polish daily newspaper from 1911 to 1957.

Solowski Died in Emergency Hospital, Dziennik dla Wszystkich, 13 Feb 1939
A death notice for Jan Solowski was published in Dziennik dla Wszystkich on 11 Feb 1939.
On Saturday, the 11th of February, 1939, at 7:50 in the morning, he departed this earth after receiving the sacraments.
In holy remembrance of
Jan Solowski
The late Jan was born in Buffalo, N.Y. He was 22 years old when he died.
Funeral services will be on Tuesday, February 14th at 9:30 a.m. from the house of mourning at 25 Jones St, to Precious Blood Church at 10:00 a.m., and then on to St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Cemetery.
For this sad ritual family and friends are invited in mourning.
Józef and Marjanna Solowski, parents; Stanisława and Józefa, sisters; Władisław and Bolesław, brothers; together with family.
Updated 28 Apr 2019 with Polish Dziennik dla Wszystkich newspaper items.
Comments on: "John Solowski 1939 Motor Accident in Buffalo, New York" (3)
[…] Other family researchers have not been as fortunate. Some Polish immigrants, especially from Galicia, were less likely to be literate, and more likely to have their names spelled phonetically in various ways. My grandmother’s sister’s husband was Mastyka, Mateka, Mastykasz, Mastykaz, and finally Mastykarz and Masters. Their cousin married Solecki, Szulowski, other variations, and finally, Solowski. […]
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[…] SOLOWSKI was born on 22 Oct 1915 in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States. Jan died of injuries suffered in a January 18 auto accident on 11 Feb 1939 at the age of 23 at Emergency Hospital in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States. In English, his […]
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[…] 1 January 1946. He was buried at Saint Stanislaus Cemetery in Cheektowaga, Section FF. His nephew Jan Solowski died in 1939, and was also buried in Section […]
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