My Family History Research

Family stories often have some truth in them.

When my mother’s sister Helena Skrok married Jan Szalkiewicz in Buffalo, New York, in 1937, the guest list published in the Dziennik dla Wszystkich,“Everybody’s Daily,” the Buffalo, New York, Polish daily newspaper from 1911 to 1957, included “pani [Mrs.] Prus and H. [Helena?] Prus.”

This supported what I had been told in the 1990s when I started asking my parents and other relatives questions about family history. I was told my maternal grandmother Agnieszka Kapuścińska Skrok Kiec was related to a family of Pruś Polish relatives who came to western New York.

So it was not a surprise to see that when my great aunt Maryanna Kapuścińska came to America in 1912, the ship manifest said that she was going to her brother-in-law Józef Prus at 482 Fillmore Street in Buffalo, New York. Jan Prus joined his brother Józef in Buffalo, and then Jan Pruś‘ wife Urszula and their daughter Helena came on the S. S. Zeeland that sailed from Antwerp on July 26th and arrived in New York on August 5th, 1913.

I wrote stories of the Pruś brothers and about the Pruś family in the old country in my blog at

• To America and Back Again
• Prus Relatives?

But I was not able to identify these Pruś relatives in America.

DNA Connections

In the summer of 2022, I found new clues to the Pruś family in my DNA matches. Several Ancestry family trees showed DNA matches who were the descendants of John Pruś/Persh and Ursula Gach from Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York. Our shared matches also included descendants of my grandmother’s sister. It suggested a biological connection to my maternal grandmother’s family, so I wanted to research more.

Prush / Persh Family in Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York

In Polish, the letter ś is a soft “sh” sound. The Polish name Pruś sounds like “Prush.”

The Pruś family settled in Gainesville, Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York, appearing in the 1915, 1920, 1925, and 1930 census.

In 1930, the entire family lived on Main Street in Gainesville, Wyoming, New York.

Jan Pruś and Urszula Gach had the following children:

• Helena Pruś, born 20 May 1907, Gnieszowice, Koprzywnica, Sandomierz, Radom, Congress Poland, Russia; married Merle Stark, 26 Jan 1946, Gainesville, Wyoming, New York; she died 28 Jan 1975, Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York.
• Leokadia Pruś, born 28 Jan 1915, Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York. A diminutive for the Polish name Leokadia is Ludja. Ludja married Joseph N. Huppe, 26 Dec 1931, Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York; married Francis F. Vega, 8 Nov 1952 in Maine; she died 11 Aug 2007, Longwood, Seminole, Florida.
• Maryanna Pruś, born 14 Sep 1920, Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York; married John Kerezman, 28 Sep 1963, Gainesville, Wyoming, New York; she died 1987.
• Jan Pruś was born on 27 Mar 1925 in Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York; he died 22 Feb 2003 in Batavia, Genesee, New York.
• Genowefa Pruś, born 5 Jul 1926, Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York; married Fabian Kuretich, 1951; she died 30 Jan 2014, Burnsville, Dakota, Minnesota.
• Zofia Anna Pruś, born 15 Aug 1929; married Robert Vesper Nugent, 13 Jan 1951, Gainesville, Wyoming, New York; she died 3 May 2008.

John Prush died in Silver Springs 24 February 1935. His obituary was published in the Rochester Times Union, Rochester, New York, 27 February 1935, Page 22, column 2, under “Daily Record of Deaths in Rochester Area.”

John Prush
(Silver Springs) John Prush, 63, died at his home in North Main Street, Sunday, Feb. 24. 1935. He was born in Wegzyce, Poland, June 8, 1881, and was married Jan. 27, 1906, to Miss Ursula Goch. Coming to this country in 1913, they located in Buffalo. Three years later they came to Silver Springs, where he since had been employed in the Worcester salt refinery. Surviving, besides the widow, are six children, Mrs. Joseph Huppe of Saco, Me., and Helen, Mary, John, Genevieve and Ann, at home; two brothers and a sister in Poland. Funeral services were to be held in St. Mary’s Church today at 10 o’clock a. m., the pastor, the Rev. Charles E. Kemp, officiating. Interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

“John Prush,” Rochester Times Union, Rochester, New York, 27 February 1935, Page 22, column 2

His obituary in the Perry Herald, Perry, New York, 27 February 1935, page two, had other details.

John Prush passed away in his home in North Main street, this village, Sunday morning, Feb. 24, at 9:30, following an illness of only four days, caused from an attack of pneumonia.
He was born June 8, 1881, in Wegzyce, Poland and was married to Miss Ursula Goch, January 27, 1906. They came to this country August 2, 1913, locating for a time in Buffalo. Eighteen years ago they moved to Silver Springs, since which time he has been a faithful employee in the Worcester Salt refinery.
He is survived by his wife and six children: Mrs. Joseph Huppe of Saco, Maine and Helen, Mary, John, Genevieve and Ann, at home, and two brothers and a sister in Gniesownice, Poland.
Funeral services will be held Thursday morning at ten o’clock in St. Mary’s church, the pastor, the Rev. Charles E. Kemp, officiating,  Burial will be in St. Mary’s cemetery.

“John Prush,” Perry Herald, Perry, New York, 27 February 1935, Page two

In later years the family preferred the Americanized spelling Persh.

Ursula Persh died in Gainesville on 29 October 1964. Her obituary was published in the Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, 30 October 1964, Page 42.

Many members of the Pruś/Persh family were buried in Saint Mary Cemetery in Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York.

Pruś Family in Koprzywnica, Radom, Russian Poland

Jan Pruś and Urszula Gach were married in Koprzywnica, Sandomierz, Radom, Congress Poland, Russia on 26 June 1906. Since this area was under Russian occupation, official records were kept in Russian.

#34

Jan Pruś and Urszula Gach

Took place in the village of Koprzywnica on 13/26 June 1906 at 10 o’clock in the morning. We announcing that in the presence of the witnesses Bernard Gach, age 48, and Jacób Lis, age 48, both farmers, living in the village of Gnieszowice, on this day a religious marital union was concluded between Jan Pruś, a bachelor, a retired soldier, 26 years old, born in the village of Węgrce of Obrazów parish and living in the village of Trzykosy, son of late parents Pawel and Józefa, née Świerszcz, the spouses Pruś, and Urszula Gach, a maiden, 20 years old, born and living with mother in the village of Gnieszowice, daughter of Mateusz, already deceased, and still alive Julianna, née Kapuścińska, the spouses Gach. This wedding was preceded by three announcements of the banns published in the local parish church of Koprzywnica on 14/26 May, 21 May/3 June, 28 May/10 June of the current year. Permission for the wedding was given to the bride by her mother, who was present on the wedding ceremony, verbally. The religious wedding ceremony was performed by a priest Tomasz Chakulski. The newlyweds stated that they did not conclude a prenuptial agreement. This Act was read aloud to illiterate people present and signed by us only.

1906 Marriage of Jan Pruś and Urszula Gach, Koprzywnica, Sandomierz, Radom, Congress Poland, Russia

Jan Pruś was born on 29 May 1879 in Węgrce, Obrazów, Sandomierz, Radom, Congress Poland, Russia. The village is now known as Węgrce Panieńskie. His parents Paweł Pruś and Józefa Śwircz were married on 16 February 1863 in Obrazów, Radom, Congress Poland, Russia.

#6

Węgrce

Date of record: Obrazów, 16 February 1863

Groom: Paweł Pruś, bachelor, son of the late Jakub and Franciszka nee Marzec, the married couple Pruś, age 20, born and residing in Węgrce on the farm

Witnesses: Franciszek Pruś, day-laborer, age 45, and Jan Cichoń, farmer, age 33, in village Węgrce residing

Bride: Miss Józefa Śwircz, daughter of Dominik and the late Katarzyna nee Cichoń, the married couple Śwircz, born and living in village Węgrce with father, age 20

Banns: 25 January, 1 & 8 February

Married by Father Józef ?, assistant pastor of parish Obrazów

Abstract, 1863 Marriage of Paweł Pruś and Józefa Śwircz, Obrazów, Sandomierz, Radom, Congress Poland, Russia

Urszula Gach was born 20 October 1885. Her parents Mateusz Gach and Julianna Kapuścińska were married 21 September 1880 in Koprzywnica, Sandomierz, Radom, Congress Poland, Russia.

No. 26

Mateusz Gach and Julianna Kapuścińska

Took place in the village of Koprzywnica on 9/21 September 1880 at 10 o’clock in the morning. We announcing that in the presence of the witnesses Kazimierz Kapuściński, age 40, and Jacób Rozwadowski, age 36, both peasants, living in the village of Gnieszowice, on this day a religious marital union was concluded between Mateusz Gach, a bachelor, a peasant, 25 years old, born and living in the village of Gnieszowice, son of late parents Antoni and Józefa, née Bogoń, the spouses Gach, and Julianna Kapuścińska, a maiden, 20 years old, born and living with parents in the village of Gnieszowice, daughter of Kazimierz and Regina, née Zybala, the spouses Kapuściński. This wedding was preceded by three announcements of the banns published in the local parish church of Koprzywnica on 24 August/5 September, 31 August/12 September, 7/19 September of the current year. Permission for the wedding was given to the bride by her father, who was present on the wedding ceremony, verbally. The religious wedding ceremony was performed by priest Józef Janiszewski. The newlyweds stated that they did not conclude a prenuptial agreement. This Act was read aloud to illiterate people present and signed by us only.

1880 Marriage of Mateusz Gach and Julianna Kapuścińska, Koprzywnica, Sandomierz, Radom, Congress Poland, Russia

The ancestors of Jan Pruś and Urszula Gach are shown here:

Family Relationships

My great grandfather Wincenty Kapuściński was Julianna Kapuścińska‘s younger brother, so my grandmother Agnieszka Kapuścińska and Urszula Gach were first cousins.

Agnieszka and Urszula‘s children were second cousins, and I am third cousin to Urszula Gach Pruś‘ grandchildren.

As I had been told, my grandmother and her sister were related to the Pruś/Persh family of western New York!

Polish Villages

Today, Węgrce Panieńskie, Obrazów, Koprzywnica, and Gnieszowice are in Sandomierz, Świętokrzyskie, Poland, as seen on this Google map.

Sources

• Dziennik dla Wszystkich [Everybody’s Daily], Buffalo, New York, 3 November 1937, Page 14. Dziennik Dla Wszystkich = Polish Everybody’s Daily. (Buffalo, N.Y.) 1907-1957, November 03, 1937, Page 14, Image 14. https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83045091/1937-11-03/ed-1/seq-14.pdf
• “Pani Janowa Szalkiewicz,” Dziennik dla Wszystkich [Everybody’s Daily], Buffalo, New York, 11 April 1938, Page 5. https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83045091/1938-04-11/ed-1/seq-5/
• New York State, Department of Health, Vital Records Index, Death, Certificate Number:  13751, John Persh, 24 February 1935, Albany, New York.
• John Prush, Rochester Times Union, Rochester, New York, 27 February 1935, Page 22, column 2. Daily Record of Deaths in Rochester Area.
• John Prush, Perry Herald, Perry, New York, 27 February 1935, Page two.
• “Find a Grave,” database, Find a Grave (findagrave.com: accessed 19 August 2022), John Persh; citing cemetery records.
• Geneteka, 1906 34 Jan  Prus  Urszula  Gach  Koprzywnica.
• Genealodzy, 1906 34 Jan  Prus  Urszula  Gach  Koprzywnica.
• Genealogical Translations, “Genealogical Translations,” database, private Facebook group, Facebook (facebook.com: accessed 20 August 2022), .
• 1915 New York State Census, New York State, population schedule, City: Silver Springs; County: Wyoming, Page: 06, John Pursch; FHL microfilm .
• 1920 Federal Census, New York, population schedule, Gainesville, Wyoming, New York, enumeration district (ED) 203, Page: 11B, John Persh; digital images, National Archives (online : accessed 22 August 2022); Fourteenth Census of the United States.
• 1925 New York State Census, New York, population schedule, City: Gainesville; County: Wyoming, Page: 6, John Persh; FHL microfilm New York State Archives.
• 1930 Federal Census, New York, population schedule, Gainesville, Wyoming, New York, enumeration district (ED) 0017, Page: 5B, John Prush; digital images,  (online : accessed 22 August 2022); Fifteenth Census of the United States.
• Geneteka, 1885 184 Urszula  Gach    Koprzywnica Koprzywnica.
• Genealodzy, 1885 184 Urszula  Gach    Koprzywnica Koprzywnica.
• Genealogical Translations, “Genealogical Translations,” database, private Facebook group, Facebook (facebook.com: accessed 31 August 2022), 1885 184 Urszula Gach Koprzywnica.
• 1940 Federal Census, New York, population schedule, Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York, enumeration district (ED) 61-20, Page: 9A, Ursula Persh; digital images,  (online : accessed 22 August 2022); Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940.
• 1950 Federal Census, New York, population schedule, Silver Springs, Wyoming, New York, enumeration district (ED) 61-24, Sheet Number: 16, Wrissa Pearl; digital images,  (online : accessed 22 August 2022); Seventeenth Census of the United States.
• Mrs. Ursula G. Persh, Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, 30 October 1964, Page 42.
• Find a Grave, Ursula Gach Persh.
• Find a Grave, Ludja M Vega.
• John J. Persh, Buffalo News, Buffalo, New York, 23 February 2003. https://buffalonews.com/news/john-j-persh/article_18c1806a-2e9e-52cc-b356-761540607a71.html.
• Find a Grave, John J. Persh.
• Geneteka, 1907 131 Helena  Prus    Koprzywnica Koprzywnica.
• Genealodzy, 1907 131 Helena  Prus    Koprzywnica Koprzywnica.
• Genealogical Translations, “Genealogical Translations,” database, private Facebook group, Facebook (facebook.com: accessed 30 August 2022), Helena Prus.
• Find a Grave, Helen R Persh Stark.
• STARK—PERSH, Perry Record, Perry, New York, 31 January 1946, Page two.
• Merle L. Stark, Buffalo Courier Express, Buffalo, New York, 28 February 1974, page 18, column 5.
• 1950 Federal Census, Maine, population schedule, Biddeford, York, Maine, enumeration district (ED) 16-22, Sheet Number: 9, Ludja Hoppe; digital images,  (online : accessed 19 August 2022); Seventeenth Census of the United States.
• Find a Grave, Ludja M Vega.
• Bans Announced, Wyoming County Times, Warsaw, New York, 10 December 1931, page 6, column 3.
• Silver Springs, Buffalo Evening News, Buffalo, New York, 31 December 1931.
• Find a Grave, Joseph N Huppe.
• Maine, State Marriage Registers, Marriage, Ludja Huppe, Francis Vega, 8 November 1952; portal.maine.gov/marriage, Augusta, Maine.
• Find a Grave, Francis F Vega.
• Find a Grave, Mary Persh.
• Minnesota, Department of Health, Death Records, Death, Certificate Number:  2014-Mn-003612, Genevieve A Kuretich, 30 January 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• Find a Grave, Genevieve A. “Genny” Persh Kuretich.
• Find a Grave, Fabian J. Kuretich.
• Nugent, Ann S., Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, 5 May 2008.
• Find a Grave, Ann Nugent.
• Find a Grave, Robert V Nugent.
• “Polskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne,” database, Polish Genealogical Society, Geneteka (geneteka.genealodzy.pl: accessed 20 August 2022), 1844 9 Paweł  Pruś Jakub Franciszka Marzec Obrazów Węgierce; citing church records or Urząd Stanu Cywilnego (Civil Registry Office).
• Geneteka, 1863 6 Paweł  Pruś Jakub, Franciszka Marzec Józefa  Śwircz Dominik, Katarzyna Cichoń Obrazów.
• Genbaza, “Genbaza,” database, Polish Genealogical Society, Genealodzy (Metryki.GenBaza.pl: accessed 28 August 2022), 1863 6 Paweł  Pruś Jakub, Franciszka Marzec Józefa  Śwircz Dominik, Katarzyna Cichoń Obrazów; citing Urząd Stanu Cywilnego (Civil Registry Office).
• Geneteka, 1879 47 Jan  Pruś Paweł Józefa Śwircz Obrazów Węgrce.
• Polskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne,” database, Polish Genealogical Society, Geneteka (geneteka.genealodzy.pl: accessed 3 January 2021), 1837 34 Kazimierz Kapuściński Koprzywnica Koprzywnica; citing church records or Urząd Stanu Cywilnego (Civil Registry Office).
• Geneteka, 1881 36 Kazimierz Kapuściński Koprzywnica Koprzywnica.
• “MyHeritage Family Trees,” database, MyHeritage (www.myheritage.com: accessed June 2017), Kazimierz Kapuściński.
• Geneteka, 1857 10 Kazimierz Kapuściński Regina Witoń Koprzywnica.
• Geneteka, 1833 45 Regina Zybała Koprzywnica Koprzywnica.
• “Polskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne,” database, Polish Genealogical Society, Geneteka (geneteka.genealodzy.pl: accessed 16 September 2019), 1860 125 Ludwika Kapuścińska Koprzywnica; citing church records or Urząd Stanu Cywilnego (Civil Registry Office).
• Geneteka, 1860 92 Ludwika Kapuścińska Koprzywnica.
• Geneteka, 1865 48 Franciszek Kapusciński Koprzywnica Koprzywnica [Indeks dodał: Wojciech_Liśkiewicz].
• Geneteka, 1869 93 Jan Kapuściński Koprzywnica.
• Geneteka, 1858 27 Julianna Kapuścińska Koprzywnica.
• Genbaza, “Genbaza,” database, Polish Genealogical Society, Genealodzy (Metryki.GenBaza.pl: accessed 20 August 2022), 1858 27 Julianna Kapuścińska Koprzywnica; citing Urząd Stanu Cywilnego (Civil Registry Office).
• “Polskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne,” database, Polish Genealogical Society, Geneteka (geneteka.genealodzy.pl: accessed 20 August 2022), 1880 26 Mateusz  Gach  Julianna  Kapuścińska  Koprzywnica; citing church records or Urząd Stanu Cywilnego (Civil Registry Office).
• Genealodzy, 1880 26 Mateusz  Gach  Julianna  Kapuścińska  Koprzywnica.
• Genealogical Translations, “Genealogical Translations,” database, private Facebook group, Facebook (facebook.com: accessed 22 August 2022), 1880 26 Mateusz  Gach  Julianna  Kapuścińska  Koprzywnica.
• Geneteka, 1855 71 Mateusz  Gach Koprzywnica Koprzywnica.
• Geneteka, 1861 143 Wincenty Kapuściński Koprzywnica.
• Geneteka, 1911 115 Wincenty Kapuściński Koprzywnica.
• Genbaza, “Genbaza,” database, Polish Genealogical Society, Genealodzy (Metryki.GenBaza.pl: accessed 31 August 2019), Wincenty Kapuściński; citing Urząd Stanu Cywilnego (Civil Registry Office).
• Towarzystwa Genealogicznego Polski, marriage record, #16, Wincenty Kapuściński,, Marianna Witoń; digital images, Towarzystwa Genealogicznego Centralnej Polski (http://metryki.genealodzy.pl : accessed March 2016).