Mike Jankowski and Rosa Lewandowski

Mike Jankowski b: September 22, 1861 in Charlub, Poland immigrated: June 27, 1888 d: September 23, 1956 in Menasha, WI	Rosalia Lewandowski b: March 17, 1865 in Nikolaiken, Poland immigrated: January 7, 1884 d: March 13, 1948 in Menasha, WI
married: May 26, 1896 in Menasha - St. John's
John Stanley Jankowski b: June 4, 1897 in Rolling, WI m: June 13, 1920 to Appolonia Antoniewicz in Antigo, WI d: December 12, 1959 in Antigo, WI
Stillborn child b: January 16, 1899 in Rolling, WI d: January 16, 1899 in Rolling, WI
Apolonia "Lena" Jankowski b: December 11, 1899 in Rolling, WI  m: August 24, 1924 to Lawrence Zielinski in Menasha, WI - St. John's d: May 31, 1992 in Menasha, WI
Joseph Jankowski b: December 24, 1901 in Rolling, WI d: December 28, 1902 in Rolling, WI
Anna Jankowski b: July 18, 1904 in Rolling, WI d: August 28, 1951 in Menasha, WI
Edward F. Jankowski b: December 3, 1905 in Rolling, WI d: 1996 in Menasha, WI
Celia Zielinski (guardianship) b: September 22, 1910 in Menasha, WI (daughter of John and Catherine Zielinski)

MIKE JANKOWSKI, along with his twin brother STANISLAUS, was born September 22, 1861 in a very small hamlet in Poland called Charlub. They were the 4th and 5th children of CONSTANTIN JANKOWSKI and BARBARA FRACKOWIAK. It is believed Mike immigrated to America on June 27, 1888 to earn some money and lay the groundwork for the rest of the family to come to America, which they did a little more than a year later. The family eventually bought farmland and settled in Rolling, Wisconsin - near Antigo.

A true love story:
At some point, Mike traveled to Menasha to visit friends. During the course of his visit, he met and fell in love with Rosalia Lewandowski. He wooed her and eventually proposed marriage to her, after asking permission from her father. Rosa accepted, but first her father and brother traveled to Antigo to determine the worthiness of Mike. After seeing the large farm he owned in Rolling, permission was granted and a wedding date was set. As that date approached, Mike traveled back to Menasha for the ceremony. Unfortunately, however, Rosa had changed her mind about marrying Mike. Mike immediately went to the law offices of Bullard & Schoetz and filed suit against Rosa for "breach of promise" in the amount of $2,500. Finally after a day or two of cajoling, Attorney Schoetz was able to convince Rosa to consent to the marriage. On May 26, 1896, Mike and Rosa were married in St. John's Catholic Church in Menasha.
(per Menasha Saturday Evening Press and Neenah Daily Times, click here to view)

ROSA LEWANDOWSKI had been born on March 19, 1865 in Poland to JOHN LEWANDOWSKI and ANNA POLONSKI. She immigrated with her entire family on January 7, 1884. Initially, the Lewandowski family settled in Savannah, Georgia, where Rosa's brother Franz worked in a bakery. But, after only a couple years there, the family moved to Menasha.

Mike and Rosa settled on the farm in Rolling, where they had 6 children, 2 of whom died at very young ages. In addition, they took in Celia Zielinski, whose parents - John and Catherine - both died at young ages. Lena Jankowski, Mike and Rosa's 3rd child, was born on December 11, 1899.

Around 1941, Rosa and Mike moved from the farm in Antigo to live with Lawrence and Lena in Menasha. Rosa died on March 6, 1948. Mike died of old age on September 23, 1956 after being in poor health for 4 months. His death occurred one day after his 95th birthday. Both are buried in St. John's Cemetery in Menasha.

1861 Mike's Birth Record
1888 Mike's immigration record
1884 Rosa's immigration record
Mike and Rosa's Wedding
Family Bible
Certificate of Naturalization
Mike and Rosa's family group sheet
1900 U.S. Census
1910 U.S. Census
1920 U.S. Census
1930 U.S. Census
Mike and Rosa Photo Gallery