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Archiver > PolandBorderSurnames > 2001-01 > 0978915990


From: "Zemetis, Joseph C." <>
Subject: [PBS] Name and Place Search
Date: Sun, 07 Jan 2001 20:06:30 -0500


I am searching for information on:

Joseph Zemetis, born 1863 "Olkinki" Russian-Poland, father's name "Kress"
and mother's name "Eva"; Emigrated to New York via Hamburg 1890. Was in
Pittsburgh 1894, South Amboy,NJ 1897; Seymour, CT by 1900 and New Haven, CT
by 1904. Died New Haven 1930. While attending Polish Catholic school in
New Haven, my father and aunts and uncles were required to spell their name
as "Zymajtis", and obvious polonized spelling of the Lithuanian name
Zemaitis. However, to the best of my knowledge, my grandfather spoke Polish
and Russian but not Lithuanian.

Julia Chenczinski, born 1877 in East Prussia, emigrated to New York sometime
between 1890-1894 (married and had first child (Frances) with Joseph Zemetis
in Pittsburgh in 1893). I know from stories heard in my childhood that she
was subject to the "kultur kampf" of the Germans under Bismark and spoke
German in school, but Polish at home.

As to "Olkinki" Russian Poland which is recorded on Joseph's petition for
naturalization in 1917, I have been unable to locate such a placename in
Poland or its former boundaries. However, I once located a town in present
day Lithuania which was called Olkieniki on a pre-WWII map and was called
Valkininkai during Soviet times. I would appreciate any assistance you can
give me with identifying the current name of this municipality and any
sources (Church (R.C.) or government) which may have records of Joseph's
birth or parents.

I appreciate any help anyone can provide.

Joe Zemetis


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