Ferdinand Kowald or Kowalkowski 1873-1960

 

 

Born:   August 8, 1873, Marienwerder, Germany, aka East Prussia.

Died:   March 3, 1960 Orange Park, Clay County, Florida at Moosehaven Retirement Community.  Buried at Moosehaven.

 

Spouse:          Alma (Kohls) Kowald  m. November 24, 1894 in Milwaukee, divorced July 3, 1918.

Children:        

  • Archibald Ferdinand Kowald or Kowalkowski
  • Raymond Paul Kowald,   b. May 30, 1898 under the name Darwin Villard Kowalkowski and d. April 2, 1998, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Apparently remained single.  Change of name filed 2/25/1929.
  • Alma Amalie Kowalkowski, b. November 7, 1899 and d. May 15, 1900 under the name Irene.
  • Darwin F. B. Kowalkowski, b. January 12, 1901 and d. January, 1982, Brookfield, Wisconsin.  Married Norma who was b. December 12, 1903, d. December 1979, Brookfield, Wisconsin.
  • Irene Martha Augusta (Kowalkowski) Giese, b. December 5, 1902 and d. August 31, 1993, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Married Leroy Giese and had 2 sons, Kenneth and Ralph.  Kenneth married and had 2 children.  Ralph has been married twice.  Had 3 children with his first wife; Joy, Gay, and Guy.  There are 2 children by his 2nd wife; Chad and Chris.
  • Lawrence Herman Kowald, b. February 8, 1917 and d. December 11, 1970.  It is noted that he was somehow ‘retarded’ and never married or had any children.

 

 

Occupation:  Molder, Driller, Janitor, Mason, Machinist, Pattern Maker/Filer

 

Father’s name: Fried. (Friedrich, Frederick, or Frederic) Kowalkowski            Birth place: Germany, Prussia or Poland?    

Mother’s name:  Augustine Zilzett (sp?)     Birth place:  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 

Siblings:  (These are all uncertain and speculative.)        

  • Gottfried Kowalkowski, name changed to Frederick W. Kowald, b. 1867, married Mathilde Cords in Milwaukee on December 6, 1892.  Has at least one son, Fred W. Jr., possibly b. September 14, 1901, d. June, 1987 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
  • William Kowalkowski, b. abt 1857, married Johanna Mothe in Milwaukee on August 5, 1893.
  • Gustav Kowalkowski, b December 23, 1858, d. August 15, 1954 in Menasha, Wisconsin.  (More below in other notes.) 

 

If Ferdinand, Gottfried and William are indeed brothers, then there is some confusion created by the paper trail.  All 3 state their father as Frederic, though Ferdinand abbreviates it as Fried.  However, each states a different name for a mother:  Ferdinand says Augustine Zilgete; William says Wilhelmine Zilgete; Gottfried says Ernestine Kanowski.  Ferdinand and William both say their mother came from Milwaukee, while Gottfried says she is from Fillmore, Wisconsin in the adjacent Washington County.  All 3 men resided in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and appear to have been married in the same Milwaukee Lutheran church and all within 2 years of each other.  It should also be noted that William signed his name as “Kowalkowsky” using the y spelling instead of the i.  Milwaukee City Directories use the i spelling until 1902 when it changes to the y spelling.  The Wisconsin Historical Society uses the i spelling.  I’m presuming that this was a personal choice on William’s part.

 

The Surname

There is some uncertainty about the last name “Kowald”, as it was changed, actually shortened, from Kowalkowski.  The story is that Ferdinand and the rest of the family took the name Kowald when son Arch joined the U.S. Navy in World War I saying his name was Kowald.  Was it ever legally changed?  Milwaukee City Directories (See below) pretty much puts the whole story into the questionable category because they list Ferdinand with the last name of Kowald as far back as 1902.  That is well before World War I. 

 

However, the children’s Birth Registrations all list the name as Kowalkowski.  That covers the time period of 1895 through 1917.  Here is what I have found…1st son Arch’s Birth Registration has added notes on it that say, “Corrected Feb. 24, 1943 by order of Declaration of Change of Name filed Milwaukee Co. 5-14-1917.”  Raymond, Darwin, Lawrence, and wife Alma all eventually had the name changed officially as well. 

 

So it appears that name surname Kowalkowski was legally used until a few months after their last child, Lawrence, was born.  However, they informally referred to themselves as Kowald at least as far back as 1902.  Then Kowald was officially their surname starting in May of 1917.  I also find it interesting that the City of Milwaukee’s record keeping took 26 years to make the correction onto the Birth Records.

 

Immigration and Naturalization

With the help of Darlene Johnson Norman at the Milwaukee County Genealogical Society, I now have a copy of Ferdinand’s Declaration of Intention (Towards Naturalization and Citizenship).  Marienwerder, Germany is the birthplace that Ferdinand noted on his Registration of Marriage in 1894.  However, in 1917 on his Declaration of Intention Ferdinand filled in “Town Unknown”.  Click this link to see a copy of the Declaration of Intention. 

 

Describing Marienwerder as being in Germany is a little misleading.  Originally, the area was part of Poland, located approx. 50 miles south of present day Gdansk, Poland, until the mid to late1800’s when various wars caused Poland to be split up amongst Prussia (Germany), Russia, and Austria.  Prussia was under the rule of German Emperor William II, so German language and influence was in control at the time Ferdinand was born.  Time passed and more wars came and went and Poland was re-established.  (I know this is all extremely simplified.)  At various times, this town was called Marborg and Marese.  Today it is in Poland and is known as Kwidzyn (Pronounced kvee-jen).  By and large populated by peasants and is agricultural, it is likely that the changes and hardships brought by wars caused significant numbers of people to emigrate, including the Kowalkowski family.

 

A little more about the town of Marienwerder…According to an Atlas of the German Empire dated 1883, there were four places that went by that name.  (See this Atlas at: http://www.library.wisc.edu/etext/ravenstein/home.html.) Family stories have often said that we are of a German-Polish descent, which directly fits the description of the Marienwerder that I am referring to.  Of the other three: One is a village close to and a little north of Berlin, another is a small related valley slightly west of that, and the last is along the coast and still directly north of Berlin.  It has been my impression that Ferdinand (and family?) were not entirely comfortable with the German side of their heritage; always adding  “we’re Polish too” to their stories.  Being from an occupied Marienwerder in Poland meets that quality.  If they had been from one of these other Marienwerder areas, especially close to Berlin, I think would have netted different results.

 

They traveled over 400 miles overland, almost due west, to Bremen, Germany, their port of departure.  As per the Declaration, we do not know the name of the ship, nor do we know how many family members were in the party.  They arrived at the port of New York, New York around May of 1882.  Since Ferdinand would have been only 9 years old at this time, I am presuming that he traveled with family.  It is interesting to note that Gottfried Kowalkowski notes his arrival as the same May of 1882, but states the port as Baltimore.  William Kowalkowski says New York, but April of 1881. 

 

I have no documents or oral stories that explain how or why the Kowalkowski’s moved from New York to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  However, it was popular and common at the time for people of German-Polish decent to settle specifically in Milwaukee.  According to the Spartacus Educational Website by John Simkin regarding German Immigration to the United States (See http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAEgermany.htm) 69% of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1890 was foreign born and of German descent.  It was often referred to as “The German Athens.”  The Kowalkowski family’s decision to move to Milwaukee may have been as easy as they wanted to be amongst people who spoke and lived as they did. 

 

We are unable to find any further records of Ferdinand’s Naturalization or Citizenship, so he apparently never followed through. 

 

Milwaukee Timeline

Here is a summary of the Kowald family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin:  (Thanks again to Darlene for her assistance.)

  • 1895, 1079 6th St. in Milwaukee as per Arch’s Birth Registration.  Family name appears as Kowalkowski.
  • 1898, family living at 566 Reed St., Milwaukee as per Raymond’s birth record.
  • 1899-1900, daughter Alma Kowalkowski Birth Registration records the family living at 418 16th St., Milwaukee.  1900 Milwaukee City Directory agrees with this using the name Kowalkowski.
  • 1901, Son Darwin Kowalkowski Birth Registration shows the address as 874 4th St., Milwaukee
  • 1902, first City Directory reference to Ferdinand “Kowald” at 874 4th St.  This is also the year of daughter Irene’s birth who’s Birth Registration shows the same address, but the last name still as Kowalkowski.
  • 1909, family now living at 1142 Louis Ave.  Continues with 1910 Census.
  • 1911-1912, Ferdinand is living and working for the German-English Academy. (See below.)  However, where are Alma and the children?
  • 1913 at 608 ½  27th St. Arch is listed with Ferdinand and noted as a laborer. 
  • 1916-1917, 4 Kowalds listed in City Directory, Ferdinand, Arch, Darwin, and Raymond all living at 2202 Elm St.  Lawrence was also born at this address.
  • 1917, Ferd and Alma begin divorce.  Ferd moves to a bedroom of Alma’s flat that has a separate entrance.  Later he moves to 1070 25th St.  On September 26, 1917, Ferd makes his Declaration of Intention for Naturalization. 
  • 1918, Alma Kowald, “widow of Ferdinand”, living at 1288 9th St.  Court records show divorce is finalized on July 3.  Darwin and Raymond are also living at this same address.  Ferd did not die so the widow note is curious. 
  • 1918, Ferd Kowald remains at 1070 25th St. 
  • 1922, Alma has moved to 1214 Burleigh.  Irene and Raymond continue to live at Alma’s old address.
  • 1922, Arch has married Elfrieda and are living at 907 9th St.  Elfrieda dies in December.
  • 1922, Ferdinand is a patternmaker and renting at 1413 Wright St. and Frederick W. is a bookkeeper for Henry Cook Co. and rents at 1408 9th St.  (Again, is this Ferdinand’s brother Fred?)
  • 1924, Arch marries Frances
  • 1935-1936, Arch and Frances living at 4361 N. 14th St.  Ferdinand is living by himself at 944 N. Milwaukee St., Apt. 17.  Alma, Raymond and Lawrence are at 3215A W. Walnut.  Darwin is married to Norma and resides at 4636 N. Parkway Ave.
  • 1938, All the same, except Ferdinand is not listed.
  • 1945, Again all the same, but Ferdinand is back, same address as before.
  • 1950-1956, Alma, Raymond and Lawrence have moved to 3513A W. Lisbon Ave., Apt 2.  Ferdinand moves to Moosehaven Retirement Community in Orange Park, Florida about December 15, 1950.  Rest remains same.
  • 1957, Ferdinand still in Florida.  Alma and Lawrence missing from Directory.  Raymond at 5023 N. Hopkins.  Rest remains the same.
  • 1960, Ferdinand dies March 3 while at Moosehaven, Orange Park, Florida.  He is buried there.
  • 1966 & 1970, as per Death Certificates, Alma, Raymond and Lawrence were still residing at 3513A W. Lisbon Ave. address.

 

Other Notes

Ferdinand was employed as a janitor at the German-English Academy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from July 1, 1911 until November 30, 1912.  He had a salary of $100 per month and was given free rent in the school building and free gas for lighting and cooking.  Upon leaving, he was given a positive letter of reference that described him as being trustworthy and conscientious.  This information comes from copies of letters from the Academy preserved by my Aunt Barbara.  There is another letter that is likely a letter of reference which Ferdinand supplied to the Academy when applying for the job.  The handwriting is difficult to read and I don’t know German, but I can tell that there is information and dates that will help us learn more about Ferdinand and I am anxious to get it translated.

 

Sketch from newspaper as noted.

 

I’ve a family reference to a Ferdinand Jr. which I have not been able to corroborate.

 

The Hessen Club of Milwaukee lists Naturalizations of their peoples.  They note a Heinrich Kowald of Hessen-Cassel ancestry, b. 1809 and d. October, 1849.  Another Heinrich Kowald, probably his son, was born 1869 in Troy, New York and died before 1900.  He married Wilhelmina or “Minnie”.  She was widowed and lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and died there September 23, 1903.  Heinrich and Minnie ‘s children included a son Henry and a daughter Catherine.   Catherine, as per the 1900 Census, was living in Milwaukee with husband John Kohl and Catherine’s mother Minnie.  Minnie’s information shows she was born in June of 1829 of German parents and took citizenship in 1860.  It is very doubtful this Kowald family is related to mine, mostly because the Hessen-Cassel ancestry in Germany, which is not close to Marienwerder.  I should also note that I see no relationship between John Kohl (Spelled without the s.) and Ferdinand’s wife Alma.  Her maiden name being Kohls, spelled with the s.  (This detail is important in Milwaukee.)

 

I have also found records for Gottfried and William Kowalkowski, but they have not established conclusively if these people are related to Ferdinand.

 

Gustav Kowalkowski is an interesting case.  I’ve been in communication with a descendant of Gustav who shared with me this family story.  Gustav was born to Friedrich Kowalkowski and Justine (Okunski) Kowalkowski in Dakau, Germany and Friederich apparently ran away or deserted from the Kaiser’s army with the family following.  It is possible that the name was something other than Kowalkowski, being changed to Kowalkowski when they fled the country.  The story continues with them being taken-in/helped by a Polish family.   Friedrich was born in 1831, Justine in 1833, with them being married in 1854 in Dakau, Germany.  Friedrich’s father was Martin (Surname unknown) and Justine’s father was Thomas Okunski.  Gustav went on to marry Auguste Reseburg in Menasha, Wisconsin on August 7, 1884 and settled in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for about 6 years, later moving back to Menasha until their deaths.  They had 9 children.  Please e-mail me for more information on this side of the Kowalkowski family at jrkho5@sbcglobal.net.

 

I should note that there is another William Kowald living in the area.  In the 1900 Census, in Green Lake, Wisconsin, we find Wm. Kowald, born in Germany in 1850 of German parents, with his wife Ernestine, born in Wisconsin whose father is German and mother is Prussian.  They have 2 children, Willi and Henry.

 

There is some confusion regarding Ferdinand’s mother’s name.  I’ve chosen to use Augustine Zilgett (sp?) because that is what is on the Registry of Marriage.  The first name is easily read, but the maiden name is almost illegible and that is why I put a question mark by it.  However, other sources, as noted above, have suggested first names of Ernestine and Wilhemine. 

 

This is the portion of the Registration of Marriage showing the husband’s information from Milwaukee’s Pre-1907 Marriages, Vol188, page 213.

Notice line 3 for Mother of Husband.  I think it says Augustine Zilzett.  But it could be a bunch of other stuff too.  Can anyone help?

 

There is a marriage record from Marienwerder (Same town Ferdinand was born in.) for an Adam Kowalkowski to Anna Christine Riebolt, dated May 27, 1821.  That date is too old for this to possibly be Ferdinand’s parents.  Possibly Grandparent or Uncle?

 

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