Some of my grandmother’s story can be found through her brothers, Władysław, Kalixty, and John. Kalixty was the third child of Stanisław and Anna Keijewska, born 27 12 December 1886 in Borowice.
He was the one family relative I never heard about. it was almost as if he barely existed. My dad and aunt never spoke of him to my knowledge. What little I know of him has come from historical records.
My grandmother, Helena’s brothers came to the US much earlier than she did. I have all three of her brothers in the US by 1907. Two brothers (Władysław and Jan) I have traced into the central Pennsylvania region initially, Altoona and the Cambria County areas. Finding Kalixty’s manifest from Ellis Island, dated 31 October 1907, I learned that their mother Anna, was still alive and was living in Borowce at the time of his arrival. However, the manifest states h e is heading into Brandford, Connecticut. I have not located him anywhere in Pennsylvania. In fact, I cannot locate him anywhere until 1918 with a draft registration for WWI. Ths time, he gives his sister, Helena (my grandmother), as his nearest relative, with her residing in Borowice, Lomza, Russia Poland. However, he and brother Władysław were living at the same address on Hamilton Ave. I think it’s fair to deduce that their mother, Anna, passed away sometime between 1907 and 1918. I am searching for a death record for Anna.
In the 1920 census, where he was living in Toledo on Hamilton Ave. with his brother, Władysław (Walter) and his wife, Bronislawa (Bernice). Kalixty was noted as unable to speak English but was employed as a laborer in a factory.
The next time I find Kalixty mentioned anywhere was a 1928 US Cities Directory. He is employed as a driver and living at 1763 Buckingham, with his brother John and his wife, Tillie. This address shows up repeatedly in my family’s history. This address is where my grandparents, Helena and Walter, first came upon their arrival to the US and where my father, Edward, was born in 1923.
The last I know about Kalixty is that he died on 27 September 1941. His death certificate states he died in the Welfare Home and that he died of valvular heart disease. His death certificate also states he was single. He never did marry.