Franz Pajewski was born in March 15, 1862 in Germany. His mother was Elizabeth Drosdowski and his father was Paul Pajewski. Very little is known about his childhood in Germany. His mother married Paul shortly after her first husband died in the early 1850s. Paul had a younger half-sister Faronica born in 1849 and later two brothers Franz (1862) and Johann (1865). There was also a Pajewski sister and possibly a brother Andrew. Michael's mother and father both died about 1872 when Frank was about age 10. It is possible Frank also spent time in the orphanage with his younger brother John.

My grandmother Elizabeth recalls seeing a picture of Michael and his younger brother Franz in German Army uniforms, suggesting they were both in the Prussian Army.

Michael left Germany in 1884 when he was in his young 20s. This was two years after his brother Michael and a year after his half sister Veronica and husband Martin left for America. It is possible that he arrived 15 March 1884 on the Donau, but without confirming evidence it is unclear that this is our Frank Pajewski. By 1885 he had settled on the near north side and in 1887 he was living with his newly married brother, Michael and his wife at 71 Wade Street. By the 1888, though he had moved to the south side of Chicago and on November 3, 1888, Frank at age 26 married Augustine (Justina) Abend at St. Augustine at 50th Laflin in Chicago. By 1894, Frank and his family have moved to 4854 Laflin where they continue to live until 1914.

Frank and Augustine had at least five children. They were Annie born January 1890, Rosalia born Janary 1892, Helen (Lena) born January 1894, Antonio (Tony) born November 1898, John and Eddie.

Frank died 18 April 1917 in Chicago at age 55 in Chicago of pulmonary tuberculosis, which he had for four years. He is buried at St. Mary Cemetery in Evergreen Park.


Initial Web Publication Date: 07/06/03
Intermediate Additions: 05/30/03
Last Web Upload: 05/30/03