Origins of our Pajewski Family

Origins of our Pajewski Family

By Dave Jordan
October 21, 2005
Our Earliest Known Pajewski Family The earliest Pajewski, pronounced Payefskee, known at this time is Paul Pajewski, father of Michael, Franz, and Johann. Paul married Elizabeth Drosdowski in Germany, probably West Prussia in the early 1850s after her first husband died. Paul and his wife Elizabeth were probably born between 1825 and 1835. Paul and Elizabeth had at least three children. Michael was born 12 September 1854; Franz was born 12 March 1862; and Johann (John) was born in 1865. However, there is some recollection that there was another daughter who settled in Michigan, and there may have been another son named Andrew. Michael, Franz, and Johann also had another sister and her name was Faronica (Veronica). She was born in 1849 and she married Martin Nicolai. When discussing the Pajewski research with my grandmother, Elizabeth Jordan, she recalled that Veronica was a half-sister and that she thought her maiden name was not Pajewski, but sounded similar to Rode, subsequently found to be Rhode. If so, this suggests that Faronica, Michael, Franz, and Johann had the same mother, Elizabeth Drosdowski, but that Faronica had a different father. Thus it is likely that Elizabeth married Paul Pajewski a year or so before the birth of Michael in September 1854. John Pajewski said that he was orphaned when he was 7 years old. Thus both of his parents must have died by about 1872. It is not known how Paul and Elizabeth died. However, the Franco-Prussian Wars were going on around 1871 and 1872 and it is possible that Paul and Anna were affected in some way. At the time of their deaths about 1872, Michael was 18, Franz 10, and half sister Faronica 23. If Johann was seven and put in an orphanage, Franz probably went with him. Michael and Faronica must have kept in touch since the four reconnected in Chicago in the late 1880s. Summary Elizabeth Drosdowski was born about 1825, probably around Marienburg, West Prussia. Her first husband's surname was Rhode and they had at least one child, Faronica in 1849. Elizabeth's husband died a few years later and Elizabeth then married Paul Pajewski. Paul and Anna had at least three children Michael (1854), Franz (1862), and Johann (1865). By 1872 both Paul and Elizabeth had died. Some of the younger children were then put in orphanages. After the youngsters were grown, one by one they left West Prussia and settled in the United States. Initial Web Publication Date: 07/06/02 Intermediate Additions: 05/29/03, 10/21/05 Last Web Upload: 10/21/05

Our Earliest Known Pajewski Family
The earliest Pajewski, pronounced Payefskee, known at this time is Paul Pajewski, father of Michael, Franz, and Johann. Paul married Elizabeth Drosdowski in Germany, probably West Prussia in the early 1850s after her first husband died. Paul and his wife Elizabeth were probably born between 1825 and 1835.

Paul and Elizabeth had at least three children. Michael was born 12 September 1854; Franz was born 12 March 1862; and Johann (John) was born in 1865. However, there is some recollection that there was another daughter who settled in Michigan, and there may have been another son named Andrew.

Michael, Franz, and Johann also had another sister and her name was Faronica (Veronica). She was born in 1849 and she married Martin Nicolai. When discussing the Pajewski research with my grandmother, Elizabeth Jordan, she recalled that Veronica was a half-sister and that she thought her maiden name was not Pajewski, but sounded similar to Rode, subsequently found to be Rhode. If so, this suggests that Faronica, Michael, Franz, and Johann had the same mother, Elizabeth Drosdowski, but that Faronica had a different father. Thus it is likely that Elizabeth married Paul Pajewski a year or so before the birth of Michael in September 1854.

John Pajewski said that he was orphaned when he was 7 years old. Thus both of his parents must have died by about 1872. It is not known how Paul and Elizabeth died. However, the Franco-Prussian Wars were going on around 1871 and 1872 and it is possible that Paul and Anna were affected in some way.

At the time of their deaths about 1872, Michael was 18, Franz 10, and half sister Faronica 23. If Johann was seven and put in an orphanage, Franz probably went with him. Michael and Faronica must have kept in touch since the four reconnected in Chicago in the late 1880s.

Summary
Elizabeth Drosdowski was born about 1825, probably around Marienburg, West Prussia. Her first husband's surname was Rhode and they had at least one child, Faronica in 1849. Elizabeth's husband died a few years later and Elizabeth then married Paul Pajewski. Paul and Anna had at least three children Michael (1854), Franz (1862), and Johann (1865). By 1872 both Paul and Elizabeth had died. Some of the younger children were then put in orphanages. After the youngsters were grown, one by one they left West Prussia and settled in the United States.

Initial Web Publication Date: 07/06/02
Intermediate Additions: 05/29/03, 10/21/05
Last Web Upload: 10/21/05