Joseph Jankowski was born in Czarkowo, Poland, on March 17, 1795, the son of Lucas Jankowski and Anna Kaczmierczakow.  At the age of 19, Joseph married Hedvigis Mackowska on October 16, 1814, daughter of Augustin and Marianna. Hedvigis bore 7 children before passing away October 11, 1828 in Czarkowo, apparently during or soon after, giving birth to Adalbert. Three other children had previously died at very young ages. This left Joseph in the care of 3 children ranging in ages from three to eleven.

Three months after Hedvigis's death, on January 28, 1829, Joseph married Constantia Roszynska in Mala Leka, Poland near Czarkowo. He was 34 years old. Constantia was 19, having been born in Poniec on November 10, 1809, the daughter of Joannes Roszynski and Marianna Sniezeska. It must have been a daunting task at 19 years of age to take on the raising of 3 children. The couple wasted little time in producing more offspring. Their first child together, Franciscus, was born on April 1, 1830. Constantin followed almost exactly a year later. They were followed in turn by Antonius in 1834, Ignatius in 1836, Lucas in 1838, and Susanna in 1845. All told, Joseph was the father of 13 children!

It is interesting to note that sons Franciscus and Constantin married one week apart. Constantin married first on October 17, 1852, while Franciscus followed on the 24th. 

Joseph died on November 21, 1852 of pneumonia. Constantia died 2 years later on October 28, 1854, cause of death unknown.