Above is a cropped map of Prussia from 1873 showing the area our Lewandowski ancestors came from. Click on the map for a full-size 1886 version and to get a better idea of the location relative to the rest of Poland. Or click here for a more-detailed map of the area.

The Lewandowski's came from the area of Poland known as West Prussia, an area who's borders and owners have changed many, many times over the decades. More specifically, they came from the very eastern part of West Prussia - not to be confused with East Prussia. Although at one time, it was actually known as East Prussia! Nevertheless, for centuries it has been historically known in one form or another as Prussia and home to the Prussians. I find it all rather confusing! For more detailed historical information, go to West Prussia History or Poland History pages.

The origins of the Lewandowski line of the family trace back to the town of Nikolaiken, in the powiat (county) of Stuhm. There was no Catholic church in Nikolaiken at the time, so the family attended the parish in Schonwiese, approximately 6 km away. Schonwiese is where their baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials took place.

The earliest record I have found for the Lewandowski's in Poland is the 1798 birth record of Anton Lewandowski, Lena's great-grandfather. Anton was born in Nikolaiken and appears to have spent his entire life there. He married Eva Barkowna in 1826, who gave birth to 10 children! The second child born, and first male child, was John, Lena's grandfather, in 1828.

John married Anna Pawlikowski in 1862 and the couple also resided in Nikolaiken. Here they raised 4 children, including Rosalia, Lena's mother. But in late 1883, John and Anna Lewandowski, along with 3 of their children - Franz, Rosalia, and Apolonia emigrated from Poland for the United States, to begin a new life. One child, Antonie, did not make the journey. Most certainly, although not yet proven, she died in Poland which may have been the impetus for the family to leave Poland. Interestingly enough, this family immigrated to Savannah, Georgia for a short while. John worked there as a baker, before moving the family to Menasha. I believe other related Lewandowski's also immigrated to the United States around this same time.

This area was also home to many of our Zielinski ancestors who also attended the Catholic parish in Schonwiese. I think it is likely, though certainly not proven, that at least some of the Lewandowski's were familiar with some of the Zielinski's while still in Poland. We will most likely never know. It would be quite ironic for the families to originate from, and immigrate to, the same geographic areas around the same time frame and NOT know each other. But that's all food for thought.

For more information and additional maps, go to West Prussia, Stuhm, Schonwiese, or Nikolaiken pages.

Today, this area is in the province of Pomorskie. Stuhm is now Sztum. Nikolaiken is known as Mikolajki Pomorskie, and Schonwiese is Krasna Laka.