Random Interview Notes from the Janusz Family

Rebecca Meets Her Great Grandparents

In January 1993, shortly after the birth of our daughter Rebecca, we had a visit from Jack's Grandparents Mary (Francus) Janusz and Michael Janusz. We were living at Fort Sill, Oklahoma at the time.

While they were visiting, we did a genealogy interview. I happened across a notebook today that contained my notes from that interview. Some of the information is truly random, but I decided to transcribe my notes to the best of my ability.

Mike's father Wladislaus Janusz had to come to the US because there was some trouble in Poland. (We have heard various accounts of what happened. One account included a murder. Another account included an altercation with a commanding officer in the Army.)

Wladislaus settled in Boswell, PA. {Side note: He was known as Walter on many documents, although on the 1910 Census he was listed as Gladislav. Blog on pseudonyms and bonus identities to come!}

Mike's mother had Tuberculosis. She was sent to a TB asylum and died there when Mike was 5 or 6 years old.

Wladislaus Janusz and Catherine Martinez

Mike's father remarried. His step mother Victoria was a drinker. His stepmother had a neighbor lady over. His stepmother pushed the neighbor lady off of the porch and she broke her leg. Mike had to push the lady home in a wheelbarrow.

Mike's dad worked in a mine. He was also a moonshiner. Mike carried water for the moonshine.

Mike's dad either had cancer or was hurt in the mine when Mike was around 10.

Mike only had a 3rd grade education.

Mike did a tour in the Civilian Conservation Corps in New Mexico.

Mary worked for Malone's store and was also a maid for the McCullough family. The Malones later owned the Cheswick Theaters in Cheswick, PA.

Mary met Michael at a roller skating ring. Michael was living with his sister in Harwick, PA at the time. They crashed into each other while skating and then they started dating.

Mike's sister didn't want him to leave because he was paying to stay with her.

Mike worked various jobs including mining and odd jobs.

Mary worked as a welder during World War II constructing PT Boats. She was still working as a welder when my mother Diane (Janus) Mast was born. Someone was killed on the job so she decided to quit.

Mary Francus work unit during WWII. Mary is second row, second from left.

Mary's mother Maggie lived in Cheswick. Mary's dad worked in a mine. She had three sisters (Agnes, Helen, ???) and three brothers Stanley, Charles, and David. Her brothers carried material from Creighton to Cheswick, PA to build a small two room house with an outhouse and a hand pump.  The seven children plus two additional kids (Billy and Janet) lived with them.

Agnes, Ignatius, Magdelene "Maggie", Mary, Helen and David "Dates" Francus 1938

She later lived with Al and Agnes until Diane was 16. Maggie was diabetic. Maggie took Diane shopping in New Kensington, PA on the bus. They always got a ham sandwich at Isley's.

Maggie died of Hearth Failure in 1959.

Mary's father Ignatz Francus was in a mental asylum. He died in 1953. Mary's brother David (Dates) was in the service.  {We have a 1930 Census Population Schedule from Allegheny Co Hospital for the Insane, Woodville, Collier Township that lists Ignatz Francis in slot 47. He was 42 years old.}

Mary and Mike moved moved to James Street in Springdale, PA when Diane was five years old. Diane didn't like the house because there were mice in the fire place.

Mike got a job working at Duquesne Light power plant in Cheswick, PA. He remained at that job until he was 62 years old.

Mike and Mary got their first car in the 1930's. It was a Henry J. It had a collapsible back. They went to Lake Erie a lot and slept in the car on vacation.