Copyright 2025, CABS for Reflections From the Fence
This continues a series of posts, done in an efficient (make that as fast as possible) manner to share some research on the ancestors. This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report. It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.
Let’s begin - -
Meet - - Mary Maryanna Waselewska Waszelenska.
BE AWARE - - This search, these names, this heritage, all demand that one be forgiving about spellings. My general operating rule of "Spelling Don't Count" is in full affect herein. And, sorry, this is not going to be short and sweet. SIGH.
BE AWARE - - This search, these names, this heritage, all demand that one be forgiving about spellings. My general operating rule of "Spelling Don't Count" is in full affect herein. And, sorry, this is not going to be short and sweet. SIGH.
First Mary, with her first husband, Joseph.
Mary, with her second husband, Thomas.
Some basic facts about Joseph, husband # 1, to date, this is all I have recorded. I have not discovered a marriage date for the couple.
Joseph Kowalski
in the 1920 United States Federal Census
Name:Joseph Kowalski
Age:34
Birth Year:abt 1886
Birthplace:Poland Russia
Home in 1920:Detroit Ward 7, Wayne, Michigan
Street:Alexandrine Ave E
House Number:518
Residence Date:1920
Race:White
Gender:Male
Immigration Year:1912
Relation to Head of House:Head
Marital Status:Married
Spouse's Name:Mary Kowalski
Father's Birthplace:Russia;Poland
Mother's Birthplace:Russia;Poland
Native Tongue:Polish
Able to Speak English:no
Occupation:Cupola Tender
Industry:Foundry
Employment Field:Wage or Salary
Home Owned or Rented:Rented
Naturalization Status:Alien
Able to Write:No
Household Members Age Relationship
Joseph Kowalski 34 Head
Mary Kowalski 24 Wife
Theodore Kowalski 5 Son
Roman Kowalski 3 Son
Wadeslawa Kowalski 1 Daughter ** Actually a SON
Joseph Kowalski
in the Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952
Name:Joseph Kowalski
Gender:Male
Race:White
Marital status:Married
Death Age:36
Birth Date:19 Jan 1886
Birth Place:Russia Poland
Death Date:27 Nov 1922
Death Place:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Father:John Kowalski
Mother:Katherine Paluzanski
File Number:020382
We note his bride's name is recorded, with maiden name, spelling a bit different, of course.
No Find A Grave memorial for Joseph has been located as of January 2025.
This is where Mary's story starts getting muddy. She then marries a Tracz, given name Thomas.
Mary Kowalska
in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name:Mary Kowalska
[Mary Waszelenska]
Gender:Female
Race:White
Age:28
Birth Date:abt 1895
Birth Place:Poland
Marriage Date:Apr 1923
Marriage Place:Michigan, USA
Residence Place:Detroit, Michigan
Father:Joseph Waszelenska
Mother:Margaret Larhowska
Spouse:Tom Trach
Record Number:245801
Mary Tracy
in the 1930 United States Federal Census
Name Mary Tracy
[Mary Tracz]
Birth Year abt 1898
Gender Female
Race White
Age in 1930 32
Birthplace Poland
Marital Status Married
Relation to Head of House Wife
Homemaker? Yes
Home in 1930 Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Map of Home Detroit, Wayne, Michigan
Street Address Forest Ave E.
Ward of City 9th
Block 504
House Number 2267
Dwelling Number 74
Family Number 62
Age at First Marriage 25
Attended School No
Able to Read and Write Yes
Father's Birthplace Poland
Mother's Birthplace Poland
Language Spoken Polish
Naturalization Alien
Able to Speak English Yes
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Thomas Tracy 42 Head
Mary Tracy 32 Wife
Anna Tracy 3 Daughter
Helen Tracy 1 Daughter
Theodore Kowalsky 14 Stepson (Step Son)
Roman Kowalsky 13 Stepson (Step Son)
Wladytav Kowalsky 11 Stepson (Step Son)
Wanda Kowalsky 8 Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)
Mary Tracy
in the 1940 United States Federal Census
Name:Mary Tracy
Respondent:Yes
Age:45
Estimated Birth Year:abt 1895
Gender:Female
Race:White
Birthplace:Poland
Marital Status:Married
Relation to Head of House:Wife
Home in 1940:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan
Map of Home in 1940:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan
Street:Alexanderine Avenue E
House Number:1815
Inferred Residence in 1935:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan
Residence in 1935:Detroit
Citizenship:Alien
Sheet Number:7A
Attended School or College:No
Highest Grade Completed:Elementary school, 8th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939:0
Income:0
Income Other Sources:No
Household Members Age Relationship
Thomas Tracy 47 Head
Mary Tracy 45 Wife
Wander Tracy 19 Daughter ** Wanda
Raymond Tracy 18 Son
Anna Tracy 13 Daughter
Helen Tracy 11 Daughter
Thomas Tracy 9 Son
Mary Tracy 5 Daughter
Thomas dies in 1944, we know that he registered for the World War II Draft before his death.
Thomas Trach
in the U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
Name:Thomas Trach
Gender:Male
Birth Date:7 Mar 1883
Residence Place:Michigan, USA
Military Draft Date:1942
Next of Kin:Mrs Mary Trach
Thomas Tracz
in the Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952
Name:Thomas Tracz
[Tom Trotz]
Gender:Male
Race:White
Marital status:Married
Death Age:55
Birth Date:27 Mar 1889 ** Year differs from WWII Draft Registration
Birth Place:Poland
Death Date:4 Jun 1944
Death Place:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
File Number:323529
**We note his parents names are not recorded, and we have not discovered them in research up to now.
Thomas is now present on Find A Grave, with a photo of his stone. The memorial was posted in March of 2023. The memorial # is 251412613. His memorial is not linked to Mary's.
Following up on Mary, after Thomas' death we find:
Mary Tracz
in the 1950 United States Federal Census
Name Mary Tracz
Age 52
Birth Date abt 1898
Race White
Birth Place Poland
Marital Status 2
Relation to Head of House Head
Residence Date 1950
Home in 1950 Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Street Name Flower Ck
Apartment Number 4735
Dwelling Number 137
Farm No
Acres No
Citizenship No
Occupation Category H
Worked Last Week No
Seeking Work No
Employment Status No
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Mary Tracz 52 Head
Also: Mary Tracz, age 15, daughter, born Michigan
Mary Tracz
in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Name:Mary Tracz
Social Security Number:380-18-7961
Birth Date:16 Oct 1895
Issue Year:Before 1951
Issue State:Michigan
Last Residence:48207, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Death Date:Nov 1969
Tracz Mary Kowalski
in the U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current
Name:Tracz Mary Kowalski
Gender:Female
Death Date:3 Nov 1969
Obituary Date:5 Nov 1969
Obituary Place:Detroit, Michigan, USA
Newspaper Title:Detroit Free Press
Spouse:Thomas
From the Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, published on November 5, 1969:
"TRACZ-KOWALSKI
MARY, Nov. 3. Beloved wife of the late Thomas. Funeral Friday 9:15 a.m. from the Wujek Funeral Home, 19301 Van Dyke near 7 Mile, to St. Albertus Church at 10 A.m.. Interment Mt. Olivet."
Here is where I discovered an issue, and the probability that there is another Mary, married to another Tracz (again, all spellings accepted.). See Find A Grave memorial, #213213251, with the dates as follows:
Birth: 16 Oct 1895 Poland
Death: 3 Nov 1969 (aged 74) Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA
**Those dates are of the Mary that married Thomas, and had been previously married to Joseph.
However, her maiden name is recorded as: Lukasziewicz.
However, her maiden name is recorded as: Lukasziewicz.
"In February 1921 she married Casimir Tracz in Detroit. She divorced him in 1942."
Research note: Casimir is also found recorded as: Kazmisz, remember, spellings.
We also note that there is a photo of a headstone on which both of her married names are inscribed.
By either spelling, these documents are NOT Thomas, and remember, we do have this marriage:
Mary Kowalska
in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name:Mary Kowalska
[Mary Waszelenska]
Gender:Female
Race:White
Age:28
Birth Date:abt 1895
Birth Place:Poland
Marriage Date:Apr 1923
Marriage Place:Michigan, USA
Residence Place:Detroit, Michigan
Father:Joseph Waszelenska
Mother:Margaret Larhowska
Spouse:Tom Trach
Record Number:245801
So, off I was to attempt to discover who this other Tracz was, and who was his "Mary". It took hours, this is my current take:
Kazmierz Tracz
in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name Kazmierz Tracz
Gender Male
Race White
Age 25
Birth Date abt 1896
Birth Place Poland
Marriage Date 5 Feb 1921
Marriage Place Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Residence Place Detroit, Michigan
Father Michael Tracz
Mother Carolina Adock
Spouse Mary Micztal
Record Number 208666
We note from the extraction when she is the focus of the search that her father's name is noted.
Mary Micztal
in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name Mary Micztal
[Mary Lukasiewicz]
Gender Female
Race White
Age 23
Birth Date abt 1898
Birth Place Poland
Marriage Date 5 Feb 1921
Marriage Place Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Residence Place Detroit, Michigan
Father Jos Lukasiewicz *********
Spouse Kazmierz Tracz
Record Number 208666
Cassimir Tracz
in the U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
Name Cassimir Tracz
Gender Male
Birth Date 26 Oct 1894
Residence Place Detroit, Michigan, USA
Military Draft Date 1942
Next of Kin Stanley Klimek **
**We believe that this reflects the fact that Mary had divorced him as in next record.
Mary Tracz
in the Michigan, U.S., Divorce Records, 1897-1952
Name Mary Tracz
Marriage Date 9 Feb 1921
Marriage Place Wayne
Decree Date 25 Jun 1942
Decree Place Wayne, Michigan, USA
Spouse Kazimierz Tracz
State File Number 82 97896
Docket Number 325868
Divorce Status Granted
Kazmisz Tracz
in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name Kazmisz Tracz
Birth Date 26 Oct 1896
Birth Place Poland
Death Date 14 Sep 1945
Claim Date 29 Oct 1945
SSN 367090857
Notes 02 Sep 1977: Name listed as KAZMISZ TRACZ
Kazmisz Tracz
in the Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952
Name Kazmisz Tracz
[Kazmirz Tracz]
Gender Male
Race White
Marital Status Divorced
Death Age 48
Birth Date 26 Oct 1896
Birth Place Poland
Death Date 14 Sep 1945
Death Place Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Father Tracz
File Number 340989
**Neither parents names recorded on document, wife of Mary Lukasiewicz is shown, divorced. He died in County Jail Hospital. (Image was viewed.)
Buried, per death certificate, Woodmere Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan.
No Find A Grave memorial, has been located.
For a while, I had no idea what happened to Mary, widow/divorcee of Kazmisz. Did locate her, remarried:
Mary Tracz
in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name Mary Tracz
[Mary Lukasiewicz]
Gender Female
Race White
Age 47
Birth Date abt 1899
Birth Place Poland
Marriage License Place Wayne
Marriage Date 8 Jun 1946
Marriage Place Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Residence Place Detroit, Michigan
Father Joseph Lukasiewicz
Mother Caroline Adach
Spouse Frank Kostrzewa
County File Number 675893
State File Number 355707
Mary Kostrzewa
in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Name Mary Kostrzewa
Social Security Number 368-20-7281
Birth Date 22 Aug 1897
Issue year Before 1951
Issue State Michigan
Last Residence 48210, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Death Date Apr 1970
She does have a Find A Grave memorial, # 142545461, which includes a photo of her stone, with hubby Frank, her given name on the memorial is Maria.
Mary of Kazmisz, is NOT Mary of Thomas. The Find A Grave memorial for Mary, widow of Thomas, #213213251 has the correct dates, photo of her headstone, maiden name is wrong and the documents attached to her memorial at this time (January 2025) are from the other Mary, wife of Kazmisz, no linking to the memorial for Thomas is in place (January 2025).
Reminder, the Mary we are interested in has a short death notice with both of her married names noted in the paper:
From the Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, published on November 5, 1969:
"TRACZ-KOWALSKI
MARY, Nov. 3. Beloved wife of the late Thomas. Funeral Friday 9:15 a.m. from the Wujek Funeral Home, 19301 Van Dyke near 7 Mile, to St. Albertus Church at 10 A.m.. Interment Mt. Olivet."
No attempt to research any family connections between the men has been made as of now. I am not convinced by what I have found so far, that I will be able to find such proofs. I was not interested in the Tracz lineages, I was interested in the Kowalski lines as it connects via marriage to Man's heritage. I have no current plans to continue this search.
* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors. I pay for subscriptions, full price.
** My judgements may or may not be correct. Transcriptions may or may not have errors.
*** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink. Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs. As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing with you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed. If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.
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