Frank J. Niwa

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Citizenship: Naturalized -- US Citizen, 10/13/1888, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. Found card plus have framed certificate. Country of origin is "Emperor of Germany".

2. Census, 1900, Chapman St. in Chicago. Was on census with Agatha, Vladistawa (5/1895) and Emily (5/1899). Living in same building or near to the Niwas Frank, Mary, Frank, Mary, Anna, and "Stanley". Myskier were renting, possibly from Frank Niwa. Joseph was a shoemaker This event was shared from Jozef Myskier.

3. Census: 1910 Census, 1910, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. Immigration as 1878. Birthplace: Austria. Children Floryan (5) and Elbonora (2). Location is Ware 17 Chicago. John Szczesny living with them (born in Germany)

4. Census: 1920 Census, 1920, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. Immigration: 1881., Birthplace is Poland, Children Florian (15), Irene (11), Lucille (6). Location is Ward 17 Chicago owning house. John Szczesny living with them.

5. Draft Card: WWI Draft Card, 9/12/1918, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. Address is 860 N. May St. Occupation was Machinest at Goodman. Physical problems was Operation on Hernia

6. Job: Finding work during the depression, About 1920. Frank walked from the north side to the south side answering any job ads. He advertised himself as a shoemaker, blacksmith, carpenter, clockmaker -- anything to keep things going -- doing all these things in the basement. Finally, he found work at Goodman.

7. Note, About 1920. When his parents died, Frank sold his parents house and paid off his 6 sisters. The sale contract was written so that if the buyer defaulted, Frank would get that house back, along with the loan. When the stock market crashed, Frank lost his job, the buyers defaulted on the loan. The bank was about to take Wellinton Ave house to meet back payments. The entire family went to any job to pool money.

8. Occupation: Tool and Die make, About 1920, Goodman Mining and Manufacturing.

9. Census: 1930 Census, 1930, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. Immigration: 1884, Birthplace: Austria. Children Floyd F (25), Irene D (22), Lucille P (17)

10. Census: 1940 Census, 1940, Chicago, Ward 35. Birthplace: Poland, Children Lucille (27), Raymond and Richard Yetter living with them.

11. Social Security Number: 320-09-7066.

12. Draft Card: WWII Draft Card, 1941, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. Lived on Wellington. Phone Palisade 7050. Still working at Goodman. Birthplace Poland

13. Note: Niwa means "field" in Polish.

14. Occupation: Woodwork. Made many pieces from scrap wood and metal: stools, cabinets, tables. Wood included crates and cigar boxes

Frank married Mary Rose Szczesna, daughter of Jan Szczesna and Konstancja Sergot, on 5/9/1901 in Illinois. (Mary Rose Szczesna was born on 9/19/1877 in Illinois, died on 5/11/1951 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States and was buried in 1951 in St. Adalberts, Cook, Niles Il.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

1. Moved: Moved to Wellington, About 1917, Wellington Ave. Frank and Mary saved enought to move out into the "country". Bought an almost new, two-flat in "Belmont Gardens" -- 4030 Wellington. At that time, there were open fields. The neighborhood association would put up a huge tree at the end of the block near the train tracks and flood the dead-end street for ice-skating. There were massive family parties (the Mazurowski's lived a few blocks away on Hausen Court) covering the basement and first floor. Bands were even hired to play in the basement. The second floor was always rented.