Hi Bob,

Thanks for the reply. I have just requested the marriage records from St. Hedwig's in South Bend. I am hoping that this may provide some further clues. I don't know if they contain the parents names of bride and groom.(??) I am also getting copies of Martin Stachowiak's obit which may also be helpful. I am hoping that Martin's parents were still alive and if so, were listed in the obit (1926). You never know.

Also, Martin's wife is Agnes Ritter (Rajter/Riter/Rajtek). I am also hoping to determine the correct spelling of her surname through marriage or obit. I understand that Ritter is a German surname but my Aunt insists she is Polish, but I sometimes think there was an effort to deny any German roots. My Granddad (Leo Stachowiak) was said to come from the "German" neighborhood in South Bend, and boys from that neighborhood were not generally welcome when "courting" girls in the Polish neighborhood. (His efforts were successful anyway) I am wondering if most residents of Gultowy were bilingual, German/Polish. Maybe this will account for Polish/German connection all the way to South Bend. Maybe a common language was a key here. Maybe this is a stretch. I don't even know if Martin is from Gultowy! Only know that he was drafted into German Army so he deserted and came to U.S. through Canada. This seems to be the reason for many "immigrations" from Poland.

Thanks for your help on this. Hoping you may have some names of Stachowiak's that will connect to my line.

Regards,

Laura