I am simply throwing out this.. who knows who might be browsing these boards.

My gradmother was born 'Helen Getusky', in Shenandoh, PA in 1910. She had 3 sisters: Anna, Theresa and Bertha. A 4th (Violet) died at birth. Her mothers name was Anna Palulis and father John Getusky. both from Lithiania b: ~1880-ish. The oldest Daughter (Theresa) was born in Lithuania, the rest in PA.

I have also heard several things through family lore:

1) Anna Getusky (Palulis) died soon after giving birth to the 4th daughter in 1910 and that the father (John Getusky) got remarried shortly after.

2) The Father John Getusky had little to no contact with his 4 daughters when they were older. They may have all been out of the house in their early teens, perhaps sooner. 2 of them (Bertha, Anna) lived in New Jersey, and 2 (Helen, Theresa) eventually wound up in Massachusetts.

3) There was a son born from the second marriage: John Getusky b~1912..also in PA (?) and the 4 daughters from the first marriage had almost no contact with him.

4) John Getusky's (senior) real name may have been something different according to one of his grandkids... perhaps Geteveckas, and the name 'Getusky' was given to the children. Why is unclear, unless for convenience. I have a suspicion That John Getusky/Geteveckas was not the father of the children - but really have nothing to back it up besides his estrangement from the kids and some naturalization documents for a 'John Geteveckas' who may not even be the right guy. BUT... I find nothing for a John Getusky anywhere, at any time. Zip.

The thing is this: I cant find any trace of this Getusky/Geteveckas/Palulis family in the census in 1900, 1910 or 1920 in PA or anywhere else. I find 2 of the daughters living in NJ in 1930... they were 24 & 21.

On my grandmother Helen Getusky's SS# application, she spells it 'Getuski' (with an i), I think this is not right - but how can someone spell their own name wrong?! (She also spelled 'Shenendoah' wrong I notice, her birthplace.) I find her sister on the 1930 census and it is spelled 'Getusky'(Y).

There is debate about if it is 'Y' or 'I' amongst the Getuskys own kids today.. they are in their 70's and 80's. The Getuskys were all female and got married fairly early and obviously all changed their names.

I guess what I would really like to find is something that has: Anna, Bertha, Theresa, or Helen, Getusky(i) on it from 1900, 1910 or 1920 - or any info really. I'm a bit surprised I cant.

I wonder sometimes how good the census information is in some of the areas around Pennsylvania where I suspect Lithianian may have been the the only language in use by some?