Am looking for any information on the ancestry of my grandparents Peter Bleskan and Helen Kurcinka(?). Immigrated in the early 1900's from Dlha, Cz. Sl. and settled in Bennett, Wisconsin. They had four children, Al, Lillian, Helen and George bleskan. Peter died somewhere around 1926 and Helen worked as a maid for her remaining years. I know more about Peter than Helen's ancestry. I cannot seem to find the Ellis Island's records for either of them. I believe the last names may be spelled differently. Or the stories we pass on are incorrect as to when they came to America and why. Some of the first names of siblings of Peter are Andrej, Pauline, Mary, Ann, Michael Bleskan. for Helen she had half sisters and brothers when her mother remarried. They are Tony, Christina, Anna, Johanna and Pauline. Helen and her siblings may have different last names, possible Horvath. Helen parents were Anna Barkor and Joseph Kurcinka. Anna was married before and possibly widowed or abandoned. The story is my grandmother Helen left Europe at the age of 17 to get away from her stepfather. Any information will be helpful./ Michele Bleskan

Bennett, WI is in Douglas Co.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~widougla/

Bennett, WI Message Board
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/board/rw/localities.northa...

Note: There is one reference to a Pauline Bleskan on the RITCHEY surname message board--might be worth checking it.
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/rw/surnames.ritche...

[Lancaster Co. NE Message Board Administrator]

My father (born 1951) and grandfater (born 1910) are both John Bleskan. Bleskan may indeed be the correct spelling. In Czech (my greatgrandfathers homeland) the word is translated "man with sparkling eyes". I also just found out my greatgrandfathers name is at Ellis Island, unchanged and kept for records.

Hi ....we may be distant cousins. My grandfather was Peter Bleskan who emigrated in 1906 and was born in 1888 in Czechslovakia. My father was Peter George Bleskan born in 1921 in Superior, Wisconsin.

We have the family genealogy completed for my great grandfather's family Michael Bleskan (1881dob), descendants of gggf Pavol Bleskan (1812dob) and ggggf Jan Bleskan (prior to 1800). Curiously Pavol and Jan had only one child....hard to believe in the 1800's.

Possibly your John Bleskan is related to the above family tree or a branch we don't know about. Any information you have would be appreciated. If interested I could send you the genealogy infomation we have collected.

Thank you for your response. Sincerely, Michele Bleskan

My great grandfather was Andrej Bleskan who originally came from Dhla nad Oravou in Slovakia.

Hi AGain, You must be Bruce Mihalich who contacted me through the GAther network.

I read your information you posted on Ancestry. You are a cousin of mine. I will have to dig the document out and review your part of the family tree.

The country, and area are the same.

I am rusty on all the particulars since it was 2002 when I last looked at this information.

Amazingly I have one elderly aunt, age 96, who could give us more details about the past. I have been meaning to travel to visit her before it is too late but as usual find my life too busy. Your connection reminds me to do so.

My email is mbleskan2002@yahoo.com. What is yours?

Lets chat soon.

Sincerely,

Michele Bleskan