Re: Kaperzynski Family

Hi Jennifer,
You have a family member who has performed and documented a great deal of genealogy research for the Julian and Josephine Kaperzynski family.Unfortunately, none of the research has yet determined the family’s ancestral home.
The great granddaughter of Szczepan/Stephen Kaperzynski, a lady by the name of Heather Kaperzynski, has posted a Family Tree on Ancestry.com.
I have looked at the March 28, 1901 Baltimore arrival record for Josefa, Stanislav(a), Alexandra and Josef “Rapenyska”.They arrived from Bremen Germany on board the S.S. Oldenburg.Their last residence was listed as “Stora”, Kowno, Russia.Kowno may be the location now known as Kaunas in Lithuania.You will need to find other U.S. documents for the family that lists their place of birth or last residence.
Julian/Julius Kaperzynski was born around April 24, 1851 in Russia/Poland and died on November 16, 1924 in Natrona Heights, PA.He was killed in a train accident.It is unclear if Julian ever completed his U.S. Naturalization process.
Josephine Kaperzynski was born around 1841 in Russia/Poland and died on September 19, 1931 in Natrona Heights, PA.
In addition to Joseph “Joe” Francis Kaperzynski (aka Kaper), who arrived in Baltimore with his mother and sisters in 1901, there was another son named Szczepan/Stephen Kaperzynski who immigrated to the U.S. alone.I could not locate an arrival record for Stephen.
There is a WW I Draft Registration cards for Szczepan/Stephen Kaperzynski.He is listed as Szczepan Frank Kaperzynski, born on December 26, 1880 in Russia/Poland.At the time of his registration on September 12, 1918, he was living with his wife Sophie at #1 Mahaffey in Clearfield, PA.He was employed as a coal miner.Stephen died on May 29, 1960 in Woodville, PA.
It appears that Joseph “Joe” Kaperzynski was a decorated WW I hero.He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism in France around July 15, 1918.He served in the military from December 1, 1913 till November 10, 1919.Joe was born on August 15, 1891 and died on October 28, 1983.His SSN was 189-10-9514.He is buried at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Pittsburgh.
In his WW II Draft Registration and U.S. Census records, Joe indicates that he was born in Pennsylvania (not Russia/Poland).
If you were to get a copy of Joe’s Social Security Application (form SS-5), it may also say that he was born in Pennsylvania.

Here are links to the Allegheny County Pennsylvania government web site.
Sources for Research of Naturalization Records
http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/wo/natural.aspxhttp://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/wo/natural.aspx
You might have them do a search for naturalization documents for Julian, Stephen and/or Joseph Kaperszynski/Kaper.
Sources for Marriage Applications the Clerk of the Orphans' Court
http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/wo/rec.aspxhttp://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/wo/rec.aspx
The State of Pennsylvania has/had a MARRIAGE APPLICATION (not to be confused with MARRIAGE LICENSE) that contains genealogy information.These documents indicate where the bride and groom were born.
Ladislawa/Lottie married Szczepan/Stephen Gajewski.
Szczepan/Stephen married Sofia/Sophie Misiak.
Aleksandra/Alexandra/Alice married Anthony Chybrzynski.
Joseph/Joe married Mary, maiden name unknown.
Stanislawa/Stella married unknown given name Stanislawski or Stanisnowski.
Best regards,
Norbert