Heritage \ Groups \ Polish

History of Polish Immigrants in Bay County

The Polish contribution to the United States dates back to 1608 and Jamestown, VA, when a British company brought them there to work as glass blowers. Since that time, Poles have been a part of the American proposition. Visit [Polonia: United States of America] for information on Poles in America.

The first Polish settlement in Michigan and possibly the United States, was at Parisville in Huron County. Harry Milostan, a Mt. Clemons attorney, in his book, "Parisville Poles", published 1977, states F. Susalla filed a Parisville land claim in 1854 three months before the Polish settlement of Panna Maria, TX that is credited by most historians as the oldest Polish permanent community in the USA. He further states that Poles were in Michigan as early as 1848 but without settlements.

Louis Danielewski appears to be the first documented Pole in Bay County arriving here in 1870 and began work at the tailor shop of Captain F.H. Blackman in Bay City. It is also noted that he was responsible for many other Polish families moving to this area. The following list from St. Stanislaus Centennial book record the following Poles arriving here shortly thereafter:

Bajak, Albert, 1871 Bajerski, John, 1871 Baran, Michael, 1871 Boczek, Casimir, 1870 Breski, John, 1871 Bukowski, Felix, 1871 Bukowski, Joseph, 1871 Bukowski, Stephen, 1870 Dalecki, John, 1870 Dardas, Lawrence, 1871 Drzezdian, August, 1871 Gierszewski, Andrew, 1870 Glaza, Frank, 1870 Glaza, John, 1871 Glaza, Stephen, 1870 Glaza, Vincent, 1870 Goik, Joseph, 1871 Goik, Paul, 1870 Gwizdala, James, 1870 Gwizdala, Luke, 1871 Gwizdala, Paul, 1871 Gwizdala, Vincent, 1870

Kabat, Albert, 1871 Kabat, Martin, 1871 Kazyak, James, 1871 Kazyak, Vincent, 1871 Kica, John, 1871 Kostus, Andrew, 1870 Kozlowski, Frank, 1870 Krawczak, John, 1870 Kula, Jan, 1871 Lochinski, Frank, 1871 Madajski, Joseph, 1870 Mroczkowski, Cajetan, 1871 Musial, James, 1871 Musial, Paul, 1871 Myszynski, John, 1870 Nowakowski, John, 1870 Nowakowski, Simon, 1870 Pawlanty, Albert, 1871 Piesik, Andrew, 1870 Plecki, John, 1871 Przybylinski, Anthony, 1871

Ryczek, Albert, 1870 Ryczek, Andrew, 1870 Rydlewski, Joseph, 1870 Sikorski, Michael, 1871 Skory, Anthony, 1871 Skory, Louis, 1871 Smialek, Stanislaus, 1870 Stefanski, Stephen, 1871 Styn, John, 1870 Styn, Joseph, 1871 Tafelski, Felix, 1871 Talaska, Frank, 1870 Talaska, John, 1870 Talaska, Joseph, 1870 Twork, August, 1871 Welter, John, 1870 Wilkowski, John, 1870 Witbrodt, John, 1871 Witbrodt, Joseph, 1871 Wrobel, Charles, 1871

During the years 1870-1874 about 100 Polish families relocated to Bay City and neighboring area, the majority living in the south end area of the city. This group, led by Louis Danielewski, founded the St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Bay City in 1874.

In 1889, the Chicago based Polish Roman Catholic Union, an insurance fraternity, held their national convention in Bay City attesting to the quickly growing local Polish influence.

During the early 1900s, the Polish ethnic segment of Bay County represented nearly 25% of the overall population. Significant groups now populated different townships working farmland and holding jobs as laborers in the wood mills, salt mines and coal mines. The closest Catholic Polish Church available to these families at the time was St. Stanislaus Church in Bay City which was a significant distance and time to travel for families not living in Bay City. Many attended Sunday services of the nearest Catholic church or Christian church available to them until the could build their own church community:

• 1874: {St. Stanislaus Kostka Church} community of Bay City, land donated by William D. Fitzhugh.
• 1897: St. Anthony Church community of Fisherville, lands donated by Charles Fisher and Rev. Edward Kozlowski.
• 1901: St. Hyacinths Church community of Bay City-Portsmouth, land purchased by the St. Stanislaus Church Committee led by Rev. Edward Kozlowski
• 1907: {St. Hedwig Church} community of Bay City-Salsburg, land donated by A. Piechowiak.
• St. Valentine Church community of Beaver Township, land donated by John Zboralski.

While each family played an important role in the building of these church communities, it was Rev. Edward Kozlowski, pastor at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, that provided important guidance, encouragement and even personal funds towards their development. It should also be mentioned the significant local support of individuals and groups who donated land, time and money to towards the establishment of these new church communities.

In Bay City, Pulaski Hall was built by the Poles for social purposes, and two Polish language newspapers were in circulation, the "Sztandar Polski" and "Dom Poski". And, the marching band of the Saint George Society was highly acclaimed for its excellence performances.

The early Polish pioneers demonstrated an unyielding allegiance to America, being among the first to respond to freedom's call throughout this nation's history. These strong willed people hung on tightly to their Polish traditions and yet worked hard on learning the English language so they would fit in as new Americans. The first generation of Poles born here continued to be educated in Polish Church schools where the Polish and English languages were taught. Many of this generation became tutors of the English language to their parents and grandparents. Many still married within the Polish ethnic group, but by the second generation inter-ethnic marriages were common. According to the US Census 2000, those claiming a Polish ancestry amounted to 23,816 or 21.6% of the total reporting. Only those claiming German were higher at 31.3% of the population.
{View Census 2000 Data}

The influence of Polish immigrants from the late 1800s and early 1900s continues to play a significant role within our communities today. One can hardly drive by the St. Stanislaus Church in Bay City without wondering about how those with so little were able to do so much with it.

---

Sources:
- St. Hedwig Church, Centennial book,
- St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Centennial Book, 1874-1974.
- [Ancestry - The Polish Connection], Website
- Arndt, Leslie E., book, "The Bay County Story - From Footpaths to Freeways"