Heritage \ People \

Ludwig Danielewski (1846-1903)
(aka. Louis Daniels) First Polish resident of Bay City.
by Marvin Kusmierz (December 2002 / Updated Feb. 2008)

Born 1845, Zyrkowo, Poland
Died April 24, 1903, Bay City, MI
Spouse: Allice ?
Sons: Constantine A. (abt. 1874), Osmond A. (abt.1879), Cyril, Anthony & Matelsi.
Daughters: Florence & Bessie.

1st St. Stanislaus Kostka Church built in 1875.

Louis is considered the first Polish settler in Bay City arriving in 1867. He is also credited as an important founder of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Society which was instrumental in establishing the St. Stanislaus Church.

He left his home of Zyrkowo, Poland at the young age of 18 heading for England where he learned the skills of tailoring. He left England for the United States, initially settling at New York before moving to Bay City where he found work in the tailor shop of Francis H. Blackman that was located at 108 Water Street.

Ludwig was counted in the 1870 Michigan Census taken on June 16th. His last name appears as "Daniels". It is not known if this is a recording error or if Louis decided to shorten his name. The record shows:

Dwelling #560, Daniels, Ludwick, age 27, male, white, work - Cutter in clothing store, born in Poland.

The actual recording can be viewed at [Line 31/Roll#662/471R]. In either case, city directories subsequent to 1870 confirm that Louis kept Daniels as his last name.

1873-74: Ludwig Daniels, Water Street, between 10th & 11th streets, boards with P.J. Parrot. (Blackman's tailor shop is shown at 108 N. Water, McCormick Block.)

1875-76: Ludwig Daniels, 106 Water Street, Merchant Tailor, residence west side of Washington, between 10th & 11th streets. (It appears Louis may have had his own tailor business at this time as both a business and residential address are listed. If so, it would have been next to Blackman's shop or he may have operated his shop separately an extension of it.)

The 1880 Michigan Census shows Ludwig living in the 4th Ward of Bay City, is now married with two sons:

Name	Relation	Sex	Age	Birth Place	Occupation
Daniels, Ludwick	Head	male	33	Prusia Pol.	Merchant Tailor
Daniels, Allice L.	wife	female	29	Michigan	Keep House
Daniels, Constantine A.	son	male	6	Michigan	At Home
Daniels, Osmond A.	son	male	1	Michigan	At Home
Sangmuier, Katie	other	female	22	Michigan	Servant

Reference FamilySearch.org [NA Film #T9-0571, pg. 409c]

1900 Census data contributed by Kathy Czuba (Feb. 2008):

Address: 1115 Fourth St., Bay City, MI.

Name	Relation	Sex	Birth	Age	Birth Place	Occupation
Daniels, Ludwik	Head	male	Aug. 1846	53	Russia Pol.	county clerk
Daniels, Alice	Wife	female	Jan 1857	49	Michigan	--
Daniels, Osmond	Son	male	Jul. 1882	18	Michigan	Tailor
Daniels, Florence	Dau.	female	Oct. 1882	18	Michigan	clerk, Co. Office
Daniels, Bessie	Dau.	female	Sep. 1882	17	Michigan	--
Daniels, Metelski	Son	male	Jul. 1886	13	Michigan	--
Daniels, Cyril	Son	male	Aug. 1892	7	Michigan	--
Daniels, Anthony	Son	male	Aug. 1897	2	Michigan	--

Shortly after he arrived in Bay City in 1870, he began a letter campaign urging Poles living in Detroit, Chicago and New York to move to this bustling city where opportunities for a good life was possible. These are people that he most likely knew from the old country or met when he came to America:

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

Most immigrants struggled with the English language. It was particularly difficult for the Polish immigrants whose alphabet is dramatically different affecting sounds, as an example, a Polish "W" sounds like an English "V". Early immigrants found it easier settle in ethnic groups out of necessity for survival among English speaking communities. And, for the Poles in Bay City, it was the south end of city.

Louis was quite fluent with the English language which proved to be most helpful as the leader of this small but growing Polish community. From 1870 to 1874 about 100 Polish families came to the Bay City area, and most lived in the south end of the city. Louis was able to speak on behalf of the needs of these Poles. He had developed relationships with many well to do people of the community through his tailoring skills. And, when the Poles began building their own church many leaders in the community contributed to their effort to complete St. Stanislaus Kostka Church which opened in 1892.

Louis involved himself in civics affairs for he sincerely appreciated his adopted country and community. The following are quotes from St. Stanislaus Kostka Church Centennial (1874-1974):

"In 1895, he became a candidate for City Treasurer and was elected and re-elected for another term. Before his second term expired, he was nominated for County Clerk on the Republican ticket and was elected and re-elected in the next election of 1900. In 1902, he received the nomination for the third term. He was defeated in this election. He again opened his tailor shop, after the expiration of his term of office, in 1903. However, he did not continue in business very long. One day he was suddenly taken ill while in the shop, and he died shortly afterwards on April 24, 1903 at the age of 58."

"He was buried from St. Stanislaus Church on April 28, 1903. It was not the one he helped to build, but the present twin spired edifice, Father Edward Kozlowski, with whom he formed a close friendship, conducted the funeral service."

The story of Louis Danielewski is not unique for the immigrants of this time -- America was becoming an industrialized nation and they came from all parts of Europe seeking work and a better life. They played an instrumental role the building of American communities giving future generations a heritage to take great pride in. What is unique is our lack of understanding of our heritage, of how much of what we enjoy today is directly related to the sacrifices they made.

---

Update to this history page:

Feb. 2008: Data from 1903 obituary contributed by Jim Petrimoulx:

Ludwig's father, Constantine Danielewski, was a member of an old Polish nobility. The obituary says during the Polish rebellion of 1863 Constantine was an officer and Ludwig, about 18 years olds at the time, served under him. The rebellion was crushed and his father lost his entire estate as both fled from Poland.

Regarding Ludwig's immigration to the U.S., the obituary states he served with the New York Rifles, a volunteer organization, during the U.S. Civil War. If true, Ludwig would come to the U.S. some time before 1866 as the Civil War came to and end in 1865.

Additional information provided by the obit includes:

- Served two terms as city treasurer beginning in 1895.
- Served two terms as county clerk, elected in 1898 and 1900. He was defeated in a third attempt by John G. Buchanan.
- Served two terms on the police commission.

The obituary as says that Ludwig was well educated having studied for the priesthood, and besides Polish and English, he also spoke German, French and Volapuk {Wikipedia Definition].

Feb. 2008 census & burial data contributed by Kathy Czuba:

Ludwig Daniels, although a member of St. Stanislaus church, was buried at St. Patrick's cemetery. Also buried near him is his oldest son Constantine O.

Interestingly there are three burials at St. Stanislaus cemetery under the surname Danielewski - Antoni, Mary and Joseph. These persons were found in the 1900 Census living at 310 S. Henry St. under the Daniels surname:

Name: Relation / Born / Birth Place / Immigrated / Occupation
• Anthony: Head / Jan 1856 / Poland-? / 1870 / Livery Stable Prop.
• Mary: Wife / Mar. 1857 / Bohemia / 1868 / --
• Joseph: Son / Apr. 1878 / Arkansas / -- / Breakman R.R.
• Martha: Dau. / May 1880 / Ohio / -- / Operator Telephone
• Stanley: Son / Jun. 1893 / Michigan/ -- / Stationary ?

Anthony is about the same age as Ludwig, and it would seem a reasonable assumption that they are either brothers or cousins.