PORTALS TO THE PAST:
A FAMILY'S ORIGINS


History Through Genealogy

In March 1999, I discovered that the man I thought was my maternal
grandfather was really my step-grandfather.

I had always planned to research the genealogy of my family. I was only
seven when I moved far away from my relatives in Chicago, whom I saw
only intermittently over the ensuing years. My parents rarely spoke of
their childhoods, let alone facts about their family histories. The
information that my family history was more complicated than I had
imagined inspired me to start documenting their genealogy immediately.

It has been a long, rewarding and often frustrating journey. I have had
great success finding the origins of my paternal family and my
step-grandfather's family. However, this has not been the case with my
real maternal grandfather and my maternal grandmother.

Hopefully, these pages will be seen by others who can help me
further my research and add to their own knowledge.
Portals to the Past:
A Family's Origins

This website was uploaded in June 2009
and was last updated in January 2010.

Additions, corrections, comments and
questions are appreciated. E-mail us at
Genealogist@pastways-portal.net
My father's family is Norwegian, with both of their origins in Telemark County on the
southeastern coast of Norway.

My grandfather was born in Eidanger and later lived in Brevik before emigrating.

My grandmother was born In Sannidal, now part of Kragero.

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My mother's roots are in the Russian occupation of Poland.

My maternal grandfather was probably from Warsaw or a nearby place.

My grandmother may also be from the Warsaw area but emigrated from a town or
village named Poluzyn, the location of which has proved elusive.


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Other portions of this site contain information about others connected to my family
from West Prussia, Germany, Switzerland and the United States. Also included are  
the history of my family in Chicago and London.

London information includes some history of the Polish Society in London and the
Ballets Russes.

There is also a page about my father's service on the United States Victory at the
end of World War II.



All of my family's ancestors reached the United States
by ship, beginning in the 1840's and continuing
until the 1930's.

The earliest came by sailing ship; most came in steerage on the immigrant
ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the late 1890's. A few
were lucky enough to be able to afford cabin class
accommodations on luxury ocean liners.

By coincidence, most of these immigrants headed to Chicago. As a result of
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, of Mrs. O'Leary and her cow fame,
there were many opportuniites for employment for skilled carpenters and
other building tradesmen to rebuild the city.


My Norwegian ancestors, most of whom were seamen and ship
carpenters were drawn by the shipping on the Great Lakes and the
need for carpenters.


Many of my Polish ancestors were members of the printing trade and
found employment in the thriving foreign press in Chicago.
Others were skilled seamstresses and tailors.