Notes on the Staszel lines:
1. The name has many spellings in America. The most common (at least in our family) is Staszel (the original), Stosel, Stosal and Stossel. There are many other spellings in various documents through the years ... Stasel, Stassel, Stazel, Stocel, Stashel, etc.
2. The name originates from the Zakopane area of southern Poland ... at least in regards to where they were before coming to America. If there is an earlier history than southern Poland I am not aware of it. Some of these towns were the name is prominent are Nowe Bystre (most likely where the family was from), Zubsuche (later Ząb, Suche), Chochołów, and Ratułów.
3. There were at least four brothers that came to America according to Uncle Albert Stosel (audio recording from 1990s). The oldest brother was Joseph (Josef) and he came to America before Albert (Adalbert), Louis (Ludwik) and Jemenek (audio was not clear). Joseph settled in the Pittsburgh area. Albert joined Joseph around 1902-1905. I cannot find any records of Albert in the country in the 1910 census, but his first two children (Frank and Albert) were born in Pennsylvania in 1912 and 1913. Albert later moved to Grand Rapids Michigan. Joseph, his third son was born in Grand Rapids in 1915.
4. Albert's first marriage occurred in 1910 in New Jersey when he married our grandmother Maria Funket. She died in 1921 shortly after giving birth to Aunt Betty. Grandma Anna was only two years old when she lost her mom. They had six children together ... Frank, Albert, Joseph, Sophia, Anna and Elizabeth (Betty).
5. Grandpa Albert married Grandma Mary's younger sister Victoria in 1923. They had six children together .... John, Rose, Stanley, Adam (died at birth), Genevieve and Mary.
6. Uncle Al mentions that the youngest brother went out west ... maybe to Colorado. There was a Jesse Stossel that moved to Wyoming from Chicago in about 1914-1915. His oldest daughter (Genevieve) was born in Cicero Illinois in 1914 whereas his oldest son (Joseph) was born in Wyoming in 1916. Given there is a strong DNA match with one of Jesse's descendants coupled with Uncle Al mentioning that the youngest brother moved west, I believe that Jesse is the anglicized name of the Jemenek that Uncle Al talks about. In addition, our cousin Lynn Staszel (Louie's grand daughter) confirmed that the youngest moved out west. The only thing she remembers hearing about him is that he had red hair. Many of Jesse Stossel's descendants have red hair. Uncommon for southern Poles.
7. Jesse married Mary Barbara Pytalovska. They had at least seven children .... Genevieve, Joseph, Josephine, Stella, Stanley, Rose and Helen. Notice the overlap with many of Albert's children's names. My DNA match with this line is with Rose's son (Gary Mefford).
8. So now that we have found Jesse in the documented history and identified his family, let's try to find Joseph. This task proved to be more difficult as there are two Joseph Stossels (both married to Catherine) living in the Pittsburgh area. The first one lived in Springdale (suburb of Pittsburgh) after originally coming to Oliver PA to be with his brother (near Uniontown) in 1899. The second is found in Cambria County, PA. Both were born around 1865- 1866. I tend to think that the first is more likely the older brother due to the following reasons:
- The second's death record lists his father as John Stossel. Albert's second marriage record lists his parents as Mark (Marek) Staszel and Sophia Miskowiec. This is the only record that I have found that gives Albert's parents. No records that I have for any of the brothers lists their parent's name. Still it is probable that the marriage record is correct as the information (presumably) came directly from Albert.
- The oral history from Uncle Al mentions that Albert came to America to be with his brother Joseph. Both Joseph Stossels came to this country to be coal miners, however only the first was definitely in the country according to census and other records when grandpa Albert came over. The first definitely entered the country in 1899 (although census and naturalization records list 1898). The second came sometime between 1901 and 1905. The 1910 census lists his 9 year old son having been born in Poland (Hungary) and lists his 5 year old as being born in Pennsylvania. If it was 1905, it is possible that Albert was already in the country (1902-1903).
9. The immigration records also show a Josef Staszel coming to New Salem PA in 1905. It is possible that this is a third Josef Staszel born in the late 1860s that came to Pennsylvania (albeit much further east). There are other Josef Staszel's that went to Chicago. More research is required.
10. The 1899 immigration record shows Joseph, Catherine and their oldest son Mathias coming to America on the ship "Konigin Luise". The record mentions that he is going to stay with a brother in Oliver PA. There are a few Staszels in that area at that time. The 1990 census record lists a Michael (born about 1857) and an Andrew (born about 1872) staying in the same house. Are these also brothers? There is also a Paul Staszel living in the area whose direct descendant I have a DNA match to (Thomas Staszel, son of John Staszel, son of Jacob Staszel, son of Paul Staszel). More research is required.
11. The best chance of solving this mystery is to go to (or write to) Poland and look in the church records. The two churches that will be necessary to look into are the church at Czarny Dunajec (the villagers of Nowe Bystre went here) and the church at Poronin (the villagers of Zubsuche went here). Josef Staszel's records state that he was born in Nowe Bystre but emigrated to the United States from Zubsuche so searches at both churches is warranted.
