hulchanski family: the first two generations in north america

Hulchanski Family

The First Two Genera�ons in North America

Compiled by John David Hulchanski & William Daniel Hulchanski

last update: 17 August 2013

Hulchanski Family: The First Two Generations in North America

of 74 www.Hulchanski.com

Hulchanski Family

The First Two Genera�ons in North America

1. Introduc�on: Hulchanski, Halayko, Fecych, Macko

2. Family Villages in Galicia (Western Ukraine)

3. John, Helen and Stephen Hulchanski

4. Iwan Hulczczanski (John Olsan) of Brzegi Górne

5. Charles & Michael of Vintondale PA

6. The Lashinsky / Halayko Family of Windber PA

7. Hilchanski's of Wilkes-‐Barre PA

2 The Hulchanski family genealogy website is www.hulchanski.com



1. HULCHANSKI, HALAYKO, FECYCH, MACKO FAMILIES

HULCHANSKI FAMILY

THE FIRST TWO GENERATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA

CHAPTER 1

Around 1900 several individuals and families le� four small Ukrainian villages. They travelled to the ports of Hamburg and Ro�erdam and sailed to the port of New York.

From there most first went to western Pennsylvania where coal mines were looking for laborers. Some stayed while others le� for urban factorys.

This report presents what is known about the first two genera�ons.



Various spellings of Hulchanski John and Helen Hulchanski and their son Stephen used this spelling consistently a�er arriving in 1901 (see Chapter 3).

Because Ukrainian uses the Slavic alphabet, when any Slavic people arrived at US immigra�on, officials had to do their best to listen to the name and put it into English le�ers.

Thus members of the same extended family (uncles, cousins) with the same last name but who arrived at different �mes ended up with different English spellings of that same name.

There is no correct translitera�on of a Slavic name – just various approxima�ons.

In addi�on to one branch of the family using Hulchanski, other probably related branches used Hulczczanski (see Chapter 4) and Hilchanski (see Chapter 7).

And then there is Charles – ‘Fat Charlie’ to his miner friends – in Vintondale PA. Records list him as Charles Hilohanski, Hilchanscy, Hillshawney, Hillschancey, and Hulchancy, with Hulchanski on his gravestone (see Chapter 5 for a guess as to why).

4



How the ‘Hulchanski’ name sounded Hul'shchans'kyi

The first syllable sounded like "hool" (rhyming with rule), except the final L sound was so�ened. Not something we normally do in English.

The second syllable was accented. The first consonant cluster sounds like the shch in cheese. The N sound at the end of the second syllable would normally be so�ened.

The final syllable starts with a so�ened S sound, sort of like the S in sure. The final yi sounds a lot like the word hay without the H. -‐-‐ with thanks to John Paul Himka for this

5



Four families from four nearby Ukrainian villages in Galicia

  Macko   Fecych (Fletcher)   Halkayho (Halaiko)   Hulchanski

6



Macko Family from Komańcza (Ukrainian: Команча, Komancha)

Mary Macko married Daniel Fletcher (Fecych) in 1903 in Syracuse. They had three children. Their daughter Mary, born in 1904, married Stephen Hulchanski in Syracuse in 1920. They raised seven children. When Daniel died in 1945, Mary (Macko) lived with her daughter Mary (Fletcher) Hulchanski at 119 Schrouder St.



Mary Macko and Daniel Fecych / Fletcher; and with their daughter Mary (Fecych / Fletcher) Hulchanski; probably early 1940s. Daniel died in 1945.

8



Fecych / Fletcher Family From Maniów (Ukrainian: Манів, Maniv)

Alexander and Mary Fecych from the village of Maniów (Maniv) in Galicia had two sons, Daniel and John, both born in Maniów and both migrated to the US and lived in Syracuse. Daniel married Mary Macko in Syracuse in 1903. One of their three children was Mary who married Stephen Hulchanski in 1920.

9



Halayko / Halaiko Family From Balnica (Ukrainian: Бальниця, Balnytsia)

Peter and Anna Halajko in Balnica had two children, Michael and Olena (Helen). Olena married John Hulchanski from a nearby village. They had one son Stephen Hulchanski, born in 1895. Olena and son Stephen travelled to the US in 1901. John arrived in 1902. They first se�led in a mining village in western Pennsylvania, Summerhill, and around 1914 moved to Auburn NY where they lived for the rest of their lives. Stephen married Mary Fecych (Fletcher) in 1920 and eventually moved to East Syracuse where they raised seven children.

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2. FAMILY VILLAGES IN GALICIA (WESTERN UKRAINE)

HULCHANSKI FAMILY


CHAPTER 2

Where is the Ukrainian village some Hulchanski’s le� around 1900? Where are the villages of other immediate family members? What happened to these villages? Why will we not find any distant rela�ves living there? The Hulchanski name originates in Brzegi Górne (Polish name). Ukrainian name: Береги Горішні (Berehy Horishni).



Hulchanski’s are from “Galicia” Galicia is an English term. In Polish it is Galicja and in Ukrainian it is Halychyna (Галичина). It naming dates from 1772.

When North American genealogists use the term Galicia, they are usually referring to the most northeast region of the Austro-‐Hungarian Empire. Today this area is in southeast Poland and southwest Ukraine.

The ethnic background of Galicia is mixed. The eastern half where the Hulchanski family came from was predominately Ukrainians who were Greek (Byzan�ne) Catholics. There were many minori�es: Poles, Jews, Germans, Slovaks.

Galicia (Halychyna) was first a Ukrainian (eastern Slavic) principality from 1141-‐1340. The name comes from its capital city Halych.

The region was fought over and changed hands several �mes between Hungary, Poland and the Ukrainian princes. In 1349 a Polish king took control of the city. It remained in Polish hands un�l 1772 when the region was occupied by the Austrian Empire.

A�er WWI Galicia was divided between Poland and Ukraine. The Hulchanski family villages are all near the Ukraine border in today’s Poland. 12



Lviv, Ukraine former capital of Galicia

(A) John Hulchanski, b.1875

POLAND UKRAINE

SLOVAKIA

The Hulchanski, Halaiko, Fecyck & Macko Family Villages Map of post WWII na�onal boundaries

(B) Daniel Fecych (Fletcher), b.1878

(C) Mary Macko, b.1884

(D) Helen Halayko, b.1879



The village family members named “Hulchanski” came from is in Poland today, on the border of Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia, in the foothills of the Carpathian mountains.

14

Poland

Ukraine

Romania



Brzegi Górne, 2013 Ukrainian: Береги Горішні, Berehy Horishni is a village in the administra�ve district of Gmina Lutowiska, within Bieszczady County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in southeastern Poland, close to the border with Ukraine. It lies approximately 16 kilometres (10 mi) south-‐west of Lutowiska, 33 km (21 mi) south of Ustrzyki Dolne, and 107 km (66 mi) south of the regional capital Rzeszów. – Wikipedia, 2013.

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RIP: Brzegi Górne / Berehy Horishni 1939 popula�on 790: 750 Ukrainians, 10 Poles, 30 Jews.

The village was depopulated in 1946 by the communist Polish state and burned. It does not exist today.

The Greek Catholic parish church of St. Michael the Archangel (wooden, built 1897) was burned in 1947. This was the Hulchanski family church.

Founda�ons, remnants of the fence, and the church cemetery remain. In 1988 a cross was placed on the site of the church.

A road was built through the cemetery. Only eleven gravestones remain. The others were crushed into gravel for the road.

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A�er WWII the popula�on of this area was forcibly rese�led and many villages destroyed by the communist Polish state. Ostensibly the violent rese�lement was aimed at suppressing the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The rese�lement, however, was also intended to

"solve the Ukrainian ques�on” in Poland once and for all.

From the Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine. h�p://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/ 17



  In August 1990 the Senate of the Republic of Poland passed a resolu�on condemning Opera�on Wisła.

  In May 1997 Polish president A. Kwasniewski and Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma signed a Declara�on of Understanding and Reconcilia�on in an effort to move beyond mutual recrimina�on.

  In April 2002, in a le�er addressed to a Na�onal Remembrance Ins�tute conference commemora�ng the 55th anniversary of the ac�on, Polish President Kwasniewski openly expressed official regret over the opera�on.

From the Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine. h�p://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/ 18



Today Brzegi Gorne is a crossroads and bus stop. There appears to be one farm and a parking lot. This area was depopulated and villages destroyed following a post-‐WWII uprising against Communist Poland by Ukrainians. It is today part of Bieszcsady Na�onal Park. Bieszczady Na�onal Park is the

third largest Na�onal Park in Poland, located in the extreme south-‐east corner of the country, bordering Slovakia and Ukraine. The Park was created in 1973. It occupies an area of 292 square kilometres. In 1992 the Park and its surrounding areas became part of the UNESCO East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, which has a total area of 2,132 square kilometres and also includes areas in Slovakia and Ukraine.



1876 Dwelling, Berehy Horishni (Berehy Gorne). (1) Main entrance door; (2) Glazed window; (3) Window with decora�ve construc�on; (4 -‐ 6) Carved structural beams.

h�ps://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xl4BhUKYR7qe435IYUiEeA 20



3. JOHN & HELEN & SON STEPHEN HULCHANSKI

John, Helen and Stephen came to the US in 1901 & 1902

Lived in Pennsylvania un�l about 1914

John and Helen lived in Auburn NY the rest of their lives

HULCHANSKI FAMILY


CHAPTER 3



John Hulchanski arrived at the Port of New York on August 18, 1902 on the SS Kroonland, Red Star Line

Helen (Olena) and son Stephen Hulchanski arrived at the Port of New York on May 16, 1901 on the S.S. Neckar

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Hulchanski’s who le� their Galician village of Brzegi Górne travelled first to work in the Pennsylvania coal mines.

The 1920 Census lists a Mike and Charles Hilohanski in PA [see Chapter 5]. Mike was 21 years older than Charles. Charles arrived in the US in 1909 and Mike in 1913.

John Hulchanski’s family le� PA around 1914 and worked for many years in the Columbian Rope Factory in Auburn, NY.

His son Stephen moved to East Syracuse when married and worked most of his life for the New York Central Railroad, raising seven children with his wife Mary (Fecych / Fletcher).

24

From farming villages in Galicia à to Pennsylvinia mining towns à to Central New York factory ci�es



1910 Census: John, Helen and Stephen Hulchanski

è

They are listed as living in Summerhill, Cambria County PA. When they arrived in the US, they likely went to PA first.

25



1910 Census: Text version, John & Helen Hulchanski

Home in 1910: Summerhill, Cambria County, PA. John worked in the Pennsylvania mines before moving north to Auburn NY.

26



John Hulchanski’s 1936 Social Security applica�on iden�fies his parents, Nicholas & Fannie (Moscier), and his birthplace, Berchy Gurne, Galicia (by 1936 part of Poland)

28



Helen & John Hulchanski, Auburn NY A�er Helen died in 1940 John married Mary Tershanne

Like John, she was born in Galicia and worked for the Columbian Rope Company



Stephen & Mary Hulchanski

219 Schroeder St. East Syracuse, NY

Married in 1920 Seven children born between 1921 and 1932

30



Stephen & Mary Hulchanski Marriage License Syracuse NY Married 10 Aug 1920 Stephen was a railroad fireman; Mary a factory “helper”

31



Stephen & Mary Hulchanski family, East Syracuse, NY. Early 1940s

Si�ng: Harry Daniel, Stephen, William. Standing: Marion, Mary, Stephen, John, Helen, Elizabeth

32



33

From Hulchanski.com



34 From Hulchanski.com



35

The seven Children of Stephen &

Mary (Fecych) Hulchanski of East

Syracuse, NY



36

John Hulchanski Death Cer�ficate Auburn NY Born 15 Jan 1875 Died 14 Feb 1954 Age 79



37

Stephen Hulchanski Death Cer�ficate Rochester NY Born 10 Aug 1898 Died 3 Dec 1950 Age 52



38

Stephen Hulchanski New York Times 4 Dec 1950



Some of the Hulchanski’s who le� villages in Galicia around 1900 first se�led in Pennsylvania working as laborers in coal mines in southern Cambria and northern Somerset coun�es. We know one

Hulchanski who went to Milwaukee instead (see Chapter 4).

Family members, children of Stephen and Mary in Syracuse, recall having cousins from PA who would visit Auburn (i.e., John and Helen’s home, their grandparents) in the 1930s. In addi�on to family members in Western PA, these may also have been members of the “Hilchanski” family of Wilkes-‐Berre, Luzerne County, PA (see Chapter 6).

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Hulchanski Family in Pennsylvania in early and mid-‐20th Century

They le� farming villages in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains around 1900 and ini�ally se�led in mining villages in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.



4. IWAN HULSZCZANSKI

Iwan Hulszczanski, 1868-‐1948, Milwaukee, WI.

A likely rela�ve (cousin?) of John Hulchanski (1875-‐1954).

Iwan (Ivan, John) came to the US from the same small village in Galicia as John Hulchanski.

Iwan Hulszczanski legally changed his name to John Olsan in 1935. His grandson, John Olsan, lives in Milwaukee.

HULCHANSKI FAMILY


CHAPTER 4



Born in the village of Brzegi Górne

  John Hulszczanski (1868-‐1948), Milwaukee

  John Hulchanski (1875-‐1954), Summerhill PA & Auburn NY

  Charles & Michael of Vintondale PA (Charles 1884-‐1941; Michael unknown), birthplace of both not known yet.

  Nicholas Hilchanski of Wilkes-‐Berre PA (nothing known yet)

Iwan Hulczczanski 1906 wedding photo. Wife: Mary Wojtowycz.

Iwan & Mary changed their name to Olsan. The Olsan family today has Iwan’s 1868 birth cer�ficate from Brzegi Gorne, Galicia, which is also the birth place of John Hulchanski. The original Ukrainian spelling of the last name is the same as we Hulchanski’s believe the original spelling of our name to be. Ivan (John) was a common name. Were the two Johns (Ivans) cousins in Brzegi Górne? Are Charles, Michael and Nicholas also cousins?

42



Iwan Hulszczanski, 1868 Brzegi Górne – 1948 Milwaukee

Name legally changed to John Olsan in 1935

John and wife Nancy Olsan, Milwaukee, 2011. Grandson of Iwan Hulszczanski (John Olsan).

43



Birth and bap�smal cer�ficate by official parish Greek Catholic Berchi Hirni Church St Michael declaring that, in birth record books of this church, Vol. 2, page 78, is shown as follows: born June 15, 1868 male, Greek Catholic name Ivan, born under wedlock Parents Nestor Hul'schans'kyi, son of Petro and Mariia Kychak from Berehy Hirni. Anastasiia Savka, daughter of Mykhailo and Mariia Chekaniv from Dvernyk. This cer�ficate is in my own hand and by the seal of the church, Berehi Hirni, April 9, 1906.

Imperial Austria Kingdom of Galicia

44



Iwan & Mary (Wojtowycz) Hulszczanski, 1930s

Milwaukee WI Names changed to John & Mary Olsan In 1935

45



5. CHARLES HULCHANSKI

1884-‐1941, Coal miner, Vintondale, PA

What is his connec�on to the John Hulchanski family?

Census spellings: Hilohanski (1920), Hilchanscy (1930), Hillshawney (1940). 1941 death cer�ficate: Hillschancey. A 1940 news photo: Hulchancy. Gravestone: Hulchanski (1941).

HULCHANSKI FAMILY


CHAPTER 5



Charles Hulchanski c. 1940 to his friends …

“Fat Charlie”

Who was Charles Hulchanski of Vi�ondale PA?

Was he related to the Hulchanski family of Auburn and Syracuse NY?

47



  Listed as Charley Hillschancey on his death cer�ficate. Not married.

  Born January 11, 1884

  Died January 22, 1941. 55 years old.

  Came to USA in 1909, age 23.

  Worked as “laborer on �pple" for the Vinton Colliery Co. The “�pple" is where they �p the coal out of the carts.

  Died of Coronary Thrombosis; Myocardial Degenera�on (star�ng 1925); and Arteriosclerosis. Contribu�ng factor: Obesity.

  His residence is listed as the Farkas Hotel in Vintondale PA, a boarding house.

  Fathers name listed as John Hillschancey.

48



49



From Vintondale, by Denise Dusza Weber, 2008, p.46. 50



From Vintondale, by Denise Dusza Weber, 2008, p. 46.



Charles was a member of the United Mine Workers of America in Vintondale PA

52




Charles lived for many years in the Farkas Hotel (a boarding home, i.e., ren�ng a room with meals) in Vintondale, PA

53



ê

Charles Hulchanski was a boarder in the Farkas Hotel, Vintondale for at least 15 years prior to his death in 1941. He was likely a good friend of the Farkas family. He

may have boarded with them in the 1920s on Barker St. in Lilly, PA (1930 Census).

Farkas Hotel, with a third floor added, 1939



Vintondale in 2013 (Google Earth). The Farkas Hotel at 164 Main St. is no longer there.

56



è

1930 Census: Original census page, Charles Hulchanski

In April 1930 listed as Charles “Hilchanscy” living in the Farcas Hotel as a border. Mike & Helen Farkas have 3 sons and 4 daughters. There are 3 boarders.

57



è

1940 Census: Original census page, Charles Hulchanski

In April 1940 listed as Charles “Hillshawney” living in the Farcas Hotel as a border. Mike & his 2nd wife Helen Farkas have 2 sons living with them and 4 daughters. There are 2 boarders (lodgers).

58



è ç

1940 Census, Vintondale, PA. – Charles “Hillschawney”

Census takers did their best to enter names onto the forms as they went door-‐to-‐door. Thus many misspellings. 59



The cemetery is located at the end of Maple Street (In the woods near the PA State

Gamelands) in the borough of Vintondale, Cambria County, PA.

Charles Hulchanski is buried in the cemetery of the St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church,

Vintondale, PA

h�p://warholic.tripod.com/Cem_vintondale.html

h�p://oca.org/parishes/OCA-‐WP-‐VINSPP

Ondriezek Funeral Home of Nanty Glo (now Bowser-‐Ondriezek Funeral Home)

60



QUESTIONS, UNKNOWNS about Charles

  Is Charles a rela�ve of the John and Helen (and son Stephen) Hulchanski family that came over from Galicia in 1901 & 1902? Un�l about 1914 they lived near Vintondale and John worked in the mines. John then moved to Auburn NY. His son Stephen lived in East Syracuse NY a�er marrying Mary. They visited rela�ves in PA, through no one now recalls who.

  We first knew of Charles from the gravestone.

  No official document we can find for Charles uses the “Hulchanski” spelling but his gravestone does.

  He was ac�ve with the United Mine Workers union: there is a newspaper photo of him with the UMW; & the UMW Local is listed on his gravestone.

61



“Mike Hilohanski” in the 1920 Census

A rela�ve of Stephen (Vintondale), John (Auburn), John (Milwaukee)?

Who was the Mike “Hilohanski” recorded in the 1920 census? But no other census. We do not know.

He is listed in the census along with Charles “Hilohanski” as boarders at the Farkas Hotel and as miners.

Mike and Charles are thus likely rela�ves.

There may be an error in spelling or sloppy census taker handwri�ng (the o may be a c). There was a Hilchanski family in Willkes-‐Barre at the �me.

1920 Census text:

  Hilohanski, Mike   10A Main St.   Vintondale, Cambria   Boarder, 55 years

old   Came to US in 1913   Born Austria   Laborer Coal Co.   Vinton Colliery

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Charles Hulchanski reasonable guesses from the evidence Charles, as well as Michael who we know li�le about, were likely rela�ves of the John, Helen and Stephen Hulchanski family of Auburn and Syracuse NY.

He was likely from the same or a nearby village in Galicia (Ukraine). Word of mouth within families led people from one family and village in the old country to employment prospects in a region of the new country.

Charles was likely illiterate which was common among peasants from rural villages. If he remained illiterate this would explain the many spellings of his last name.

If Charles was related to John Hulchanski (of Auburn NY), John, his wife Helen and son Stephen (of Syracuse NY) would likely have a�ended the 1941 funeral. If so, the “Hulchanski” spelling on the gravestone could have come from the Auburn/Syracuse Hulchanski’s, that is, they would have likely requested that spelling.

63



6. LASHINSKY / HALAYKO FAMILY OF WINDBER, PA

HULCHANSKI FAMILY


CHAPTER 6

In 1906 Mary Halayko married miner Michael Lashinsky in the mining town of Windber PA. Both were born in Galicia and arrived in the US around 1900. We do not know much about the Lashinsky-‐Halayko family in Windber.

Mary Halayko was the half sister of Helen Halayko who married John Hulchanski prior to coming to the USA in 1901. Windber is close to Sommerhill PA where John and Helen lived un�l about 1914.

Michael and Mary (Halayko) Lashinsky raised eight children in Windber. Michael died in a mining accident in 1928.



Michael & Mary (Halayko) Lashinsky Family Windber Pa, Eight children, 1909 to 1924

Mary (Halayko) Lashinsky raised this large family through the 1930s depression as a single parent due to husband Mike’s death

in a mining accident in 1928.



Mary (Halayko) Lashinsky

15 Nov 1890 (Galicia); 2 Jan 1948 (Windber PA)

Note: Mary (Halayko) Lashinsky’s parents were Peter Halayko (Halajko) and Ana Beca (Betza), likely from the village of Balnytsia in Galicia – not “John and Mary Halayko” as stated above. John Halayko, Cynthia Hoblock and Eva Steck were her brothers and sisters as stated above, but so was William Halayko (not men�oned). She also had a half brother and sister, Michael and Helen. Helen (Olena) was the wife of John Hulchanski of Auburn NY.

66



Mary (Halayko) Lashinsky’s Parents, Brothers & Sisters

67



68

Peter Halayko’s Descendants Wife Anna, 2 children Wife Ana, 5 children

including Mary Halayko Lashinsky of Windber



These are Stephen Hulchanski’s photos from perhaps the early 1940s when, we assume, he visited rela�ves in Windber PA. If so, the women below may be Mary (Halayko) Lashinsky with her sons. Her husband died in 1928.

Stephen Hulchanski’s grandmother, Helen (Halaiko) Hulchanski in Auburn NY, was the half sister of Mary (Halayko) Lashinsky in Windber PA. 69



The mines near Windber PA. Perhaps early 1940s.

Photos from Stephen Hulchanski and his son John (1921-‐2012).



Windber, PA’s Mine #40 & Mine #37

Stephen Hulchanski or son John’s photos, likely early 1940s



7. HILCHANSKI FAMILY OF WILKES-‐BARRE

HULCHANSKI FAMILY


CHAPTER 7 ? Are the Hilchanski’s of Wilkes-‐Barre PA related to the Hulchanski’s of Auburn and Syracuse NY? Possibly – but the genealogical research has not been done yet. We do not know which village Nicholas Hilchinski came from. He and his wife Rose Shedlock had four children. Rose was not from Galicia but from a local PA family. We believe no one with the Hilchanski name is alive today. The two sons did not marry.



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Hilchanski Family of Wilkes-‐Barre



This report was compiled by John David Hulchanski and William Daniel Hulchanski in 2013, with files from Thomas Michael Hulchanski, great grandsons of John Hulchanski who immigrated to the US in 1902.

The Hulchanski family genealogy website is www.hulchanski.com

This report will be updated as we learn more and/or find errors. The first page will always list the date of the latest update and the latest version will always be posted on www.Hulchanski.com



hulchanski family: the first two generations in north america

Documents

helen hulchanski

stephen hulchanski

spellings of hulchanski

family villages

north americapage

north america chapter

extended family uncles

nal syllable