Andrew: I too have a few Fedak ancestors who hail loosely from Galicia. There are numerous Fedak's in and around the area today and around the time you are looking for. My Fedak's came over in the late 1890's and settled in Illinois and Massachusetts. My great grandmother, Sophia Fedak, married Mefthody Rydzyk - Tom Rydgig - here in Illinois. Her sister Pelagia married a Zoschak in Massachusetts. I write because I have some additional information on the Fedak line I know to the old homeland if you are interested. I can't guarantee it's the same immediate family, but may be because of the area you are centering around. 3 brothers did not immigrate; 2 did, but I lose them after 1899. Also I couldn't help but notice your surname Holwenczak - I have the following variations on this - Holowacz, Halowicz, Holovach, Halovich which is phonetic here in the US, but was Halowacz in Austria, Galicia - They primarily settled in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois upon their arrival; coming over as work labor for the mining companies. I don't know if there is any connection, but it might be worth pursuing, even just to rule it out for us both. You can contact me here or off-list at ctitello999888@wowway.com Cyndi ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:58:44 -0400 From: "Andrew Holowenczak" <aholowenczak@bearhillrehab.com> Subject: [GALICIA] Holowenczak, Dejnak, Fedak, Stanko - families from Galicia, Austria To: <GALICIA@rootsweb.com> Message-ID: <000d01c9c41b$9f01b4a0$3600a8c0@bearhill.local> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hello everyone. I am looking for help regarding my family in current SE Poland, former Galicia, Austria. I live in the USA. My father Michal Holowenczak was born in Dobra, near SIeniawa in Poland in 1935. He had several brothers and sisters, most of them deceased and accounted for. His father (My grandfather) was Andrzej Holowenczak -was born in village Dobra in 1899 and died in Bisztynek, Poland in 1965. He was married to Anna Dejnak from the same region. His death certificate say that his father's name was Jan Holowenczak. That's all I have. No more information about Jan, pictures or any info if he had siblings or when and where he was born or died. I discovered some of Holowenczak's living in France, tracing back to Stefan Holowenczak born in Sieniawa, Poland who could be brother or cousin of Jan and who arrived to France between first and second world war. Another branch of family lives in Canada and after contacting them I found out that another Michal Holowenczak (not! my father) was born in Dobra in 1902 or 1903 and he had brother Andrzej (but not my grandfather) and few siblings. One of the siblings was Anna Holowenczak who married Vasyl Stanko and Katryna Holowenczak who married Stefan Fedak. That was all happening in Poland, either between two great wars or just after the second one. Another lead I have are Ellis Island Passenger Manifests where one can find Stasia Holowenczak from Dobra, Austria arriving in 1913 at age of 18 to NYC, the address is 96 Greenwich Street, that's the dead end.She was picked up by sister Kiejda (?) Holowenczak. Does anybody knows how to follow up from here? No census records, no naturalization papers, what happened to her? or to her sister. Ewa Holowenczak from Gross Wuneshin, Austria (could not find such place - did it change its name?) arrived on the same ship ( age 17) - sisters, cousins? - and was detained, later was picked up by cousin Paraska. Does anybody knows why one would be detained for 2-3 days in Ellis Island? there are few other people arriving through Ellis Island with the name Holowenczak or some variations, like Holowenczuk, Hodowenczak etc. There is SS Death index for Stephen Holowenzak and Helen Holowenzak from NJ. (Another way of spelling the name). Also, Ann C. Holowenzak Postawa b. 1914 in NJ and died in NJ in Camden County in 1988, and her parents were Helen Jawors and Michael Holowenzak. No info whatsoever about Michael Holowenzak. Was he a brother of mentioned Stephen Holowenzak? How do I find records about him? It is my first time I am writing for help and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated since I am knew to genealogical research and don't have too much experience with it. Thank you all Andrew Holowenczak, Massachusetts, USA