The paper was stuck in a pile of scrapbooking materials. How did it get there? I did not recall ever seeing it let alone making a copy of it. It was a World War II draft registration from 1942.
The registration was in the name of Joseph John Mroz. His birthdate was 19 March 1891. March 19 is the feast of Saint Joseph. Is that how he was named? Mroz was my paternal grandmother’s maiden name. Were they related as in brother and sister? He was born in the same village as my grandmother. He had immigrated to Philadelphia just as my grandmother did. What other clues were there?
Looking in the 1940 Federal U. S. Census, I discovered that he lived with his wife Mary and his children Joseph, Anna, and Catherine. Polish was spoken at home. He worked in the shipping department of a sugar refinery. (His draft registration noted that he worked at the Pennsylvania Sugar Company.) My grandmother’s name was Anna and her sister Catherine. Did he name his girls after his sisters? Were they family first names?
Then, an obituary from The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1977 noted that his funeral would be at Saint Ladislaus Parish…same as my grandmother. He would be buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery…same as my grandmother. He had a surviving sister Catherine, but her married name did not match the Catherine in my family. So, he was not my grandmother’s brother. Could he be a cousin?
Now I was curious on two points: why had I printed out that draft registration in 2017 ? where else could I check to see if he were a cousin? Curious.
Once Upon A Lifetime: Tales And Vignettes Of My Ancestors 