|
a.
|
Note: It is said that the name "Ewald" had at one time been spelled "Ewaldsen;" that the spelling change occurred when the family moved from Sweden to Germany (per Alphonse Ewald). "Josef Ewald" arrived at the port of New York on the ship "Weimar" from Bremen Germany 18 Nov. 1891. He was listed as a laborer and apparently traveled alone. His destination was Michigan.
Joseph's marriage to Catherine Czeszewca (sp?) is recorded in St. Josephat Church records in 1893 as Joseph's first marriage, her second. Witnesses were Frank Ejwalt and Teoflast (sp?) Piotrowski. According to Dorothy Reppke, Joseph had one son by his first marriage, Joseph, Jr. His second wife was a cigar maker and Bernice was the daughter of that marriage.
However, the same church's baptism records show Joseph and "Marie" Prszewska as being the parents of a child, Bronislawa (Bernice), born and baptized in 1890 ; it appears that the church record is incorrent, that "Marie" was actually "Catherine. Several living family members recall Joseph as having been married 2 times, however, and I'll contine to research. State of Michigan marriage records indicate Joseph's marriage to Catherine Czyzcwski [sic] Globin (Glombin) 15 Feb 1893, suggesting that this was Catherine's second marriage, her first husband being a "Glombin."
In the church records above from Oct. 1890, Joseph's address is shown as 317 Alexandrine Ave, Detroit. According to nephew Al, Joseph and his brothers Jacob and Julius used to sing in the church choir at St. Josephat Church. Joseph Ewald was listed in the 1893 City Directory of Detroit, commencing 1 Aug 1893, pg. 1462. He was living at 782 Alexandrine, between Superior and Willis, in a home with August Ewald and Ignatius Webber.
Joseph Ewald appears in the 1895 Detroit Directory as a cigar maker, living at 268 Canfield Ave E., the same address where his brother Julius - also listed as a cigar maker - was boarding.
Joseph Ewald appears in the 1900 census living at 233 Willis, Detroit. He was a widower by this time, with 3 children. His parents were living in the house with him as well. The home was a two-family dwelling: newlyweds Julius & Josephine Ewald lived in the house, too. Joseph was a cigar maker, his father a day laborer. According to Al Ewald, his Uncle Joe worked at the St. Elmo Cigar Co. in Detroit, owned by his brother Julius. He immigrated to the US in 1891, according to this census record. I found the name of Joseph Ewald, Detroit, MI listed in the Cigar Makers' International Union of America "Cigar Makers' Official Journal," (Chicago: Feb 1903), Vol. XXVIII, pg. 12 as a new member between 1 Aug and 31 Dec 1900 [Google Books].
At the time of the 1920 census, Joseph was living at 429 Willis, Detroit. He was 54 years old and daughter Bernice (Bronislawa in prior census and baptismal records) was living with him. A boarder, Michael Oalczek was also living in the house, a 34 year old Russian Polish immigrant. In this record, Joseph states he immigrated in 1890 and was naturalized in 1898.
Niece Marion Ritter Houlihan recalls her Uncle Joe bringing her movie magazines when she was a young teenager.
Joseph died at Eloise State Hospital; he was destitute. His funeral was from 8166 Wisner, Detroit, home of his niece Constance Ewald Ritter, arrangements handled by Ted C. Sullivan Funeral Home. He is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Detroit, in section 51, tier 38, grave 963. On June 21, 1995, Marion Ritter Houlihan, Barbara Ritter and Mary Beth Houlihan Wheeler were unable to physically locate the grave or any headstone; there may have been no headstone.
|
