machinery. Consequently, it took cash. Workers were
needed on the railroad, so in 1887-88 Lawrence worked for
the Northern Pacific at Grand Forks. He commuted to
work by walking. Roads were only trails and many times
mud and water filled the pot holes. He came home every
two-three weeks with food provisions and checked on
property and family. It was extremely hard on the
women, constantly waiting, never knowing if the
husband would return.
The hardships, both physical and psychological,
had important effects. For one thing, many of the
pioneers left North Dakota a few years after they had
come. But for Lawrence and Anna it was an adventure,
and they quickly developed a feeling of loyalty and affection for the broad sweeping land. Respect and
hospitality were a sort of religion where people gave
each other a helping hand when it was needed.
Mr. and Mrs. Mozinski had eight sons and three
daughters; Mike, John, Frank, Marian, Anton,
Lawrence, Martin, Peter, Julia, Martha and Anna.
Mozinski was active in township affairs and in the
construction of St. Stanislaus Church at Warsaw.
In 1910 he erected the Shrine cross three miles east of
Warsaw (junction of Interstate No. 29). Still standing on
the same location, along with the cross, are two log
buildings he erected earlier.
Lawrence and Anna Mozinski Family
ANTHONY OSOWSKI
Anthony Osowski (Tony) started his farming
operation on a farm east of Warsaw. He married Anna
Chelmosky, Winona, Minn, who was asked to come and
do clerical work in the Adamski and Reski General
Merchandise Store. They lived in the Warsaw area but as
the family was growing, Tony saw he needed to expand.
He purchased land from the Sumner Phelps midway
between Grafton and Minto. He built the new home there.
He farmed the land with horse power and gradually went
to mechanical farming. He traded a team of mules for a
Fordson tractor. Bert Stary was the salesman.
The family growing up helped him - especially since
boys were the majority. They had one girl, Henrietta
(Kerian), the eldest and six boys - Chester, Edwin,
Joseph, Leonard (who died as a youngster), Richard and
Bernard.
Osowski's ambition was not thwarted by his being a
second grade graduate. When potatoes were being grown
commercially, he was not left behind. He built the first
potato warehouse at Minto and was quite successful as a
potato grower. His land holdings increased. When Anna
died, he took up residence in Minto in order to be nearer
to the potato warehouse and left his farm residence to his
son Chester. He divided his holdings among his chUdren,
and built a new home on a farm east of Minto. He
married Nellie Schumann, who survives him.
He served on the local school board and as town
supervisor in his earlier years. He weathered the
depression years with some difficulty, but the potato
business helped him out.
ANTHONY PERKEREWICZ
Anthony Perkerewicz came to the United States
from Poznain, Poland at an early age. He settled in
Calumet, Mich, where he met and married Jadwiga
Ciesielski. They came to North Dakota as settlers. They
first settled in Harriston Township. Their first home was
of sod. Mother led the oxen while Dad held the plow to
plow sod for the sod house.
They had 10 children: Adam, Steven, Angeline,
Amelia, Mary, Rosei, Victoria, Frank, Joe and Frances.
They later moved to Pulaski Township. Anthony
Perkerewicz died Aug. 6, 1920. Jadwiga Ciesielski
Perkerewicz died Aug. 3, 1932. Steven Perkerewicz died
when three years old. Adam married Ann
Ludivieckowsik and had five children; Walter, Felix,
Julian, Isadore and Beatrice (Mrs. Frank Kowalski).
Angeline married Frank Marynik, Amelia married Joe
Marynik, Mary married Vincent Kasprawicz, Rose
married Walter Gajeski, Frances married Leonard
Blawat and Victoria married Syrapion Blawat. Frank
married Polly Byzewski, he died April 15, 1964. Joe
married Tekla Przepiora, he died Dec. 27,1971. They had
nine chUdren: Rose, LUUan, Steve, Chester, Raphael,
Theresa, Lorraine, Joe and Raymond.
Rose married Marion Przybylski June 25, 1947, they
had one son, Michael. LUlian married Conrad Borowicz
Aug. 8, 1950, he died Oct. 20,1974. They had 10 chUdren,
James, Marie, Theresa, Louise, (3 in Navy) Larry who
died when he was 3, Carol, Betty, Marquirite, Jean and
Wayne. Steve married Germanine Collette April 12,1955.
They have 5 children, Richard Gerard, Ann Mary,
Kathey. Chester married Cyrilla Houdek June 15, 1954,
they had 3 sons, Gary, Tom, Robert, Raphael married
Monica Houdek Sept. 27,1955, they had 6 chUdren, Carol,
Harry, Jonny, Janet, JacquiUne, and Joy.
Theresa married Conrad Hapka Oct. 22, 1958. They
have 9 children Roger, Brian, Mark, Robert, Jerome,
Janelle, Conrad, Timmy and Mary Beth. Lorraine
married John Wesolowski April 25, 1962.
Mr. and Mrs. Nick Plutowski Wedding Photo
Nikodem Plutowski and Julia Rolczynski, both born
in Poland, came to the United States at an early age.
They were married in St. Patrick's Church, Minto.