Aleksander Szerszen was my great-great grandfather, and the first member of my paternal line to immigrate to the United States. Today I wanted to take some time to talk about his journey here, and more mysteriously, his disappearance after arriving.
Early Life
Aleksander was born on February 5th, 1878, in the small village of Złotki, Poland. He was born to Jakub Szerszen (1823-1879) and Marianna Podles (1845-1903). He was the youngest of at least 5 children. We can imagine that Aleksander’s childhood was not particularly pleasant, between losing his father at such a young age, and dealing with the many hardships that most Eastern European families faced in the late 19th century – including famines and economic struggle.
He grew up in Złotki, becoming a farmer like his father before him, and like most villagers of that era. After turning 18, he met Franciszka Ruszkowska from the neighboring village of Kutaski Grądy. The two were married at the local Catholic parish in Prostyń on February 28th, 1897. At the time Aleksander was a farmer, like his father before him, and like most villagers of that era.
The following year, the couple gave birth to their first son, Stanislaus Szerszen (my great-grandfather), on January 9th, 1898. A daughter, Bronislawa, was born on February 6th, 1900. In between those two, I believe a second son, Jan, was also born in circa 1898 – but there is little information known about him. More on that later.
Coming to America
With a young family to support, and limited prospects in Poland, Aleksander looked towards America, like thousands of other Poles at that time. It is estimated that up to 1.5 million Poles immigrated to the US between 1870 and 1914, fleeing famine and war for the hopes of better opportunities in a new world.
Aleksander immigrated first, leaving his family behind until he could find housing and income. According to the 1910 Census, he arrived in Baltimore sometime in 1904, and newspaper records prove that it was no later than 1906.
His family joined him in Baltimore in the summer of that same year. Guided by her brother Jan, Franciszka and the Szerszen children traveled from Złotki to Bremen, Germany, presumably by train. They would then board the S.S. Rhein, departing Bremen on July 19th, 1906, and arriving in Baltimore a few weeks later, on August 1st.
Disappearance?
Little else is known of Aleksander after the family was reunited in Baltimore. They all appear together on the 1910 Census, now living at 1621 Thames Street.
The 1910 Census is the last known document mentioning Aleksander. Franciszka remarried another Polish immigrant named Joseph Borowy in approximately 1913, leading me to believe that during those three years, Aleksander either died, or left the family. Without any further records, we can only speculate as to what happened. If he did leave his family, did he settle elsewhere in the United States, or return to Poland?
Discussing this with my own grandfather, Anthony Sersen, he grew up only knowing of Franciszka and Joseph Borowy as his grandparents. Which begs the question, did his own father (Stanislaus/Stanley) not tell his children about their biological grandfather? And if not, why?
Those questions remain a mystery for now, and maybe forever. But whatever may have happened to Aleksander, I (and a whole host of other Sersens) have him to thank for our lives in America.
Ryan's Roots 