Potomac Families

Potomac Families

~ A Genealogy ~

JOSEPH WILLIAM ANDREWS

The patriarch of our Andrews family was a 19th Century immigrant named Joseph William Andrews. To those of us researching Joseph, he has proven an enigma. He was not close to his children, having left them when they were very young shortly after the death of his wife. No one of late knew for sure what his real name was, where he was from, who his parents were, why he came to America, or why he settled in Cumberland, Maryland. There were stories that his original name was not Andrews, but something similar, and that he may have been from Poland. A great deal of research in the last few years by Andrews family members has shed some light on Joseph. Easily a few hundred hours have been spent collectively trying to crack the black box that is our patriarch.

What follows is a summary of what we now know about Joseph. Links to supporting documents are provided throughout.

WHAT WAS HIS REAL NAME?

Joseph's original last name was probably Andres. We know this from two principal sources -- church documents and legal documents.

Church Documents

When Joseph arrived in Cumberland, he became a member of Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church, a largely ethnic German parish. One of the earliest records of Joseph is a page from a book, printed in 1898, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the parish (Fifty years of SS. Peter and Paul's Church at Cumberland, Md., 1848-1898 : Memory Leaves of the Golden Jubilee Festivity, Cumberland, Md.: Cumberland Freie Presse Print., 1898). In the back of the book is a list of pewholders. On page 149, there is a pewholder listing for "Andres, Joseph." Incidentally, on the same page, there is also a pewholder listing for "Belki, August," his brother-in-law.

The church registry itself lists Joseph as Joseph Andres (in Latin, "Josephum Andres") for his marriage to Mary Bealky (Bejalke) on April 28, 1896, and for the baptism of his first son John Joseph on March 21, 1897.

Legal Documents

The other reference to Joseph Andres is his marriage license registration with the Allegany County Courthouse in Cumberland, Maryland, dated April 27, 1896. On the seventh line of each linked page is the listing for "Joseph Andres," though it appears to have been misspelled as "Joseph Andris." The fact that a separate legal document refers to Andres helps establish that the church documents were not a matter of ongoing misspelling. His last name was not Andrews. Click here for page one, here for page two, and here for page three.

To confirm once and for all that his real name was Andres -- and that Andres itself was not an alteration of another name -- it is necessary to locate Joseph's birth or baptismal records in Europe.

WHEN DID HE CHANGE HIS NAME?

While Joseph is referred to as Joseph Andres in 1896 (his marriage), 1897 (the baptism of his first son), and 1898 (his pewholder listing), there are no further references to Andres. The very next document located so far, in chronological order, the baptism registration of his second son, Francis William, dated September 4, 1898, begins the reference to Andrews. There he is listed as "Jos. Andrews." Henceforth, with one aberration which will be mentioned later, he and his family were known as Andrews. This 1898 baptism registration was entered the same year that the jubilee history book with the Andres pewholder listing was published. Thus, we can say that Joseph changed his name to Andrews sometime in 1898.

Like many immigrants, Joseph probably adopted the name Andrews in an effort to assimilate in America. It was the closest Anglo version of his real name.

WHEN WAS HE BORN?

Joseph was born May 31, 1873. This date is used in his family registration at SS. Peter and Paul. Early documents indicating his age, such as naturalization papers and census records, are consistent with this birth date. Later documents provide wildly inconsistent ages for Joseph (and lots of other incorrect information, as will be noted). In any event, there is no good reason to doubt this birth date. It is specific and consistent with the earliest documents. No other birth dates have been found.

WHERE WAS HE FROM?

Joseph's origins are the great mystery. A long-time family story is that he was from Poland. This story is possibly true, though his origins are likely a bit more complicated than that. There is evidence of German, Polish, and Russian origins for Joseph. Our research points us to a possible hypothesis that is unifying of all these strands of evidence: Joseph was an ethnic German who was born in Poland under Russian rule and would eventually claim to be simply from Maryland. This hypothesis unpacks as follows.

The Case for German Ethnicity

The case for Joseph's German ethnicity is the most straightforward.

We begin with his original name: Andres. Andres is a German name. It is not Polish or Russian.
We note that he joined SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, a German Catholic parish, when he arrived in Cumberland, Maryland, and he married a German Catholic girl, Mary Bealky.
In the 1900 U.S. Census (Allegany County, MD), Joseph Andrews' birthplace, and that of his mother and father, is listed as "Germany." This stands in juxtaposition to his wife's listing of her mother and father as born in "Prussia."
In the 1910 U.S. Census (Allegany County, MD), Joseph Andrews' birthplace, and that of his mother and father, is listed as "Ger. Germany." Unlike in 1900, his wife's parents are also listed as born in "Ger. Germany."
In the 1920 U.S. Census (Allegany County, MD), John, Frank, and Clarence Andrews, sons of Joseph, list their father's birthplace as "Germany" and their father's mother tongue as "German." These boys were living with their uncle August Bealky at the time, following the death of their mother and Joseph's move to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In his 1923 Marriage License Application, Joseph claims he and his father were born in Maryland but that his mother was born in "Germany."
In the 1930 U.S. Census (Allegheny County, PA), Joseph is listed as born in Maryland, as is his father. His mother is listed as born in "Germany."
In the 1930 U.S. Census (Allegany County, MD), Frank Andrews, Joseph's son, lists his father as born in "Germany," as do the rest of Joseph's children living in Cumberland -- Joseph Francis and Mary Teresa.

The Case for Russia

The above, except for the gradual shift toward a Maryland birthplace, would seem to strike a resounding blow for Germany as Joseph's country of origin. But there is one glaring problem -- his naturalization papers.

In his October 8, 1904, application for "first papers" at the Allegany County, Maryland, courthouse, to begin the citizenship process, Joseph is listed as coming from "Russia."
In his March 29, 1913, registration as a naturalized U.S. citizen, Joseph is again listed as coming from "Russia."

The Case for Poland and the Unifying Theory

The case for Poland stems from family stories. Several Andrews family members have said that Joseph hailed from Poland. They recall a particular story, after Joseph's death, when someone in Poland died and questions arose about the family inheriting property in Poland. All of these questions became moot, and nothing was ever inherited, when Hitler invaded Poland in September 1939.

The tradition that Joseph was born in Poland would seem to contradict all of the documentary evidence, listed above, that he was from Germany or Russia. No document found thus far links him explicitly to Poland. According to one family member, his birthplace, however, may have been a place called Krasnosielc.

Krasnosielc is a town in modern Poland, northeast of Warsaw. It was in an area of Poland where the Prussian and Russian empires met, where many ethnic Germans lived, and where Russia, in the latter half of the 19th Century, ruled. Thus, the contradictory documentary evidence of Germany and Russia ironically point to the third possibility -- Poland -- as his country of origin. Given his early insistence on Germany, on the listing of German as his mother tongue, and his Germanic last name, it is likely that he was ethnically German. So he was not born Polish. And his hometown was on the frontier between the Russian and Prussian empires, with no independent Polish political entity in control. So he was not born under a Polish state, but probably born under the Russian czar. Nevertheless, if Krasnosielc was his hometown, he would have been from the land that is Poland.

The map to the right is a German-language map of various 19th Century partitions of Poland. The yellow box on the map indicates the approximate location of Krasnosielc. It is in an area called "KongressPolen" or Congress Poland, with Warsaw as the main city. Congress Poland was informally known as Russian Poland, as it was under Russian imperial rule from 1815 to 1915, from the end of the Napoleonic Wars until the First World War. It was during this time (1873) that Joseph was born. Note that Krasnosielc, while on the Russian side of the border, is very close to the German territories of Preussen, or Prussia, in dark blue on the map.

To confirm any of this theory, our next research project may focus on the Krasnosielc parish records.

Maryland Claims

Particularly after the death of his first wife Mary Bealky in 1915, when Joseph would move alone to Pittsburgh, his vital statistics become wildly inconsistent -- namely, his age and his and his parents' birthplaces change. Notably, he never again claims to be from anywhere other than Maryland. This is reflected in the 1920 census (where he is listed as "Joseph Anderson" in Pittsburgh), the 1923 license application for his second marriage, the 1930 census, and his 1931 death certificate (presumably completed by his second wife).

Why would he switch to claiming Maryland as his birthplace, after earlier claims of Russia or Germany? One possible reason is that he may not have known where his birthplace was anymore, given the shifts in territory during and after World War One. Krasnosielc shifted from Russian imperial control at the start of the war, to German control at the height of the war, to Polish control at the end of the war. Or he may have been protecting himself from anti-German and anti-immigrant sentiment arising from World War One. Or he may have been attempting to create a new identity for himself in Pittsburgh following his precipitous flight from Cumberland. Or he may have been less lucid in these later years.

As noted above, Joseph's children living in Cumberland continued to list him as born in Germany in the 1930 census. Those children who had left Cumberland give different accounts of his birthplace when asked in 1930. John Andrews, living in Zanesville, Ohio, lists Joseph (as well as Joseph's wife Mary) as simply born in the "United States." Clarence Andrews, also living in Zanesville, Ohio, lists Joseph's birthplace as "Unknown," then scratches that out and writes in "U.S." Bernard Andrews, another Zanesville resident, lists Joseph's birthplace as "Maryland." Finally, August Andrews, living in East Chicago, Indiana, lists Joseph's birthplace as the "United States," but then his own and his mother's birthplaces are also listed as simply the United States, as well.

WHO WERE HIS PARENTS?

Two documents found thus far provide names for Joseph's parents. His 1923 marriage license application lists his father as "Mart" and his mother as "Kate." His 1931 death certificate lists his father as "Martin" and his mother as "Catherine."

WHEN DID HE COME TO AMERICA?

According to his naturalization papers, Joseph arrived in America in 1889. According to the 1900 U.S. Census (Allegany County, MD), Joseph is listed as having lived in the U.S. for 10 years. His date of arrival on this census form appears to be 1890 but is not entirely legible.

HOW DID HE COME TO AMERICA?

Since Joseph first settled in Cumberland, Maryland, it is likely that his port of entry was Baltimore, the nearest international seaport and the most common port of entry for Cumberland immigrants. Searching Baltimore ship manifests in 1889, the year Joseph claimed as his arrival date in his naturalization papers, thus far reveals one potential candidate. In March 1889, the S.S. Hermann (shown right) arrived in Baltimore from the port of Bremen. According to its ship manifest, the Hermann was carrying a 15-year-old boy named Josef. This would have been Joseph's age in March 1889. He would turn 16 in May. The boy on the S.S. Hermann was traveling by himself. Likewise, there is no indication that our Joseph came to America with any other family members. Unfortunately, because of a crease in the page of the manifest, Josef's last name has disappeared, save for a few pen marks. Comparing those pen marks to how the author of the manifest wrote other letters leaves this Josef as an inconclusive match to our Joseph. It is, however, the closest match found yet.

If Joseph came from Polish lands, it is entirely possible that he would have left from the western German port of Bremen. Many immigrants from Polish areas traveled across land to the ports of Bremen and Hamburg in order to shorten the time spent at sea. While Baltic ports may have been closer, they require a longer sea journey around the strait of Denmark.

WHAT DID HE DO WHEN HE ARRIVED?

If Joseph arrived in 1889, we would have our first peek at his life with the 1890 U.S. Census. Unfortunately, that year's census was burned in a fire at the Commerce Department in Washington, DC, in 1921.

We know he was in Cumberland at least by 1896, which was when he married Mary Bealky, per the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church marriage record. To eventually meet and court Mary, he was probably in Cumberland a number of years prior to this marriage date. He probably came to Cumberland in search of work very soon after, if not immediately upon, arriving in America. If he arrived in Baltimore, the immigrants' pier included a B&O railroad station, upon which Joseph could immediately embark for a train headed west to Cumberland.

Cumberland was Maryland's second largest city, after Baltimore, and a growing hub of industry, with a population booming from 12,729 in 1890 to 17,128 in 1900. Coal and timber were extracted from around Cumberland and shipped out via the railroads and C&O Canal. The 1880s and 1890s saw an explosion in industrial activity, with the opening of glass factories, breweries, liquor distilleries, tinplate plants, and the large Footer's Dye and Cleaning Works. The book "Allegany County - A History" explains that, by 1893, Cumberland "claimed four national banks, several savings banks, an electric railway system, electric lighting, one of the state's finest theaters, and a wide array of churches, schools, newspapers, and businesses that met virtually every need of the times."

Joseph found his place in Cumberland with the railroads. Per the 1900 U.S. Census, he worked at the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad Shop in Cumberland, Maryland. Per the 1910 U.S. Census, he worked as a fireman at the boilerhouse.

WHOM DID HE FIRST MARRY?

Joseph's first wife was Mary S. Bealky (originally spelled Bejalke). Per church records, they married on April 28, 1896, in SS. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in Cumberland. Father P. Patrick presided. The best man was Mary's brother August. The maid of honor was Mary Anne Fogherty. The courthouse documents for the marriage can be found in three segments. Click here for page one, here for page two, and here for page three.

Mary was born October 28, 1875, in Cumberland to Prussian-born immigrants, Jacob Bealky (Bejalke) and Mariam Kahan (with many alternate spellings). She had one sister, Julia, and three brothers, August, Bernard, and Frank. Joseph and Mary were married for 19 years, until her death on November 25, 1915, in Cumberland.

WHO WERE HIS CHILDREN?

Joseph and Mary had seven children, six boys and one girl, all born in Cumberland. Per church baptismal records, they were:

John Joseph Andrews, born March 13, 1897
Francis William "Frank" Andrews, born August 30, 1898
Clemens Edward "Clarence" Andrews, born May 15, 1901
Bernard Walter Andrews, born July 3, 1903
August Anthony Andrews, born September 2, 1905
Mary Teresa Andrews, born March 12, 1912
Joseph Francis Andrews, born October 24, 1914

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HIS WIFE PASSED AWAY?

When Joseph's wife Mary died on November 25, 1915, they had seven children. The youngest was barely a year old. The widower left the children with his in-laws, the Bealky's, and went alone to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to live.

WHAT DID HE DO IN PITTSBURGH?

In 1918, Joseph was living at 1924 Carson Street in Pittsburgh, per his son John's World War I Draft Card.

In 1920, Joseph was living as a boarder at 43 South 19th Street in Pittsburgh. Per the 1920 census, he was working as a laborer at a steel mill. He was living with fellow steelworker Henry Murphy, age 29, and Henry's sister, Jennie Devlin, age 37, who was widowed. Oddly, he is listed as "Joseph Anderson" in this census. The name change may occur because Jennie or Henry was answering the census taker's questions and did not know Joseph's last name for sure.

In 1923, the widower Joseph married his landlady Jennie Devlin, herself a widow. Jennie's maiden name was Murphy. She was born in Pennsylvania. Her parents were from Northern Ireland. The marriage license application was filed October 8, 1923. They lived at 1702 Wrights Way in Pittsburgh. Joseph listed his occupation as hostler. According to their marriage certificate, Joseph and Jennie were married on October 9, 1923, at St. John the Evangelist Church in Pittsburgh, with Rev. J.R. Keating presiding.

In 1930, Joseph and Jennie continued to live at 1702 Wrights Way. Per the 1930 U.S. Census, he was an unemployed steelworker at this time.

WHEN DID HE DIE?

Joseph Andrews died on July 13, 1931, leaving Jennie twice-widowed. He was 58 years old. Both the Cumberland Daily News and the Pittsburgh Press carried his obituary.

His son Frank, living in Cumberland, drove to Pittsburgh to retrieve the body. Joseph was then buried with his first wife, Mary S. (Bealky) Andrews, at SS. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church cemetery.

THE SEARCH CONTINUES...

If you have any information on (or photographs of) Joseph William Andrews (1873-1931), his first wife Mary S. (Bealky) Andrews, or his widow Jennie (Murphy) (Devlin) Andrews, please contact me!

INDEX OF DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO JOSEPH ANDREWS (JOSEPH ANDRES) FAMILY

All documents are in .pdf format. Adobe Acrobat required.

Documents from SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Cumberland, Maryland

Joseph Andrews and Maria Bejalke Family in Registrar

Joseph Andres and Mary Bejalke Marriage, plus John Joseph Andrews Baptism

Bernard Andrews and August Andrews Baptisms

Joseph Francis Andrews Baptism

Mary Andrews Baptism

Francis William Andrews and Clemens Edward Andrews Baptisms

Joseph Andrews Grave Lots

Charles Kabowsky and Julia Bejalke Marriage

Charles Kabowsky and Julia Bejalke Family in Registrar

Elisabeth Kabowsky Baptism and Marriage to Robert Talbott

Francis Bealky Grave Lots

Francis Joseph Kabowsky and Anna Theresa Kabowsky Baptisms

Johanes Kabowsky Family in Registrar

Mary Kabowsky and Francis Kabowsky Baptisms

Pewholder List in 1898 SS. Peter & Paul Jubilee Book

Joseph Andrews Obituaries

Pittsburgh Press, Monday, July 13, 1931, page 27

Cumberland Daily News, Monday, July 13, 1931, page 12

Maryland State Archives Documents

Joseph Andris and Mary Bealky, Marriage Record, Allegany County Circuit Court (Because of the length of the page, the document is split into three pages. On each page, the Joseph Andris entry is the 7th entry from the top.)

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Allegany County (Maryland) Courthouse Records

Joseph William Andrews First Papers Declaration, October 4, 1904

Joseph William Andrews Naturalization, March 29, 1912

Baltimore Passenger Lists

SS Hermann Ship Manifest, Bremen-Baltimore, March 1889

Military Records

John Andrews World War I Draft Card (1918)

Allegheny County (Pennsylvania) Courthouse Records

Joseph Andrews and Jennie (Murphy) Devlin's marriage license application