Welcome to the Lesneski Family History page! This page has been set up by Jason Mortensen as a way for me to share my research about the Frank and Dora Lesneski Family, to hopefully meet new relatives, and to encourage the sharing of information about Lesneski relatives.

If you believe you are related to this line of Lesneski's, please let me know! I can be contacted at familyhistory [at] themortensens [dot] com.

First Generation: Lesneski Immigration to America

Frank Lesneski, born 2 Jan 1843 in Germany; married abt 1871; immigrated to the United States in 1886. After coming to the United States, Frank lived in Huston Township, Clearfield County, PA, and worked first as a coal miner, and later as a farmer. Frank died 4 Feb 1925 in Tyler, Clearfield, PA. He was buried 7 Feb 1925 in DuBois, Clearfield, PA. In his will, Frank requested to be buried in the Catholic cemetery in DuBois, PA.

Dora __________, wife of Frank Lesneski, born Oct 1848 in Germany; immigrated to the United States in 1887; died bef 1920. The 1900 census states that Dora had given birth to 11 children, only 7 of which were living by 1900.

Known children of Frank and Dora Lesneski:

  • Joseph James Lesneski, born 16 Mar 1882 in Germany; died 31 May 1958 in Youngstown, Mahoning, OH. Married Jennie Bozinski.
  • Martin Lesneski, born 12 Nov 1886 in Germany; died 21 Feb 1929 in Nanty Glo, Cambria, PA. Martin married Catherine Golla.
  • Stanley Lesneski, born Apr 1889 in PA.
  • Thomas Lesneski, born Mar 1891 in PA.
  • James W. Lesneski, born 28 Jul 1893 or 1894 in PA; died 14 May 1956. Married Estella "Stella" Godomski.

Note: I have correspondence stating that Frank and Dora had a daughter named Mary Zoll (was Zoltowski), though I've been unable to find any further documentation about this indiviual. Also, Frank is listed as "Frank Lesneski Sr." in one source, indicating that there was probably a Frank Lesneski, Jr. as well. Unfortunately I have been unable to confirm this as well.


Source information and other documentation for Frank and Dora Lesneski

  • 1900 US Federal Census, Huston Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, Enumeration District 25, Sheet 9, 11 Jun 1900. Head of House: Lesneski, Frank. View image
  • 1910 US Federal Census, Huston Township, Clearfield Couny, Pennsylvania, Enumeration District 84. Head of House: Lesneski, Frank. View image
  • 1920 US Federal Census, Huston Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, Enumeration District 91, sheet 4B, 10th and 12th January 1920. Head of House: Lesneski, Frank. View image.
  • Vital Records, Death certificate of Frank Lesneski, Pennsylvania Department of Health, File No 14908, 5 Feb 1925. View image
  • Will of Frank Lesneski, Register of Wills, Clearfield County, PA. Will Proceedings, Vol. N., Page 57, Date Feb 13, 1925. View transcription
  • Inventory and Appraisement of Frank Lesneski, Clearfield County, PA. View image


Second Generation

Joseph James Lesneski, born 16 Mar 1882 in Germany; immigrated to the United States in 1887; worked as a coal miner, and later in a steel mill; died 31 May 1958 in Youngstown, Mahoning, OH. Married Jennie Bozinski about 1907. Jennie was a daughter of Stanley and Martha Bozinski, born 18 Dec 1886 in PA, and died 2 Jun 1979 in Youngstown, Mahoning, OH.

Joseph and Jennie had at least 1 child:

Source information and other documentation for Joseph and Jennie Lesneski

  • 1900 US Federal Census, Huston Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, Enumeration District 25, Sheet 9, 11 Jun 1900. Head of House: Lesneski, Frank. View image
  • 1920 US Federal Census, North Buffalo Township, Armstrong County, PA, ED 40, Sheet 13B, 30 Mar 1920. Head of House: Lesneski, Joseph. View image
  • 1930 US Federal Census, Youngstown City, Mahoning County, Ohio, ED 50-55, Sheet 49B, 19 Apr 1930. Head of House: Lesneski, Joseph. View image
  • Ancestry.com, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Original data: United States, Selective Service System. Image of registration card is unavailable. View record
  • Ancestry.com and Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2002, published 2006, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com/. Listing under Joseph J Lesneski. View record
  • Ancestry.com and Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2002, published 2006, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com/. Listing under Jennie Lesneski. View record


Martin Lesneski, born 12 Nov 1886 in Germany; immigrated to the United States in 1887. Worked as a coal miner in the Springfield Coal Co. in Nanty Glo, Cambria, PA, and also served in the US Army, where he was stationed in France for a time during WWI. Martin broke his back in a mining accident on 6 Dec 1928, then died several weeks later on 21 Feb 1929 in Nanty Glo, Cambria, PA. He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Nanty Glo, Cambria, PA. Martin married Catherine "Katie" Golla, daughter of Joseph Golla and Frances Gdanietz (Dennis), on 26 Jan 1910 in Tyler, Clearfield, PA. Catherine was a twin, born on 20 May 1891 in Penfield, Clearfield, PA, and died 14 Oct 1939 in Nanty-Glo, Cambria, PA. She is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Nanty Glo, Cambria, PA.

      

Martin and Catherine had 7 children:

Source information and other documentation for Martin and Catherine Lesneski

  • 1900 US Federal Census, Huston Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, Enumeration District 25, Sheet 9, 11 Jun 1900. Head of House: Lesneski, Frank. View image
  • 1910 US Federal Census, Huston Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, Enumeration District 85, Sheet 8., 23 Apr 1910. Head of House: Lesneski, Martin. View image
  • 1920 US Federal Census, Huston Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, Enumeration District 92, Sheet 12 B, 4 Feb 1920. Head of House: Lesneski, Martin. View image
  • 1930 US Federal Census, Nanty-Glo Borough, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Enumeration District 11-93, Sheet 2B, 3 Apr 1930. Head of House: Lesneski, Catherine. View image
  • Pennsylvania Orphan's Court (Elk County), Marriage License Docket, 1885-1916, FHC film 1,288,682; Application for Marriage of Martin Lesneski and Catherine Golla. View image
  • Pennsylvania Orphan's Court (Elk County), Marriage License Docket, 1885-1916, FHC film 1,288,682; Marriage License for Martin Lesneski and Catherine Golla. View image
  • Ancestry.com, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Original data: United States, Selective Service System. Martin Lesneski, Huston Township, Clearfield County, PA., Date of Registration - June 5, 1919. View image
  • Vital Records, Death certificate of Martin Lesneski, Pennsylvania Department of Health, File No 19797, Registered Number 18, 23 Feb 1929. View image
  • Vital Records, Death certificate of Catherine Lesneski, Pennsylvania Department of Health, File No 87856, 16 Oct 1939. View image
  • Nant-Y-Glo Tri-Area Museum and Historical Society, A Compilation of Coal Mine Deaths and Injuries in the Black Lick Valley Area, http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacblack/interests/CoalMIneDnI.html. Compiled from various sources, but predominately from past issues of "The Journal", a weekly newspaper published in Nanty Glo, PA since 1921. Note two entries related to Martin Lesneski: 1) Lesneski, Martin, 12-06-1928, and Lesnesky, Martin, 02-21-1929. PDF copy of this source is available here.
  • Warholic, George R. (Transcriber), St. Marys Roman Catholic Cemetery Headstone Transcriptions, Transcribed on May 29 - October 8, 2000, and updated on September 10, 2005., http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacblack/interests/StMaryNG_K_P.html. PDF copy of this source is available here.
  • Funerals Conducted by the Ondriezek Funeral Home, http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacblack/interests/ondriezek_1.html. PDF copy of this source is available here.
  • Golla, August, Joseph and Frances Golla (Family History). View document.
  • Orsie, Joanna, Joseph and Frances Golla (Family History). View document.


Stanley Lesneski, born Apr 1889 in PA. Stanley was a coal miner like others in the family. Stanley was living at home with his father in 1920.

Source information and other documentation for Stanley Lesneski

Thomas Lesneski, born Mar 1891 in PA. Thomas was a coal miner like others in the family. Thomas was living at home with his father in 1920.

Source information and other documentation for Thomas Lesneski

James W. Lesneski, born 28 Jul 1893 or 1894 in Antrim, Tioga, PA (birth year listed as 1893 in the 1900 census and on his WWI Draft Registration card, and listed as 1894 on his headstone, WWII Draft Registration card, and in the Social Security Death Index); died 14 May 1956. Buried at St. James Cemetery, Waverly, NY. James married Estella "Stella" Godomski about Oct 1921. Estella was born 17 Oct 1897 in Poland, and died 22 Apr 1970 in Waverly, NY. James was also a coal miner, and was the Postmaster in Tyler, PA for a time. He was the executor of the Frank Lesneski estate.

James and Estella had 12 children, 9 of which reached adulthood:

** Note: To protect the privacy of living individuals and subsequent generations, I have chosen to limit the details published about individuals born after 1930, except in cases where the individual is known to be deceased.

Source information and other documentation for James W. and Estella "Stella" Lesneski

  • 1900 US Federal Census, Huston Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, Enumeration District 25, Sheet 9, 11 Jun 1900. Head of House: Lesneski, Frank. View image
  • 1910 US Federal Census, Huston Township, Clearfield Couny, Pennsylvania, Enumeration District 84. Head of House: Lesneski, Frank. View image
  • 1920 US Federal Census, Huston Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, Enumeration District 91, sheet 4B, 10th and 12th January 1920. Head of House: Lesneski, Frank. View image.
  • 1930 US Federal Census, Jay Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania, ED 24-9, Sheet 4B, 4 Apr 1930. Head of house: Lesneski, James. View image
  • Ancestry.com, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Original data: United States, Selective Service System, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com/. Registration place - Penfield, Clearfield County, PA. View image
  • Ancestry.com, U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, Original data: United States, Selective Service System. Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Fourth Regist. View image
  • Wilson, Eloise (Transcribed and Contributed by), St. James Cemetery Transcriptions, http://www.rootsweb.com/~nytioga/james11.htm. Waverly Cemetery Commission ( burial records ), Local History books, so named Death Books refers to records in Bradford Co., Pa. Courthouse, Obituaries. PDF copy of this source is available here.
  • Social Security Administration, Social Security Death Index, Available on the Internet at http://www.familysearch.org/ or http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/. Entry listed under James Lesneski, died May 1956.
  • Clearfield Progress (newspaper), 25 Oct 1921, page 4, Marriage license announcement for James Lesneski. View image (second column, very bottom)
  • Clearfield Progress (newspaper), 26 Oct 1925, mentions James Lesneski accused of theft. View image (first column, fifth story)


Third and Subsequent Generations

To protect the privacy of living individuals, I have chosen to limit the details published about subsequent generations of the Frank and Dora Lesneski Family. Note that some details are published here in cases where 1) information is already publicly available, 2) individuals were born before 1930, or 3) in cases where the individual is known to be deceased.


Children of Joseph James and Jennie (Bozinski) Lesneski

Stanley J. Lesneski, son of Joseph James Lesneski and Jennie Bozinski, was born 18 Feb 1916 in PA; died 13 Nov 1997 in Youngstown, Mahoning, OH. Served in the US Army during WWII. Information I have indicates Stanley may have been adopted.

Children of Martin and Catherine (Golla) Lesneski

Martin A. Lesneski, son of Martin Lesneski and Catherine Golla, born 1911; died March 1941. Married Elizabeth Marie Smtih. Had three children.

Dorothy Lesneski, daughter of Martin Lesneski and Catherine Golla, born 5 Oct 1913; died Nov 1980. Married Nicholas Hottendorf. Had three children.

Joseph Stanley Lesneski, son of Martin Lesneski and Catherine Golla, born 30 Dec 1915; died 13 Apr 2005. Married Margaret Mahalko in 1939. Served in the US Army during WWII, and received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct. Had four children, seven grand children, and eight great grand-children.



  • Joseph Stanley Lesneski - WWII Army Enlistment Record. View record
  • Joseph Stanley Lesneski - Obituary. Obituary is originally from Lindquist Mortuary, although it is no longer available at its original location. However, a PDF copy of the obituary is available here.
  • Social Security Administration, Social Security Death Index, Available on the Internet at http://www.familysearch.org/ or http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/. Entry listed under Joseph S. Lesneski, died 13 Apr 2005. (NEW - June 2008)

Francis Edward Lesneski, son of Martin Lesneski and Catherine Golla, born 12 Apr 1918; died 25 May 1989. "Frank" married 1) Dorothy May Bradford Parker, 2) Lillian Suzanne Planck. Had two children, six grand children, and at least eight great-grandchildren.

John Lesneski, son of Martin Lesneski and Catherine Golla, born 17 Oct 1920, died 13 Feb 2000 of congestive heart failure. Married 1) Anne Varhola, 2) Mary Fredley. Had five children, and at least four grand children. (Updated June 2008)

David George Lesneski, son of Martin Lesneski and Catherine Golla, born 30 Apr 1923; died 11 Mar 1984. Married 1) Jane McHugh, 2) Julia Corrigan. Had three children, at least three grand children, and at least one great-grandchild.

Anna Rose Lesneski, daughter of Martin Lesneski and Catherine Golla, born abt 21 Jul 1924; died abt Dec 1965. Married Burton Tiffany. Had three children.


Children of James W. and Stella (Godomski) Lesneski

Mary Ann Lesneski, daughter of James W. and Stella Lesneski born 5 Jul/Aug 1922; died 8 Nov 1983. Married Ellsworth Cilfford Johns. Had seven children, at least eleven grand children, and at least five great-grandchildren.

James Walter Lesneski, son of James W. and Stella Lesneski born 9 Sep 1923; died 28 Oct 2003. Married Marian Rose Shermer. Had one child, and two grand children.

Anna Rose Lesneski, daughter of James W. and Stella Lesneski born 5 Nov 1924. Married Stanley Warner. Had three children, and at least two grand children.

Louise Lesneski, daughter of James W. and Stella Lesneski born 19 Feb 1927; died 12 Mar 1984. Married Harry Alfred Daniels. Had two children, and at least two grand children.

Francis R. Lesneski, son of James W. and Stella Lesneski born 18 Feb 1930. Married Phyllis Riley. Had three children, and at least four grand children.

Freda Lesneski, daughter of James W. and Stella Lesneski born after 1930. Married Charles Rice. Had four children, and at least five grand children.

Martha Lesneski, daughter of James W. and Stella Lesneski born after 1930.

Leo Lesneski, son of James W. and Stella Lesneski born in 1933 or 1934; died as an infant.

Catherine Lesneski, daughter of James W. and Stella Lesneski born 7 Jun 1938; died Oct 1982. Married William Britton. Had two children.

Margaret Lesneski, daughter of James W. and Stella Lesneski born after 1930. Married Arthur Bittel, Jr. Had two children, and at least one grandchild.

Dorothy Jane Lesneski, daughter of James W. and Stella Lesneski died as an infant.

John Lesneski, son of James W. and Stella Lesneski died as an infant.



I'm very interested in hearing from other Lesneski relatives, and in exchanging family history information where possible. I'm especially interested in family stories, photos, vital records, newspaper clippings, current events related to Lesneski descendants, etc.

If you are a Lesneski relative, please let me know!



This page is maintained by Jason Mortensen - familyhistory [at] themortensens [dot] com