One-Name Study: FEIFAREK

This is a study born from a name on a mailbox and too fascinating to forget.

FEIFAREK

First Generation
Our search begins with Robert Otto FEIFAREK, born in Ramsey County, MN to Otto FEIFAREK of St. Paul and his wife Agnes Martina BAKLUND.

Second Generation
From public records we learn that Otto FEIFAREK was born 29 Mar 1896 and died 24 Aug 1985 in Ramsey County, MN. His parents were Joseph FEIFAREK and Mary FINGER. He was buried in the Acacia Park Cemetery, Mendota Heights, Dakota County, MN. Otto registered for the draft in World War I from Kandiyohi County, MN. He said he was born 29 Mar 1896 in Roseland Township, Kandiyohi, MN. He was described as medium build, medium height, light blue eyes, and light brown hair.

In the 1920 census, he was recorded as Otto FIEFAREK, as follows:

1920 Census
Roseland Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota
Enumeration District 78
Sheet 5B
FIEFAREK, Edward head, 34, Wisconsin, father from Bohemia, mother from Germany, Farmer
FIEFAREK, Ella wife, 31, South Dakota, Bohemia, Bohemia
FIEFAREK, Elizabeth dau, 11, MN WI SD
FIEFAREK, Sylvester son, 9, MN WI SD
FIEFAREK, Ernest son, 8, MN WI SD
FIEFAREK, Gladys dau, 11m (as of Feb 4), MN WI SD
(next family)
FIEFAREK, Ludwig head, 27, WI Boh Ger, farmer
FIEFAREK, Anna wife, 24, SD Boh Boh
FIEFAREK, Ervin son, 1y11m (as of Feb 4), MN WI SD
FIEFAREK, Mary mother, 56, widow, to US in 1881, Ger Ger Ger
FIEFAREK, Otto brother, 23, single, MN Boh Ger, farm laborer
FIEFAREK, Ernest brother, 11, single, MN Boh Ger

Third Generation
Joseph FEIFAREK was born in Sep 1859 in Bohemia (southeastern Poland). He came to the U.S. with his family in about 1872. This tidbit was found at Ancestry.com in a file of marriage record found in old Wisconsin newspapers:

“Oconto County Reporter
Jan. 24, 1885

Married

Feifarek – Finger – By Frank Deimer, justice of the peace, at his office in this city Thursday, Jan. 15th, 1885, Mr. Joseph Feifarek, of the town of Peshtigo and Miss Mary Finger, of Oconto.”


1910 census
Roseland Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota
Enumeration District 45
Sheet 10A
FEIFAREK, Edward head, 24, md 2 years, WI Boh Ger, farmer
FEIFAREK, Ella wife, 22, md 2 years, mother of 2, both living, SD Boh Boh
FEIFAREK, Elizabeth dau, 17m, MN
FEIFAREK, Silvester son, 4m, MN
(next family)
FEIFAREK, Joseph head, 50, md 26 yrs, Boh Boh Boh, to US in 1872, farmer
FEIFAREK, Maria wife, 46, md 26 yrs, Ger Ger Ger, mother of 12, all living
FEIFAREK, Emelia dau, 23, single, WI
FEIFAREK, Agnes dau, 21, single, WI
FEIFAREK, Harry son, 20, single, WI
FEIFAREK, Ludwik son, 18, WI
FEIFAREK, Rosie dau, 16, MN
FEIFAREK, Otto son, 14, MN
FEIFAREK, Edwin son, 12, MN
FEIFAREK, Viola dau, 10, MN
FEIFAREK, Helen dau, 8, MN
FEIFAREK, Laura dau, 6, MN
FEIFAREK, Ernest son, 2, MN

1900 census
Roseland Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota
Enumeration District 74
Sheet 2B
FEIFAREK, Wen?? head, Feb 1865, md 3 yrs, Austria Aus Aus, to US in 1872, farmer
FEIFAREK, Mary wife, Feb 1879, md 3 yrs, mother of 1, living, WI Aus Aus
FEIFAREK, Charley son, Apr 1898, MN

(3 doors down)
FEIFAREK, Joseph head, Sep 1859, md 15 yrs, Aus Aus Aus, to US in 1873, farmer
FEIFAREK, Mary wife, May 1863, md 15 yrs, mother of 9, all living, Aus Aus Aus, to US in 1881
FEIFAREK, Edward son, Apr 1885, WI
FEIFAREK, Emelia dau, Feb 1887, WI
FEIFAREK, Agnis dau, Jul 1888, WI
FEIFAREK, Jerolav son, Apr 1890, WI
FEIFAREK, Ludwig son, Mar 1892, WI
FEIFAREK, Rosy dau, Mar 1894, MN
FEIFAREK, Otto son, Mar 1896, MN
FEIFAREK, Edwin son, Mar 1898, MN
FEIFAREK, Wailie dau, Mar 1900, MN

Fourth Generation
Christopher FEIFAREK was born about 1820 in Bohemia and died in Wisconsin in 1892.

1880 census
Peshtigo, Marinette County, Wisconsin
E.D. 100, page 26
FEIFAREK, Lorance 32, farmer, Boh Boh Boh
FEIFAREK, Anney wife, 25, Boh Boh Boh
FEIFAREK, Frank son, 3, WI
FEIFAREK, Joseph son, 2, WI
FEIFAREK, Mary dau, 6m (Oct 1879), WI
FEIFAREK, Christ father, 60, Boh Boh Boh
FEIFAREK, Dorety mother, 54, Boh Boh Boh
FEIFAREK, John brother, 23, Boh
FEIFAREK, Joseph brother, 20, Boh
FEIFAREK, Vensler brother, 15, Boh

(3 doors down)

FINGER, Frank head, 36, farmer, Aus Aus Aus
FINGER, Barbery wife, 25, WI Aus Aus
FINGER, Aney dau, 9, WI
FINGER, Millia dau, 6, WI
FINGER, Lorance son, 3, WI
FINGER, Mary dau, 2, WI
FINGER, Tracey dau, 1m (Apr 1880), WI

Barry HRANACH contributed information to FamilyTreeMaker (http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/r/a/Barry-Hranach/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0044.html) that shows that he is descended from a daughter of Lorance (Lawrence) FEIFAREK, son of Christ(opher).FEIFAREK and Dorothea JISCHA or ZISCHA. Dorothea was born in 1826 and died in1906. She was the daughter of Tasha JISCHA or ZISCHA and Anna _____.

Enough for now. Every line leads to another, and there simply isn't enough time!