Finally, after I had been here one year I came with my wife and two sons, Wladyslaw and Mieczyslaw, to Bremond. Here I settled on 6 January 1875 on the land of John C. Roberts where I worked in partnership for two years.
Therefore, in the first year I came to Bremond there were no Polish families except my family and Francis Bajanski. Curious Americans came by to see the Poles.
The city of Bremond was much larger than at present after the year 1900. There were more stores and several jewish families. At this time Herman Schmiett started his grocery business with $500. Now he is a banker and has the largest business.
At last, in the same year, 1875, on the 10th of November two Polish families arrived: Pietrzykowski and his wife and three children, two daughters and one son, Ochendalski, who was the son-in-law of Pietrzykowski, with his wife and two children. They settled on Roberts' farm. The next year Martin Matysiak arrived with his family. He was the first Pole to buy a 50-acre farm for $500. Second came Michael Paszkiet and his family and third came Floryan Bajanski, Francis Knof, Joseph Bajerowski, all with their familes
There was no Catholic Church here. Father Bussant, a French priest, came here for services four times a year which were held in the Roberts' home.
In the same year, 1876, our son Joseph was born on the 9th of January. He was the first child born to a Polish family and was baptized by Father Bussant in the Roberts' home. His godparents were Holt Ajryst (store clerk) and Mrs. Roberts. Later, in September, Frank Bajanski married Frances, the daughter of Pietrzykowski, in the Roberts home. After one year the wife died as well as a two-week old daughter. They are buried in the American Cemetery 2-1/2 miles from Bremond on the south side of the farm of Jozef Zabawa. Also buried there are two Catholic children of Szepentow, sister to the wife of Francis Knof. The four graves are together. To preserve their location Chinaberry trees grow on these graves.
by CryptographerKey2847