Medyk from Oplucko

[ChrisMis]

My grandfather Michal Medyk was born according to his naturalization papers in Oplucko,Poland in 1884,I noticed Ukrainian was listed as his race.According to his manifest it lists Austrian Ruthenian.Also on his manifest it is said his last residency was Schinkell,I can't find anything about Schinkell.I believe he was in some sort of military which I was told was the Austro-Hungarian Army ( I had copied this many many years ago years ago from some papers my aunt had ) I tried to use the Ukraninian Translation tool & this is what I came up with в дучностп СИЛА
Рукии НАРОДНИЙ СОЮЗ
в АМЕРИЦЇ
Цертцфікат црцналежностц Heller Stamp


on this copied paper I also wrote what looks like some variants of his name but they don't make sense to me as they read Muscauro Meguk and Mrrfanl Medyk (theres a dot over the 1st r & the f looks backwards) then there is Tumka Meguka (the T is weird looking) Thomas was his father's name

I just recently was told there are about 344 inhabitants in Oplucko (Oplitsko).I don't know if my grandfather had any siblings..he never talked about them nor did he ever mention his parents,where he came from,nothing.Oh he did teach me how to count to ten..in what language..I don't know,nor do I remember how to count but what I do remember is him saying what sounds like Ped dimee Vada (give me water) I only learned his parents names when I required a copy of his Social Security application.I would think with Oplucko having a small population the Medyk name would be easy to find someway or somehow.I did contact some Medyks but each that I talked with did not want to give me any information what so ever.Hopefully someone here can help me with the name.Thanks for reading this.

[Hannia]

Grandfather Myhajlo Medyk (Медик in Ukrainian)was born in a hamlet size village in what is Ukraine today. Today the village is called Oplitzko, belonging to the Ohlyadiv village cluster (post ofc and village adm in Ohlyadiv) > Radekhiv raion/district > Lvivska oblast/region > Ukraine, latest zip code is 80256. The village currently has an appx population of 344 souls, 4 of which still carry the surname Medyk:

МЕДИК МАРИЯ ФРАНКОВНА 0 1935-12-25 ОПЛІЦЬКО НЕВІДОМА 0 0
Marya, daughetr of Franko
МЕДИК ЕКАТЕРИНА МИХАЙЛОВНА 0 1918-09-18 ОПЛІЦЬКО НЕВІДОМА 0 0
Katheryna, daughter of Myhajlo
МЕДИК АННА ИЛЬКОВНА 0 1919-05-22 ОПЛІЦЬКО НЕВІДОМА 0 0
Anna, daughter of Ilko
МЕДИК ПЕТР АНДРЕЕВИЧ 0 1929-08-26 ОПЛІЦЬКО НЕВІДОМА 0 0
Petro, son of Andrij

Many villagers have migrated to the larger cities for economic resaons. These are Medyks currently residing in Lviv, the regional capital.

***** Медик З С Головатого вул.
***** Медик О Г Пулюя вул.
***** Медик М С Пулюя вул.
***** Медик В С княгині Ольги вул.
***** Медик В І Пасічна вул.
***** Медик М С Дорошенка вул.
***** Медик М А Миколайчука вул.

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From late 18th century to 1919 wies/village Oplucko was predominantly a Ruthenian/Ukrainian village with its own Greek Catholic Church. The filial Roman Catholic Church was in Lopatyn. Radziechow was both the POWIAT (adminsitrative district/county) and the GMINA (judicial/tax district) > Lwowskie wojiwodstwo > Galicia (Halyczyna) Province , administered by ethnic Poles for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From 1919-1939 this region came under Reconstituted Poland's domain. Technically Poland had not existed as a geopolitical entity for the previous 125 yrs. (All previous place names are Polish language). Post WW2 this region became a part of SSR Ukraine, under Soviet domain until 1991, when Ukraine became independent.

This short article should clarify the geopolitics.
"Did Your Baba Come from Austria?" by Orysia Tracz

Following is important resource for anyone researching family in the historical region of Galicia/Halychyna .
Genealogy of Halychyna and Eastern Galicia
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Observations

Grandfather lists Schindel, Germany as place of last residence. It was not unusual for people without the financial means to work locally for six months+ to earn enough money to pay the fare. Grandfather used Bremen as exit port. Schindel should be somewhere in that vicinity. ???

Grandfather was conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian military when he was 17. You can obtain the name of his division, but unless he was an officer, you will find very little detail other than that.

GGrandfather's given name was Hrynko. This is nickname for Hryhorij, equivalent to Gregory in English.

Grandfather was 28 yrs old and SINGLE??? when he immigrated to Chicago in 1912. The original ship manifest lists Grandfather heading to his brother-in-law's (Smal = Смаль in Ukrainian*** ) in Chicago. Was Grandfather a widower?

***There are at least 40+ Smal still residing in Grandfather's village today and there are about 15 Smal living in Lviv.
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Chris, what would you like to accomplish ?

Happy New Year !!!

[Hannia]

List copied from Ellis island Records.

Basiuk, Pataszka Oplucko, Austria 18 1894 1912 view view view view view
2 Basnik, Antoni Oplucko, Austria 25 1883 1908 view view view view view
3 Horostecki, Jan Oplucsko, Austria 40 1871 1911 view view view view view
4 Kawalyszyn, Kzyhorij Oplucka, Austria 26 1888 1914 view view view view view
5 Kazanowski, Jan Oplucko, Austria 24 1886 1910 view view view view view
6 Kolisnik, Pawlo Uplucko, Austria 30 1879 1909 view view view view view
7 Kolisnyk, Pawlo Oplucko, Austria 33 1880 1913 view view view view view
8 Korsaliszyn, Antoni Uplucko, Austria 27 1882 1909 view view view view view
9 Kowal, Proko... Opluko, Austria 25 1883 1908 view view view view view
10 Kowaliszyn, Wasyl Oplucko, Austria 27 1886 1913 view view view view view
11 Kowaliszyn, Wasyl Oplucko, Austria 24 1886 1910 view view view view view
12 Midiak, Luc Oplucko, Austria 30 1882 1912 view view view view view
13 Miediak, Jan Iplucko 31 1876 1907 view view view view view
14 Miedzak, Joseph Oplucko, Austria 24 1884 1908 view view view view view
15 Miedzak, Simon Oplucko, Austria 31 1877 1908 view view view view view
16 Miedziak, Anastasia Oplucko, Austria 20 1890 1910 view view view view view
17 Miedziak, Dymitro Opluiko, Austria 26 1883 1909 view view view view view
18 Miedziak, Ian Opluiko, Austria 35 1874 1909 view view view view view
19 Miedziak, Ian Opluiko, Austria 35 1874 1909 view view view view view
20 Miedziak, Jan Oplucko, Austria 39 1874 1913 view view view view view
21 Mjedziak, Kzenia Oplucko, Austria 24 1888 1912 view view view view view
22 Panczuk, Semen Oplucko, Austria 23 1888 1911 view view view view view
23 Panczuk, Teodor Oplucko, Galizia 18 1891 1909 view view view view view
24 Pawluk, Fewka Opulzko, Austria 45 1869 1914 view view view view view
25 Pawluk, Kataryna Opulsko, Austria 18 1891 1909 view view view view view
26 Pawluk, Michal Opulsko, Austria 17 1892 1909 view view view view view
27 Peklecz, Michalina Oplucka, Austria 20 1891 1911 view view view view view
28 Pele, Maria ...oblik 26 1880 1906 view view view view view
29 Sawczuk, Anna Oplucko, Austria 18 1892 1910 view view view view view
30 Sawczuk, Anton Oplucko, Austria 25 1885 1910 view view view view view
31 Smal, Andrzej Oplucko, Austria 19 1891 1910 view view view view view
32 Smal, Ian Opluiko, Austria 23 1886 1909 view view view view view
33 Smal, Jan Iplucko, Austria 29 1881 1910 view view view view view
34 Smal, Michal Oplucko, Austria 24 1887 1911 view view view view view
35 Smal, Piotr Oplucko, Austria 27 1884 1911 view view view view view
36 Sweryda, Michal Oplucko, Galizia 35 1874 1909 view view view view view
37 Szendnik, Wasyl Oplucko, Austria 24 1885 1909 view view view view view
38 Szimski, Fulian Oplucko, Galicia 31 1883 1914 view view view view view
39 Szumski, Jan Opluiko, Austria 25 1885 1910 view view view view view
40 Trojanowski, Katarzyna Opulsko, Austria 28 1885 1913 view view view view view
41 Warcholak, Izydor ...oblik 17 1889 1906 view view view view view

[ChrisMis]

I can't "thank you" enough Hannia for your time & kindness.The GGrandfathers' name Hrynko threw me back a bit as my grandfather lists Thomas Medyk & Nastka Babii as parents on SS application.
My fathers' name was Thomas and I just assumed dad was named after his grandfather.
Grandpa Mike married Parania/Paraska Pisulak (from Hurko,Poland) in 1913,she died in 1923.He remained a widower until he died in 1964.Our nationality was always in question.. we just didn't know Ukrainian or Polish but I always would say Ruthenian & have others say"you're what"?

Thank you for informing me about Schindel,Germany.I've been banging my head on that one for years.I can now heel the bumps.
I think now I can put all this to rest, silently giving thanks everyday to my grandparents, despite the trials they may have went thru to come to America to make a new life, teaching us hard work,integrity,respect with plenty of love.

Thank you again Hannia!

[Hannia]

Paraska/Parania probably anglicized to Pearl ???

Grandpa Mike married Parania/Paraska Pisulak (from Hurko,Poland) in 1913

The original ship manifest shows Grandfather Mike as single upon arrival??? Could this have been an error or is this the big secret? Was Grandfather married in Ukraine, before he immigrated to States? Did Grandfather have a family (wife and kids) in Oplitzko? Being 28 and never married would have been very unusual for a Ukrainian peasant.

Chris, here we make no moral judgements. We only ask questions and dig for ancestral history. BTW this was not something unusual.
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From late 18th century to 1919 wies/village Hurko, located on what is the Polish/Ukrainian border today, was predominantly a Ruthenian/Ukrainian village w/its own Greek Catholic Church. The filial Polish - Roman Catholic Church was in Medyka. Przemysl was both the POWIAT (administrative district - county) and the GMINA (judicial/tax district). This was part of Galicia/Halychyna Province, administered by ethnic Poles for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From 1919 Przemysl came under Reconstituted Poland's domain and the gmina was changed to Medyka. (Gmina would cover porperty records.)

TODAY Hurko is located in SE POLAND.

By 1947 most Hurko Ukrainian residents were resettled to the Soviet Union.

[ChrisMis]

According to his manifest he was single ,arriving to the US April 1st,1912.He married Parania October 13,1913.
We never knew anything different.In your reply with a list of the 4 Medyks who carry the name, I noticed
МЕДИК ЕКАТЕРИНА МИХАЙЛОВНА 0 1918-09-18 ОПЛІЦЬКО НЕВІДОМА 0 0
Katheryna, daughter of Myhajlo ..could there have been another Myhajlo there?.Should I start looking in that direction? Could she be MY Grandpa Mike's ? I often wonder if he could of had another family before coming to the States because I thought it was a bit strange to be 28 & unmarried especially going to the military & being in Germany even for a short time. The 3 children Mike & Pearl had were a set of twins Anna & Sam born 1914 & then my father born 1916..if Grandpa Mike went back home this would be news to me.Anything could be possible.I knew of Grandpa Mike to be very devoted to his family & religious man.In 1923 the lost my grandmother in April of 1923 & then he lost his son Sam in December of 1923.Then Anna was taken out the home a few years later and placed into a home of Jewish decent,what was told to me was a young girl could not reside in a home back then where only males lived,leaving my father with Grandpa Mike.Around 1929 it was said GrandPa lost the house & his little businesses,a pool hall & a vegetable store.I have been unable to find him or my father in the 1930 Census.There was never any mention about this time frame.But as I have known Grandpa Mike,my Aunt & father were extremely close.With Grandma Parania dying when the kids were quite young,neither my aunt or father ever mentioned her.Upon seeing my grandparents wedding picture about 15 years ago for the 1st time I asked what was grandma's name & my aunt said" I think it was Pearl"..that was the only time her name was ever mentioned.When I looked up my grandmother's sisters' manifest it was there I saw the name Paraska but on her death certifcate it reads Parania Medik. That broke my heart to have learned her name way after I had a daughter.. I would have named my daughter after my grandmother as I think Parania is a beautiful name.I have to say I believe there are alot of secrets on my Paternal side.Everything was hush hush.My Aunt had all my grandfather's papers,pictures & keepsakes & now that she has passed her daughter has them & down right refuses to even allow me or my siblings to get copies of these family treasures.She told me if I wanted them I'd have to go thru the government to get them.This is the same cousin who said if she found out we were Polish she would go nuts..she only acknowledges her French heritage.I just felt they should have been passed on to my brother as he carries my grandfathers' name.Everybody has a story & this is mine.Sorry to have rambled on & on.My siblings & I just idolized Grandpa Mike.

You wrote By 1947 most Hurko Ukrainian residents were resettled to the Soviet Union..why was that??
I have a note from whom I believe was my grandmother Parania's mother, Katherine stating that she herself had 2 brothers she lost 1 in the war of 1914 and another is a war prisoner in Russia since 1914,this letter is dated 1921.
Thank you again for all you do,it is much appreciated
Happy New Year

[Hannia]

Katheryna, daughter of Myhajlo

Kateryna in list was born in 1918, which would disqualify her as Grandfather Mike's daughter. Any children he would have had, would have been born before his emigration or at maximum 8-9 mos post emigration. Based on possible birth yrs, I doubt if there are any survivors.

Myhajlo = Michael is a very popular given name worldwide.

Chris, you can confirm or dispell the possibility of Grandfather leaving a family behind in village, by having
Irene, member here, do an archival inquiry on your behalf. She could obtain a Metryka (Baptismal certificate) which would give you, GGrandparents' exact names. That for one would extend your search for other familial surnames. Irene could also obtain a list of any of Grandfather's siblings and she could look for a matrimonial document for possible first marriage. Irene's rates are very fair and direct archival inquiries have become increasingly more expensive nowadays, so you would be way ahead . You would
get exactly the info you want and you would be doing it economically AND you would not be beholding to anyone. That is up to you.
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1929 it was said GrandPa lost the house & his little businesses

The Great Depression of the 30's was a tough time across the continent.
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1930 Census

Just like today, not everyone made themselves available for the census.
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By 1947 most Hurko Ukrainian residents were resettled to the Soviet Union.

OPERATION VISTULA (AKCJA WISLA in Polish) as per Encyclopedia of Ukraine
Full Text Display

Wikipedia Version
Operation Vistula - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Following will provide you w/a historical perspective of Grandmother Parania's homeland.
History of Ukrainian minority in Poland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia