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Haftka Family (pronounced Haaftka)

SURNAMES & THEIR ORIGINS

HAFTKA (Pol) hafciarz. Meaning: embroiderer or (Ger.) haft - clasp / ka - occupational name for a maker and seller of various sorts of clamps & fastenings.

JABLONSKI (Pol) jablon/jablonka. Meaning: apple tree.

MICHALOWSKI (Pol) Michal. Meaning: "who is like God".

Johann Haftka (1849-1914) married (1872 Liebschau) Franciszka Jablonska (1850-1937), the daughter of Philip Jablonski & Marianna Michalowska.

Johann & Franciszka settled in the village of Swaroschin (Swarozyn), West Prussia, ethnically the region of Kociewie in the district of Danzig (Gdansk), Poland. Here they had their first child Marianna Rosalia (1872-1873). In 1873 the family moved further south to the village of Gerdin (Gorzedziej) where they had their second child Rosalie (1873-1952). The family left the village of Gerdin for Hamburg, via Gdansk, where they set aboard the ship "Terpsichore" on the 15th of November 1875. On board ship were Johan Haftka 25, Frances 25 & Rosalie 2. During the journey Joseph was born on the 25th of January 1876. They arrived at Wellington, New Zealand on the 18th of March 1876. Also on board ship where the family of Paul Haftka 44, Catherine 37, Anna 19, Alexander 9, Maria 8 & Pauline 6 mths from the village of Gnieschau in the Parish of Subkau (Subkowy). It is possibe they are related and the family remained in the North Island and settled in the Carterton region.

• Halfka cottage at Maitland:
  The family then headed south to the settlement of "Germantown" (northeast of Gore), where a number of fellow countrymen were working on various railway works. Here they had the rest of their family being; Catherine (1878), Agnes (1881-1945), John (1883-1954), Anna (1885-1982), Martha Elizabeth (1888-1941), Nelly (1890) & Barbara (1892). At some time in the early 1890's the family moved to Maitland.

The children first attended the Pinnacle School, above the settlement of "Germantown", then Waikaka School & finally the Maitland School where they were first day pupils in 1896.

John Haftka, known as Halfka in New Zealand, worked for a time on the "Star" dredge and also carted coal. In 1914 the family sold their property on Newman Road to Elizabeth Olsen and purchased a neighbouring property on the south side of what was later named Olsen Road. The property remained in the Halfka family until Joseph Halfka, a son, sold to Mr. L. Symons in 1952.

Background: Johann & Franciszka.
Foreground: Barbara, Nellie, Martha, Annie & Agnes Halfka.

The following is an interesting article from those early days:-

In the Gore Police Court on Friday John Devoloskie was charged with having on January 22 at Waikaka threatened to shoot John Bucholz. Dr. Macaffer JP and Mr. Souness JP occupied the Bench; and Messrs Aldridge and Henderson appeared for the complainant and the defendant respectively. John Halfke deposed that he had heard Devoloskie say that he would shoot Bucholz; that he tried two caps, which did not go off, but that the third would be all right. The threat was repeated and was accompanied by violent behaviour. In answer to Mr Henderson, witness made a rambling statement about a ghost with a long tail, which seemed to have been the cause of the trouble; but it was Bucholz that was to be shot, not the ghost. According to other evidence, Devoloskie had said a ghost was always coming to his house causing a disturbance among his sheep and frightening his wife; that he had tried to shoot the ghost, which had a long tail, and in all respects this one resembled Bucholz, whom he had tried to shoot. The gun, however, did not go off, but if it did go off he would shoot him. He was sober. Bucholz lost his wife recently.

To Mr. Henderson, witness could not really say whether Devoloskie really intended to shoot Bucholz. The complainant gave evidence and was cross-examined by Mr. Henderson, his evidence disclosing little of importance or interest beyond the fact that the morality of some of the Germans residing at Waikaka could be questioned. Without considering it necessary to hear evidence for the defence, the Bench dismissed the case. "Mataura Ensign", January 1883.

• Johann & Franciszka Halfka:
  Johann died on the 1st of October 1914 at Maitland aged 64 & Franciszka died on the 23rd of July 1937 at Maitland aged 86. Both are buried at the Gore cemetery. Grave

Son Joseph and daughter Martha (both single) continued to live at Maitland. Joe Halfka, a very quiet man, was a keen gardener and is remembered for the white Prussian carrots, which he grew. Many of the district fences were a monument to his honest & thorough workmanship. Joe never owned a vehicle and did all farm work by hand, including sowing his oats. Ian Nichol recalls turning the hand chaffcutter while Joe fed in the oats. Joe was often called upon "to crow" in the building of sheaf stacks. Because of the strong "baccy" he preferred, he and his clothes reeked, making the locals wonder why the rabbits, which he caught for income, didn't smell his imminent arrival. The war years meant a scant supply of tobacco for Joe, a confirmed pipe smoker, so he used tea as a substitute. Joseph died in 1952.

Son John was one of the original shareholders of the Merton Co-operative Dairy Co. Ltd which was formed in October of 1914. He was also a suppler in 1922 and a Director of the Merton Dairy factory in 1931. The company was voluntarily wound up in 1948. John married Caroline Annie Hunt at Owaka on the 20th of January 1906 and had the following children: Ellen May, Emily Alice, Hilda Gertrude & Freida Muriel. John died on 13th of May 1954 at Oamaru.

Editorials

Haftka Family Tree