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Klimek & Chełkowski Family (pronounced Kleemak & Hewkovskee)

SURNAMES & THEIR ORIGINS

CHEŁKOWSKI/CHERKOWSKI (Pol) chełch. Toponym: Chełchy.

KLIMKOWSKI/KLIMEK (Pol) from Clement (Eng)(Dut). The name Clement achieved popularity firstly through having been borne by an early Saint who was a disciple of Saint Paul, and later because it was selected as a symbolic name by a number of Popes. Meaning: mild, compassionate. There is a small village with the name of Klimek situated near Krotoszyn west of Kalisz. Habitation names: Klimaszewski, Klim(k)owski.

ŁUKOWSKI (Slavic root) luk. Meaning: (archer's) bow, arch or <first names Lukasz and Lukan (old form of Lucjan) and place names, e.g. Lukow.

RYBICKI (Pol) ryba. Meaning: fish or rybaki fisherman.

SMOLINSKI (Pol) smola. Meaning: tar pitch - a habitation name from the city of Smolensk in Russia, which was a great trade centre in medieval times.

STOLZ/STOLC (Ger) stolz Meaning: proud.

The family name in the early 19th Century is documented as Klimkowski as recalled by older members of the family and was believed the family were of gentlefolk.

On May the 4th, 1817, Jan Klimkowski married Marianna Lukowska at the church of "Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary" in the village of Pehsken (Piaseczno), West Prussia, ethnically the district of Kociewie, Poland. Jan was a farm labourer who joined thousands of Poles criss-crossing the countryside looking for seasonal work, as the family regularly moved about.

They were residing at the village of Bielsk when they had the following children: Mathias (1819-1899), Catharina (1821), Joannes (1823-1880), Marianna (1825), & Marianna (1826-1875).

It seems that Mathias was the only child to be born with the name Klimkowski while the rest of his siblings were recorded as Klimek. Church records show this came into being around 1820. Older family members in New Zealand and in Australia recall the orginal name told by their migrant grandparents and that the shortened version would be easier to say in the new country.

Around 1826-27 Jan & family moved east to the village of Pehsken where they gave birth to Barbara (1828), & Joseph (1830-1862). They set off again looking for farm work settling north in the village of Czechlau (Ciecholewy), in the Parish of Kokoschken (Kokoszkowy) near Stargard (Starogard Gdanski). Here they gave birth to Jacob (1832-1832). Unfortunately due to complications, both Mother & child died. Marianna died on the 22nd of July 1832 with Jacob dying two days later.

On the 4th of November 1832, Jan Klimek married Catharina Cymanowska at the church of "Saint Barbara" in the village of Kokoschken. For ten years we do not know of their whereabouts but located them east at the village of Gnieschau (Gniszewo), in the Parish of Subkau (Subkowy), where Catharina died on the 27th of April 1843.

On the 31st of October 1843, Jan Klimek married Agatha Olmann, the daughter of Michael Olmann & Catharina Omiercynska, at "The Church of the Holy Cross" in the port township of Dirschau (Tczew). In 1843 they had a daughter Rosalie and some time later the famlily moved north to the village of Senslau (Zelislawki), in the Parish of Mühlbanz (Milobadz) where they gave birth to Franz (1846). The family set off once again this time south to the village of Liniewken (Liniewko), in the Parish of Liebschau (Lubiszewo Tczewskie). Here they remained having the last of their family being: August 1849-1840), & Antonia (1851). On the 17th of February 1854 Jan Klimek (Klimkowski) died at the age of 59 years in Liniewken.

Mathias Klimek married Anna Smolinska (1820-1882) the daughter of Simon Smolinski & Dorothea Rybicka, at Gardschau (Godziszewo) in 1847, both residing in the village of Turse (Turze) along the banks of Lake Damaschken. It has been said that Anna Smolinski worked as a maid for an estate where guests were often entertained and it was common for guests to fratinize with the staff. It is while working for this estate that Anna gave birth to a son, Johann Smolinski (1844-1922), while residing at the village of Stenzlau (Stanislawie). Another version is that Johan was actually the son of the Count whom Anna worked for. One month after Johann's birth, Anna's mother Dorothea dies one day after giving birth in the village of Stenzlau.

Mathais and Anna moved west to the Parish of Schoneck (Skarszewy) searching for work and settled in the village of Kamerau (Kamierowo). Here they gave birth to their only known daughter, Mathilda Julianna (1848-1921). Late in the next year they had a son, Carl Mathias (1849-1855), in the village of Gr. Paglau (Pawlowo).

Between 1850 and 1852 the family moved back to the Parish of Gardschau, to the village of Damaschken (Damaszka), just south of Turze. Here they had two more sons: Theodor Adolph (1852-1855) & Franz (1855-1919). From here the family set off again but unsure as to which district. Here they gave birth to Michael (1857-1870) & Theodor/Theophil (1861-1922) known as Phil (Felix) in Australia.

In the early 1860's the family moved to the Parish of Liebschau (Lubiszewo Tczewskie) where they had the rest of the family, being; Martin (1863-1932) & August Robert (1866-1869), in the village of Malsau (Malzewo).

It has been said that after a train trip, some German Soldiers came looking for one of the male family members, believed to be an uncle. Theodor remembers blood in the snow and doorway after his uncle was shot. He was about seven years old, which would place the time around the winter of 67- 68, the family still residing in the village of Malsau. The family think that it may have something to do with army matters, possibly with the Prussian Army.

Sometime during the years 1869-1870 the Klimek family moved and established themselves in the village of Rokittken (Rokittki), in the Parish of Dirschau (Tczew). Mathias worked as a labourer and coachman around Kociewie working for a time for aristocratic family.

Mathilda Klimek, eldest child to Mathias and Anna Klimek, married Frederick Wilhelm Tejke, the son of Ludwig Tejke (Prussian Army Officer) & Marianna Parobkiewicz. The couple were married on the 11th of October 1868 at the church of "The Holy Trinity" in the village of Liebschau (Lubiszewo Tczewskie). Frederick worked as a farm labourer in Liniewken (Liniewko) in the Parish of Liebschau, where they settled and had the first of their children, being: Franciszka (1869-1956) known as Mary in New Zealand, & Franz (1871-1919).

Soon after, the Tejke family moved and established themselves in the village of Rokittken where Mathais & Anna Klimek were residing at this time. A year later the Tejke family decided to join the mass of families who were traveling overseas for a better life. They travelled to Hamburg, via Gdansk, where they set aboard the ship "Palmerston", the third ship with assisted and nominated Polish immigrants to New Zealand sent on behalf of the Vogel Scheme. It was believed that they thought they were on their way to America as were most at this time. Click here for further information on the Teike family.

On the 17th of October 1869, Johann Smolinski married Francisca Malinowska, the daughter of Thomas Malinowski & Catharina Rekowska, at the church of "The Holy Trinity" in the village of Liebschau. Click here for further information on the Smolinski family.

In June of 1874, Mathias & Anna with their children Franz, Theodor, and Martin, left the village of Rokittken, for Hamburg, via Gdansk. They were to meet their daughter Mathila & family who had unintentionally arrived in New Zealand. The Klimek family fled due to the boys being forced to enlist for German Military Training. The family were smuggled in the bottom of a boat by Jewish boatmen and were sent down the river (Vistula) to the sea. From the city of Gdansk the family sailed to Hamburg where they set aboard the ship "Gutenburg" a small iron ship, its first voyage to New Zealand on the 4th of July 1874 arriving at Lyttleton, Canterbury, New Zealand on the 25th of October 1874.

• Near Tullah, West Tasmania, 1890's:
  From Lyttleton the family headed south to the settlement of Waihola where Mathilda and family were residing. The earliest mention of the family in New Zealand so far has been found in the Dunedin Hospital records where Frank Klimeck aged 23 was admitted into the Dunedin Hospital on the 15th of September 1878 and discharged on the 2nd of October. It does not mention however what the reason was. The family are then recorded in the "1882 list of Free Holders", where Mathias was listed as having owned 3 acres of land to the value of 200 pounds in Waihola. It is believed the family home was situated in Nore Street, on the hillside facing Lake Waihola. Mathias is said to have worked as a labourer during his working years in New Zealand.

It is believed the two gentlemen with moustaches are Felix (second on left) & Frank Klimeck (right of photo).

Photo kindly provided by Mary Taylor (Aus).

Anna Klimeck (nee Smolinski) died of cancer of the face on the 30th of October 1882 at the age of 63 at Green Island. She was staying at the time with her daughter Matilada Teike. She is buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Southern Cemetery in Dunedin. Grave

• Franciszka Apolonica (nee Chełkowska), Frank, Annie & Felix Klimeck, Waihola 1886:
  Mathias Klimeck (Mathew) left Waihola to live with his daughter Matilda & family. During the years from 1896 to 1898, Mathias Klimeck resided at Shag Point with his son-in-law, Frederick Teike, who was working in the coalmines there. While residing here Mathias was given outdoor relief from an illness, through the Otago Benevolent Institute until his condition worsened. Shortly later Mathias and Frederick Teike moved to Macandrew Road, South Dunedin. On the 11th of September 1897, Mathias was institutionalized to the Otago Benevolent Institute, Caversham, Dunedin, and is recorded in the health records as suffering from results of past work and old age. After 16 months in the Institute, Mathias passed away on the 8th of February 1899 at the age of 80 and is buried in the Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. Grave

Franz (Frank) Klimeck married Franciszka (Fanny) Apolonica Cherkowska (Chełkowska), the daughter of Adalbert Cherkowski & Catharina Stolc, on the 22nd of April 1882 at Waihola . The wedding ceremony was held at the house of Franz and Veronica Annis (nee Cherkowska), older sister to Franciszka.

Franciszka Cherkowska immigrated to New Zealand with her older sister Veronica & husband Franz Annis with family leaving the village of Turze. They set aboard the ship "Reichstag" on the 10th of May 1874 at Hamburg, Germany arriving at Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on the 6th of August 1874. From Wellington they set forth arriving at their final destination, to the Polish settlement at Waihola in the South Island. Also aboard ship were the Barra family who would later marry into the Klimeck family. Rosalia Kreft (nee Cherkowska) another older sister to Franciszka, came out to New Zealand in 1875 aboard the Lammershagen with her husband Johann Martin Kreft and child. A brother, Johann Jacob Cherkowski, immigrated to America with his wife Barbara and children aboard the "Belgenland". They departed from Antwerp, Belgium and arrived at Philadelphia, Pensylvania on the 14th of August 1891.

Photo kindly provided by Martin Klemick.

Frank Klimeck purchased 12 Sections of land above the township of Waihola on the 23rd of May 1884, on the hillside facing Lake Waihola, previously owned by Paul Baumgardt. Here Frank and Fanny had their two children being; Felix (1884-1961) & Annie (1885-1968).

• Right: Ellen Klemick, Frank & Annie Klimeck:
  

Four years to the month, after the death of Frank's Mother, his wife Franciszka took ill and died of apoplexy on the 2nd of October 1886 at the age of only 28. She is buried at the Waihola Cemetery behind the Annis family plot. Grave

Sometime after the death of their mother, Felix and Annie Klimeck were sent to live with their Uncle Fred and Auntie Mathilda Tikey. The two children grew up in Fairfield where they went to the Green Island and Walton Schools with their cousins during the late 1880's & 90's. It is presumed after Fanny's death that Frank went over to Tasmania for a while and worked with brother Felix. The Victorian unassisted shipping lists document a Mr F. Klimeck arriving at Melbourne on the 20th of July 1888 aboard the ship "Te Anau". The ship departed from Dunedin on the 12th of July. Frank finding Australia not to his liking, is later noted as residing in Nightcaps, Southland around 1911 working as a labourer where he lived in a small hut at the back of his son's property.

One occasion Frank was at the local pub in Nightcaps having a few with the local lads. Frank, who could speak a little English but not able to read, had his eyes fixed in the local rag and made a rather concerned comment that their must have been an almighty storm as he gazed at the photo. It just happened that he was looking at a picture of a ship but didn't realize that he was looking at the paper upside down. You can just imagine the flack they must have gave him. My guess is that his eyesight was failing him in his latter years.

• Harriet & Felix Klimeck, 1886:
  Frank Klimeck died at Riverton, on the 2nd of June 1919 and is buried at Wrey's Bush Cemetery, just east of Nightcaps. Grave

In 1885, Felix (Phil) Klimeck married Harriet Milbourne on the 9th of June at Latrobe, Tasmania. It is said that while Felix was standing on a corner outside a hotel in Latrobe with a friend, two girls passed in a horse and gig. Felix asked his friend the name of the girl driving. "That's Harriet Milbourne, why?" "Because I am going to marry her", was Felix's reply. Seems they finally met through a mutual friend as was done in those days and the rest is history.

They had 10 children in total being: Frank Mathias (1886-1938), Henry Theodor (1888-1968), Alice Matilda (1890-1982), Elsie Annie (1893-1972), Helen Mary (1894-1895), Felix Walter (1896-1897), Joseph Stanislaus (1900-1965), Mary Magdalen (1903-1923), Felix Paul (1906-1980)& Monica Catherine (1909-1996).

Felix travelled around Australia with his growing family from Latrobe, Tasmania to Dandenong (Melbourne), Victoria, where he worked on the Cable Trams in Melbourne City. He also worked on the Railways in N.S.W. living in Menindee, south of Broken Hill, as well as working in South Australia and Western Australia laying tracks for T.C. Rail. Later they moved back to Tasmania where Felix worked in the mines.

Photo kindly provided by Mary Taylor (Aus).

• Felix Klimeck & Family, 1913:
  
  Back Row: Elsie Annie, Alice Matilda, Henry Theodor, Henriette (nee Harris),
  Middle Row: Joseph Stanislaus, Felix Snr., Harriet (nee Milbourne), Frank Mathias,
  Front Row: Mary Magdalen, Felix Paul, Monica Catherine and Nell Klimeck.
  

Photo kindly provided by Mary Taylor (Aus).

Felix Klimeck died on the 9th of March 1922 at Wynyard, Tasmania and Harriet died on the 15th of December 1953 in Launceston, Tasmania. It is said that Felix's own horses pulled the hearse at his funeral.

• Older members of the Klimeck Family, 1913:
  
  Standing: Henry Theodor, Henriette (nee Harris),
  Sitting: Elsie Annie, Frank Mathias & Alice Matilda.
  

Photo kindly provided by Mary Taylor (Aus).

On the 22nd of February 1887, Martin Klimeck married Minnie Barra, the daughter of Peter Barra and Eleonora Maash, in the Parish of Milton. Just prior to marrying Martin Klimeck, for a brief period, worked in Melbourne, Australia laying tram lines with his brother Felix & is also believed to have worked in Hobart, Tasmania. It is possible that Martin & Minnie returned to Melbourne for a brief period, a few days following their wedding, as the Victorian unassisted shipping list documents a Mr & Mrs Klemick arriving at Melbourne on the 4th of March 1887 aboard the ship "Waihora". The ship departed from Dunedin on the 25th of February. Also on board was a Mr Halba, possibly Joseph Halba of Waihola, a future brother inlaw to Minnie.

Martin Klimeck in his early life worked as a plate layer with other Polish settlers on the construction of the Railway line between Wingatui and Alexandra, a distance of about 225 km. He also worked on the Catlins, Owaka, Otago Central, (via Middlemarch) and the Riversdale railway line. Here Martin was boss of a working gang on the Waikaia railway line employing workers. Martin Klimeck on record had purchased property at Waihola, (Cnr. Chatham & Greenhithe Streets) on the 20th of June 1888 and later sold it on the 3rd of October 1900.

• A young Martin Klimeck:
  Martin and Minnie Klimeck had seven children being: Mary Louise (1888-1972), Wilhelmina Augusta (1889-1993), William Patrick (1892-1977), Eleanor Annie (1893-1991), Martin Joseph (Fr. Edmond Klimeck) (1895-1983), Rosalie Theresa (1899-2003) & Peter John (1902-1960). The first four children were born in Waihola and the last three were born in the Tokomairiro & Akatore area.

On the 14th of April 1894, Martin Klimeck at the age of 29, was naturalised as a New Zealand Citizen and living in Waihola at the time. Martin's railway work was broken at times by his attempts at farming, first at Chrystals Beach, Glenledi, then called Bull Creek, 12 miles east of Milton from February 1896 - 1900. On the farm at Bull Creek, before school every morning, the children would collect the water from the well for the day to be heated on the open fire. They would then round up the cows to be milked by hand. All this before a two-mile hike up the hill to school which usually took them all of half an hour. At night there was only one lamp used to light the whole house. Also on their farm they had four horses that they greatly cherished. Mary, Wilhelmina & William were noted in the Otago Education Board Examinations as attending Glenledi Public School from 1897-1899. Wilhelmina is said to recall sitting at a desk, which sat three others and studied subjects such as reading, writing, history and geography. At home they apparently didn't have much time to play games because of their daily chores. The children were allowed one new outfit a year. At the age of 12, Wilhelmina recalls getting a horse by the name of Jess.

Martin and family, still involved in farming, moved to Laudens Gully around May 1900 and stayed until 1907. Here the Klimeck children attended the Akatore Public School from 1900 to 1905.

They then moved to Johnson St, Milton where Martin worked as a Platelayer from the 18th of January 1907 until the 29th of September 1911. Here Emma Barra, died on the 11th of September 1909 and is buried at the Fairfax Cemetery with her husband Peter Barra who died five years previous on the 27th of August 1904.

On the 24th of April 1911, Martin sold his property at Loudens Gully to Richard Pearce, New Zealand's first aviator, possibly the worlds. The property today is now a portion of the Barra Property where the original homestead still stands, now used as a wool barn. Near Chrystals Beach, Glenledi, there is a track where the logs were dragged out by bullock after felling and was named "Klimek's Track". Today only some cuttings remain where the track existed and has been now covered with native bush.

Martin moved to 61 Clyde St, Dunedin, around 1911 where he did a variety of labouring work. He then decided taking on Hotel Keeping first at the Empire Hotel at Naesby, Central Otago, where he was owner and publican on the 4th of June 1912 until the 25th of February 1914. He then moved to Aberdeen St, Georgetown near Oamaru as a publican on the 25th of July 1914 until the 11th of September 1915.

• Georgetown Hotel:
  
  Minnie is standing at the sitting room doorway to the left and Martin at the bar doorway.

Photo kindly provided by Pauline Lee.

The family then returned back to Dunedin where Martin worked firstly as a Quarry Manager while residing at Cumberland Street and then 12 Queensburry Street, North East Valley, before taking over the Normanby Hotel on the 7th of June 1920 until 1922, it being from here that he retired. At one time, Martin owned the land where the Law Courts Hotel (Cobb & Co) stands today. During his retirement he sold this property and invested the money with his lawyer, but his lawyer had made some bad investments and Martin lost most of it.

• Martin Klimeck & Family:
  
  Back Row: Wilhelmina Augusta, Martin Joseph (Father Klimeck), Mary Louise,
  Front Row: William Patrick, Minnie (nee Barra), Peter John, Rosalie, Martin Snr., & Ellenora Klimeck.
  

Photo kindly provided by Patrick Klimeck

They purchased land at 20 Market Street, St. Kilda, Dunedin and built their retirement home where they lived till they passed on, which still stands today. Martin Klimeck died on the 8th of July 1932 and Minnie died on the 25th of February 1946. Both buried at the Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. Grave

Martin Joseph Klimeck, son of Martin was ordained to the priesthood on the 8th of December 1920 and has the distinction of being the first Catholic Priest in New Zealand of Polish origin. He was well known throughout New Zealand and the world and died on the 11th of May 1983 in Auckland and is buried at Kopua, Hawkes Bay in the North Island.

Rosalie Prescott, nee Klimeck, daughter of Martin & Minnie, at 103 was the last known 1st generation New Zealander of full Polish ancestry of the Polish pioneers and the last of her immediate family. Rosalie moved north to housekeep for her brother Martin (Fr. Esmond Klimeck). Some time after her brother moved overseas Rosalie married Thomas Prescott in 1925. Thomas inherited the family farm at Takapau, later purchasing another farm at Kopua. Here Tom & Rosalie lived in the homestead, which was built around 1914. In 1946 they instigated the idea of starting up an agricultural school for young men but in 1954 saw the introduction of the Cistercian Monks brought out from Ireland. Tom and Rosalie donated a section of their farm at Kopau for the establishment of a monastery , the "Southern Star Abbey." Here in later years Rosalie and her son John lived quite independently but with the welfare of the monastery at heart. It can be well mentioned that sisters, Wilhelmina & Rosalie at 103 and Ellenora at 97, lived good lengthy lives, perhaps an indication of the strong and healthy Polish background.

Editorials

Klimek Family Tree