John Piasecki Biography

John PIASECKI was born 29 Sep 1890, in Poland, a son of John and Walentyna (RACZKIEWICA) PIASECKI. While still quite young, he came with his parents to the United States in 1891. In 1900 the family lived at 875 W. 17th Street, Chicago, Illinois.

John PIASECKI, age 22, married Mae DOLECKI 08 Jul 1913, age 18, in Hawthorne, Cook County, Illinois. They had six babies: Eleanora (1913), Jack (1914), Richard (1916), Thomas R. (1917), Edward (1920), and James E. (1921). Only three survived infancy: John/Jack, Tom, and Jim.

"This is a picture of a bar in Cicero. The calendar on the wall shows April, 1914. Behind the bar is my grandfather, John, and my grandmother, Mae. My dad was born Sep 16, 1914, so in this picture Mae was pregnant with my dad. (The customers' names are not known.)" [*TAP]

"It was said that Mae's father owned the bar and my grandfather was working for him as the bartender. It could have been that my great grandfather, John Piasecki, owned the bar, I just don't know for sure, but I love the picture." [*TAP]

"The bar photo is hanging on the wall in my office. The back of the bar photo on my wall said it was 'great grandma’s saloon.' It was written by my mother, so I assume that means Mary Dolecki’s, my great grandma’s, saloon." [*CMP]

"It always was a great story from my Dad, that his Dad worked in a bar that was owned by his in-laws; hence he married the boss' daughter." [*TAP]

"Uncle John was the family chiropractor. He reset my fingers a couple of times that were jammed and out of place (baseball). He also reset the 2nd toe on my foot, which I knocked out of place playing kick-ball. It always hurt doing it, but they were good as new after he was done." [*CMP]

"When my sister was 4-5 years old, Uncle John always met her by saying, “There’s my black-eyed Susan.” Suzie was always angry at that and always replied with emphasis “my eyes are not black, they are brown!” [*CMP]

John PIASECKI died 19 Jun 1959, in Cicero, Cook County, Illinois. His wife and three sons, Jack, Tom, and Jim, survived him. He was buried in Resurrection Cemetery, Justice, Cook County, Illinois.

1900 Census
Chicago, Cook County, IL
Parents John & Valeria, brother Ignatz, John, and sisters Mary & Bessie

I haven't found a copy of John's 1910 Census record

World War I Draft Registration
John was born 27 Sep 1889. He applied for citizenship. He worked as a machine operator at Western Electric, Hawthorne.

1920 Census
5016 W 30th Place,
Cicero, Cook County, IL
John & family, as well as his brother & family and his sister & family, reside with their parents.

1923 Citizenship Card
Born 27 Sep 1890
Arrival in US 27 Mar 1891
Naturalized 26 Sep 1923

1930 Census
3205 52nd Court,
Cicero, Cook County, IL
John & Mae, John, Thomas, and James

1940 Census
5236 W 31st Street,
Cicero, Cook County, IL
John & May D., John Jr., Thomas, and James

World War II Draft Registration
By 1942 John had begun changing his name from Piasecki to Sanders. He worked for Hotpoint Electric Company.

John PIASECKI

1890 - 1959