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Osilius, Juskauskas & Lelasius Notes

4.

Note 2. on Anton Osilius.
There is some confusion over his date of birth. Many official documents like his naturalization papers list his birth date as 20 August 1890 but the family always celebrated July 22nd as his birth date and that is the one listed on his death certificate and head stone. Russia did not change over from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar until 1918 but that would have only added 10 more days onto his birth date. This would come out to August 1st. This still leaves us with 19 days to account for.
His last place of residence in Lithuania was a place called "Izahaliski" or something like that. It is difficult to make the name out on the passenger list. There is a small village about 10 miles east of Mariampole called Igliskelia and another one called Igliskis. Perhaps one of these were meant.
There were probably many reasons why Anton left Lithuania. One reason many men left was to avoid service in the Imperial Russian Army and another was because "there was nothing to do." Most people lived on small farms or were farm laborers. These farms were generally too small to support a large family and there was little opportunity to seek employment in the cities. Working conditions were poor in the few opportunities that were available. After one member of the family came over he saved up his money and then sent for other members of the family. Most of these people found jobs in occupations other than farming and wanted a better life than they had before. There were about 500,000 Lithuanians who came to the United States between 1868 and 1914 for these reasons and others. Some didn't like it here and returned but most stayed.
Anton and his stepsister Eva Grinius left Rotterdam, Holland on October 7, 1911 on the S.S. RYNDAM of the Holland American Lines. They arrived at the port of New York on October 16, 1911. Their brother, Michael Grinius, had paid for their trip and they were on their way to Edwards, Indiana where he lived. Another family story was that after Anton got off the boat in New York, he was hired by a company to work in the coal mines of Pennsylvania first and then went to Indiana.
Anton had entered the U.S. under the name Grinius but by 1916 had changed it back to Osilius.
He worked as a coal miner in Indiana and after a short stay there he made his way up to Waukegan, Illinois. Not much about his stay there is known but on December 5, 1916 he files his Declaration of Intention to become a citizen. He listed his residence as 920 10th street in Waukegan, Illinois.
He married Eva there but no record of their marriage has been found. I could not look at the indexes personally at that time so I am not satisfied that a thorough search was made.
Between January 1918 and May 1919 the family moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin. By 1921 they were renting a house at 805 Cecilia Avenue. This house they then purchased on November 5, 1924. This house was owned until July 9, 1929 when they sold it and another piece of property to purchase a farm of 112 acres in section 3 and section 4 of Paris township. This was on County Line Road (KR) and 172nd Street. They lived there for the rest of their lives.
While living in Kenosha he was employed by McWhyte Wire Rope Co. and worked there for 27 years. He was a member of their 25 Year Club.
He filed another Declaration of Intention at the Kenosha County Court House on May 4, 1931 and became a citizen on February 17, 1936.
He was a member of St. John the Baptist Church in Paris Township and he and Eva are buried together there. He died at St. Mary's Hospital in Racine after a short illness.
Listed in 1920 census in Kenosha, Wis. Occupation wire drawer. John Juskauskas a shoemaker is living with them. Eva's brother.

Note 3 Info from www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/ShipsR.html
RYNDAM 1901
The RYNDAM was a 12,340 gross ton ship, length 550.3ft x beam 62.3ft, one funnel, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 15 knots. Accommodation for 286-1st, 196-2nd and 1,800-3rd class passengers. Built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, she was launched for Holland America Line on 18th May 1901. Her maiden voyage started on 10th Oct.1901 when she left Rotterdam for New York. On 18th Jan.1916 she was damaged by a mine in the North Sea but was repaired and resumed Rotterdam - New York sailings on 15th Apr.1916. Requisitioned by the US Government for transport service on 21st Mar.1918, she was released at Rotterdam in Oct.1919. On 31st Jul.1920 she resumed Rotterdam - New York sailings, was refitted to carry cabin and 3rd class passengers in May 1925, and cabin, tourist and 3rd class in May 1926. Her last Rotterdam - New York voyage started on 16th Apr.1929 and she was scrapped at Hendrik Ibo Ambacht in 1929. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.3,p.913]

Note 5 That date and place is on all of their documents but the Lake County Court house has not been able to find a copy. I would like to look through their index myself.

Note 6 Obituary says Dec. 11, 1889. Her 1959 Declaration of Intention said she was born at Simno, Lithuania. The Declaration worksheet was returned for correction but never refiled.

Note 3. Anthony Osilius
He attended school in Kenoaha untill 1929. His family moved to Paris township in Kenosha County. His new school was just a bit up the road from his parents farm. Years later He built his new home near the site of the old school house. While he was still working on his parents farm he also worked for one year at Massey Harris in Racine, seven years driving trucks at Eckert Produce and then 19 1/2 years at J.I. Case Company. He retired from there in 1983. After his parents died he inherited their farm and continued farming until 1993 when he and Lucy sold the farm and moved to the Lake Geneva area. Later they moved to Union Grove, Wisconsin.

Note 4. Val Osilius
She was four years old when her family move to a farm on County Line road in Paris township, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. She attended a one room school house that was situated on their parents property a quarter mile east of their house. Later her brother, Tony, built a house on that site. She went to Union Grove High School for three years and then Rochester Agricultural School for one year. World War II started for the United States in December of 1941 and Val then went to work. She was employed by Kenosha Full Fashion and then Nash Motors. Later she worked at Vincent McCall's. This company was located at 22nd Avenue and 56th Street in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She quit in 1959 about five or six months before her daughter, Donna, was born.
Val and George had gone down to Waukegan, Illinois to get married. The reason they did this was that it was easier to get married there than it was in Wisconsin. Many other people have done this. Research in the Waukegan newspapers show that sometimes half the legal marriage announcements were people from Wisconsin. Most were from Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine. Waukegan was not that far. Only a few miles south of the Wisconsin border and only about fifteen miles south of Kenosha by car. There was also train service to Waukegan on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and the Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad.
After she and George were married they purchased a very small house on North 22nd Avenue in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was a big lot and there were very few houses that far north of Kenosha. In the mid 1950's they built themselves a very nice brick ranch style house on that property. They still live there today.
Val & George had their marriage blessed in church the day before their daughter, Donna, was baptized. They are members of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Note 5. Julius Vines
They were married in the St. George Church Rectory. After their marriage they lived in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He worked at Koos Company was in skilled trades and later became a foreman there. He then worked at American Motors Corp. and became a Maintenance Supervisor.
In 1980 he and Luella's divorce was finalized. He moved to Arizona, where his sister Helen "Teddy" Kash lived. From 1979 to 1985 he owned and operated a plumbing company. He moved back to Wisconsin in late 1984 or early 1985. He lived in various places in Wisconsin. In September of 1995 he was living in Manitowoc. Later he moved to Kenosha and lived with his daughter, Lauralee Persons. He was in bad health for a number of years and died at home.
He was an avid fisherman and loved gardening and travel. He was a member of St. George Church, an auxiliary policeman, volunteer fireman and emergency medical technician for Somers, Wisconsin. He also chaperoned for the Band of the Black Watch.

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Osilius, Juskauskas & Lelasius Notes

4.