Pikulice

Pikulice. The view from the fort, "Łuczyce".

The village of Pikulice is located 5 km south from the district court and postal office of Przemysl. The village’s former name was Biliwka or Zelene. It is located by the stream Wisla that enters the Wiar River, just to the northeast. The village reveals the oldest traces of human habitation in south-eastern Poland, dating from 40,000-30,000 years ago.

The countryside of Pikuliczi (now Pikulice) originally belonged to Przemysl as part of one hundred fiefs donated in 1389 to the city by King Wladyslaw Jagiello. In the 15th century the village was incorporated by the starosta of Przemysl, this according to a document dated 29 October 1408. Wladyslaw Jagiello freed the residents of the village from all taxes and weights. In 1418, Ivan of Obuchow, the Rus starosta and the castellan of Szremsk, carried out royal orders to distinguish between the city outskirts and the villages Pikulice, Grochowce, Witoszyńce, and Koniuchy. Part of the village belonged to the Roman Catholic bishop of Przemysl up to the twentieth century. In 1565, there lived in Pikulice: 36 peasant families, one miller, two innkeepers, and one Orthodox priest. The oldest mention of a local parish church dates from 1507. In the sixteenth century there was also a Basilian monastery located there.

After the partition of 1772, the Austrian government sold Pikulice along with other surrounding villages to Count Ignacy Cetner (of Bakończyce). In 1785, under the Austrians, the population numbered 330: 291 Greek Catholics (88%), 25 Roman Catholics (8%), and 14 Jews (4%). To the south of Pikulice are the buildings which once were part of the manor estate owned by Princess Karolina Emilia Lubomirska, who was the last owner of the local assets.

For years, Pikulice had a manorial farm. By 1880, the population the village had nearly doubled, rising to 672 residents, including 105 Roman Catholics, and the remainder Greek Catholics. 29 residents were associated with the manorial estate. The Roman Catholic parish was in Przemysl, and the Greek Catholic parish was in Nehrybka. The village had a Greek Catholic church, and a one-room schoolhouse. The Greek Catholic church was originally a wooden structure built as early as 1830. The church was replaced by another wooden structure in 1841, and a masonry building in 1903. The church was named the Nativity of the BVM in 1879. It was demolished in the 1950s. The Roman Catholic neo-Gothic stone church and belfry were erected in 1912. It is the only church that remains today. On its facade is an emblem of the Polish eagle, the crest of the Lubomirski family, and the figure of Saint John the Baptist, who is the patron saint of Przemysl.

Artillery Barracks in Pikulice (early 20th century)

There is a monument erected in Pikulice honouring the memory of the soldiers of the Ukrainian Galician Army who, interned as prisoners of war by the Poles, died in 1919 to 1920 in the nearby camp. The former Austrian barracks in the years 1919-1924 served as detention center for Ukrainian soldiers from the army of the Ukrainian People's Republic. In 1921, the camp held 557 officers, 1,874 enlisted men, 100 women, and 35 children. The village itself included 151 houses and 875 inhabitants: 607 Greek Catholics (69%), 199 Roman Catholics (23%), and 68 Jews (8%). Several thousand of the prisoners died as a result of a typhoid epidemic and were buried in four mass graves in the Austrian war cemetery in the northern part of the countryside. In Communist times, the cemetery was destroyed, but reconstructed after 1990. In 2000, at the Ukrainian military cemetery, were buried 47 former UPA soldiers, previously exhumed from mass graves in Bircza and Usznej.

On a wooded hill south of the Pikulice are the ruins of the main fort GW-IV “Optyn”, built in 1880, and belonging to the outer ring of fortifications for Przemysl. To the west of the fort, are the remains of the auxiliary fort W-IIIa “Hermanowice”.

In 1938, the population of Pikulice numbered 747 Ukrainians.

When the German Army arrive in Przemysl in September 1939, the first mass executions of Jews took place between the16th and 19th of September, at several places in the city outskirts, including Pikulice.

The Ukrainian population was deported in the summer 1945 to Ukraine. On 15 November of that year Ukrainian partisans burned down most of the buildings. The remaining Ukrainians, some fifteen, were resettled in Western Poland in May 1947.

Ukrainian War Cemetery in Pikulice

Panteleimon (1839-1894) descendants

Petro Kiebus / Kiebuz (6 July 1881, Pikulice-11 June 1943, Glastonbury) was the son of Panteleimon Kiebuz and Maria Dziuban (misspelled in some documents as Jubra). He worked for three years (1903-1905) as a tailor in Boston, Massachusetts, and resided there at 178 Bolton Street (in a building owned by Mary V. Flanagan of Milford). He re-immigrated to the United States on 9 May 1905, and arrived in New York City from Hamburg, Germany aboard the ship Blucher. His occupation was listed as laborer. His final destination was his friend Peter Vasal, Box 126, Hartford, CT. Petro (or Peter) married Julia Velyka (Welyka or Wielka in Polish) on 27 May 1911 in Glastonbury. They had three children: Mary (28 June 1911, Glastonbury, CT-12 Apr. 1990, Manchester, CT); Michael (28 Sep. 1915, Glastonbury, CT-24 Apr. 1983, Rocky Hill, CT); Raymond (1 Aug. 1919-22 June 1998).

For Julia (ca. 1879/80, Pikulice-21 Dec. 1933, Hartford, CT), this was her second marriage. She came to the United States with her first husband George Smolka (in Ukrainian Smulka) on 6 September 1906. They left behind their son Volodymyr (b. 21 March 1904, Pikulice) with Maria Welyka. Their daughter Anna Smolka (the future Mrs. Michael Brenza) was born on 7 February 1907 in Pennsylvania. George Smolka soon died of unknown circumstances (he was working in the steel mills in Coatesville, Pennsylvania). After his death on 8 April 1908, Julia went back to Ukraine with her daughter Anna. Several years later, on 1 February 1910, Julia returned to the States, this time destined for Glastonbury, Conn., to marry Petro Kiebuz who had been living there since 1905. They may have known each other from Pikulice. Their marriage took place in Glastonbury on 23 May 1911 at the rectory of St. Augustine (the presiding priest was Rev. Francis M. Murray). Julia's return trip to the United States was sponsored by her cousin Piotr Stec (son of Fedko Stec).

Anna was left behind in Pikulice and did not join her mother, new step-father and step-siblings until 3 August 1921. Petro Kiebuz paid for her and his brother-in-law's, Jozef Welyki's, passage. Judging by the year of Anna's birth, 1907, as a young girl she probably grew up with my grandfather and great uncles in Pikulice. This may explain why my great uncle Volodymyr, while still a refugee in Germany, placed an advertisement in Svoboda looking for Jozef Welyki and Anna Smolka. Jozef Welyki's and Anna Smolka's parents and grandparents were Ivan and Kataryna Welyki.

As for Peter, at the time of registration to the World War I draft, in 1918, he was working as a papermaker for Riverside Paper Co., Glastonbury, CT. According to the U.S. 1920 Census, Peter and Julia were both from Poland and used the Polish language at home. By the time of the U.S. 1940 Census, Peter worked as a buffer for a local silverware manufacturing company. Peter became a naturalized citizen of the United States at age 59 on 28 February 1941 in Hartford. The family's address at the time was 102 Grove Street in Glastonbury.

Peter Kiebus naturalization photograph, 1936

Peter's and Julia's youngest son Raymond married Barbara Jones of Glastonbury. Raymond worked for H.P. Hood Co., was a WWII veteran, and Pearl Harbor survivor. He served in the Asiatic Pacific and Central Pacific theaters, and was stationed at Fort Shafter, Oahu Island, Honolulu, with the 64th Coast Artillery (A.A.).

Raymond’s brother Michael was also a WWII veteran, and, in 1940, was first stationed at Fort Slocum, New Rochelle, Westchester County, New York. Michael worked as a bull dozer operator for the City of Hartford. He had two sons: Michael P. Kiebus (of East Hartford) and Steven G. Kiebus (of Rocky Hill).

The Hartford Courant published a story on 9 Feb. 1943 about Michael’s and Raymond’s service in the Coast Guard Artillery in Hawaii.

Raymond's and Michael's older sister Mary married Albert Drumm. The Drumms, together with Mary's father after he became a widower, lived in a two family home next door to the Brenzas on 102 Grove Street. Mary Drumm worked as an inspector for a tobacco warehouse. She had, according to my second cousin Bohdan, one older daughter named Audrey, and a son named Sonny (he became a plumber)-- Bohdan remembers him being very active and mischievous. The 1940 U.S. Census, however, reports that the Drumms had two daughters named Sylvia and Dolores.

It was the Brenzas, Michael and Anna (née Smolka, 7 Feb. 1907-30 Nov. 1973), who sponsored Josef, Volodymyr, Stefaniia, and Bohdan Kiebuz (my great uncles and cousin) when they immigrated to the United States after the Second World War. My second cousin Bohdan remembers staying on the Brenza side of the house, at 100 Grove Street, for about six months. Michael and Anna Brenza had four children: Michael (1928-1980), Irene (1929-2008), Frank (1942-1969), and William (1944-2010). Mike Brenza with his sons Billy and Frank attended Bohdan’s and his wife's, Zirka’s, wedding in Hunter, New York. Billy became a Catholic priest.

Pikulice

Former Kiebuz vel Kiebuzinski family home in Pikulice, front and back (1978)

Former Kiebuz vel Kiebuzinski family home in Pikulice (2009)

View of Pikulice (early 20th century)

Nativity of the B.V.M. Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pikulice

(mason church built 1903; photograph from early 20th century)

Fedor (1849-1909) descendants

The members below went by the surname Kebus, Kiebus, Kiebuz, or Kiebish. They were from Pikulice, and were likely all siblings, or, at least, first cousins. The mother of some of them is identified as Anna Kiebus. They are probably the other children of Fedor Kiebuz (b. ca. 1849-d. 22 Apr. 1909) and Anna Stec. Ilko (Julius) and Michael have them listed as their parents on separate documents, though in the case of Michael he identifies his father as Charles (Karl) rather than Fedor (a mistake made by draft registrar?). The people below could be first cousins to my great grandfather Iosyp Kiebuz (1869-1938).

Ilko (Eliasz or Julius) Kiebuz (Kubuz or Kiebish) (b. 10 July 1876 (or Sep. 1875 according to death certificate) in Pikulice). He arrived in New York City from Bremen, Germany aboard the ship Rhein on 13 May 1907. He identified himself as Ruthenian. He was married (5’2’’, brown hair, blue eyes). His final destination was his brother-in-law Michal Rubyi in Glastonbury, CT. He is listed in the 1910 U.S. Census as living as a boarder in Glastonbury, CT, at the home of Michael and Anne Palafsky, and working at a paper mill. When Ilko registered for the World War I draft, in 1918, his permanent home address was a tobacco farm located at 301 Addison Road, Hartford County, Connecticut. He also worked as a laborer for the Glastonbury Knitting Co. In later years he was employed by the Pig Tannery, which had been founded in 1854, bought in 1886 by Herman Roser, and continued to produce leather goods until its closing in 1965.

Sofia and Iwan

His wife Zofia (Sofia/Sofie) Kebus (neé Rubia) (b. 8 Nov. 1878 in Pikulice) also immigrated to the United States. She arrived at Ellis Island on 30 May 1910 on the ship George Washington that departed from Bremen. Her nationality was Ruthenian. Her occupation was housewife. She was 28 years old (5’6’’, black hair, grey eyes), married, and literate (read and write). Accompanying her was their son Iwan (Ivan or John) Kebus age 3 (b. 5 Aug.1907). She listed their closest relative in Pikulice as her cousin Iwan Kebus. Her final destination was her husband Ilko Kiebus in Glastonbury, CT. She and her son Iwan were working as farm laborers in Connecticut at the time of the 1920 United States census, probably working at the tobacco farm where they resided.

Ilko and Sofia went by the last name Kiebish in the United States (according to the 1920 U.S. census, Ilko may have also gone by the name Michael). They had five other children once they had settled in Glastonbury, CT. They were: Steven Richard (b. 19 June 1911-d. 30 Dec. 1986 in Middletown, CT; married Frances Kuszai (d. 17 Dec. 1998)), Peter Joseph (b. 21 June 1913-d. 4 Mar. 1971), Joseph (b. 12 July 1916), Mary Ann (b. 7 May1918), and Sophie (b. 19 Feb. 1923-d. 3 Aug. 1923). While still young men and women during the Second World War, the children held an assortment of jobs. The 1940 U.S. Census reports that Stephan worked as a polisher for United Aircraft; Peter as a laborer for an ice cream manufacturer; Joseph as a farmhand for a tobacco farm; and Mary as a factory hand for a typewriting company.

Ilko’s and Sofia’s oldest son, John H. (Iwan Henry) Kiebish (Kebus), was employed as a machinist at Pratt and Whitney in West Hartford. He married Fannie Hewitt (b. 6 June 1916-d. 17 Dec. 1998) and they had two sons: John M. Kiebish of Bolton (b. 21 May 1939-d. 31 May 2010) and Thomas H. Kiebish of Manchester (b. 13 Dec. 1935-d. 22 Dec. 2007). John became a naturalized United States citizen on 29 September 1938. At the time he was living at 9 Bank Street, Manchester, CT. John H. (Iwan) died at Manchester Memorial Hospital on 20 October 1963 in Manchester. His last address was 24 Hawthorne Street, Manchester, CT.

His brother Peter Kiebish graduated from Glastonbury High School in 1930, and was active in local sports, particularly basketball and baseball. He also worked at Pratt and Whitney Division, United Aircraft Corporation, until he entered the Army on 10 October 1942. He married Louise Jean Preli (b. 3 Aug. 1919-d. 6 June 2006, Hartford, CT). They had two sons: Peter, Jr. (married Carol Ann and had two sons: Joseph Peter and Michael Andrew) and Paul (married Linda and had two sons: Matthew and Daniel). Peter went to England in October 1943, as a staff sergeant and engineer with the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in England and served as a turret gunner on a B-17. On his third mission with the Eighth Air Force, his plane was shot down. On 29 November 1943, Mission 140, 154 of 360 B-17's hit the port of Bremen and targets of opportunity in the area. Unfavorable cloud conditions and malfunction of blind-bombing equipment caused 200+ B-17's to abort the mission. Thirteen B-17's were lost, three damaged beyond repair, and 43 damaged. Casualties were 2 KIA, 13 WIA and 131 MIA. The bomber Red Ass #42-5483 piloted by 2Lt. Finis A. Brumbeloe, crashed at Renslage, Germany. 2Lt. C.D. Garneau, Sgt. Howard S. Payton, Sgt. William C. Steele and Sgt. David H. Hoffman were killed. Lt. Brumbeloe, 2Lt. D.H. Marsh, 2Lt. James R. Groves, S/Sgt. Peter J. Kiebish, S/Sgt. Irwan Johnson, and Sgt. William R were captured by the Germans and taken prisoner. Peter was held in Stalag 17 B at Krems, Austria, before being relocated westward in April 1944 away from the approaching Russian army. He was held prisoner for 17 months. He was liberated by Third Army troops and flown into France, before arriving in the United States on a transport plane.

John’s and Peter’s brother Joseph R. married Florence Weskosky. Joseph was a Navy veteran of the Second World War. He, his wife, and two children, Robert J. and Karen A., lived in Glastonbury, until moving to Hazardville (near Enfield) sometime in 1953. He died after a brief illness at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Brookline, Massachusetts in November 1953. His wife remarried to a Poling. He is buried in St. Augustine’s Cemetery in South Glastonbury.

Ilko’s and Sophie’s only surviving daughter Mary married Joseph V. Nichols. They had one son named Wayne J. Nichols. Mary was employed by Becon, Inc. in South Windsor. She lived with her husband in East Hartford from 1942 until her death on September 2002. She was a communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church, East Hartford.

After some 38 years living and working in Glastonbury, Connecticut, Ilko (Julius) died on 23 November 1945 of a heart attack at his home. His last address was 301 Addison Road. His funeral mass was held on 27 November at St. John’s Ukrainian Church, Grove Street, Glastonbury. He was buried in the Glastonbury Ukrainian cemetery. His wife Sophie died on 8 July 1957 in Hartford Hospital after a brief illness. After being widowed, Sophie moved from her lifelong home in Glastonbury to 33 Ensign Street, East Hartford. She was also a communicant of St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, and is buried in the Glastonbury Ukrainian cemetery.

Ilko’s younger brother Ivan (Jan or John) Kiebus (b. 2 July 1880 in Pikulice) immigrated to the United States. He arrived at Ellis Island on 21 Aug. 1911 on the ship Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm from Bremen. He identified himself as Ruthenian. He was 31 years old (5’5’’, fair hair, brown eyes), and married. He listed his closest relative from Pikulice as his wife Maria Kiebus. His final destination was his brother Ilko Kebus, Box 71, Glastonbury, CT. By the time of the 1920 U.S. Census, Ivan had been joined by his family in Connecticut. His wife Mary (b. abt. 1893) immigrated in 1914, and they had a son, John Jr., born about 1918. Ivan was working as a driver for a coal yard in New Britain, Connecticut. The Bureau of Investigation conducted an investigation on Ivan for evading the draft (case file 98640; document can be found in the Old German Files, 1909-1921, held by the National Archives in DC). When he did register for the draft in 1942, he signed his draft card “Jan Kiebus”. Ivan, like Ilko, was employed as a factory worker for the Glastonbury Knitting Co. The Glastonbury Knitting Co. (earlier known as the Glastenbury Knitting Co.) was founded in 1855 at the site of the former Eagle Manufacturing Company. It was a clothing and fulling mill that was built in on Salmon Brook near Hebron Avenue at the location of Mill Street and Addison Road in 1822. The new company produced men's shirts and underwear. For World War I, the workers of the mills made 400,000 undergarments for soldiers of the U.S. Army.

Either Ilko or Ivan Kebuz of Glastonbury, Connecticut donated money for the defense of Galicia in 1919 (Source: Svoboda (27 Feb. 1919)).

Ilko’s and Ivan’s sister Pelagia Kebus (b. ca. 1892 in Pikulice) departed Hamburg on 24 Aug. 1911 and arrived at Ellis Island on 3 Sep. 1911 on board the ship Cleveland. She was 19 years old (5’4’’, brown hair, blue eyes), single, and literate (read and write). She identified herself as Ruthenian. Her occupation was housemaid. She listed her nearest relative from Pikulice as her mother Anna Kiebus. Her final destination was her brother Ilko Kebus, 33 Main St., Glastonbury, CT. She married a man by the last name Salz and they had a daughter Mary (Maria). Mary was married to Franciszek Bielecki.

Michael Kiebus with his mother Anna (neé Stec) (ca. 1914-1921)

Their brother Michal (Mykhailo or Michael) Kiebus (b. 24 Apr. 1894, Pikulice-d. 11 Feb. 1983, Hunter, NY) immigrated to the United States. He arrived at Ellis Island on 15 Oct. 1921 on board the Princess Matoika from Bremen. He was 27 years old (5’7’’, black hair, green eyes), single, and literate (read and write in Ruthenian). His occupation was farm-laborer. He listed his nearest relative from Pikulice as his mother Anna Kiebus. Ivan listed his final destination as his brother Jan Kiebus of Box 25, Glastonbury, CT. At the time of the 1920 U.S. Census, he was living as a roomer. He was single and was employed as a wood worker. He indicated that he was originally from Poland and that the language spoken at home had been Ukrainian. Michal declared in intention to become a U.S. citizen on 28 December 1925. On his declaration form he listed his address as Washington Street, Yonkers, New York. He described himself as a laborer, measuring 5’5’’, 160 lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes. He petitioned for naturalization in Westchester County in 1928 (Petition no. 4810; Declaration A-0024(15); Petition A-0022(19)). On his petition form he listed his address as 31 Jackson Street, Yonkers, New York. His witnesses were Constantine Choly and John Lagoyda, both occupied in insurance, and living also in Yonkers. The 1930 U.S. Census reports that Mical was living as a roomer with Mike and Mary Ross (both from Poland, so likely using a shortened name) in Newark. In 1936 he applied for a U.S. Social Security number. He was now living at 50 Holland Street, and was working as window cleaner for the Firemens Insurance Company, 10 Park Place, Newark, New Jersey. He moved sometime before the 1940 U.S. Census to 58 South 14th Street in Newark. Michael registered for the World War draft in 1942. His application form listed his parents as Charles Kiebus and Anna Stties (presumably Anna Stec). On his draft registration he listed his home address as 58 Pierce Street, Newark, New Jersey. His reference was John Bilos residing at 372 Littleton Avenue, Newark, New Jersey. He described himself as 5’10’’, 170 lbs., with brown hair and light complexion. Michal’s employer was Joseph Keller, Firemen’s Insurance Co., 10 Park Place Newark, New Jersey. The Firemen's Insurance Co. was founded in 1855. The company’s building at 10 Park Place was built in 1928 by Marvis, Davis & Turton. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest building in the State of New Jersey at sixteen-stories and 205-feet high. Michael was married for a brief time, but the marriage did not last long and he remained single for the remainder of his life.

Earliest Kiebuz ancestors

The oldest Kiebuz connection to the Pikulice area is one Oles Kiebuz (b. ca. 1791-d. 11 Feb. 1854). Typical of all other 18th and 19th century members of this extended family, he worked as a farmer. He married Maria (née Stankiewicz) (b. ca. 1791-d. 16 Dec. 1852). She lived at house no. 89 on her death. He at house no. 68.
     Their children included: Anna (b. ca. 1811-d. 12 or 14 Dec. 1859 (house no. 68)); Mykhailo (b. ca. 1811-d. 5 Sep. 1855 (house no. 1)); Hryhorii (b. ca. 1813-d. 12 Mar. 1865); Ilia (b. ca. 1821-d. 17 Dec. 1872 (house no. 68));  Fedir (b. ca. 1825-d. 21 Jan. 1895); Eva (b. ca. 1826-d. 8 Oct. 1866 (house no. 68)); Mykola (b. ca. 1828-d. 25 Mar. 1854 (house no. 68)); and Rosalia (b. ca. 1831-d. 12 Feb. 1854 (house no. 68)). The deaths of the parents and children were recorded in the Ukrainian Catholic parish register as occurring in Pikulice.

Mykhailo, also a farmer, married Maria Cukernik (b. ca. 1820-d. 5 Feb. 1886 (house no. 1)). They had at least one son, Panteleimon (b. ca. 1839-d. 25 July 1894 (house no. 2)), and one daughter, Kateryna (b. ca. 1851-d. 17 Nov. 1855 (house no. 1)).

Panteleimon married twice. His first wife was Maria Dziuban (b. ca. 1844-d. 21 Oct. 1882 (house no. 1); daughter of Josef and Pelagia). They married on 17 February 1861. Panteleimon, or Panko, was then associated with house no. 68. Their children included: Ivan (b. 10 Oct. 1862 (house no. 1, probably died in infancy)); Ivan (b. 10 May 1867 (house no. 2)); Hryhorii (b. June 1868-d. 1 Jan. 1869 (house no. 2)); Anastasia (b. 1873-d. 31 Oct. 1877 (house no. 1)); Paraskevia (b. Oct. 1877-d. 14 May 1878 (house no. 1); and Anastasia (b. 15 Oct. 1882-d. 22 Oct. 1882 (house no. 1)). Maria and her last daughter died within a day of each other. It appears that Panteleimon then married another Maria (b. ca. 1846-d. 30 July 1917; house no. 28), for a child named Anastasia (b. 3 Jan. 1888- d. 5 Jan. 1888; house no. 1) was born to a couple with these same names. Panteleimon died of tuberculosis in 1882. His son Petro, (b. 6 July 1881), immigrated to the United States, and settled in Glastonbury, Connecticut.

Hryhorii worked as labourer. His first wife was named Maria Olesko? (b. ca. 1810-d. 23 March 1852 (house no. 44)). They had a son named Ivan (b. ca. June 1851-d. 1 Jan. 1852), and, possibly, a daughter born earlier named Anastasia (married to Hryhorii Pluchan?). He remarried Anna Placka (b. ca. 1805; daughter of Iakiv and Maria Halala) on 15 June 1860. They were both widowed, and resided at house no. was 65. Hryhorii's address at time of death was no. 44.

Ilia married Anna Sadowska (b. ca. 1816) on 24 November 1840 at the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Blonie. Anna was the daughter of Ivan Sadowski and Theodoria Stojatowska. Their witnesses were Ivan Kaczmar and Stefan Dziuba. The address given at the time of their wedding was, for him, 62, Pikulice and for her, 14, Podgorze.

Fedir (or Fedor), a farmer in Pikulice, married Anastasia (b. ca. 1828-d. 11 Dec. 1908 (house no. 154), daughter of Mykhailo and Kateryna) on 9 May 1858. They had a number of children: Xenia (b. 1858-d. 14 July 1863); Vasyl (b. 10 April 1861-d. 10 April 1862); Semen (b. 18 May 1863-d. 27 Nov. 1863); Anna (8 Sep. 1865); Anna (b. 8 Feb. 1867); and Mykola (b. ca. 1869-d. 24 Sep. 1881). Fedir died at age 70 of old age. At the time of the births and deaths of his children, and his own death, he resided at house no. 68 in Pikulice.

***

Ivan (dates unknown), a farmer, married Maria (b. ca. 1846-d. 30 July 1917). They had at least one daughter named Maria (b. 22 Oct. 1884-d. 16 Mar. 1939 (of tuberculosis))). The daughter married an Ivan, likely also a Kiebuz. Their children were Kateryna (Nov. 1908-25 Oct. 1909 (of stomach illness); house no. 20); Rosalia (1910-25 July 1916 (of measles); [no house no.]); Olha (1911-25 July 1916 (of measles); [no house no.]); and Roman (b. May 1926-d. 19 Aug.1926; house no. 20). House no. 20 was next door to 28 in Nehbryka.

***

The generation of the 1860s includes the direct line to our Kiebuzinski family, as well as one or two members who were either brothers or cousins of Iosyp. 

There is a couple that appears in the death register for the Ukrainian Catholic parish in Pikulice and Nehrybka alternately as Ilia and Foki, Ivan and Eva, and Ivan and Evdokia. These could be not one but two couples, but it is not clear. There are no dates associated with them. Anyway, the following children were born to this couple or couples: Dmytro (b. Oct. 1885-d. 14 Mar. 1890 (house no. 100); son of Ivan and Eva); Maria (b. Sep. 1887-d. 26 Mar. 1891 (house no. 100); daughter of Ivan and Eudoxia); Anna (b. Aug. 1891-d. 18 Apr. 1892 [no address]; daughter of Ivan and Eudoxia); and Anna (b. Apr. 1904-d. 4 Dec. 1906 [no address]; daughter of Ilia and Foki).

There is also an Ivan (b. ca. 1862-d. 7 July 1891), probably not associated with the couple above because of his death date, who was a farmer in Pikulice. His last residence was house no. 100.

Iosyp (1869-1938) descendants

My family went by the last name Kiebuz, Kiebuzinski, or, alternately, Kiebuz vel Kiebuzinski.

My earliest ancestors are Oleksandr Kiebuzinski (b. ca. 1792-d. 18 April 1860) and Maria (née Dombrovska; b. ca. 1799-d. 5 Feb. 1861). Oleksandr studied at the Przemysl Gymnasium in 1808 to 1810. He may have worked in the gravel industry, as he, together with two other contractors, Hirsch Katz and Hirsch Atlas, were brought before the Przemysl District Court for breaking a contract to deliver loads of gravel to the city's regional road construction works. The notice for the hearing was dated 28 September 1829 (Gazeta Lwowska, 117 (12 Oct. 1829). Later he farmed land in and around Nehrybka, and was associated with house no. 28 there.  Oleksandr and Maria had at least four sons and two daughters: Andrei (1820-1893), Ivan (1823-?), Maria (1830s), Anna (1832-1911), my great, great grandfather Iosyp (1835-?), Mykhailo (1837-1870/1871), and Julia (1841-?).

Andrei (b. 1820-d. 31 Aug. 1893) (see entry on Vereshchytsia).

Ivan (b. ca. 1823-d. ?) (see entry on Tuzhyliv).

Maria married Ivan Paczkowski (son of Fedir and Maria). They resided at house no. 35 in Nehrybka, and had several children: 

Anna (b. 14 April 1857)  

 

Pelagia (b. 20 Oct. 1859)

Oles (b. 6 March 1863) 

Maria (b. 1 July 1865)

 

It is unclear how the following individual is associated with Maria and Josef Paczkoski, but he resided at the same address and may be Maria's younger brother. Fedir Kiebuz (b. ca. 1849-d. 22 Apr. 1909 (house no. 35)), also a farmer, married Anna Stec (b. 10 Aug. 1847-d. 3 Mar. 1931). They had at least one son and two daughters who lived and died in Pikulice: Ivan (b. ca. 1878-d. 21 March 1879 (house no. 35)); Kateryna (b. ca. 1886-d. 19 June 1909 (house no. 35)); and Eva (b. Apr. 1889-d. 23 Feb. 1890 (house no. 35)). Kateryna worked as a merchant. She had an illegitimate child named Petro (b. May 1909-d. 10 Dec. 1909 (house no. 35)). Fedir, his daughter Kateryna, and grandson Petro, all died within months of each other in 1909. Feodir’s and Anna’s other children immigrated to the United States, and settled in Glastonbury, Connecticut.

Anna (b. 13 Feb. 1832-d. 20 Oct. 1911) married Stefan Volynets (Wolyniec/Woliniec) (b. either 25 Jan. 1829 or 6 Sep. 1829-d. 1 Feb. 1914) of Blonie. Her husband was the son of Mykhailo Volynets and Maria (née Lenczyk). His godparents were Stefan Puszynski and Helena Demkowicz. Anna and Stefan had the following children: Maria (b. 11 Sep. 1854), Ivan (b. 20 Jan. 1856), Kateryna (b. 21 Sep. 1857), Fedir (b. 27 Feb.1860), Pelahia (b. 3 July 1862), Anna (b. 29 Nov. 1864), Rosalia (b. 27 Oct. 1867-1 Dec. 1950), and twins Petro (b. 2 July 1870-d. 27 July 1871) and Pavlo (b. 2 July 1870). The family's address was 133 Blonie (17 ul. Krownicka; today ul. Gen. Jakuba Jasinskiego). The children's godparents were: Vasyl Lavetskyi, Anastasia Dawidowicz, Ivan Hirczycky, and Ivan Tsok.

Annas and Stefan's oldest daughter Maria married Vasyl Danczak (b. 20 Jan. 1849) on 15 June 1873. He was the son of Mykhailo Danczak and Victoria Pawlowicz of 316, Podgorze.

 

Ivan, of 278, Blonie, married Anna Łobaza (b. 19 July 1859) on 28 October 1877 at the Greek Catholic Cathedral. She was the daughter of Petro and Pelahia Nehrebecka of Blonie.

 

Kateryna married Ivan Tsok (Cok) (b. 13 June 1856) on 13 February 1881, who was the son of Ivan and Pelahia Kiebuzinska (daughter of Ivan Kiebuzinski and Maria Fedun, formerly of 6 Wilce). The Tsok family with their surviving children Mykhailo (b. 25 May 1882-d. 7 June 1905), Dmytro (b. 3 Nov. 1883-d. 31 Dec. 1883), Vasyl (b. 21 Aug. 1885-d. 15 Oct. 1885), Maria (b. 28 July 1887-24 Nov. 1908), Hryhorii (b. 11 Feb. 1889-17 Aug. 1889), and Anna (23 Sep. 1890-6 May 1891) resided at 6 and then 10 Wilcze (ul. Sienna, today ul. Gen. Zygmunta Zielinskiego). 

 

Fedir, 133 Blonie, married Julia Wawak (30 March 1869, daughter of Barbara Wawak), a Roman Catholic, on 18 February 1889 in Przemysl. He worked for the railway company.

 

Pelahia married Ivan Filts (Filc), son of Hryhorii and Rosalia, on 16 May 1885. He was postmaster in Przemysl. The Filts family resided at 41 Wilcze, with their sons Mykhailo (b. 20 Oct. 1888), Omelian (b.19 July 1890-d. 15 June 1962), Kostiantyn (b. 5 Sep. 1895), Volodymyr (b. 14 Sep. 1897-d. 25 May 1984), and Taras (ca. 1901-d. 17 May 1918).

Anna, 133, Blonie, married Wojtiech Jan Mikielski, Roman Catholic, a military officer in the Imperial-Royal artillery division in Przemysl (b. 28 March 1864, son of Mikolaj and Anna Duljan) on 3 August 1890 in Przemysl.

 

Rosalia, 133, Blonie, married Jan Ferdynand Wnetrzak, Roman Catholic, a canonist in the 1st Royal-Imperial Artillery (b. 23 June 1864, Krakow-d. 10 Feb. 1910; son of Wojiech and Winkentja Stopczewska), serving in the barracks in Przemysl, on 8 November 1890. Their children include (with the boys raised as Roman Catholics, the daughter as Greek Catholic): Jan (b. 9 Nov. 1891-29 May 1960, Przemysl), Wladyslaw Wojiech (b. 4 June 1898, Sambir-?), Helena (b. 24 Feb. 1900, Zolochiv-?), and Stanislaw (b. 11 Dec. 1907, Przemysl-?). The family resided alternately at ul. Krownicka, 15 and 17.

Pavlo Zenon, a railway warehouse worker, married Sofia Droczak in Przemysl. They had five children (the boys were raised as Greek Catholics and the daughters in the Roman Catholic rite). They all attended Primary School no. 8 in Przemysl; later, the sons went to the Ukrainian Gymnasium there: Zofia Kazimiera (b. 29 Oct. 1899, Przemysl-?), Bohdan Oleksander (18 April 1901, Przemysl-16 Mar.1970, Arlington, VA), Irena (b. 24 Nov. 1902, Stryi-?), Zenon Volodymyr (b. 2 or 4 Jan. 1904, Przemysl-?), and Adam (b. 22 March 1907, Przemysl-?). The family resided at ul. Krownicka, 15 and 17.

Mykhailo (b. 20 Nov. 1837, Nehrybka-d. 23 April 1871, Przemysl) married Anna Lenczyk (b. 20 April 1851, daughter of Ilia and Kateryna Henhalo of Zasanie, residing at 73, Przekopana), on 20 February 1870. He died soon after their marriage. His widow married again in 1871 to Toma Vyshnevskyi (b. 10 Dec. 1842).

Julia (b. ca. 1841) married 1) widower Anton Puszynski (alternative spelling Powszynski) of Blonie on 30 September 1860 in Nehrybka. Anton (b. either 27 July or 3 Aug. 1827-d. 14 Feb. 1880 (tuberculosis)) was the son of Stefan Puszynski and Maria Szostakowska-Dubak. They resided at 163 Blonie (21 ul. Krownicka; today ul. Gen. Jakuba Jasinskiego). Among their children's godparents were: Vasyl Levchak, Kateryna Lewicka, Anastasia Dawidowicz, Ivan Tsok, Mykhailo Radiak, Mykhailo Pajtasz, Stefan Serednicki, Victoria Torska (wife of Ivan Torski), Paulina Muszkiet (wife of Vasyl). Their children: 

Mykhailo (30 Sep. 1862-28 Oct. 1862)

 

Anna (17 Dec. 1863) married Jozef Dombrowski (b. 16 March 1861) on 17 May 1885. He was a Roman Catholic, son of Casimir Dombrowski and Antonina Szostakowska of 128, Blonie. He worked as a bricklayer.

 

Kateryna (b. 10 Oct. 1866-1 Jan. 1867)

 

Vasyl (b. 12 Feb. 1868), married Anna Gengalo (b. 21 Oct. 1869, daughter of Wasyl and Anna Fedorovych of Przekopana) on 1 March 1891 in Przemysl.

Maria (b. 20 May 1870), 163, Blonie, married Oleksandr Sabarai (b. 8 Sep. 1860, son of Mykhailo and Pelahia Lenczyk) on 10 February 1889 in Przemysl

 

Kateryna (b. 29 Jan. 1873), 163, Blonie, married Iosyf (Josef) Lenczyk (b. 31 Dec. 1868, son of Mykola and Katerynak Ptak) on 7 February 1893 in Przemysl.

 

Ivan (b. 2 Feb. 1876)

 

Mykhailo (13 Nov. 1879) 

After Anton's death, Julia had another child out of wedlock. Her daughter Pelahia died an infant (b. 14 Jan. 1883-d. 3 March 1883). The child's godparents were Ihnatii and Kateryna Czyzewicz. Julia entered a second marriage 2) Mykola Salamacha on 21 Feb. 1886. Mykola (b. 20 May 1837-d. 2 May 1893) was the son of Ivan Salamacha and Anna Hnatkowska of Tsykiv (Cykow). The witnesses were Ivan Wolyniec and Antonina Maruckiewicz. On Mykola's death, Julia married for the third time to a man 30 -years junior to her 3) Vasyl Iarosevych (Jarosiewicz) (16 Feb. 1873, son of Mykola and Pelahia Opalynska of Przekopana) on 23 February 1897. They were associated with house no. 64, Przekopana.

My great, great grandfather Iosyp (Joseph) Kiebuz (b. 27 Nov. 1835, Nehrybka) married Maria Balko (b. 18 Aug. 1838, Nehrybka-d. 12 Feb. 1924) on 27 January 1859. She was the daughter of Dmytro Balko and Eva (Eudokia) Gołdyra. Iosyp and Maria had a number of children, all born in Nehrybka, and associated with house no. 28: Stefan (b. 30 Dec. 1859-d. 23 Feb. 1860); Vasyl (b.3 Jan. 1861); Anna (b. 4 Dec. 1862); Oles (Ilya) (b. 12 March 1865-d. 23 Dec. 1865); Dmytro (b. 10 Dec. 1866); and Iosyp, my great grandfather (b. 22 April 1869-d. 28 Jan. 1938). According to family lore, one winter night their father, Iosyf the senior, left the house and did not return. His body was never found and it was assumed that wolves had killed and eaten him. His widow, Maria Balko Kiebuz, remarried a man named Ivan Kaszubinski / Kashubynskyi. They had three children together: Hryhorii (b. 11 Feb. 1877-d. 13 Sep. 1942); Maria (married Stepan Khrobak / Chrobak); and Kateryna (b. 1880) (in 1899, she married Ivan Treshnevskyi / Tresniowskyj (b. 19 May 1876, Nehrybka, son of Mykhailo and Maria Sawicka). Hryhorii Kaszubinski had four children: Dmytro, Stefan, Iosyp, and Kateryna. Maria (Kaszubinska) Khrobak had a son named Vasyl (29 Aug. 1904, Nehrybka-Aug. 1954, Kalush), a priest.

Iosyp (junior), my great-grandfather did not get along with his stepfather, Ivan Kaszubinski, and went to live with one of his father's brother, uncle Andrei Kiebuzinski, who was a priest in Vereshytsia, to the east of Yavoriv. However, he did maintain close ties with his two step-sisters, Maria Khrobak and Kateryna Treshnevska.

After reaching maturity,  Iosyp the junior took possession of a property that had belonged to the family. It was the second largest farm in Pikulice. He married Anna Sanocka (b. 8 Dec. 1879-d. 30 July 1931 daughter of Ivan Sanotskyi (Sanocki) (b. 4 Oct. 1842) and Maria Velyka (Welykij) (b. 16 Aug. 1836)). They had nine children: Stepan, Mariia, Vasyl (died at birth), Vasyl, Ivan, Hryhorii (my grandfather), Olga, Joseph, and Volodymyr.

Iosyp served as a sergeant in the Austrian artillery. He was an outspoken Moskofil and was denigrated by local Ukrainian nationalists as a katsap (Source: Selianska rada v.1, no. 21 (11 Oct. 1907), and Peremyskyi vistnyk v.5, no. 24 (1 Dec. 1911). During World War I, he was imprisoned in Thalerhof concentration camp, near Graz, as a Russian sympathizer (Russophile). According to a memoir by a fellow prisoner, Ivan A. Vasiuta, Iosyp was sentenced to at least 15 months of internment (Source: Talerhhofskyi almanakh v.3, pt.1). In fact, Iosyf was arrested 3 August 1914, and with the 22 August transport to Linz was sent to Thalerhof. Iosyf appeared before a military court in Graz and was sentenced to 15 months in prison, the sentence was then revoked. From Thalerhof he was called up for military service, likely serving with the K.K. Landwehr-Infanterieregiment Graz Nr.3. (Sources: Communiques of the county starosta 3 August 1914 no. 319/pr. and 28 August 1914 no. 460/pr.; speech of deputy R.N. Chaikovskyi in Parliament 28 June 1917). In the starosta's roll of 22 January 1912 it is noted that he was a member of the Russka Druzhina[Russian brigade], a Russian sympathizer (Source: Mirovich, R.D., ed.Alfavitnyi ukazatel zhertv avstro-madiarskogo terrora vo vremia pervoi mirovoi voiny 1914-1918 gg. na oblastikakh Galitskoi i Bukovinskoi Rusi (Lvov, 1917). 

Word was that after the war he changed his political outlook about the Russians. Even before the war he was a member of the Prosvita Society (from 1907) and, after the war, ended up sending all his sons to the Ukrainian gymnasium. Later, under Polish rule, he was a guard at the Ukrainian Army internment camp in Pikulice. All his life he considered himself to be a Rusyn although all his children identified themselves as Ukrainian. My father recollects his mother telling him that Iosyp used to wear a "pereyaslo" (a twisted braid of straw) instead of a belt to let every one know he was one of the people.
 
According to some family members, Iosyp was very tight with his money and his wife would filch money from him to give to her sons (cigarette money). She passed away of kidney cancer in 1931.
 
Iosyp’s and Anna’s children:

1st row (l to r): Vasyl, Stefan, Ivan.
2nd row (l to r): Volodymyr, Hryhorii, Iosyf
 

Stefan (or Stepan) Kebuz (b. 21 Feb. 1895, Pikulice-d. 6 January 1934, Lviv) completed Przemyśl Ukrainian State Gymnasium on 17 June 1913. During World War I, he volunteered to serve in the Austrian Army, and served in the 4th field battalion of the 1st Line Infantry Regiment "Wien," which was part of the 25th Infantry Division, 11th Corps, 4th Army, under the command of Moritz von Auffenberg, with its depot at Vienna. This infantry regiment took part in the Galician campaign in 1914-1915. It fought in the battle of Komarow, during which the Austro-Hungarian forces defeated the Russians in early September 1914; however, by March 1915, the 4th Army was encircled near Przemyśl, and forced to retreat. 120,000 defenders were captured, and made prisoners of war by the Russian Army. Stepan was among them, or taken prisoner in late May or early June 1915, at a battle near Lutsk, Ukraine (Verlustliste ausgegeben am 11./6. 1915) and, as an officer, held in Astrakhan in southern Russia. Stefan, later, served in the Ukrainian Galician Army. He was likely interned following the war. In 1923, he continued studies in emigration. He is on a list of students seeking financial aid in the Ukrainian American newspaper Svoboda (2 April 1923). Stefan worked as a gymnasium professor first for the co-educational Ukrainian Gymnasium in Iavoriv (Jaworow) for the school years 1919 to 1921 and 1923/1924, where he taught natural sciences. He then taught chemistry and natural sciences at the Ukrainian Girls' Institute in Przemyśl (1925-1927). After his teaching assignments in Iavoriv and Przemyśl, he moved to Rohatyn. He taught at the Polish Gimnazjum Panstwowego im. Piotra Skargi in Rohatyn from fall 1928 to spring 1930. We next find him teaching natural sciences, physics, and Ukrainian for the school year 1932/1933 in Brody. In September 1933, he took part in the Congress of Polish Physicians and Naturalists held in Poznan. He remained in Brody until his death in 1934. Stefan married Iryna Kotovych (Kotowycz) (b. 9 Nov. 1906, Przemyśl), daughter of Mykhailo and Josefa Galigowska. They had one daughter. Stefan died when his daughter was only two or three years old. His widow, Iryna, married Dr. Hryhorii Szymanski (b. 25 Jan. 1902, Nowy Lubliniec), a widower with his own daughter. They immigrated to Canada. Iryna Kebuz Szymanska died on 5 April 2003 in Toronto. Her funeral was held 9 April at St. Demetrius Parish. She is buried at Park Lawn Cemetery (Source: Svoboda (18 April 2003)).

 
Maria Kebuz (25 March 1896, Pikulice-4 May 1970, Ternopil) married Mykhailo Perkach (Perkacz). They had one daughter. In 1946, Maria and her daughter relocated from Poland to Soviet Ukraine, and lived for a while near Brody. Then in 1950 the family--Maria, sister Olha, and daughter--moved to Lviv where her daughter studied medicine. They stayed there until 1957, when they moved to Ternopil.
 
Vasyl Kebuz (b. 10 Apr. 1898-d. 13 Apr. 1898 in Pikulice) died in infancy.
 
Vasyl Iosyf Kebuz (b. 24 Feb. 1903, Pikulice-d. 19 Apr. 1974) completed Przemysl Ukrainian State Gymnasium in 1924. After finishing his gymnasium studies, he spent three years at the Ukrainian seminary, but left it when celibacy was established by the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Przemysl in 1924. He then went to work on the family farm. He inherited the farm after his father’s death—at that time the largest property in Pikulice. During the early 1930s, Vasyl headed the Ridna shkola and Prosvita societies in Pikulice. In 1937, Vasyl married a woman named Anna Rojiwska (b. 1913). Her uncle was a judge in Przemysl, for whom worked Vasyl's younger brother Iosyp, and he introduced them to each other. Their wedding was officiated by Rev. Ivan Kebuz. Vasyl and Anna had two children. Vasyl served in the Polish army at the beginning of the Second World War. In 1945 the Polish government confiscated the family property, and they relocated to Soviet Ukraine. They moved to the Klekotiv region, where Vasyl's wife's parents lived. There, the family experienced persecution by the NKVD for being kulaks (e.g. affluent peasants or independent farmers). Anna’s 80-year old grandmother and her sister-in-law with two small children were sent to Siberia. Under constant persecution, Vasyl moved from Klekotiv to Brody and worked at different jobs. He tried to get a job as a teacher of German language but the authorities did not allow him that kind of work. At some point Vasyl and his wife became separated, perhaps by the circumstances, and he continued to raise the children himself. According to his daughter, he was always sad and constantly worried that his children would not be allowed to get a higher education. In the early 1970s Vasyl moved to Iasinia to live with his son, then in January 1974 he went to live with his daughter in Turka. At this time he was already sick, and in April 1974, he died of lung cancer. According to his wishes he is buried in Turka, "as this was close to Pikulice, where he spent the best years of his life.”

Ivan Kebuz (b. 6 June 1905, Pikulice-d. 26 June 1941, Dobromyl) completed Przemysl Ukrainian State Gymnasium in 1925. Afterwards he served on the council of the cooperative bank “Vira” . He was ordained a Ukrainian Catholic priest on 30 March 1930, and served the following parishes: St. Ignatius Ukrainian Catholic Church in Horbachi, Rudky District (1930-1932); St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Majdan Sieniawski, Jaroslaw District (1932-1937); and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Makova, Dobromyl District (1937-1939). On 23 June 1941 Soviet NKVD agents arrested him together with other Ukrainians. He was taken to a prison in Dobromyl where he was tortured for two days. His torturers cut out his tongue. He was executed on June 26 and his body was thrown into a ditch. There is a plaque commemorating him inside the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Przemysl (Source: Kozak, Mykhailo.Pom’iany, Hospody, dushi sluh tvoikh. (Peremyshl, 2002)).

 
My grandfather Hryhorii (Gregory) Kiebuzinski (b. 31 Jan. 1907, Pikulice-d. 31 Oct. 1943, Bibrka) was baptized on 31 January in Pikulice. His godparents were Stefan Kaszubinski, and Anna, wife of Andrii Dedio, farmers. At the time of his birth the family resided at house #16. He completed Przemysl Ukrainian State Gymnasium in 1926, and later obtained a Masters of Law. He married Volodymyra Koczyrkiewicz on 20 June 1936. They had one son, my father. Hryhorii worked as a gymnasium teacher and lawyer near Przemysl, in the town of Dubiecko. When the Germans advanced to Eastern Poland in 1939, he served as the town commissioner for a short time. From early 1942 to 1943, Hryhorii (Gregor Kiebus vel Kiebusynskyj) was working as a notary public in Bibrka (Source: Amtliches Fernsprechbuch für das Generalgouvernement (1942)), where he died in late October 1943 of appendicitis. He had served as a notary, assistant director of the rural-district delegation of the Ukrainian Central Committee's aid branch in Bibrka (in which he was very active), and a member of the auditing commission for the Notary chamber in Lviv (Source: Nashi dni, r.2, ch. 11 (Nov. 1943) and Krakivski visti,ch. 249 and 269 (6 and 30 Nov. 1943)). Obituaries for him note that he was a modest, well-liked man, an honest and hardworking lawyer, and excellent public speaker, who was very engaged in promoting the Ukrainian cause. Among those who paid their respects at his funeral and eulogized him were: Rev. Ivan Mashchak, a priest in Bibrka who had ministered to the Ukrainian Galician Army; Rev. Osyp Diakiv (b. 23 Feb. 1870 in Lviv, ord. 1893, d. 1949 near Peremyshliany), who served as pastor of Bibrka from 1933 to 1947; Dr. Kornel Vashchuk (b. 1893 in Hlibovychi Velyki, Bibrka district-d. 18 Nov. 1972 in Toronto), who was a lawyer, officer in the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen, and served as mayor of Bibrka from 1942; Roman Kliufas (b. 1904 in Sambir-d. 29 Mar. 1982 in New Jersey), who as also a lawyer; and Lev Iatskevych (b. 8 Sep. 1907 in Stryi-d. 1995 in Philadelphia), who was an engineer by education, and a poet, and who during the war served as Head of the Relief Committee for Lviv District of the Ukrainian Central Committee.

Shortly after my grandfather died, my grandmother and father fled the advancing Soviet Army to Austria, where they lived for about two and a half years, first in a Displaced Persons camp in Landeck, and then privately in Innsbruck. From Austria, they moved to Forli (near Rimini), Italy, where there was a a prisoner-of-war camp for servicemen of the Ukrainian National Army, and to whom my step-grandfather, Ivan Soroka (my grandmother's eventual second husband), a medical doctor, provided care. Together with the servicemen, my grandmother, step-grandfather, and father, were taken to England before moving to North America. In England, they lived in the village of Witcham. Ivan Soroka (b. 12 Jan. 1902, Florynka-d. 12 Dec. 1975, Bridgeport, CT; son of schoolteacher Stefan Soroka (Pavlo and Maria Kordyak) and Maria Bartoszeska (Ivan and Maria Krasicka)) worked as a doctor for the RAF Hospitals in Mepal and Ely where there were veterans of the Polish and Ukrainian armies. My grandmother worked for the jam factory Chivers. When they immigrated to the United States, they settled first in Brooklyn, and then in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
 
Josef (Joseph) Kiebuz vel Kiebuzinski (b. 26 Feb. 1909, Pikulice-d. 19 Aug. 1986, Detroit, Michigan) attended classic gymnasium at the Przemysl Ukrainian State Gymnasium from 1918 to 1927, and then began studies at Lviv University, and completed them by obtaining a Master of Law from Jagiellonian University in Krakow (17 October 1931). He began his legal apprenticeship at the court in Grodzisko, near Dynow. Afterwards, he worked as a coadjutor in the law firm of Dr. Stanislaw Cwikowski  in Nowy Sacz, together with his classmate from the Jagiellonian University, Franciszek Cwikowski, who was Dr. Cwikowski's nephew. In Krakow, in March 1938, he passed the bar examination and continued working for the same firm in Nowy Sacz, but now as a fully qualified lawyer, until 1944. For his political and national views, he was arrested in 1939, and was interned at the Polish concentration camp Bereza Kartuska. The camp operated from 1934 to 1939. With the arrival of the German army in September 1939, he and the other prisoners were released. Josef was taken to labor camps in Germany in August 1944, and worked in Vienna until the end of the Second World War. He then relocated to Germany, and was at a Displaced Person camp near Munich. He studied at the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Ukrainian Free University in Munich, under Professor L. Shramchenko, defending a doctoral thesis entitled "Suverenitet narodu v antychnomu sviti ta u Zakhidnii Evropi" (Sovereignty of the People in Western Europe) on 13 August 1946. He taught for the UNRRA University as a senior assistant and instructor (1946-1948), and lived at 42/2 Lucile-Grahn Strasse, Munich. While still in Germany, Josef attempted to contact Eva Kuzynych from the village Sielec (Source: Svoboda (5 July 1946). Josef married a German woman named Hedwig Anne (Hedy) (b. 17 Sep. 1923- ). They immigrated to the United States, with Josef arriving from Bremen, Germany, to New York City on 21 February 1948 aboard the ship Marine Tiger. His destination on arrival was 100 Grove Street, Glastonbury, CT. He and Hedy became naturalized U.S. citizens in Detroit, Michigan. In the States Josef first held a number of menial jobs, working in auto factories, in a bakery, and as a dishwasher in a restaurant. Despite these great challenges, he obtained a Master's degree in library science from the University of Michigan, and then worked as a cataloger of foreign-language material for the University of Michigan Law Library (1958-1959), Wayne State University Medical Library (1960-1971), and the Wayne State University General Library (1971-1979). He was a member of the American Library Association and the Medical Library Association. Josef and Hedy had two sons.

His younger son recalls his father as someone who loved to read everyday, anything from history books to the daily New York Times, and who had an active interest in politics. Josef also liked to write and was working on a history of the Nowy Sacz region up to his death. He remembered fondly his days from the Przemysl Ukrainian State Gymnasium—learning Latin and Greek—as well as days spent trout fishing and swimming in the streams of the Carpathian Mountains with his brother Ivan. They shared a ritual of spitting on worms to bring luck with their catch.
 
Volodymyr (Wlodzimierz or Walter) Kebuz (b. 25 Dec. 1910, Pikulice-d. 12 Oct. 1999, Las Cruces, New Mexico) completed Przemysl Ukrainian State Gymnasium in 1929, and received a commercial degree from the Academy of Economics in Poznan in 1932 (Source: Akademia ekonomiczna w Poznaniu, 1926-1976 (Warszawa-Poznan: Panstwowe wyd-wo naukowe, 1976), p. 355). Later he continued his studies in pharmacology. Before the war, Volodymyr worked for the cooperative bank "Vira" in Przemysl. He, his wife Stefaniia (née Vasylkevych, b. 5 Jan. 1913-d. 14 Apr. 2000 in Las Cruces, New Mexico), and son, were displaced persons in Germany following the Second World War. Volodymyr, while a refugee in Germany, placed an advertisement in Svoboda looking for Iosyf, Senior, and Anna Smulka, both of Pikulice, near Przemysl. They were supposed to be living in Boston or the vicinity (Source: Svoboda (24 May 1946)). The family immigrated to the United States, arriving from Bremen, Germany, to New York City aboard the ship Marine Flasher on 3 August 1947. Their final destination on arrival was 100 Grove St., Glastonbury, CT (again, to stay with their Pikulice Kiebuz cousins). In the United States, Volodymyr received a degree in accounting and worked in that field until his retirement.

Olha (25 Mar. 1914, Pikulice-11 Feb. 2001, Ternopil) moved along with her brother Vasyl and sister Maria from Pikulice to Ukraine after the Second World War. She lived with her sister and niece in Ternopil until her death. From descriptions of family members she was a very kind person, and apparently was a talented writer, receiving at one point a letter of encouragement from Bohdan Lepkyi.