Jakub Patrosz 1860

Jakub or Jacko (pron. Yatzko)  was born in Blechnarka.  Jacko was a farmer as did most of Blechnarkans.  The region has a very poor soil with rocky fields and colder mountainous climate.    The land was a scarce commodity in the overpopulated village.  Jacko had a large family of 7 children.  His oldest son Tomko decided to leave the impoverished village and moves to America. 

Jacko was a foreman for a group of villagers who during the harvests went to Hungary for work.

The family nickname was Czapak (foreman).  There were other Patrosz families with nicknames: Hrycko (from name Gregory), Szczerbak (missing tooth), Pisar (scribe).

In 1914 a great war (WWI) brakes off, and one of the most bitter front lines passes through the village. 

Russian and Austrian armies are gaining then loosing the village.  During one of those offensives Jacko's home cough fire from an exploding bomb shells, the family takes refuge in the neighboring village.  Finally Russians are expelled.  As the inhabitants speak language closely related to Russian, Austrian occupants are accusing many of aiding the Russians.  The accusations are usually unjustified and the officials are driven by a revenge and greed (extortions).  Jacko is one of the victims and he is being sent to a concentration camp in Telerhof near the city of Graz in southern Austria.  The life and treatment in the camp were horrible.  Many die as a result of disease and malnutrition.  One of the goals of the camp was isolation and possibly extermination of Lemko intelligentsia that had pro Russian orientation.  As Germany and Austria are on the loosing side of the war, prisoners are released and Jacko comes home. 

As a result of the war and disintegration of the German, Russian and Austrian empires, Poland regains its independence.  In 1919 new war breaks off between newly created Poland and newly created Soviet Union.  Andrzej, son of Jacko and my grand father is drafted and being send to the front.  Opposing the war and unwilling to fight Russians whose language and religion are very closely related to inhabitants of Blechnarka, Andrzej escapes and hides across the border in Czechoslovakia (village Stebnik).   After the war ends, he returns home but is arrested and imprisoned for 6 months for desertion.  While in the prison he fells ill from Typhus and lays unconscious for several days.  He is again drafted to the army and serves in light artillery unit stationed in the city of Poznan.

Born: 15 Apr 1860, Blechnarka House #56

Died: 30 Jan 1931, Blechnarka House #56

Jakub dies as a result of pneumonia.

Wife #1: Anastasia Kopcza

Born: 5 Jan 1867, Blechnarka #57

Married: 8 Feb 1885, Blechnarka #56

Died: 22 Jan 1914, Blechnarka #56

Wife #2:  Catherina Demianczyk nee Kopcza (sister of Anastasia)

Born: 27 Nov 1863, Blechnarka #57

First husband: Pavlo Demianczyk married 14 Sep 1880, Wysowa #121 or #57

Parents:

Joseph Patrosz

Barbara Ryzyk b. 4 Dec 1830, Blechnarka #47