#6 How Do You Spell that Name? Joseph Munarzik

#6  How Do You Spell That Name?   Joseph Munarzik

            This week I am blogging about Joseph Munarzik, my 3^th great grandfather and one of my immigrant ancestors.    Joseph was born in Winweiller, Germany , probably in 1824 as he was baptized on June 16, 1824.  He was one of twelve children of Joseph and Barbara (Schroeder) Munarzik.   On September 9, 1849 in Battenberg, Germany, he married Regina Wendel.    The exact date of their arrival in the United States is not clear.  The 1860 census lists Charles, their oldest son, as born in Bavaria; however, all the other census data and Charles’s army enlist papers indicate he was born in United States in 1853.  If that is correct, Joseph and Regina emigrated between 1849 and 1853. In the 1860 census, Joseph and Regina have 8 children:  Charles, Elizabeth, Cary, Susan, John, Maria, Louisa, and Kate.   Joseph’s  occupation is listed as tailor.  On January 10, 1868, Joseph became a naturalized citizen of the United States.  His address is listed as 177 2^nd Street, New York, New York.  William Schilling of 182 Ludlow Street, New York, New York,  served as the witness.  Joseph Minarzik died on April 27, 1875 while Regina (last name spelled Minarzick) died on June 18, 1878.  In the 1880 census four (John, Maria, Louisa and Katherine) of their children are living with their oldest son Charles.  

Tracing  this branch of my family has been a challenge as Munarzik has been spelled at least six    different ways.   The LDS baptismal records from Winnweiller, Germany with one exception (Minazik) use the spelling  Munarzik.   Once Joseph moved to the United States, however, the name was spelled in a variety of different ways.   I have found members of the family having such variation as Minarzick, Minarzik, Minarscik, and Minarcik. Obviously, this has made research challenging.  Since the first three or five letters of the name are consistent, using a wild card seach of either  Min* or  Minar*  been helpful.    Since 1900, the name has consistently been spelled Minarcik. 

If I had the opportunity to talk to Joseph, I would want to know why he migrated to the United States.  Was it because his wife’s family was coming here?  Was it for a better life?  I also would like to know where he worked as a tailor.