Below is a history of Samuel Zimny written by Cathy Adamek of Randall, Minnesota. The history was submitted to The Morrison County Historical Society on April 9, 2010:
Samuel Zimny came to America in 1885. He left Hamburg, Germany, on April 15 with his parents, Peter J. Zimny, his wife, Franziska, and their 2 sons, Samuel, age 4, and Leo, 10 months old. Peter was 29 & Franziska, 27. Peter & Franziska had 9 more children after coming to the U.S.
Peter’s older brother, Martin, also made the voyage. Martin & Peter left 2 brothers & 2 sisters in Europe. They lived in the area called Prussia. The descendents of Martin & Peter did not make a connection until 1989 at the annual Zimny Reunion. This was held on the Isidor Zimny farm. Isidor was a son of Samuel.
Once in the midwest Peter & Franziska moved several times (Minnesota Lake, Wells, & Fulda). They also moved to S.D. in 1902. They lived at Waubay & then in 1917 to Andover. They then moved to Foley & Royalton. Peter & Franziska both spoke Polish.
Franziska died at age 66 in 1926. Peter lived 11 more years. He died in 1937 at age 79. Their home in Royalton still stands.
Samuel was born in Trembatschau, Poland (then Prussia). He died on Aug. 4, 1943, on the Zimny farm. (He was thrown off a manure spreader pulled by horses & killed.) Sam was married to Elizabeth (Lizzie) Dylla.
Sam became a citizen at age 23. He married in 1907 at age 26 to Elizabeth Hattie Dylla, age 23. They married in Minnesota Lake. Elizabeth’s parents arrived in America about 1880. She was born in Fairbault Cty. on Nov. 19, 1883. She had a twin brother, Charles, who died before age 1. Her mother died while she was a toddler. Her father, John, remarried Mary Poine Kulla, who had 3 children. John & Mary had 3 more children. Sam & Lizzie lived in S.D. & had 3 children there. (Mary, died at age 2½, Stephen & Gertrude.) Sam & Lizzie moved to Royalton in Oct. 1912. Between 1911 & 1912 Lizzie lost her 1st child, Mary, to whopping cough & had baby, Gertrude.
Lizzie & Sam’s children were named according to the “Saints Day” that was nearest their birth date.
At the time of Sam’s death, son, Isidor was about to be shipped to Europe (WWII). Son, Pete, was serving in Africa & did not learn of his father’s death. Isidor received an emergency discharge so he could operate the family farm at Royalton.
Lizzie died in 1977 at age 93. Sam & Lizzie had 8 children, Mary, Stephen, Gertrude, Igniatius, Isidor, Sylvestor, Jerome & Elizabeth (Betty).
This story hits very close to home to me, as my great great grandfather was Joseph Krowiorz. He came to America from Trembatschau as well. From the dates givin, they might have came in on the same ship. His wifes name was Julia Sonnek from Nowa Wies. They lived in Wells,Mn. I just thought that this was very interesting how families histories are all intertwined. Thank you.
Hi, Matt – Thanks for sharing your family’s information. It IS interesting how family histories are intertwined. If you think about your own social networks, who you know and how you interact, and imagine that it was similar “back then” (without social media, of course!), puzzling out those relationships from the past gives you a greater story than the names and dates reveal. That’s what I like about history – figuring out the nature of how people were related to each other, whether by blood or social interaction.
-Mary
This is also interesting to me because Peter J and Franziska Zimny’s Daughter, Lucy Zimny (born 1891 in the US) married Julius F Dylla (Dec 3, 1886 – May 2, 1964). Samuel Zimny and Lucy Zimny were brother sister and both married Dylla’s, quite interesting.
Doug – That is interesting, although not as uncommon as you might expect. We see siblings marrying siblings from other families fairly often within our records.
-Mary Warner
I am Julius Dylla and Lucy Zimny’s (Daughter of Samuel Zimny& sister of Peter) grandson now living in Wichita Falls, TX. I was born and rased on the family farm near Andover, SD in Day Co by George & Dorothy Dylla. Julius Dylla’s family lost their mother and his father, John Dylla remarried a Mary Pioine Kulla with whom he had three more children. I beleve that Julius was one of he three more kids in addition to the 3 Kulla children that Mary Poine already had.
Hi, Gary – Thanks for the clarification on John Dylla’s second wife and the additional three kids.
I see we’ve gotten several comments on this post, which is not typical for most of our posts. If we get a few more from relatives, a family reunion could be planned. 🙂
Thanks for adding your information.
Mary Warner
Museum Manager
I really find this very interesting. Elizabeth Dylla Zimney was my grandfather, Louis A. Dylla’s half sister. I remember meeting my great Aunt Lizzie when she and her son Jerome visited my late mother on the farm near Alden, Minnesota. My grandpa Louis A. Dylla is one of three full siblings childrenof John and Mary Dylla. I am in question of her last name, as Find a grave had it as Mary Hojenski? http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=98883589. The three fullings were my grandpa Louis A. Dylla, Mary (Dylla) Mosser and Julius Dylla. The half siblings on the Dylla side were Elizabeth (Dylla) Zimney, Joseph Dylla and John Dylla. I am not positive about my grandpa’s siblings on the Kulla side and if any family knows, I would love to hear about that. I think there was a Frank Kulla, possibly a Joseph Kulla and another sister whose name I do not know. I love geneaology although I don’t pursue it.
Thank you for your comment, Mary. We did a quick check in our records and did not find mention of the surname, Hojenski. If you decide you want to do more checking, let us know. You are welcome to visit our site or take advantage of our research service. Thanks for the additional information on your family! MCHS Staff
My parents were Julius and Lucy (Zimny) both deceiced
I’m a sister of George Dylla and we were raised in Andover, S Dak.on the original homestead location of our grandfather Peter Zimny which our father was able to purchase in the 1930s. We are related to many of the Dylla and Zimny families in Minnisota, S. Dak and N, Dak. Julius and Lucy Dylla had 12 children and only four are still living. George in S.D. Lawrence in Minn. Dorothy Eichten in Minn. and myself in Colo.
George purchased the farm from our father in l955 and he and his wife
Dorothy raised their family there until they retired in 2006.
Thanks, Helen!