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Documenting my ancestors and helping others with their research.
These are some of the families that I have researched extensively throughout the years. After much consideration, I've decided to publish my research in the hopes that it helps further not only my research, but the research of future generations. Much of this content is still a work-in-progress and gradually being added to.
I’ve always been interested in history. One of my earliest memories is checking out books about ancient Egypt at our local library in Mokena, Illinois, where I grew up. It wasn’t until I was about 12 or 13, ~1998-1999, when my interests shifted towards genealogy. For myself, genealogy seemed to be the perfect combination of history with the added rush of discovery — think Indiana Jones uncovering a priceless artifact, but in my case a long-forgotten document or family member.
My curiosity initially began when I saw my mother had written family information on loose-leaf notebook paper, covering both the Gombash and Rodgers sides of our family. There were pages and pages of information that she had simply remembered from the top of her head, going back several generations. From all the stories mom told me herself, it’s clear she herself was the type of child to sit there and listen to all the older folks tell stories. I have a photo showing mom as a little girl in Antigo, Wisconsin while visiting family, with nothing but the adults talking or playing cards in the kitchen - I could only imagine the stories she heard. This photo is displayed above my desk every day; mom as a little girl, looking directly into the camera. She was full of stories herself and I regret not having her write them down before she passed away in 2019.
Genealogy quickly became more of an obsession, rather than a hobby, and fortunately I was able to turn it into a career. I’ve contributed towards genealogical certification courses, providing base material to create the coursework. In July and August of 2015, through a genealogical connection in Chicago, I was cast and starred in an Ancestry.com commercial with distant cousin Janet Rolek. The commercial was highlighting where our Polish ancestors had lived in the old Stockyards neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. We filmed in three different locations on 15 Jul 2015; the first was a private home rented by the production company at 740 N. Ogden Ave.; the second was in front of the old Stockyards gate that still remains on W. Exchange Ave. just west of Halsted St.; and the third was in front of my 2x-great-grandparents’ house, Wojciech (George) Czarny and Rozalia Wozniak, on W 38th St. and down the street from SS. Peter & Paul Church. The commercial aired for an entire week on USA Network beginning on 17 Aug 2015 and I remember cousin Daniel Gombash being one of the relatives to come forward with their elated and surprised reactions.
One habit I had when I began this journey was writing letters. I wrote a lot of letters to close and extended cousins throughout all the branches of the family. I wasn’t one for talking on the phone, being the anxious person that I am, and I knew a paper trail was better than a verbal one. Being able to refer back to these letters has significantly helped further my research. I’ve made contact with many cousins around the world: Australia, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Poland and the UK. To this day, I still receive open invitations to visit overseas cousins.
Hungarian Localities:
Paternal Grandmother:
Maternal Grandfather:
*Blalack, Blalock, Blalocke, Blacklocke
*Calesblow, Castalow, Castello, Castillo, Castilloe, Castillon, Castillow, Castilo, Castlo, Castolow, Castleton, Causterler, Caustelow, Chostolo, Costaloe, Costalo, Costeloe, Costelow, Costell, Costello, Costellow, Costet, Costillo, Costiloe, Costiloo, Costilow, Costillow, Costlair, Costloe, Costlow, Costlo, Costoloe, Costolow, Costolo, Costow, Costulo, Crosdelow, Crosdilow, Cutlol.
*Garrason, Garretson
*Holeder
*Hobase, Hobias, Hobies, Hobis, Hobees, Hobuse, Hovice, Hovis, Howes
*Cramer, Creamer, Cremer, Crymer, Kreamer, Kremer
*Rogers
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