Charles was born in his home in Travis (Linoleumville), Staten Island, NY on the same day that his father Franciscus died, 28 July 1905. His parents were Maria Erma Pekar, age 32, and Franciscus Kolodzey, age 34. Two years later, his mother Irma died from Typhoid. By age 2, Charles and his brothers were orphans.
After his mother’s death, family members took the 4 brothers in and cared for them. It is said that because Charles was ill or sickly, the youngest of four brothers, was put into an orphanage. He was listed on the 1910 Census as living in Saint Mary’s Orphan Home in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 1910, he was only 4 years old (1910 US Census). Two years later, he was admitted to St. Michael's Orphanage on September 12, 1912. In 1915, the New Jersey Census showed him living at St Michael's orphanage on Princeton Avenue in Hopewell, NJ.
By 1920, the 14-year-old Charles was out of the orphanage and lived with his grand-aunt Mary Kolodzey, who was the widowed wife of Charles Linske (Dlugolinszky) at 207 Fifth St in Elizabeth, NJ. Charles' relationship to the Linske family is highlighted in Teal in the picture below.
By 1920, the 14-year-old Charles was out of the orphanage and lived with his grand-aunt Mary Kolodzey, who was the widowed wife of Charles Linske (Dlugolinszky) at 207 Fifth St in Elizabeth. Charles' relationship to the Linske family is highlighted in Teal in the picture below.
It is believed that Charles' older brother Joseph (older by 4 years) was adopted by a family known by the surname of "Mathias". A good possible explanation for who this family was another child of granduncle Andreas - Maria Kolodzey, who was married to Arnold C Mathias. This may or may not be correct, but it points to the former. That relationship is shown in Yellow in the picture below.
Evidence that Charles' older brothers kept tabs and checked in on him during his years in orphanages is the photo to the left. This photo was taken at the same studio as several other photos of young Frank, John, and Joseph - known due to several key visual indicators found on the photos. Specifically, the pedestal shown on this photo was also on another photo of Joseph.
After his mother’s death, family members took the 4 brothers in and cared for them. It is said that because Charles was ill or sickly, the youngest of four brothers, was put into an orphanage. He was listed on the 1910 Census as living in Saint Mary’s Orphan Home in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 1910, he was only 4 years old (1910 US Census). Two years later, he was admitted to St. Michael's Orphanage on September 12, 1912. In 1915, the New Jersey Census showed him living at St Michael's orphanage on Princeton Avenue in Hopewell, NJ.
Joannes was the youngest son of Andreas Kolodzey and Catharina Andrasovitz, born on 15 May 1829 in Stara Lubovna. His godparents were Joannes Orlik and Anna Sztreleczky.
Maria is the daughter of Jacobus Tokarszky (1798) and Anna Rokonal (1809).
Joannes Kolodzey and Maria Tokarszky lived in Stara Lubovna, Slovakia and had three children: Maria, Joannes, and Franciscus.
They were close to the Molesanyi family, as there was at least one godparent at each of their children's baptisms named Molesanyi: Georgius, Anna, and Maria.
Joannes and Maria were married on 20 January 1858. Joannes was 29 years old and Maria was 23. At the time of their marriage, Joannes was serving in the Austria-Hungarian Army.
In 1858, the house listed on Maria's baptism was Stara Lubovna No. 336.
In 1861, the house listed on Joannes' baptism was Jarembina No. 221.
In 1871, the house listed on Franciscus' baptism was Vetus (old) Lublo No. 338.
Born and baptized in Stara Lubovna
Born and baptized in Stara Lubovna
Born and baptized in Stara Lubovna
Click on the pictures above to see their stories.
As the picture depicts, this site is dedicated to the Kolodzeys that left behind the mountains of Slovakia, Galicia, Deutchia, and Prussia to live in the United States of America. This is our story.