Petronia Jesaitis Uknavage

and Mosteiko family

2nd from left is Sarah Mosteiko, 4th from left Frances Mosteiko, on her left is her sister Petronia Galesky, woman on far right is Petronia Uknavage. Man to Frances' left is her husband Louis Mosteiko. Man to Petronia Galesky's left is her husband Joe Galesky. Man partially hidden behind Frances is Frank Mosteiko, Sarah's husband.

front row - l to r - Louis Mosteiko, Sarah Mosteiko (wife of Frank), Frank Mosteiko

back row - l to -r Frances Mosteiko (wife of Louis), Petronia Galesky, Petronia Uknavage

Petronia Jesaitis Uknavage is my great-grandmother, my father's father's mother. Born June 11, 1860 in Lithuania, she came to the U.S. in 1889 with her husband and three children, Petronia, Frank, and Joseph. The family lived in Pittston, PA for several years where Joseph worked in the coal mines and where two more children were born, Frances, and William. By 1900 the family had relocated to Westville, Illinois. Sometime shortly after the census of 1900 the father, Joseph Uknavage, died or disappeared. By the 1910 census Petronia is listed as widowed head of household and owner of her home, on Bridge Street. I've never found any record of Joseph's death. Petronia lived out her life in Westville before dying March 6, 1938. She was well known in the community, a member of St. Peter's and Paul's Catholic church, the Rosary Society, and several lodges.

Petronia's obituary listed a brother named Joseph Sites of Columbus, Ohio, and a brother William Sites in Pennsylvania. Her maiden name is spelled so many different ways - Jeschaitis on the ship's passenger list, Jusaitis and Jesaitis and Sites on other records. A file at Lakeside-Urbas Funeral Home in Westville listed her father as Antonas Yasaitis.

In the 1900 and 1910 census records for Columbus, Ohio I found Joseph Sites and family on Buttles St. His wife was Catherine, he had a son Joseph, and two daughters, Agatha and Constance. He was a taylor. I never did find William Sites in Pennsylvania.

Petronia's daughter Frances Mosteiko also lived in Westville most of her life and I believe Petronia lived with this daughter for several years before she died.

Go to: Uknavage, Joseph Uknavage, Frances Mosteiko, William Ukanavage, Galesky,

Petronia Galesky, Mosteiko, Galesky family unknown, Joseph Sites family, William Sites family, Frances Gillis family