My grandmother's maiden name was Schwabe (also spelled Schvaba, Schwab). She was born in Cook County, IL, but her family came from the Prussian controlled area of Poland...we are pretty sure. I have been unable to find other members of her family. I do have their names from the 1900 census and the 1910 census. In 1920, they change birthplace from German/Polish and Prussian/ Polish to Polish, and most of them did not speak German.

Gram's father was John Schwabe, married Otillia Lange. Children were Felix, Anna, Helen (my grandmother), Ottilia (Tillie), Clara Cicelin (Celia), Franzt (sp?), Johann, Catherine, August, Joseph, Catherine, Her father was born in about 1860 and her mother about 1863. They had Americanized the name in the 1910 census from the earlier ones.

In looking at the census from 1900, the entire neighborhood was Polish..but nationality was listed as German or Prussian with POlish in () or Polish with Prussia in (). And, like I said, the entire neighborhood showed the same in the 1900 and 1910 census. In the 1920 census..ALL show Poland.

The families also all went to a St. Josaphat's Church was was Kashubian Polish...in the area held by Prussia.