John Frank Milewski

1892–1940 · Male · died at 47

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Sex is as recorded in the family tree. Age at death is worked out from the dates shown and may be a range or an approximation. It is left out when a date is missing or is only a “before”, “after” or “between” date, when the research has found a date Unconfirmed, when the two dates conflict, or when they would mean an age over 110.

Overview

Franciszka Jeleniewska1872–1928Mother Antoni Milewski1867–1925Father

John Frank Milewski1892–1940Josephine J. Sobacz1898–1978Wife

Edward Milewski1921–1981Son

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Stories and biography

About John

Biography

John Frank Milewski was brought from Poland to Philadelphia as a small child, worked in the mills of Manayunk, petitioned for American citizenship in 1926 and had moved his family to Harrison, New Jersey, by 1935.

From Poland to Manayunk

John was born at Zarnowo, Poland, on December 20, 1892. As a toddler he sailed from Hamburg and landed at Philadelphia on May 15, 1894 (naturalization petition). He was the eldest son of Antoni Milewski and Franciszka (Frances) Jeleniewska. In 1910 the family lived on Grape Street in Manayunk, the mill district on the Schuylkill, and John, 19, worked as a washer in a worsted mill (1910 census).

**1910 United States Federal Census**
Source: Ancestry.com

Confirmed About this evidence

His parents' names are from the 1910 census; two of his brothers' records (a 1926 marriage application and a 1962 death certificate) name the same parents, Anthony Milewski and Frances Jeleniewski.

On February 14, 1917, John, a wool scourer, and Józefa (Josephine) Subacewska, both of 153 Carson Street, swore their application for a marriage license at the Orphans' Court in Philadelphia; he named his parents as Anthony and Frances (Jeleniewska) Milewski (marriage license). When he registered for the World War I draft on June 5, 1917, he gave his address as 153 Carson Street, Manayunk (draft card), and in January 1920 he was a repairman in a steel mill, living on Roxborough Avenue with Josephine and a baby son (1920 census).

**WWI draft registration card, John Milewski, Philadelphia, local board 14**
1917 · page image
Source: Ancestry.com

**1920 U.S. census, Philadelphia Ward 21, ED 511, sheet 1B: John F. and Josephine J. Milewski and their infant son**
1920 · page image
Source: Ancestry.com

**Philadelphia marriage license application, 14 Feb 1917: John Milewski and Juzefa (Josephine) Subacewska, with the names of both sets of parents**
1917-02-14
Source: FamilySearch

Confirmed

A petition for citizenship, and a move to Harrison

John petitioned for naturalization in the U.S. District Court on May 27, 1926, naming his wife and three children; his witnesses included his brother Charles (naturalization petition). By 1935 the family had moved to Harrison, New Jersey, across the Passaic River from Newark. The 1940 census lists John, 47, a millwright, as head of the household at 409 William Street, with Josephine and their four children (1940 census).

**Naturalization petition, John Frank Milewski, U.S. District Court, Pennsylvania, 27 May 1926**
1926-05-27 · page image
Source: Ancestry.com

**1940 U.S. census, Harrison, Hudson Co., N.J., ED 9-107, sheet 7A: the Milewski household**
1940 · page image
Source: Ancestry.com

Confirmed About this evidence

The children, some of whom may be living, are not named here.

John died in September 1940, a few months after the census found him in Harrison, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington (Find a Grave index). Nothing found contradicts it: searches found no 1942 draft registration for him and no 1950 census entry, and Josephine's 1978 obituary calls her "beloved wife of the late John" (Star-Ledger, 1 Nov 1978).

Likely About this evidence

The month and the cemetery come from a Find a Grave index entry without a photograph; an online family tree gives 21 September 1940 without a source. His death certificate has not been seen.

Timeline of the public record (9 entries)

When	What the record shows	How sure
20 December 1892	Born in Poland. Naturalization petition, John Frank Milewski, U.S. District Court, Pennsylvania, 27 May 1926; U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards: John Milewski, Philadelphia	Confirmed
1894	Lands at Philadelphia from Hamburg, aged one. Naturalization petition, John Frank Milewski, U.S. District Court, Pennsylvania, 27 May 1926	Confirmed
1910	Grape Street, Manayunk; washer in a worsted mill. 1910 U.S. census, Philadelphia Ward 21, ED 376, sheet 6B	Confirmed
14 February 1917	Applies for a marriage license with Józefa Subacewska. Philadelphia marriage license application, John Milewski and Juzefa Subacewska, sworn 14 Feb 1917	Confirmed
5 June 1917	Registers for the draft at 153 Carson Street, Manayunk. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards: John Milewski, Philadelphia	Confirmed
1920	Roxborough Avenue, Philadelphia; repairman in a steel mill. 1920 U.S. census, Philadelphia Ward 21, ED 511, sheet 1B	Confirmed
27 May 1926	Petitions for naturalization. Naturalization petition, John Frank Milewski, U.S. District Court, Pennsylvania, 27 May 1926	Confirmed
1940	Head of the household at 409 William Street, Harrison. 1940 U.S. census, Harrison, Hudson Co., N.J., ED 9-107, sheet 7A	Confirmed
September 1940	Dies; burial at Holy Cross, North Arlington. Find a Grave index: John F. Milewski, died September 1940, Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, N.J.	Likely

Family

Parents

Mother: Franciszka Jeleniewska 1872–1928
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean
Father: Antoni Milewski 1867–1925
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean

Wife: Josephine J. Sobacz 1898–1978
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean

Son: Edward Milewski 1921–1981
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Review: not yet reviewed.
What the labels mean

Life events

Born	20 Dec 1892, Poland Confirmed evidence: show why Why: His 1926 naturalization petition and his WWI draft card both give December 20, 1892. Records: Petition for naturalization no. 7654, John Frank Milewski, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 27 May 1926 (view at Ancestry.com) WWI draft registration card, John Milewski, Philadelphia, local board 14: born 20 Dec 1892 (view at Ancestry.com) Review: assessed 10-16-2026; evidence: Image examined. Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-05-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. · Confirmed (10-16-2026, research): His 1926 naturalization petition and his WWI draft card both give December 20, 1892. · Unconfirmed (10-05-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. What the labels mean (the family tree records 20 DEC 1892, Zarnowo, Podlaskie, Poland) Image: Pennsylvania, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1795-1945 · Image: 1940 United States Federal Census · Image: 1920 United States Federal Census
Died	Sep 1940 Likely evidence: show why Why: A Find a Grave index entry (no photograph) gives September 1940 and burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington; he was in the April 1940 census in Harrison and his widow's 1978 notice calls him 'the late John'. No death certificate has been seen. Records: Find a Grave index: John F. Milewski, died September 1940, Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, N.J. (no photograph) (view at FamilySearch) The Star-Ledger (Newark), 1 Nov 1978, p. 34: Milewski, Josephine (nee Subacz), died 29 Oct 1978 (view at Newspapers.com) Review: assessed 10-17-2026; evidence: Index or transcription examined; Image examined. Earlier: Confirmed (10-16-2026, research): His widow's death notice of November 1, 1978 calls her "beloved wife of the late John". He was living in Harrison in 1940; he has no 1942 draft card and is not in the 1950 census, where Josephine heads the household, so he probably died between 1940 and 1950 (date not yet found). · Unconfirmed (10-16-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. · Confirmed (10-16-2026, research): His widow's death notice of November 1, 1978 calls her "beloved wife of the late John". He was living in Harrison in 1940; he has no 1942 draft card and is not in the 1950 census, where Josephine heads the household, so he probably died between 1940 and 1950 (date not yet found). What the labels mean (the family tree records SEP 1940, New Jersey, USA)
Arrival	1893
Arrival	1894, Philadelphia
Immigration	1894, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Confirmed evidence: show why Why: Naturalization petition. Records: Petition for naturalization no. 7654, John Frank Milewski, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 27 May 1926 (view at Ancestry.com) Review: assessed 10-16-2026; evidence: Image examined. What the labels mean
Residence	Occupation: Washer; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son, 1910, Philadelphia Ward 21, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Image: 1910 United States Federal Census · Image: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 · Image: U.S., City Directories, 1822-1999
Residence	Relation to Head of House: H; Occupation: Laborer, 1915, Harrison, Kearny, East Newark
Marriage	1917, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, with Josephine J. Sobacz 1898–1978
Residence	Marital Status: Married, BET 1917 AND 1918, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Residence	1920, Roxborough Ave., Manayunk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Residence	Roxborough Ave., Manayunk; repairman in a steel mill, 1920, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Confirmed evidence: show why The evidence note for this conclusion names a relative who may be living, so it is shown only in the family area. What the labels mean
Naturalization	27 MAY 1926, Pennsylvania, USA
Naturalization	petition, 27 May 1926, Pennsylvania Confirmed evidence: show why Why: Petition naming his wife Josephine and their three children. Records: Petition for naturalization no. 7654, John Frank Milewski, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 27 May 1926 (view at Ancestry.com) Review: assessed 10-16-2026; evidence: Image examined. What the labels mean
Residence	9 AUG 1934, Bayonne, New Jersey, USA
Residence	1935, Harrison, Hudson, New Jersey
Residence	1940, 409 William St., Harrison, Hudson, New Jersey, USA
Residence	409 William St., 1940, Harrison, Hudson, New Jersey Confirmed evidence: show why Why: 1940 census. Records: 1940 U.S. census, Harrison, Hudson Co., N.J., ED 9-107, sheet 7A, 409 William St.: John and Josephine Milewski and their four children (view at Ancestry.com) Review: assessed 10-16-2026; evidence: Image examined. What the labels mean
Burial	Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, Bergen, New Jersey, USA
Naturalization	Pennsylvania, USA
Residence	Irvington

Newspapers

Cited, with no image here

U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current Newspaper or record reference; read it at the archive or publisher.
New Jersey, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current Newspaper or record reference; read it at the archive or publisher.
The Star-Ledger (Newark), 1 Nov 1978, p. 34: Milewski, Josephine (nee Subacz), died 29 Oct 1978 Newspaper or record reference; read it at the archive or publisher.

Record images

11 record images to view here. View them larger, one at a time.

Sources

Ancestry Family Tree Family histories and trees Citation only Birth, Death
Ancestry Family Tree
Pennsylvania, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1795-1945 Passenger lists and passports Viewable scan Birth, Event, Naturalization
The National Archives in Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts…
U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current Newspapers Citation only Birth, Death, Residence
The Star-Ledger; Publication Date: 2 Mar 1983; Publication Place: Newark, New Jersey, USA; URL: https://www.…
U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Military Viewable scan Birth, Residence
Registration State: Pennsylvania; Registration County: Philadelphia
U.S., WWII Alien Registration, 1940-1955 Other documents Citation only Birth
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration; Maryland, USA; Flexoline Index Data File, 1940-1955; URL:…
Pennsylvania, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1795-1945 Passenger lists and passports Citation only Immigration
petition, 27 May 1926
1910 United States Federal Census Census Viewable scan Birth, Event, Residence
Year: 1910; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 21, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1394; Page: 6b; Enume…
U.S., City Directories, 1822-1999 Directories and public records Viewable scan Residence
Harrison, New Jersey, City Directory, 1915
Pennsylvania, U.S., Marriages, 1852-1968 Birth, marriage and death records Citation only Marriage
1920 United States Federal Census Census Viewable scan Birth, Event, Residence
Year: 1920; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 21, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1617; Page: 1B; Enume…
1920 United States Federal Census Census Citation only Residence
Philadelphia Ward 21, ED 511, sheet 1B
Pennsylvania, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1795-1945 Passenger lists and passports Citation only Naturalization
petition, 27 May 1926 (wife Josephine and three children)
New Jersey, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current Newspapers Citation only Residence
The Bayonne Times; Publication Date: 9 Aug 1934; Publication Place: Bayonne, New Jersey, USA; URL: https://w…
1940 United States Federal Census Census Viewable scan Birth, Residence
Year: 1940; Census Place: Harrison, Hudson, New Jersey; Roll: m-t0627-02348; Page: 7A; Enumeration District:…
1940 United States Federal Census Census Citation only Residence
Harrison, Hudson, N.J., ED 9-107, sheet 7A
The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) Birth, marriage and death records Citation only Death
1 Nov 1978, p. 34 (his widow's death notice: "beloved wife of the late John")
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 Birth, marriage and death records Citation only
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 Birth, marriage and death records Citation only

Research sources

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