Hadra / Chadra Family Genealogy
Hadra, Chadra, Swiechowska, Malec, Kosowski and Majerczyk Families
We are seeking descendants and relatives of the following surnames: Chadra, Hadra, Kosowski, Majerczyk, Malec, Swiechowska, and Seredinka.*SEE Correspondence on this Family. Please contribute by email: contact Dennis Chadra at artlover@chadra.com
Hadra / Chadra Family Genealogy - in Poland & Czech Republic
Jan Swiechowski was the son of a very wealthy landowner on what they called “Wsi Grabowski” near Wieliczka, Poland (East of Krakow in Southern Poland). He gave his daughter, the fourth of five children, Regina Swiechowska d. 1918, in marriage to Karol Hadra about 1872.
Children:
- Maria Hadra born in b. 1876 – d. 1952. She was 10 yrs old when she became very sick and lost her speech.
- Hania (Anna) Hadra Seredinka b. 1879 – d. 1950 married
Jozef Seredinka. b. 1877 – d. 1942 Children;
- Zosia Debowski
b. 1914 married Jozef Debowski. Children;
- Hania
- Janusz
- Frydzia b. 1917 - d. 1984 married
Wladyslaw (Wally) b. 1907- d. 1992 Children;
- Barbara (Basia) b. 1936
- Zosia Debowski
b. 1914 married Jozef Debowski. Children;
- Frank Hadra (Chadra) b. Jul 16, 1886 - d. May 1968. Married
Florentyna Mlynek Came to America in 1906-1907. Children:
- John Chadra b. Jun 17, 1906 - d. Sep 20, 1989. His birth certificate shows the name Chadra.
- Jozef Hadra b.? married
Wanda Anitek b>? - d. 1979. When she was 6 months pregnant, Jozef Hadra was drafted to World War I and was killed in France. Children;
- Aleksandra Hadra b. 1914 married
Stanislaw Malec b. 1904 Children;
- Zosia b. ?
- Basia (Barbara) b. Nov 13, 1951
- Aleksandra Hadra b. 1914 married
Stanislaw Malec b. 1904 Children;
- Antonina Hadra Kosowski was born on Dec. 24, 1889 in “Wsi Grobowski” near Wieliczka and died on August 29, 1978 in Chicago. She was brought to America by Frank Chadra.
- Zosia Hadra b.1902 – d. 1961 She became a nun. She was stationed in Oswiecim. She became Mother Ermestyna and head on the Monastery. She died with many honors and accolades as per her niece Zosia Debowski. They went to her funeral at Oswiecim.

A photo taken in 1906 in Michalkovice, Czech Republic. The baby is my father, John Chadra. The two standing in the back are my grandparents, Frank Chadra (Hadra) and Florentyna Mlynek Chadra. Front, left to right is an Mary Mlynek ?, or seated holding my father is Mary Mlynek ? and John Mlynek This was taken on the way to America and Scarbro, WV.
Hadra / Chadra Family in America

Above: Emily Chadra, Florentyna Chadra (nee Mlynek), Josephine Chadra, Unknown Official (possibly Company Official), Joseph Hadra, Frank Hadra (Chadra) and John Chadra circa 1913.
Florentyna Chadra died in September of that year and is buried in the St. Sebastian Cemetery in Beckley, WV near the St. Francis de Sales Church.
Prior to coming to Eccles, WV the Chadra / Hadra Family lived in Scarbro / Carlisle, WV from 1906 through 1912. The John and Mary Mlynek family were relatives.
January 1, 1904 – James Mlynek, age 19, arrived in New York, NY on the Kaiser Wilhelm II from Bremen, Germany.
December 23, 1906 – John and Mary Mlynek arrive in New York, NY on the Kaiser Wilhelm II from Bremen, Germany.
August 15, 1907 - The Frank Hadra (Chadra) family arrived in Baltimore, Maryland on the Chemnitz from Bremen, Germany.
Antonina Chadra (Hadra), age 22, came to Ellis Island on March 16, 1911 showing her last residence was with her mother Regina Hadrzna of Wieliczka, Galacia (Poland) on the vessel Zieten out of Bremen, Germany. She indicated that she was married and was a housewife. Final destination was to Husband Franciezk (sp?) Chadra (actually her brother) White Oak Carlisle, WV.
Both the Hadra (Chadra) and Mlynek families came from the Alwernia & Wieliczka (Krakow, Galacia Poland area). showing their last residence as Michalkovice, Czech Republic, under the Rule of Francis Joseph, Emperor of Austria. They lived over one year in Michalkovice and had to travel through the Czech Republic and Germany to get to Port of Bremen. Both families went straight to Carlisle / Scarbro, WV. The Mlynek family stayed in Carlisle, WV into the 1920's and we have lost track of them. The Hadra family moved to Eccles, WV around 1912 until the early 1927 and then moved to Chicago, IL.
Frank Hadra (Chadra) was a survivor of the April 28, 1914 Eccles #5 Mine Disaster. He was trapped in Eccles #6, 250 feet below the surface, for several hours before being rescued.
Prior to moving to Eccles in 1912, they lived in Scarbro / Carlisle, WV and Frank worked in the mines for New River Company. The John and Mary Mlynek family were relatives.
The family lived, worked and played in Eccles, WV from 1912 through approximately 1923 with a brief stay in Jefferson Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio from 1918 through early 1920.
1920 US Census
January 3, 1920 - The US Census shows that Frank Chadra was a lodger living with the Charlie Kulona Family at 331 A Street Allentown in Eccles Precinct Eccles, (Raleigh County) West Virginia. He lists his age as 40 yrs, immigrated in 1907, was naturalized in 1916. He lists his, his father, and mother's place of birth as Austria and their mother tongue as German. He said yes of being able to speak English. His occupation was pick miner.
The Hadra family moved to Eccles, WV around 1912 through approximately 1923 with a brief stay in Jefferson Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio from 1918 through early 1920 and then moved to Chicago, IL.
Hadra / Chadra Family Documentation
Archives
and Museum Building at the State Capital Charleston, WV:
1. Declaration of Intention (USA Naturalization Service) Fayette County Circuit Court, Frank Chadra, age 30, Miner, 5'-8", 150 lbs, Brown hair, Brown eyes. Born in Grabowki Austria (Poland) on Jul 16, 1882. Resides at Carlisle, WV. Emigrated from Bremen, Germany on the Hemnity(sp). Last foreign residence was Michalkowic Austria (CZ Republic). Arrived at Port of Baltimore Maryland on Aug 15, 1907. Sworn October 16, 1913. (One month after Florentina died)
2. Petition For Naturalization Raliegh County Circuit Court in Beckley, WV. Frank Chadra of Eccles, WV, Occupation Miner,Born Jul 16, 1882 in Grabowki Austria, Wife's name is Anna Chadra born in Klushowcka, Austria. Children John, Joseph, Emilia, Josephine and Anthony. Residing in Eccles. Document dated Nov 13, 1915. Witnessed by St Francis De Sales priest J. D. Holzmer (sp) and Justice of the Peace, Jesse Thomas of Eccles. The petition was denied because when Thomas couldn't name Frank's Children. Frank later received his Naturalization Certificate on Aug 28, 1916.
St Francis De Sales Church Beckley, WV Raleigh County:
1. Record of Interments of Florentina Chadra wife of Frank Chadra Died Sep 7, 1913 Buried Sep 8, 1913 Born in Alwernia Galacia Poland, 36 years, St. Sebastian Cemetary in Beckley, WV.
2. Record of Interments of Maria Chadra Died Nov 17, 1917, Buried Nov 18, 1917.Eclles, WV 1-1/2 years old. Died of Dyphteria. Buried in St. Sebastian Cemetary in Beckley, WV
3. Baptismatorum of Stanislawam (Estelle) Kosowski (Daughter of Antonina (Hadra) & Stanislas (Stanley) Kosowski born Mar 3, 1912 Baptized Mar 31, 1912, Godparents are Wadislaus Kosowski and Anna Piecak.
4. Baptismatorum of Maria Chadra (Daughter of Frank & Anna Chadra) born Apr 29, 1916, Baptized May 21, 1916, Godparents are John Bunk and Antonina Kosowski.
5. Baptismatorum of Frank Chadra (Son of Frank & Anna Chadra) born Jun 13, 1917, Baptized Sep 23, 1917, Godparents are Stanislaw Kosowski and Helena Kuluna. (Kuluna was the family name that Frank Sr stayed with during the 1920 US Census in Eccles, WV.)
Raleigh County Courthouse, Beckley, WV:
1. Register of Deaths of Florentina Chadra, age 36, Died Sep 7, 1913, Reported Sep 20, 1913, married living in Eccles, WV. Died of short and loss of blood due from childbirth. Dr. R.D. Rolbec, Jr
2. Register of Births Antonia (Tony) Hadra Jan 16, 1915. Eccles, Mother Annie Hadra, Father Frank Hadra.
SS Peter and Paul Church (Scarbro, WV now in Oak Hill, WV) Fayette County.
3. Marriage of Antonina Hadra, Daughter of Karol & Regina Hadra, and Stanley Kosowski on May 29, 1911 performed by Fr. Stanislas Jewasinski.
4. Baptismal of Joseph Frank Hadra born Feb 27, 1908 Baptized March 8, 1908 Godparents are Andreav Mlynek & Agatha Koziel.
5. Baptismal of Emiliam (Aunt Millie) Hadra born Oct 11, 1909 Baptized Oct 24, 1909 Godparents are Andreav Mlynek & Catherine Koziel.
6. Baptismal of Josephana Cunegundam(sp) (Aunt Josie) Hadra born Mar 12, 1911 Baptized Apr 17, 1911 Godparents are Andreav Mlynek & Catherine Koziel.
Fayette County Courthouse, Fayetteville, WV:
1. Marriage Registration of Antonina Hadra and Stanley Kosowski on May 29, 1911
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Chadra / Hadra Family in Eccles,WV 1912-1923
Chadra / Hadra Family in Scarbro,WV 1906-1912
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