Walter Wladyslaw EJSMONT

16 FEB 1924 - 2 MAR 1995

• BIRTH: 16 FEB 1924, Sokolka, Poland
• BURIAL: St Joseph Cemetery, South Bend, In
• EMIGRATION: 1965
• DEATH: 2 MAR 1995, South Bend, IN

• MARRIAGE: 8 APR 1943, Poland

INDEX

[N5144] SOKOLKA, town in Bialystok province, N.E. Poland; until 1795 within Poland; until 1807 under Prussia; subsequently until 1915 the town belonged to Russia, reverting to Poland after World War I. Jews settled in Sokolka in the latter half of the 17th century. In 1698 they were granted a royal privilege giving them rights to engage in commerce and own property. There were 522 Jewish poll-tax payers in Sokolka and its surroundings in 1765. The Jewish population of the town numbered 1,454 in 1847; 2,651 (52% of the total) in 1897; and 2,821 (46.4%) in 1921. Jews there earned their livelihood from trade in agricultural produce, hides, and crafts. Jewish contractors developed the tanning industry in Sokolka from 1868, which before the outbreak of World War I employed 700 workers. The Jewish workers' movement began to organize locally in the late 19th century; Zionists began activity in the early 20th century. All Jewish parties were active there between the two world wars. Jews from Sokolka joined the Third Aliyah and helped to found *Kefar Malal in Erez. Israel. Jews were occupied in over 80% of the businesses and crafts in the town. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee helped to set up a tanning cooperative. Community institutions included schools of the Yavneh, *Tarbut, and CYSHO, a Maccabi sports club, and two libraries.

Walter Ejsmont
Feb. 16, 1924 - Mar. 1, 1995
South Bend Tribune

Walter Ejsmont, 71,of Shellbark Ave died at 1:54 pm on Wednesday in the St. Joseph MedicalCenter. Mr. Ejsmont retired in 1987 from the St. Joseph High School maintainence department and wasa former employee of the M. B. Skinner Corp. He was born February 16, 1924 in Sokolka, Poland and lived in South Bend since 1965. On April 8, 1943,in Poland, he married Jadwiga Mielenkiewicz. She survives with two sisters Apolonia Gienius and Wanda Jaworowski both of Poland. He was a member of St. Stanislaus B & M Catholic Church. Services will be at 10:00 am Saturday in the church. Burial will be at Resurrection Gardens, St Josephs Polish Cemetery. Friends may Call from 2-9 Saturday at the Kaniewski Funeral Home where a rosary will be said at 3:00 pm.