Alexander J. Ropelewski
311 Ewings Mill Road
Moon Township PA 15108 U.S.A
ropelews@pmw.org
The Ropelewski family likely took their name from the village Ropele (Latitude 52.9167 [52° 55' 0N] Longitude 20.6167 [20° 37' 0E] Altitude 383 feet [116 meters]). Ropele is relatively flat and near the joining of the Plawnica with the Lydynia River. Ropele is north of Ciechanów Poland.
An English Translation from Slownik Geograficzny for the village reads: Ropele, a village on/above the Lydynia River, District Ciechanów, Township Nuzewo, (Roman Catholic) Parish Ciechanów, distance 5 verst (5 1/3 km) from Ciechanów, 8 houses, 88 inhabitants, 241 morg (334.5 acres)
Thomas Ropelewski and Juzefa Rzcskoska
Boleslaw Ropelewski and Aleksandra Rulka (Rulkaza)
Name Location Spouse Children Thomas Ropelewski Ropele, Poland (Ciechanów) Juzefa Rzcskoska Boleslaw (b.18-Jun-1892 d.Aug-1964)
Helen Ropelewski and Troy Vaughn
Name Location Spouse Children Boleslaw Ropelewski (b.18-Jun-1892 d.Aug-1964) Ropele Poland (Ciechanów), Butler PA, Natrona PA, E.Vandegrift PA, King-of-Prussia PA Aleksandra Rulka (b.Mar-1895 d.Nov-1973) Steve (b.21-Feb-1915, d-Jun-1984), Edward(), Helen(), Daughter, Daughter, Lawrence (b.22-Oct-1932, d.27-Jan-2000) US Social Security records indicate that Boleslaw was born in Ciechanów Poland. He imigrated to the United States from Poland (Russia) in 1914. The family is known to have lived in Natrona (77 Spruce Street - Harrison Twp) PA on June 5, 1917. Sometime before the 1920 census, the family moved to (East) Vandegrift PA. Sometime after Boleslaw died, Aleksandra moved to King-of-Prussia PA where she later died. The family had six children. All children were born in the United States.
A Russian Passport for Boleslaw Ropelewski indicates that he lived in the Ropele Village (a few km north of Ciechanów), Nuzhevo Estate (imenie) (Nuzewo , a village just South from Ciechanów.), Ychckanovskogo Administrative unit (Uyezd). His rank was listed as "Czlachta" ("Szlachta" meaning "nobility".) The Passport also indicates that Boleslaw Ropelewski and Aleksandra Rul'kaza married on July 21/August 3, 1913 in Tsyxanov parish.
An English translation of Boleslaw's (Russian) Passport is availiable in Microsoft Word format.
Lawrence Ropelewski and Spouse
Name Location Spouse Children Helen Ropelewski Butler PA, Natrona PA, E.Vandegrift PA, Lawrenceburg IN Spouse, Troy Vaughn Daughter
Edward (Ropelewski) Ropel and Spouse
Name Location Spouse Children Lawrence Ropelewski E.Vandegrift PA, Norristown PA, King-Of-Prussia PA, Fombell PA Spouse Son, Son, Son
Steve Ropelewski
Name Location Spouse Children Edward Ropel Butler PA, E.Vandegrift PA, IN, NJ, Middletown PA, Tuscon AZ, Albuquerque NM Spouse, Spouse Son Ed moved around a lot, Ed shortened the Ropelewski name to Ropel. Ed served in the US Navy in the Mediterranean Sea during World War II.
Name Location Spouse Children Steve Ropelewski Butler PA, Natrona PA, E.Vandegrift PA, Sarver PA Spouse Son, Son
Stanislaw Ropelewski
Name Location Spouse Children Stanislaw Ropelewski (b.17-Aug-1888) Natrona PA Spouse Stanislaw lived on 81 Spruce Street in Natrona PA. The family beleives that Stanislaw and Thomas might have been brothers (However this has not been confirmed)
John Ropelewski
Name Location Spouse Children John Ropelewski (b.6-Jan-1884) Natrona PA Lottie John lived on 81 Spruce Street in Natrona PA. The family beleives that Stanislaw and Thomas might have been brothers (However this has not been confirmed)
There is another Polish Village called "Ropele", located near Suwalki Poland. It is quite possible that some Ropelewski's that came to the United States came from that village.
I've collected a little bit of information on a few Ropelewski's who lived in the United States, around 1910-1920, that I have uncovered in my research, but am unable at the current time to make a judgement on. These Ropelewski's are listed below. For some names, I've attempted to join dates/places with correct people. Please note that this information joining is UNVERIFIED - no primary sources have been used to confirm the joining. However the information joining gives me (and perhaps you) somewhat of an idea of the families might be. The data sources, in most cases are from the US 1910+1920 census and the US Social Security Death Index
Unverified Ropelwski Family #1 - Erie PA
US Census Information
| Name | Location | Spouse | Children |
| Joseph Ropelewski (b1894) | 1326 German Street, Erie PA | Stella (b1897) | Raymond (b1918), Frank (b1919) |
| Name | DOB | DOD | Last Residence | Last Benefit | SSN | Issue State |
| RAYMOND ROPELEWSKI | 05 Jul 1918 | 26 Apr 1988 | 91360 (Thousand Oaks, Ventura, CA) | --- | 175-07-3191 | Pennsylvania |
Unverified Ropelewski Family #2 - Philadelphia PA
US Census Information
| Name | Location | Spouse | Children |
| Roman Ropelewski (b1889) | 323 22nd street, Philadelphia PA |
Unverified Ropelewski Family #3 - Erie PA
US Census Information
| Name | Location | Spouse | Children |
| Ropelewski | 1038 ? Erie PA | Mary (b1884) | Jenny (b1912), Joseph (b1914), Edward (b1916), Florence (b1918), Gladya (b1905) |
| Name | DOB | DOD | Last Residence | Last Benefit | SSN | Issue State |
| JOSEPH ROPELEWSKI | 25 Jul 1913 | Dec 1984 | 16503 (Erie, Erie, PA) | --- | 175-09-7050 | Pennsylvania |
| JOSEPH ROPELEWSKI | 22 Mar 1913 | Feb 1984 | 12210 (Albany, Albany, NY) | 12210 (Albany, Albany, NY) | ||
| EDWARD ROPELEWSKI | 05 Dec 1915 | Sep 1980 | 16503 (Erie, Erie, PA) | 16503 (Erie, Erie, PA) | 105-09-4565 | New York |
Unverified Ropelewski Family #4 - Erie PA
US Census Information
| Name | Location | Spouse | Children |
| Michael Ropelewski (b1894) | 624 14th street, Erie PA | Helen (Wasielewski?) (b1901) | Sophie (b1919) |
| Name | DOB | DOD | Last Residence | Last Benefit | SSN | Issue State | |
| MICHAEL ROPELEWSKI | 10 Sep 1895 | Sep 1953 | --- | --- | 285-07-9063 | Ohio |
| Name | DOB | DOD | Last Residence | Last Benefit | SSN | Issue State | |
| KATARZYNA ROPELEWSKI | 25 Mar 1896 | 29 Sep 1986 | 01027 (Easthampton, Hampshire, MA) | --- | 015-22-4895 | Massachusetts | |
| KATHERINE ROPELEWSKI | 30 May 1886 | Jan 1971 | 01027 (Easthampton, Hampshire, MA) | --- | 015-22-5235 | Massachusetts | |
| STANLEY ROPELEWSKI | 21 Apr 1909 | Jan 1974 | --- | --- | 016-03-6058 | Massachusetts | |
| WALTER ROPELEWSKI | 22 Sep 1915 | Apr 1984 | 01201 (Pittsfield, Berkshire, MA) | --- | 016-05-1185 | Massachusetts | |
| HENRY ROPELEWSKI | 05 Apr 1925 | 30 Jan 1999 | 33569 (Riverview, Hillsborough, FL) | --- | 027-12-9445 | Massachusetts | |
| THERESA ROPELEWSKI | 07 Jun 1928 | Aug 1985 | --- | 01027 (Easthampton, Hampshire, MA) | |||
| CHESTER ROPELEWSKI | 21 Jul 1921 | 20 Feb 1998 | 01201 (Pittsfield, Berkshire, MA) | --- | 032-10-3424 | Massachusetts | |
| EUGENE ROPELEWSKI | 22 Sep 1903 | Oct 1986 | 06716 (Wolcott, New Haven, CT) | --- | 044-03-4030 | Connecticut | |
| DOROTHY ROPELEWSKI | 12 Jul 1907 | Jan 1992 | 06716 (Wolcott, New Haven, CT) | --- | 044-18-1792 | Connecticut | |
| CASIMER ROPELEWSKI | 01 Jan 1902 | Jul 1974 | 06705 (Waterbury, New Haven, CT) | --- | 046-10-1139 | Connecticut | |
| TEOFILA ROPELEWSKI | 17 Feb 1892 | Aug 1969 | 06705 (Waterbury, New Haven, CT) | --- | 049-18-1455 | Connecticut | |
| LEON ROPELEWSKI | 14 Dec 1902 | May 1979 | 14901 (Elmira, Chemung, NY) | 14904 (Elmira, Chemung, NY) | 071-09-3782 | New York | |
| RUTH ROPELEWSKI | 14 Nov 1903 | 17 Jan 1992 | 14845 (Horseheads, Chemung, NY) | --- | 074-18-1071 | New York | |
| LORETTA ROPELEWSKI | 13 Mar 1912 | Nov 1987 | 12211 (Albany, Albany, NY) | 12211 (Albany, Albany, NY) | 107-10-3643 | New York | |
| LOUISE ROPELEWSKI | 28 Mar 1924 | Jan 1978 | 13126 (Oswego, Oswego, NY) | 13126 (Oswego, Oswego, NY) | 134-16-4003 | New York | |
| EDWIN ROPELEWSKI | 01 Sep 1923 | 15 Dec 1989 | --- | --- | 170-16-9828 | Pennsylvania | |
| IRENE ROPELEWSKI | 05 Sep 1922 | Nov 1985 | 16503 (Erie, Erie, PA) | 16503 (Erie, Erie, PA) | 181-18-1709 | Pennsylvania | |
| NANCY ROPELEWSKI | 10 Jun 1944 | 20 Nov 1999 | 27529 (Garner, Wake, NC) | --- | 183-34-7205 | Pennsylvania | |
| IRENE ROPELEWSKI | 22 Jun 1918 | Oct 1980 | 16510 (Erie, Erie, PA) | 16510 (Erie, Erie, PA) | 188-24-7932 | Pennsylvania | |
| STEPHEN ROPELEWSKI | 26 Dec 1962 | Jun 1984 | 16504 (Erie, Erie, PA) | --- | 191-58-0018 | Pennsylvania | |
| VERONICA ROPELEWSKI | 15 Dec 1912 | 14 Nov 1993 | 16504 (Erie, Erie, PA) | --- | 195-01-3598 | Pennsylvania | |
| RICHARD ROPELEWSKI | 16 Jan 1926 | 18 Aug 1998 | 16503 (Erie, Erie, PA) | --- | 195-14-4524 | Pennsylvania | |
| ROBERT ROPELEWSKI | 01 Jul 1942 | 05 Apr 1997 | (72) | --- | 196-32-6719 | Pennsylvania | |
| ANASTASIA ROPELEWSKI | 07 Oct 1894 | Jul 1969 | 19142 (Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA) | --- | 197-07-7159 | Pennsylvania | |
| BARBARA ROPELEWSKI | 23 Mar 1934 | 16 Jul 1994 | 16504 (Erie, Erie, PA) | 16504 (Erie, Erie, PA) | 208-24-8894 | Pennsylvania | |
| CASIMIR ROPELEWSKI | 24 Feb 1930 | May 1986 | 16504 (Erie, Erie, PA) | 16504 (Erie, Erie, PA) | 210-18-5169 | Pennsylvania | |
| KATHLEEN ROPELEWSKI | 29 Apr 1952 | 19 May 1992 | 44054 (Sheffield Lake, Lorain, OH) | --- | 278-50-5824 | Ohio | |
| MARTHA ROPELEWSKI | 30 Jan 1905 | 02 Jan 1995 | 44129 (Cleveland, Cuyahoga, OH) | --- | 293-09-6110 | Ohio | |
| CASMER ROPELEWSKI | 13 Mar 1890 | Oct 1964 | (Michigan) | --- | 378-03-4231 | Michigan | |
| ANNA ROPELEWSKI | 13 Jul 1897 | Oct 1977 | 53215 (Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI) | 53215 (Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI) | 387-05-4889 | Wisconsin | |
| STANLEY ROPELEWSKI | 14 Jun 1890 | 03 Feb 1978 | (VA) | --- | 707-14-6151 | railroad workers |