Mary Frances Ciskey (1853 - 1943), born February 6, 1853, in Prussia, arrived in the U.S. with her parents, Martin (D: 1870) and Catherine Augusta (Barks) Ciskey (1830 - 1899);brothers Michael Ciskey (1848 - 1885) and August Ciskey (1855 - 1933); and four additional Ciskeys, one male and three females. Mary's family lived in Ohio, Indiana, and Coal Valley Township, IL before permanently settling in Wayne Township, Monroe County, IA.

Mary Frances Ciskey married Anistasia Scieszinski (1845 - 1941) (birth name Anastasius Sciesinski) the day before her seventeenth birthday, February 5, 1870, at Rock Island County, Illinois. They were married 71 years and had 12 children (8 sons and four daughters); 54 grandchildren, 31 grandsons and 23 granddaughters; and 127 great-grandchildren, 67 great-grandsons and 60 great-granddaughters.

The family of Mary's brother Michael changed their family name from Ciskey to Ciska but widowed mother Augusta, Mary and brother August retained the Ciskey name.
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The Albia Union-Republican, Thursday, February 6, 1941
Scieszinski Couple Celebrate Seventy-First Anniversary
Melrose Pair Still Hale and Hearty

Mr. and Mrs. A. Scieszinski are celebrating their 71st wedding anniversary today at their home in Melrose. They have lived in Melrose for the last 16 years and in Monroe county for 70 years.

Mrs. Scieszinski will observe her 88th birthday tomorrow. Her husband will be 95 years old May 3.

Neither of the pioneer couple was born in this country. He was born in Poland while his wife's birthplace is in Germany. She said she was "very much" against Hitler.

After coming to the United States when she was five years old, Mrs. Scieszinski moved to Ohio, Indiana, and then to Illinois with her parents. She was married in Rock Island, Ill., where her husband worked in the coal mines.

In 1871 they took up an 80-acre plot in Wayne Township. This was gradually expanded to a 1,100-acre farm. A log cabin with oak floors provided the first home in this county for the pioneers. It was a one room cabin with a kitchen built on. Only one window was in the house, but it had a pane of glass in it.

Seven children of the couple are living and five are dead. About 40 grandchildren are also living. Oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Scieszinski is Frank, 69, of Melrose. Ed, 49, of Janesville, Wis., is the youngest one.

Children of the couple who still remain in Melrose are Frank, Joe, Will and Dan Scieszinski and Mrs. Charles Leonard. A daughter, Mrs. Ed McLamar, lives in Ottumwa.

Mr. Scieszinski owns no land now, since he has turned it ever to his sons to farm.
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The Albia Union – Republican, November 4, 1943
Aged Melrose Woman Passed Away Tuesday

Mrs. Mary Scieszinski, age 90, died Monday night at the home of her son, Joe, northeast of Melrose. She was born in Germany in 1853, and came to Iowa from Coal Valley, Illinois, in 1871, when the family settled near Melrose. She moved to Melrose about 20 years ago.

She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Charles Leonard of Melrose and Mrs. E.J. Lamar of Ottumwa; five sons, Edward of Janesville, ILL (error – should be Wisconsin), Dan of Davenport, Joe Frank and Will, all of Melrose, with Reverend (her husband ?) died about two years ago, and three sons and two daughters also preceded her in death.

Mrs. Scieszinski's body was taken from the Humeston Funeral Home Tuesday afternoon, to the home of her son, Joe, where the body will remain until time for the services. Services will be held Thursday, at 10 a.m., from the St. Patrick's church in Melrose, with Reverend W.T. Gaffney in charge. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary cemetery. The pallbearers will all be grandsons, James, Thomas, Louis, James, Carl and Will Scieszinski.