Michael Markiw was born October 27, 1890 in the village of Zdeshiew (phonetic spelling), Ukraine, near Kiev and Bila Tserkva, populated by around 50 families.

"In June 1907, I came to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA to my friend, who was a choir leader at St. John Baptist Church, South Side, Pittsburgh. The next day, I got a job at Boyers Pipe Mill in Pitt. At 10 cents a day . . . As a boarder, two of us slept in one room at $3.00 a month and in one year's time, I saved $200.

(GEORGIA'S INSERT... VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT...)

I am so proud to announce that the above paragraph has been listed in the 2003 Social Studies book by the MacMillan McGraw-Hill Publishers
We are so pleased and proud of our Grandfather and what he accomplished in his years in America... and that these people have chosen a part of it to be put into the text book. Following are two pictures... one of the book itself and the other of the page where it is located.. page 514. Thanks for tolerating this granddaughter's pride...)

In 1908 came a depression . . . not knowing how long it would last, I decided to go back to Ukraine to visit my parents. I bought a steamship ticket for $35.00 from Pittsburgh to Levow and was home with my dear parents in 15 days.

Next spring, the boys from our village were called into the selective service to the Austrian Army and my parents suggested that I volunteer, but I was 19 years and 21 years was the required age to be accepted; therefore, I was not eligible. Realizing I made a mistake when I first arrived home, I prepared to go back to the United States.

I asked my parents for part of the money I had given them when I came back from the USA, but they refused because they wanted me to stay with them until they would be able to go, too. I told my parents that I didn't see any future staying Ukraine and if they didn't give me part of money, I would get back somehow. They cried and realizing that I was serious, they said they would give me back the money I had asked for. Next day, I went to see a travel agent who advised me to get a working passport to Germany. There were rumors that war was evident and he suggested that if the country authority asked me where I was going to tell them I was going to Germany for two or three months to earn some money and then come back. I was stopped in Krakow, Poland and asked where I was going. I showed them my passport and told them as I was informed and they let me go.

As soon as I reached Hamburg, Germany, I telegraphed my parents for part of the money I had given them and in a couple of days I received it, and bought the steamship ticket to Pittsburgh, and was at work at Boyer Pipe Mill, June 1909, 15 days later, working as I had before. Working the day shift, I was able to attend school in the evenings at South Side..I had a very good high school teacher, a Ukrainian Baptist pastor as my instructor.

In 1911, I met a man from Butler, Pennsylvania who came every Sunday to Pittsburgh to see his girl. He asked me to come to Lyndora and told me I would be able to make more money. I came to Lyndora, Pennsylvania, December 5, 1911, and I got a job the next day as buck up for him, turn hammerman. I enjoyed working less hours and making more money at Standard Steel Car Company.

In 1912, some young fellow brought a beautiful girl from Brooklyn, N.Y. to Butler and as soon as I saw her I thought----"THAT'S MY GIRL"---.

My Grandmother Anna Zalipska, 16 years old.

I wanted to meet her. I was so happy to see her. Immediately I proposed to her and she stayed. The fellow who brought her from her home sued me for taking his girl away from him. We appeared before the Justice who decided that the girl should be given her freedom. This beautiful little girl was Anna Zalipska, 16 and 1/2 years old.

On February 9, 1913, we were married in St. Michael's Greek Catholic Church in Lyndora.

Michael and Anna Markiw on their wedding day.

On December 20, 1913, our first child, Anna (Georgia's mom), was born and a year later I was promoted to office porter, night turn. All kinds of salesmen stayed overnight, so I talked to them about business and how it operates. In the meantime, I asked the clerk to teach me arithmetic for which I was very grateful as this was a very important part of operating a business.

In 1914, the company went on strike and fired my friend and I. Being out of a job, I tried to keep myself busy by selling books, house to house.

On August 3, 1915, our second child, Marie , was born and I was ready to get into business. First I thought I went into it myself, I would lose the money I had saved, so I had a friend go into partnership with me. A year later, we severed our partnership, but remained good neighbors.

On June 22, 1917, our first son, John, was born. We rented and operated the grocery store until 1920 when we bought a three-story building in Lyndora. During this time came the depression and we were on the bankruptcy list..people had to pay cash from then on.

On October 3, 1920, Sonia was born....Nearly two years later, our fifth and final child, Merse, was born.

This was the Markiw family, approximately 1925
L to R: Marie, Merse, Anne, Grandma, Grandpa, John and Sonia

Two men who were renting my building for a bakery decided to move; therefore, I started the bakery business in 1922.

In 1929, I bought a piece of property and in the spring of 1936, built a white brick building with three storerooms and one apartment. In 1936 I began a grocery and meat business and then opened up Markiw's Lunch.

One of my grandparent's grocery stores.

During the early years, I was active in Boy Scouts, as Scoutmaster in 1927. I was a member of the Butler Chamber of Commerce for a few years. In the early 20's I became active in Ukrainian National Aid Association in Pittsburgh. Among my activities and chairmanships were Ukrainian Congress Committee, Ukrainian Relief Committee and Ukrainian Studies Fund Chairman in the Butler area at the present time.

Since we lived in the city and had no place to go on picnics, in l942, I bought 71 acres of farmland. I remodeled the white frame house and had a garden, pond, kept bees, and had two oil wells. Our children and grandchildren spent many Sundays and summers together enjoying each other and becoming a close-knit family as we are today. The farm was sold in 1968.

My grandfather as a successful businessman in Lyndora, Pennsylvania in the 1940's.

In 1958, my wife Anne and I retired and left for Arizona where we bought a home in Phoenix and resided for five years. Since there was no Ukrainian Orthodox Church there, I began to organize the people and contacted the consistory about a priest they could provide. So we got a retired priest. The church services began in l960 and adopted the name, St.Mary's Protectress, Phoenix, Arizona. I was elected president three times and in my third term I got a heart attack and resigned. Mom and I were active in pirohi projects for building a new church and we were busy and active in Phoenix.

The distance and yearning for our family prompted us to sell our home and head back to Pennsylvania to be back with our dear ones.

Grandma and Grandpa Markiw celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in Phoenix. He looks as though he were still thinking.. "THAT'S MY GIRL!!!

We had a home built and returned May 30, 1963. Mom and I enjoyed 6 and 1/2 happpy years together in our retirement home surrounded by our family of five children, 15 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren. We enjoyed gardening, the flowers, and the birds.

My dear wife suffered a massive coronary June 30, 1969. She ws hospitalized for six weeks. I visited her everyday. I was fortunate to enjoy her for six more months. My dear wife, Anna, left me Sunday, December 28, 1969."

Grandpa nor my Mom would have ever imagined that someday some 30 years since she taped him telling his life story...that it would be on the internet for all the world to see.. I had good roots...and a family that loved each other and a grandfather who always loved and had a God-consciousness. He taught them, with Grama, to always love God and their country. Thank you, Grandpa...I love you!!! (Ya looblyo tebeh)..

I love you, Mama!!