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James Smock

James SmockJames Smock has always held an interest in his Polish ancestors and heritage. He is a native Houstonian with Polish roots in Bremond, Marlin and New Waverly, Texas.

James is a past president of the Polish Genealogical Society of Texas and was the founding webmaster of the PGST website. He also served as the Surname Index Coordinator from 1994 - 2000.

In addition to serving as the webmaster and editor of this Polish Texan website, he maintains a number of other websites including;

With a lifelong passion for photography, James can often be found with a camera around his neck. In addition to photographing family events and his grandchildren, he is the church photographer for St. Mary Catholic Church in Plantersville and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stoneham. Many of his photographs can be found on the church website or his photography gallery.

Bremond Historical Society Fundraiser

News / By /

On Sunday July 29, 2007 the Bremond Historical Society will have a fundraiser event at the Coal Mine Restaurant. A fried chicken dinner with side dishes will be served. Also there will be a silent auction.

The society has acquired a downtown building and made considerable progress in renovating the old structure so that it will safely house a historical museum for the community. Just this summer a new concrete floor was poured. Doors and interior work will come next as funds are available.

Look ahead for a Sunday fried chicken dinner on July 29 at the Coal Mine. All are invited.

Bremond Historical Society Fundraiser Read More »

PGST 25th Anniversary Celebration

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 Polish Genealogical Society of Texas
25th Anniversary Celebration
November 11, 2007

The Polish Genealogical Society of Texas (PGST) will be celebrating its 25 th Anniversary on Sunday, November 11 th , 2007 at Wyndehaven Terrace , 12718 Cutten Road , Houston , Texas . A short program will be presented giving an overview of the Society's past history. Plans for a drawing and door prizes are underway.

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PGST 25th Anniversary CelebrationRead More »

PGST 25th Anniversary Celebration Read More »

Genealogy The Easy Way

Genealogy / By /

I got started in this whole genealogy thing by accident; I simply wanted to find out if my grandfather Smock was dead or alive. I hadn’t seen him since I was 2 or 3 years old and my dad didn’t care to talk too much about his father who had deserted his family when he was a child. To make a long story short, in a period of a few short months, I visited several county courthouses and found my grandfathers grave and got to meet my dad’s half sister who didn’t even know I existed. While I was on a roll, I decided to trace the Smock name back as far as I could. In the next few months, I researched at Clayton library and on several of the old genealogy bulletin boards (this was before the internet) and traced the Smock family back to a Dutch immigrant who came to New Amsterdam in 1640.

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Genealogy The Easy WayRead More »

Genealogy The Easy Way Read More »

Polish Texans Mission Statement

Culture / By /
  • Document the genealogy and family relationships of the early Polish settlers in Texas.
  • Trace the families back to their home villages in Poland.
  • Explore the relationships of the early Texas Poles to the early Chicago, New York, Michigan and other northeast US Polish immigrants.
  • Help preserve the rich heritage and culture of the Polish people.
  • Provide a clearing house for articles and news about the history and current affairs of the Polish ethnic communities in Texas.

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Witamy – Welcome

Culture / By /

Albert and Adan E. Polka - Marlin, TexasWelcome to the Polish Texans website, the number one source of information for Texas Polonia. You’ll find articles on Polish Texan history, culture, news and current events along with genealogy of the Poles who call Texas home. This site is dedicated to the brave Polish men and women who left their ancestral homes in Europe and settled in a new land, the Lone Star state of Texas. These early immigrants settled in the Texas communities of Panna Maria, Anderson, Yorktown, Stoneham, Brenham, Bremond, Chappell Hill, New Waverly, San Antonio, Houston and others.
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Witamy – WelcomeRead More »

Witamy – Welcome Read More »

Help Wanted

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This website is a work in progress and I need your help. Here's what I need to add to what we already have:

  • Old photos of your Polish Texan ancestors, their homes and the towns they lived in.

  • Genealogical data of the early Polish immigrants in Texas from their origins in Poland through the early 1930's

  • Articles on the history and genealogy of the early Polish Texan settlers

  • Family stories about the early Polish Texan settlers

If you have something to contribute, please contact James . I can scan old photos and return them to you or you can email scanned photos to me

Help Wanted Read More »