Adam and Rose are fascinating because they led a life less is known about. The couple lived much of their lives in California. (If anyone knows more, please add.)
Rose Florence Malinowski Langiewicz
(October 2, 1893 – January 17, 1972)
Rose was the second child of Antoni & Anna. She was born in 
Thorp, Wisconsin on October 2, 1893. She moved with her family to Washington and then the Grays Harbor Wishkah Valley in 1905. She attended school in a schoolhouse on the family property.
Being the oldest girl, she had a great deal of responsibility for helping her mother with chores and food preparation for the eight siblings, the logging crew living on their property, as well as, the teacher and other frequent visitors.
Rose was married in 1915 to Adam Langiewicz, also of Polish descent. He left Rose for a time to serve as a soldier in World War I.
When living in Oceanside, California; Rose and Adam met Mr. Orell, a man whose wife had died soon after her baby boy was born in 1930. The baby, Jackie, was being passed around from neighbor to neighbor. Rose and Adam agreed to help out for a while by taking the baby. At three and ½ months the adoption was finalized. Mr. Orell also had a five-year-old son, Jimmie. Jimmie stayed with Rose a lot, too. She didn’t have any children of her own.
When they adopted Jack Earl Orell, Rose was about forty and Adam twelve years older. Mr. Orell’s half sister took Jimmie, but she had small twin babies so she felt she shouldn’t take Jack.
Rose and Adam came to Aberdeen quickly so her mother and sisters could see the baby and give advice on childcare. They took Elizabeth, one of Rose’s younger sisters, back to California with them to help with the baby.
Rose frequently went back to the Wishkah home of her parents, as did her siblings, in a kind of rotation to help the older couple maintain the large garden, tend stock and other chores.
Rose spoke of meeting President Franklin Roosevelt when he came to Aberdeen for the opening of the Olympic Highway in 1936. She said, “He was a real gentleman.”
Adam died in January of 1944 when Jack was only 14. Rose moved home to Aberdeen and took a job at the Morck Hotel as a chambermaid to support them. She worked there for 16 years.
When Jack and Catherine Lee Cameron were married in 1957, Rose lived with them. It was very difficult for her to adjust after so many years of being ‘head of household’. But she went to her sisters for advice. They firmly told her that the new mistress of the house was Cathy. Rose adjusted.
Rose was a caring and loving grandmother. When the grandbabies were to get their injections she worried about them. To allay her fears, Cathy took Rose to talk with the doctor and be assured they were a safe and needed precaution. Rose adored the three children Jack and Cathy adopted.
Adam J. Langiewicz
Dec. 25, 1882 – 1944
Adam was born in Poland (Russia) and moved with his family to 
the United States. The first known record of the family is the 1900 census which shows them settling in Thorp, Wisconsin. The family at that time showed Josef (1849-1927) Josefa (1860-1931) and their children Valentine, Adam, Joseph, Katherine, Alexander, Sophia, & Verona.
Adam was 14 when his father signed papers for him to enlist and serve in the Spanish American War. (Although it appears he fibbed on the papers and said he was 16.) He served in the Philippines as Gen. Arthur MacArthur’s orderly. (Lt. Gen. MacArthur led troops during several major campaigns and was appointed Military governor of the Philippines from 1900-1902. He retired in 1909 and died in 1912.)
After leaving the service, Adam returned to Thorp. The 1900 Census has him living at home, age 18 and the 1905 census says he was still there at age 21. Sometime after that he moved west.
He worked as a jetty builder in Westport, Washington. (This work started in 1898 but continued into the early 1900’s, finishing about 1908). It is unknown how Rose & Adam met, perhaps through the Polish community. Their parents may have known each other in Thorp. Rose was born in Thorp but would have been only 4 when Adam left to join the military. Rose and Adam visited Arthur MacArthur in La Jolla, CA between 1909 and 1912.
Adam and Rose married in April 24, 1915 in Aberdeen, Washington. In 1915 he worked on the Wishkah Water Project surveying crew (see photo in Homes & Places file). At that time Adam was using Lang and the family continued to use it until Jack & Cathy were married. Kathy wanted to go back to the family name and they all did.
Later he worked on the Crescent City, California jetty.
Adam reenlisted for WWI. He served under Gen MacArthur’s son, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, whom he remembered he’d once met during his previous service.
Adam & Rose adopted their son, Jack, in Oceanside, CA. Adam’s employment at this time is unknown. In 1931 his mother’s obituary showed him living in San Luis Rey, CA. Emily Airhart remembers that he worked for a “rich man” in the L.A. area but timing and actual work are unknown. The family lived on acreage that allowed them to keep a pony for Jack, chickens and who knows what else. There are photos in the family album of men on horses apparently scouting timber. The pictures are of a variety of trees and some logs on train cars. Another little album is full of post cards from Mexico, so it appears his worked involved some time south of the border.
In 1944 Adam died and was interred in Los Angeles, CA
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