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Zahajkiewicz, Szczesny
Poet, editor, writer, teacher. Born April 1861 in Stanislawow, Poland. Educated in Horodenka, Kolomyja and Stanislawow; graduated from the Teachers College (Seminarjum Nauczycielskie) in Stanislawow; engaged as a teacher in Dolina, later in Stanislawow; later a private teacher of Count Adalbert Dzieduszycki for three years; teacher at Piramowicz School in Lwow, where he edited a weekly paper "Swiatelko" (Light), and contributed poetry to Polish papers: "Szczutek" and "Smigus." On request of the Fathers of the Resurrection from Chicago, and on the recommendation of Cardinal Puzyna, came to U.S. in 1889 as a teacher, of St. Stanislaus parochial school, Chicago, Ill., where he settled for the rest of his life. Organizer in 1891 and president of the St. Stanislaus Parish Dramatic Circle in Chicago. In 1893 coorganizer and vice president of the Polish Falcons of America. From 1900 to 1901 teacher of Polish literature and history at the Holy Family Academy and St. Stanislaus Kostka College, Chicago, Ill. In 1900 published and edited the humorous weekly: "Komar." Some of his writings are: "Rymy," "Dwie Basnie," "Pamietniki Madrej Muchy," "Wsrod Indian," "O Janie Karolu Chodkiewiczu," "Nad Dniestrem," "Czarownik," "Wieczor Wigilijny," "Trzy Ziarnka Grochu," "Syn Dziadowski," "Powiastki dla Malej Dziatwy"; dramas: "Dzieci Izraela," "Noc Czarodziejska," "Ksiaze Czarnoksieznikow," "Jasna Gora" (dramatized from "The Deluge" of H. Sienkiewicz), "Powrot Taty," "Oswiadczyny Przez Telefon," "Niespodzianka," "Akademja Smorgonska," "Perla Cylijska," "Krolowa Jadwiga," "Dzieci Wdowy," "Genowefa," "Dwie Sieroty." Author of the following books: "Zbior Poezji,"1894; "Zlota Ksiega," 1897; "Zycie i Czyny Polakow w Ameryce," 1890, "Powinszowania i Deklamacje." For a long time editor of Chicago Daily News ("Dziennik Chicagoski"). Died on October 1,1917 in Chicago, Ill.

From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943

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