Dayton in Liberty County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Stash and Mattie Ripkowski Family

Liberty County Historic Landmark

Photographed by James Hulse, September 22, 2022

1. The Stash and Mattie Ripkowski Family Marker

Inscription. As first generation Americans, Stash and Mattie Ripkowski were extremely hard working, religious people who raised their sixteen children to be passionately patriotic and rise to challenges at hand. The family moved to Dayton in 1932 and began sharecropping a 200 acre farm. The farm life required the efforts of all of the children, both in the fields and running the household. When the United States entered WWII, the nine older brothers: Bernie, Felix, Alex, August, Leon, Bill, Raymond, Herman and Franklin, left home one by one to answer their country's call to serve in the military. They all saw war action, several being severely injured, but all miraculously survived the war and returned to Dayton. In their brothers' absence, Catherine, Virginia, Pearline, Anna Lee, and the younger boys rolled up their sleeves and struggled to help their parents work the farm. Later two more brothers, John and Mike, served in the Korean War along with Franklin who was recalled to serve again. Stanley, the youngest followed in his brothers' footsteps by enlisting during peacetime. No other family in American history has sent that many

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sons to serve in the armed forces. This extraordinary family is an inspiration to all patriotic Americans.

Erected 2014 by Liberty County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers • War, Korean • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.

Location. 30° 2.196′ N, 94° 53.063′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Texas, in Liberty County. It is at the intersection of South Cleveland Street and Ripkowski Drive, on the left when traveling south on South Cleveland Street. The marker is located on the south side of the Wall of Honor Memorial at the Dayton Community Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 801 South Cleveland Street, Dayton TX 77535, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Houston Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic

The Stash and Mattie Ripkowski Family Marker (Top marker) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 22, 2022

2. The Stash and Mattie Ripkowski Family Marker (Top marker)

of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ripkowski Brothers Memorial Trees (here, next to this marker); Dayton's Old School (approx. half a mile away); Pleasant Hill Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); First Methodist Church of Dayton (approx. half a mile away); First Baptist Church of Dayton (approx. 0.6 miles away); Dayton's Namesake (approx. 0.7 miles away); Annie Colbert - Rosenwald School (approx. 0.7 miles away); Dayton's Early History (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.

Also see . . . The Ripkowski Brothers – True American Patriotism. Polish Texans Website

While going through my grandmother Agnes Polka Smock’s old photographs, I found a newspaper clipping from the Houston Chronicle. It was a photo of one of her neighbor’s large family from New Waverly, Texas. The photo was titled "Twelve Brothers Served Uncle Sam" and the caption reads "These 12 sons in a family of 16 children, of Mrs. Stash Ripkowski of Dayton, have served with the United States armed forces.
Photographed by James Hulse, September 22, 2022

3. The view of the Stash and Mattie Ripkowski Family Marker (Far Left) at the Veterans Memorial
Husbands of three of the daughters were in service also, and a fourth husband worked in a defense plant. Members of the family are, left to right, front; Mrs. Ripkowski, Bernie, Felix, Alex, August, Leon, Bill, Raymond; second row: Herman, Catherine, Virginia, Franklin, John J., Pearline, Mike, Anna Lee and Stanley."

(Submitted on September 22, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 650 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 22, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.