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.
The Stash and Mattie Ripkowski Family. Liberty County Historic Landmark. 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 world war two, 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 sons to serve in the armed forces. This extraordinary family is an inspiration to all patriotic Americans.
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 sons to serve in the armed forces. This extraordinary family is an inspiration to all patriotic Americans.
Erected 2014 by Liberty County Historical Commission.
Location. 30° 2.196′ N, 94° 53.063′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Texas, in Liberty County. Marker 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.
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. 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.)
Photographed By James Hulse, September 22, 2022
3. The view of the Stash and Mattie Ripkowski Family Marker (Far Left) at the Veterans Memorial
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 170 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 22, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
