The Demchuk Family
By Demetrius P. Demchuk (-1978)
Part I, 1778-1910

[the only part ever completed?]


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A few textual emendments have been made by John Blythe Dobson
(j.dobson@uwinnipeg.ca).
's and s' were confused throughout
Fixed many cases of bleeding quotation marks and parentheses
Fixed spelling of "Borshchiv" and "Cyhany" throughout
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The Demyanchuk-Demchuk Family
1778-1910 A.D.

Introduction

It reminds me that one time during the class hour in high
school, we the students have been discussing the question of
origin of surnames, names, prefixes, and suffixes and their
meanings in different nations including Ukrainian, and during
the course of discussion one English student provoked an amusement
and irritation. He asked me directly: "Demchuk! Is your name
means a small dam? Before I had a chance to answer and explain
to the class an exact meaning of "small dam," the four o'clock
bell rang and caused the usual commotion, the school teacher
suggested that "we shall return to this question some other time."
	Now it seams to me that I should explain to my young Demchuks
the proper meaning of Dem-chook a small dam as I was asked.
The surname Dem-chook consists of two words, or rather two
names and a suffix. It originates from the name "Demyan-chook."
The name Demyan is an old Slavic, Ukrainian, masculine, Christian
name. In old days this name has been very popular and many Ukrainian
families have been selecting this name for their infant boy, while
baptizing them in the Orthodox churches.
	In our case, the boy's name with added suffix has become
surname, Demyan-chook means small Demyan.
	Now, please remember that in the year 1778 A.D. in July both
brothers Michael and Wasil Demyanchuk with their wives Maria and
Anastasia, daughters of Alexander and Katherine Yakowliv, have
jointly agreed to change their names as a precaution against the
Russian spies in Austria and shortened calling themselves Demchuk.
Therefore since second half of July in 1778 A.D. the names Michael
Demchuk, his wife Maria and two boys have been recorded in the
Austrian citizens' records in county town Borshchiv.
	Now I hope that all my Demchuks and their relatives will
remember the origin of Dechuk's name and will be able to explain
the "small dam" to other Canadians: the basic name and suffix.

Respectfully yours,
D.P. Demchuk

----------
My dear Demchuks, relatives and Friends!
	Will you please take a sharp pencil and on any map of
Eastern Europe find the capital city of Ukraine Kiev. From there
follow in the south-western direction, about 359 kilometers,
and you will find historical Ukrainian city Kamenetz Podolski.
From there follow north about 30 kilometers and you will find
a small town Landskorun originally called Yaskerunya. From there
follow North West you will find the west side of the river Zbruch,
a small village with historical name called Zbrizh. On the west
side of River Zbruch to the south about four kilometers there is a
town Skalas. From there going West is village Tzihani, which after
Second World War has been renamed by the Russians and now is called
Rudky [recte Rudka] but we, in our description will call the old name Tzihani.
From here to the south about seven kilometers there is a county
town Borshchiv and farther down to the south on the river Dnister
there is a town Zalischiki. This is a historical triangle; River
Zbrich empties its water into the River Dnister and runs into the
Black Sea.
	Our object in mentioning these places is to help our Demchuks
in Canada and U.S.A. to find without difficulties the places where
our first ancestors were born lived, left their homes and travelled
in seeking the place for new homes and political asylum in Austria.
before and after the year 1778 A.D.
	The "khootir" or farmstead, by the Yaskorunya is the cradle,
where our first Demyanchuks/Demchuks were born and lived during
their young years, the two brothers Michael and Wasil Demyanchuk,
and married two sisters, Maria and Anastazia, the daughters of
Alexander (Zoleksa) and Catherine Yakowliv, also from Yaskorunya.
	Both Demyanchuk brothers were joint owners of large acreage
of cultivated fertile land, few acres of forest, fruit orchard and
hay-land with a small creek, and many horses, cattle, sheep, hogs,
bees and home poultry, and naturally money. Because they were
hard-working Christians, treated their hired help humanely and
naturally their help worked willingly and most important was that
that part of Ukraine is the richest and most productive country in
Europe, and no wonder that neighboring nations wanted to possess
the land. Naturally Demyanchuk family were respected and socially
influential in this part of Ukraine. Yet unexpectedly happened
that they had to leave their land and wealth and to escape and
seek another place to live -- in Austria.
	The Russian Empress Catherine the Great (1762-1796) destroyed
the last Ukrainian Cossacks Zaporzhe, on the Dnipro River near the
Black Sea, and defeated Ukrainian Cossacks were forced to find their
sanctuary on Turkish land; with the downfall of Ukrainian military
power, the Russian ruling class suggested Catherine to conquer the
Ukraine politically and economically. Because the Russia proper,
without the Ukraine, granary of Europe, will never be able to grow into
strong political power. All the Russians white or red know that, and
by all means they try to keep Ukrainians in subjection. And Russian
patriots invented a delicate scheme. They suggested to Catherine to
summon all the Ukrainian nobility and landlords to visit Catherine,
swear their loyalty to her, and in exchange she will grant them her
"hramota," which means title to the possession of their land.
And in addition they had to pay the Empress' treasury and muster young
Ukrainians into Russian army, and perform other duties required and
imposed by the Russian rulers, in the future. Especially the army

-- 2 --
was needed to conquer the Siberia and other Asiatic wild tribes.
	The Ukrainian landlords and nobility residing closer to Moskow
had no other choice but to visit the Empress with "presents" and
returned to their home with "hramotas" or royal titles, as subjects.
But the Ukrainian landlords living on the right side of the Dnipro
River have been delaying their visits to Moscow, as they were looking
for a war between Turkey and Russia. The Russians invented another
scheme because they were of Polish-Turkish War and in a quiet way
selected a number of Russian patriotic emissaries and sent them
to the Ukrainian landlords, and suggested that these landlords
with their wives swear on oath of allegience by proxy in front of
the emissary and sign their names in exchange of royal hramots and
one of the emissary visited Demyanchuks. During supper meal he
drank more honey than he could stand, and being under the influence
of eloquence, expressed his selfish desires. He wanted to be owner of
such farm as Demyanchuks had. There is a proverb in Ukrainian
language which says "What the sober person has in mind, the drunkard
has it on his tongue." The Demyanchuks grasped the emissary's
selfish desire. Even if they swear their allegiance to Empress
this selfish man may suggest to the Empress that Demyanchuks are
under suspicion and they may be arrested and sent into Siberia as
undesirables and the land may be granted to this emissary for his
gift for loyal service, as Russian patriot and as example to other
loyal Russians. The Russians were afraid of Ukrainian patriots.
And there was reason for suspicion: "Demyanchuks were very popular in
that part of Ukraine and even suggestion that they are 'mazepintzi'
may provoke the destruction of their family," and who cares if
a few Ukrainians are less in Ukraine? There are times that frightened
mind unable to reason properly. Emissary may be honest but he may
be selfish. Why did he express his selfish desire for their farm?
It is suspicious assumption. If he plans to destroy him. We
Demyanchuks are on the suspicious list, both brothers were discussing
in their minds pro and con. Finally they suggested that next
morning they will sign the proxy in the presence of their domestic.
The emissary had to be carried to his room, as he has been under
the influence of honey, freshly gathered by bees, as it was middle
of July and first flowers have more strength, aroma and taste.
	Now finally both brothers came to the conclusion that they
have to leave their farm and everything, and save their families
and their lives and as soon as possible leave for Austria.
The emissary, his horse and 'kolaska' buggy has been destroyed
during the night. It has been done in self-defence. The tenth
commandment says "Thou shalt not kill." We don't kill him as a
human. We kill the evil which is his body. What right have the
Russians to kill Ukrainians and take by force their land'?
Such and similar arguments were discussed by Demyanchuk brothers
several times on their way into Austria.

The Fugitives in Austria
	The next morning both families decided to leave their land
and everything and save their lives in Austria. They selected
four teams and on two wagons packed the most needed household
effects and food. It has been long-established custom in
Ukrainian landlords' families that the oldest son is the custodian
of all the documents and all the valued family possessions,
and that he had been considered as head of the family and
adviser-manager of the family estate after father's death.
As Michael being eldest in the family took on his wagon all
the legal documents and money.

-- 3 --
They also selected four young single men and two maids, whom they
knew from their first birthday and whom they considered as trust-
worthy. And after the hot July sunset left toward Kiev.
	Before they started on their journey , Michael summoned all
the employees, appointed the manager who knew the everyday work,
and asked them to carry out his instructions. With a good luck
we will return. And if any curious neighbor or stranger inquire of
their whereabouts tell them we have gone to Kiev, as per Her
Majesty's The Empress' command.
	After driving several kilometers to the north they have
changed their travelling to the west towards river Zbrooch and
towns Skala, Zbrizh. They travelled during the night for the
safety precautions, and during daylight they slept and rested in
the woods, or in the ravines along the small creek. They remembered
proverb: "God helps those who help themselves." They were familiar
with their highway-road because it was the historical highway.
This highway has been witnessing many armies, during
many wars in the past several centuries.
	The main reason was that by the village Zbrizh, a few kilometers
north of town Skala, the banks of the river Zbrooch were lowered
and the water in the river was shallow with hard bed, as the banks
were widened the water current was slower than farther down.
	In the fall of 1910 my father and I had the pleasure to
see this shallow "crossing". We were in the village Burdakivtzi
to have the cloth-weaver make the homemade cloth in exchange
for custom work, plowing his garden and in the orchard to be ready
for spring. This cloth-weaver lived on the east side in the village
Burdakivtsi, not far from the river. I remember even now at my
age. We stayed overnight at the weaver's house, and in the early
sunny fall morning we drove about two kilometers to the north to
see for ourselves that shallow river Zbrooch, which saved the lives
of Demyanchuk family. My father was familiar with their journey
because the story has been known and remembered by Demchuks.
	I remember the old gray-haired narrator, who as a cowman
kept one cow on a long rope and the cow grazed the grass in the
fossa trench along the road. If my judgement and memory serve
me correct, that man's age was near ninety years, and he spoke
without hesitation, what was the history of that shallow river and
lowered banks. "A tall Tartar leader, long many centuries in the
past, wanted to conquer whole world, marched with his army across our
country. Came to this river with many slaves, young men and fine girls.
And the river banks were steep, but no stones in the river banks.
He ordered his slaves to make wooden spades and dig to lower the
river banks. Some of the dirt was pushed into the swift current
and water pushed the dirt farther down; the rest of the dirt raised
the river bed and widened the river, as you see now. And his army
without difficulties crossed the Zbrooch river. The word zbrizh
is Mongolas' word used by that giant leader.
	The old man crossed himself and added, "That mongol giant lead
his army under the high mountains, some place in the west and has
met the Gods' punishment, because many slaves in this river lost
their lives from overwork and hunger and slaughter of innocent
Christians." The old grandfather again crossed himself and
meaning as in prayer waved with his hand for us to go and leave him
alone.
	My father also crossed himself, knelt and prayed; when he
finished his prayer and got up I noticed that he tried in his mind
to get a picture of the river or the moments when his great grand-

-- 4 --
father with his brother and families, in a wagon crossed that
shallow Zbrooch river into Austrian Ukraine.
	On the way home we discussed the old man's story and I told
my father that story is related to Prof. Ivan Frank's writing.
It must be the Genghis Khan, the conqueror of Central Asia, who
in 1223 A.D. invaded Europe and divided his army into three
divisions. The central division planned to cross the Carpatian
mountains through the pass called the Tuhla Pass and the
Ukrainian mountainers called hootzuls destroyed whole central
Mongol army. I just mention this historical fact: the
Ukrainians have saved the Western civilization, and such facts
are overlooked by historians or written in false manner. But
this is another subject. Let's go back to Demyanchuks' jouney.
The fact is that Demyanchuks were familiar with the main roads
leading to this shallow river bed near village Zbrizh. They
also knew that on the Russian side there is a post or a few
saldats who watch their side that no Russians cross the boundary
into Austria, and they have order to shoot them if too far to catch
them. Same regulations applied to Austrian gendarmes. Only
Austrians had no desire to go to Russia. It was impossible
and dangerous for Russians or from Russian side to cross the Zbrooch
River. The Demyanchuks waited till after midnight and were just
lucky. The heavy fog during that fateful July night and soft
smooth riverbed helped our Demyanchuks to cross the river.
The heavy fog covered them from the observations by the Russian
saldats and soft, smooth riverbed caused the horses to pull the
wagons quietly across the river. Our travelling families were
glad when they reached the top of the western riverbank. The
sun's rays just began to spread the light over the earth. Our
fugitives looked down from the bank, noticed the fog still
covering water in the river, and they felt free to inhale the
fresh morning's air. Michael took off his light cossack's cap
and crossed himself, and the others followed, in their hearts
thanked their Creator for helping them to escape the saldats'
shells. Michael then started to around for the post or buildings
where Austrian gendarmes were stationed. He knew that it was his
first duty to report and ask for temporal permission to travel in
Austria. He noticed on the south side three buildings surrounded
by oak and poplar trees. And in short time both wagons were
halted by the guards.
	Michael reported that he wanted to see the commanding officer
and while shaking hands with the officer, his fingers held the
valuable papers money, which the officer took and placed in his
side pocket. Michael now felt that he got the doors open. The
officer suggested that Michael go inside, and the other members
being tired may start to prepare breakfast, and he would like to
taste the "Russian chai". While the report being completed, our-
selves we were busy [to] set a fire and prepared breakfast and a real
breadfast, as they were under the nervous strain during their travel.
Now they all relaxed and had a good appetite. The young gendarme
suggested that their horses get some freshly-cut green grass.
Water has been boiled and large kettle of Russian chai has been
prepared. All the gendarmes were enjoying the chai and the rye
bread with shashliki or cured meat. Michael's wife, Maria
suggested to her maid to go and invite the officer to their
breakfast with chai.

--- 5 ---

5
The officer, after completing the preliminary report, asked
Michael, "What are you planning to do in Austria?" -- "We are the
farmers from the past and will remain agriculturists in the future."
We have enough money to purchase some land here, and start farming
again. From now on we will look for a larger field or a piece of
land, fertile, which will give us and our domestic animals food
and living."
	The officer was fully satisfied and added this statement to
his report, and suggested that the nearest county judge lives in
the town Borshchiv, and they should report to this judge and apply
for the legal citizen's documents as soon as possible. Michael
suggested and asked the officer for a duplicate report giving reason
that they are two families. Michael, his wife Maria and two small
boys with two hired men and one maid as one family. But his brother
Wasil and his wife Anastazia, two hired men and a maid, that is
another family. The officer thanked Michael for proper and legal
suggestion and wrote a duplicate report. He also suggested to
Michael that in the town Borshchiv there is a land-titles office
and if the judge is the same which is known to the officer, he will
be willing to ask his secretary to help Michael in purchasing the
land.
	"You know how to satisfy both, judge and the secretary?" said
the officer with a smile and a wink. Which meant: Pay for the
service. After breakfast with the tasty shashlyk and chai, the
officer drew the plan on the paper showing the roads through the
villages to the town Borshchiv. Pointed the fresh spring water,
meadow with grass for the horses, and suggested that they should
have a good rest during hot July day and next morning travel to see
the judge. Wished them all good luck, health and happiness in
and went to his duty. Next morning our Demyanchuks,
after good night's rest and full with hope for the bright future,
packed everything on their wagons for further journey and again
in their hearts thanked their Creator for His help and guidance
and prayed for His blessing.
	The boys on the horseback in saddles started to lead the
journey party. Michael with Maria, their two small boys who wanted
to see the country, pulled down the canvass covers and with the
"berest" or elm-tree branches with large leaves, decorated their
wagon and made shade from the hot sun-rays later in the day. Wasil
and Anastazia with both maids have covered their wagon and enjoyed
their ride, especially the girls were happy singing, giggling and
enjoying the travelling. Our party drove through the northern
part of the village Boordakivtzi and on the west end turned towards
the village Gooshtin. Passed Gooshtin and after travelling over
two kilometers, entered village Tzihani. Travelled through the
street Khalameyivka, from the north then gristed the wheat rye
barley and corn into flour. Between this mill and further west
a high water dam was built and served as a highway road and a water
dam and on the right side kept the water in shape of a lake, just
for the use by the grist mill. The water has been flowing from the
north west and through the village Losiach and the creek has been
named Tzihanka, meaning "the Gipsy woman." On the left side of this
mill and dam there was a public pasture but there was no grass and
our travelling party needed the hay or grass for their horses.

-- 6 --
They were driving to the "korchma," what we in Canada call
saloon. Only the difference is that "korchma" has one part of the
building with rooms for passengers and another part for horses
and it was in practice that drivers had their own feed for the horses.
	It just happened that while our travelling party reached
korchma, the local village policeman with a sign of his authority
carrying a sort of a round badge attached to a belt and tightly
fit from the left shoulder across the body. Judging by the
appearance Michael Demyanchuk asked this policeman for a help
and suggestion. The policeman willingly suggested and directed
Michael to the place suitable for their purpose.
	"Drive about two kilometers west outside of the village,
pass the cemetery on the left, and drive further on. You will
reach the forest triangle. Send the boys on their horseback
ahead so they will find the proper place before it is too dark to
locate the good level spot close to the spring water. They shall
pass the cemetery on their left and further down on their right
they shall notice residences and other buildings, where lives the
forest manager-guard. And going down they shall find one narrow
road on their left and look for the spring water and a streamlet
leading to the west. That is the place for your family and your
horses. You may be able to have small fire to prepare your supper.
But don't keen the fire too big and too long because it may attract
the guard and he doesn't approve on making fire on a hot day.
You understand? He is strict guard."
	Michael pressed the policeman's hand with one paper bill
money, with word, "Dyakuyoo!" The policemen suggested that it is
his duty to serve the travelling people in a strange place, and
warned the boys when they reach the fork-roads which one leads to the
right to the next village Losyach, and keep on the left road that
is their proper way. The boys jumped on their horses and left
the village.
	By the time our wagons reached the triangle the boys have made
the plans where to place the wagons and tents and where the horses
shall graze the green grass. Two large tents for both families end
the small one for the girls. The fire has been ready to heat and
boil the water for hot chai. Everything went according to plan.
The fire has been sprinkled with water as suggested by the policeman.
The horses were tied to the long ropes one end, and to the wagon
wheels another end of the ropes. Each team has been placed on
each side of the wagon. Everything has been rechecked and the girls
stopped giggling and were sound asleep. The boys were digesting
their long day's travel and distance they have travelled.
In one tent there was a light, a crude candle made of the bees
wax placed on the homemade stool, and illuminating the tent.
Around the light both brothers and sisters were sitting and planning
their future life in Austria. Michael with his wife Maria and
Wasil with his wife Anastazia have been discussing their life's
problem. And finally they agreed to change their names
from present name Demyanchuk they changed their name to Demchuk.
	After sunset in the middle of July 1778 A.D. in this triangle
Losyach Forest on the north, Zhilintsi Forest on the west, and
Tereziw Forest on the south close to the spring water, the name
Demchuk has its origin.

-- 7 --
The maid was out of humor because last night she promised
to have breakfast ready before the boys woke up. She failed,
slept in. Mistress Demchuk noticed the embarrassment on the
girl's face [and] rushed to rescue the girl.
	"It is very good for you to play jokes with us. Three of
you have been looking for two axes or those wide axes ... but two
of us had to lead by the hands our little boys, think and select
what we need and carry the parcels to wagon. It seems to me that
we walked many kilometers and as we are smaller and have to make
many more steps than you men, therefore no wonder we the weaker
sex are tired but we did not wish to admit to our weakness...."
	After breakfast our boys extinguished the fire, watered
the horses, harnessed Michael's team and hitched to the wagon
and jumped on their horses. Michael on Maria's suggestion
cut few branches with large leaves, placed them on the wagon
to keep the shade for their little boys.
	Took the cap off and "In the name of Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, now we are going to our new home, and start new life
in Austria!"
	Travelling back to the village Tzihani, the horses were
walking faster. It seemed to our travelling party that the animals
had the feeling that they are going to their home.
	Driving through the village Tzihani, the curious peasants
have been asking our travelling party: "Why going back so soon?"
The boys on horses, laughingly replied, "We are your neighbors
now, and shall see you in your church some Sunday."
	"Our boys have smart ideas in answering questions to strangers,"
said Michael to his wife.
	Our travelling party rode through the village and by the
saloon Michael stopped off the wagon and sized the load and time
of the day, and said aloud, "We have not much time today to go to
the grist mill to buy the flour and we are loaded today as it is.
Therefore, we shall leave flour problem till day after tomorrow.
In case I shall be too busy you boys will go to buy the flour
from the mill, yonder." He pointed on the building on the east
side of the artificial lake and the road built over the water dam.
Before the sunset, behind the Losyach forest, our Demchuks reached
their new home, before the sundown over that Losyach forest on
the west. It seemed strange to our boys that their horses have
turned onto the single farmers' road towards their new home,
and one of the horse-riders remarked, "Our horses must have the
feeling their future home is in sight, because I let the horse
loose just to see his reaction, and he turned this way without
hesitation. If the horses can only talk they have reasoning...."
	Here! You hold the horses while I will find the clean
place with a grass to cut for horses, before it is dark, to last
for whole night." He made a few steps and got into rye grass
almost as tall to reach the elbows. There was no reason to go
further, as Michael drove with his wagon onto the imaginary
planned new yard. Everybody started to rush. One boy helped
to unhitch the horses and tie them to the wagon wheels,
while another boy was cutting the grass for the horses. The
maid with small boys found some old last year's dry grass and
suggested to Michael to start the fire with his two small hard
stones, specially kept to start the fire. On their way, the
maid found pieces of dry wood and picked them for tonight's
fire. She was a smart girl and knew enough to plan ahead.

-- 8 --
In order to save time the three men visited different hardware
stores. They were lucky because Michael found one axe in one
store while one of the boys found another axe in another store.
The third boy found the store with scythes and the rack attachment
to cut the standing grain, such as barley, rye and buckwheat.
They found the hammer-flattener, the steel square block on
which to flatten and sharpen the scythes, the scythe stone to
sharpen the scythes, and axes and other instruments needed to
build the buildings, especially drillers to drill the holes
in the timbers and drive the wooden pegs (we use nails now).
Everything has been placed on both sides of the wagon. When
Maria with her maid brought her supplies the maid asked Michael
to buy another wagon. Michael smiled and said, "We shall pack
everything and make enough room for you to sit on top."
Everything has been packed but the maid said with her sad
expression on her face, to Maria, that "we have forgotten some-
thing and we can't live without it." While Maria has been sizing
up everything, Michael smilingly said, "We did not forget, but the
wagon had no more room so we shall buy the flour in our local
grist mill in the village." Thus the maid's fear has been settled.
	When everything was packed and tied on the wagon, it was
close to sunset. Michael had his plan, but he always had the
habit to ask for the opinion of others, what should they do now?
"We should drive out of town and stay overnight near the same
place where we camped last night," said one of the boys.
"Today we don't have to worry about the grass for horses because
we have scythes and we shall cut plenty of grass for the horses
to feed overnight, and we shall not tie the horses' front feet,
and I will cut plenty of grass to make a real bed for all of
us," said another boy. Michael smilingly said, "Our minds are
working in unison, because I had the same plan." It was almost
sunset, our travelling party reached the same spot under the
young bluff-bush. The women were preparing supper, one boy
cut the grass, Michael took the harness off all horses and the
other boy carried the grass for horses and bedding. One tent
for master's family. The maid suggested that she will sleep
in the same tent on the green cut grass, because too much extra
work with her tent. There is no sign of rain, so the boys made
their bed under the wagon. All the chores done and like one
family they enjoyed their meal. Following the supper Michael
again kneeled and the others followed, and all prayed and thanked
the Creator-God of His help today. The horses were tied to the
wagon wheels, no wind. Blessed July's night on the Ukrainian
warm soil, helped our travelling party to sleep.
	The boys agreed to get up in the early morning before
rising sun, and so it happened. They just had a short few hours'
nap and quietly got up, pushed the grass from under the wagon
so the horses can eat, took tie pail for water and went quietly
to the creek, washed their faces in the fresh water and carrying
water, thanked their Creator for His will that they slept soundly
and got up healthy. Set the small fire and when the water started
to boil, they began to whistle, and started to sing the Ukrainian
historical cossacks' song: "On the hill the harvesters cutting the
grain with their sickles ... and under the hill, the green hill,
cossacks are marching...."

-- 9 --
As it was perhaps few hours before sundown, the boys
galloped on their horses to look for the place to set the
tents and rest overnight. Right under the bluff-bush there
was a streamlet or creek, and water flowing towards town Borshchiv,
and our boys decided to rest overnight, as it would be safer
here than going into strange town and strange people. The boys
agreed between them to guard everything, one should sleep
until midnight and another after midnight.
	By the time Michael and his family arrived everything
has been planned by the horseback riders to the family's
satisfaction. All but one guard enjoyed their night's rest and
sleep.
	Next day before noon our Demyanchuks, with their small
and big boys and maid, found the office of County Judge and
after usual ceremonies and their signatures in the Austrian
legal records, their names have been recorded legally as Demchuk,
Michael, Maria, and their two sons. The hired two boys and
maid did not change their names. The curious Judge asked
Michael the reason in changing his name. "It is easier to
pronounce," explained Michael. Michael paid to the judge
legal fees for the recordings and Austrian citizens' documents,
and with "Thank you, Your Honor!" extended his hand in which
there was a golden coin, with whisper said, "this is for you
for good memory!" The Judge looked over the present, placed
it in his vest pocket, and asked Michael if he needs any other
help. Michael explained to the Judge that he is a farmer
and would like to find out who owns the land on the west side
of village Tzihani, as we have already described; 40 Canadian
acres sown with spring rye and a spring water.
	The Judge asked his secretary to lead Michael's family to the
Land Titles office and where every parcel of land in every
village is recorded with its owner. Michael also handed a
tip to this secretary who gladly explained all the legal
problems to Michael regarding the land deals in Austria.
	Before noon hour, our Demchuks were the owners of 40
acres of land with the ripening rye on the west side from the
village Tzihani, and although our new Austrian citizens,
Demchuks felt emptiness in their stomachs like on Good Friday's
lent, having early breakfast and with the mental strain, have
been forgetting about their food. Yet, they all were glad
that everything went with their wishes and plan. Sitting
on their wagon and tasting new Austrian luxuries with their
chai tea, they all have been contemplating and figuring what
they need to start on their new farm concerning the needed
articles to build house, stables and granary on their
vacant homeland. Maria with her maid, also have been
estimating the quantity of food they shall need to last them
for as long as possible. They have to save their time
because they have to construct the buildings before the
oncoming chilly fall season and to cut their 40 acres of
that almost-ripened rye with their scythes. There may be
some articles that they can buy in the village stores, but
they are not familiar with anything in the village. The
hardest and most worrying items they needed were axes. They
are time saving and best to hew the logs -- timbers for the
buildings built from the squared logs.

-- 10 --
"But who owns it?" "Where to find the owner?" said his wife
Maria. Well, so far we have been fortunate, let us hope that
we will be lucky in finding the owner and purchasing this rich
parcel of land, said Michael. Whereas, the hot sun has been
reaching the highest point in the sky. Maria with the maid
prepared cold dinner and instead of drinking chai tea they
preferred cold spring water for a change. Being preoccupied
with the problem of this parcel of land our family have forgot
that their main object today was to go to the county town
Borshchiv, to see the county judge and get the Austrian papers.
That road has not been familiar but the horses had to be fed
properly.
	When everything has been packed again and ready for further
travel and the girls filled the container with cold spring water.
Michael again put his cap aside and kneeling bowed his head, and
in a praying manner in a low voice thanked the Almighty Creator
for every help. In our step we are receiving from our God.
Therefore we are thankful to You, Almighty God and glorify Your
Name, for ever, amen.
	The first boy who noticed this road said solemnly, "This
shall be our home, you will see because I feel in my heart."
Finally our family reached the main road leading to the
village Tzihani. They all turned their heads and looked in the
direction to the spring and place where they enjoyed their noon
rest. Now with hope they passed the cemetery on their right and
further down the saloon where they received directions from the
village constable. The small boys pointed out the tall poplar
tree to their mother. They passed the village office and right
on the corner to the South there was a Greek Catholic church,
built of hewn square timbers. Further there was the minister's
residence and buildings. The minister has been a married man
and managed his domestic economy. Further on there was an old
cemetery, on their left adjacent to the tall fence, made of the
strong young willows serving and covering the garden and further
down the granaries, barns and residence owned by Count Biletzki
because the count's main residence has been in the village
Bilche. The residence has been occupied by count's manager
with a number of servants. Driving down on their right they
noticed great many acres covered with different kinds of grain.
On their left there was a street and on both sides were houses
occupied by the families, whose fathers or husbands were
employed by the count of Bilche. These hired men worked for the
Count Biletzki, looking after the horses, and worked with the
horses during the day-time and slept in their houses during
nights. Their wives had allotted gardens around the dwellings.
	Going further south they have noticed on the left side of
their highway towards town Borshchiv an old forest encircling
village Tzihani on the southeast. It has been the property
of another Polish count, Goluchowski, who also has been the owner
of many great parcels of cultivated land and forests, from the
town Skala to the north as far as the town Husyatin. We shall
write about him in another chapter.
	Our travelling party passed this forest ahead of their
way, on the right side a young bluff and two meadows [of] hay, and further
down about twp kilometers, on the higher level, they noticed many
buildings and they considered it was the town Borshchiv.

-- 11 --
Wasil had to see the county Judge in order to obtain the
Austrian citizens' papers, to be able to live and travel in
Austria legally. We believe that Wasil Demyanchuk-Demchuk
with his wife Anastazia, one maid and two boys (hired) after
this historical event in this triangle between the Losyach-
Zhilintzi-Terezia forest, on the west side of the village
Tzihani, on the bright hot July day in the year 1778 A.D.
have parted with his older brother Michael and his wife Maria
their two small sons, one maid and two hired boys. And we
know that Wasil's only road to the county town Horodenka
has been stretching by the village Zhelintzi.
	We only imagine that Wasil Demyanchuk-Demchuk
received his Austrian citizens' papers from the county judge
in Horodenka and travelled further west looking for a large
portion of land, and the main reason might have been that
Wasil was unable to buy the land, because further west the
population has been more crowded and the land has not been
for sale, especially for strangers. Therefore our party
might have been travelling from place to place in hope to buy
the land and in their worries overlooked the distance they
have gone from Horodenka. Another reason may be that under the
Carpathian Mountains the people felt more free from the oppression
of Polish lords and Wasil living on the Ukrainian steppes
(prairies) has inherited the manners which Ukrainian Hootzools
(mountaineers) also had in their veins. It is only our
supposition.
	All we know that around the town Kolomya, Stanislaw and
Stry, there has been great many Demchuks. We in Canada have
met several old Demchuks and discussed this question, "the
origin of Demchuks," and especially one Mikhail Demchuk who
was born near Kolomya, under the Carpathian mountains and
farmed near Ethelbert in Manitoba, has the same conviction
about "two brothers who left the wealth in Russia and fled to
seek the freedom in Austria...."
	Whereas this question of whereabouts Wasil Demchuk
originally settled is not historically proven, we would suggest
to the younger Demchuks whose parents came to Canada, to try
to investigate where the first Demchuks originally settled.
If there are families in Kolomya and Stanislaw there may be
some records in land titles office or churches, All we need
is to take interest in this question.

The Michael and Maria Demyanchuk-Demchuk Heritage
	After Wasil Demyanchuk-Demchuk's departure to the west,
Michael Demchuk with his family and helpers, and unpleasant
feelings in their hearts on the eventful hot July's day in the
year 1778 A.D. the hired boys on their horses and Michael and
Maria both small sons and maid on the wagon, "in the name of
God!" started for the town Borshchiv, as the Austrian gendarme
suggested to the Austrian citizens' papers, from the County
Judge, in order to be free to travel. They have started on the
same road going back to the east and drive through the village
Tzihani and turn south to the county town, Borshchiv. They left
that forest triangle where they stayed overnight and where they
planned their future and changed their name from Demyanchuk
to Demchuk. Travelling to the higher level, the horses were
passing slower and our travelling party had a chance to classify

-- 12 --
different kinds of trees growing in the Losyach forest on their
left. They have noticed large oak trees, hornbeams, maples and
white poplars, pinchberries, cranberries and wild plum trees were
not just ripe enough to eat. When they reached the end and
corner of the Losyach forest, they have noticed the residential
buildings, living-quarters of the forest ranger and manager of
the Losyach forest. The buildings were built with the hewn
and squared oak logs. The walls about two meters high. The
yard and garden were surrounded with nicely-trimmed pine trees.
The yard with garden were exceptionally clean. "It is strange
that I have not noticed this beautiful garden with such
lovely flowers with mixed aroma," said Maria, turning to her
husband and pointing her finger at the large peonies. "We are
looking for that forest triangle, which the village policeman
suggested to look for, and hence the reason we have overlooked
everything else," replied Michael, looking for the place they
had their tents by the water spring, trying to get that
historical place into his vision and mental memory. "Just look
to your right in southeast direction! Now is the beautiful
panorama, an ideal picture for an artist to paint the Ukrainian
fields with the ripening grain," remarked the maid. Indeed that
was the beautiful view. About the length of one kilometer, the
fields were sloping downwards and further to the south across the
one way road, towards the Terezya forest the sloping of the
land and fields were rising. It looked like a quilt from a
distance, because the parcels of peasants' land about two acres
each parcel has been covered with a different kind of grain,
such as spring wheat, barley, rye, and buckwheat. The peasant
farmers have been living in the village and worked their land
in this manner, and although the horses started to walk
faster now because the road has been level, our travelling
party have been so attracted by the natural panorama and July's
sun's rays that they have forgotten their surroundings.
	The boys on their horses left our wagon behind and about
five hundred yards from the forest ranger's buildings they have
noticed a narrow, one-way farmer's road leading to the left. The
boys were curious and asked their horses to gallop. About four
hundred yards they had to stop as they noticed a small streamlet
and water flowing from the west. Standing on their horses and
looking around, the boys noticed that across the small creek
there has been a spring water. The boys in their loud voice
and a sign with their hands, asked Michael to drive down, and
jumped off their horses, drank the crystal-clear and ice-cold
water. Michael on his wagon drove down with his wife, small
boys and maid. "This place shall be our hone," exclaimed the maid
and boys. "Yes" said Michael, but tell me, who owns this land?
It is a question." Michael with the boys climbed on the wagon
and looked around to examine the size of that field. On
the west from the forest ranger's buildings to the north, along-
side the Losyach forest to the creek, in which the water has
been flowing to the east and emptying into the artificial lake
in the village, and along this single farmer's road the field 
has been covered with spring rye, which means that all the
parcel of land belonged to one owner and there might have been
20 or approximately 40 Canadian acres.
	"This is not as much as we left in our Yaskorunya, but for the
start it shall be enough," said Michael.

-- 13 --
There and that night the both brothers and with their wives
in a friendly manner and with family feelings have divided
equally all their worldly possessions, money, horses, wagons
and household wares whatever they had on their wagons, because
neither [of the] brothers Demyanchuk nor sisters Yakowliw had selfish
and greedy desires. There has been traditional custom that the
oldest brother in Demganchuk family has been known as a guardian
and custodian of all the documents covering the land which they
have left near the town Yaskorunya. As Michael was the oldest
of the two brothers, therefore Michael took all the documents
for safekeeping. Of course both families looked over all the
documents and agreed unanimously. They agreed that Michael
should live close to the boundary and in case of political
change in Russia he would try to repossess their land near
Yaskorunya. But for their families' safety both families shall
live apart at some distance. It was also understood that both
families shall have dependable messenger and inform the families
at least once a year about their living conditions. Maria
suggested and insisted that her parents, Alexander and Catherine
Yakowliw, who also resided near Yaskorunya, be informed with every-
thing. We have no idea how they were informed. But we are
certain that Alexander Yakowliv with his wife and three sons
Theodor, Danylo, and Mikhail have moved into Austria. Alexander's
brother Paul remained in Yaskorunya.
	Next morning after breakfast Michael Demyanchuk-Demchuk
invited all boys and girls into his tent and suggested that
they be seated and listen carefully to his plan and information
as to their future. First thing he informed the boys and girls
that they have had meeting last night and decided to change
their names from Demyanchuk to Demchuk, and from now on both
brothers' name is Demchuk, and if any spies or anybody inquires
about their proper name the boys and girls know only Demchuks
family. The second pint is that both boys and girls are free
to do with themselves whatever they wish, they are free. If they
wish they may work for Demchuke and get a fixed salary, or look
for another employment. The boys and girls have agreed to live
and work together for both families as they have started when
left Yaskorunya. The Maria's maid with her fears, said that she
considers both Michael end Maria as her parents because she feels
that all the servants have been treated by Demyanchuks like equal
in Yaskorunya, and she believes that in the future shall be no
change. "Amen!" said the boys and girls solemnly.

Michael's prayers and Farewell Wishes
	When everything was packed on the wagons and ready to depart
Michael took off the light Cossacks fur cap and crossed himself
and the other men done the same thing. Women also crossed them-
selves. "In the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!"
	Michael in a solemn feeling and voice like he was talking
to himself, "Oh Thou bright sun! In the beginning of universal
life on this world and heaven the Creator-God, wisdom, love
goodness, Justice. The almighty spirit giving the origin to all
the life, appointed you O Bright Sun to be the queen upon all the
stars, moon and the earth. And the almighty Creator empowered
you, sun, to create the energy and to all life in our visible
and invisible universe: the human, the fish in water, animals,
the birds, the trees and the plants growing in water and on dry
soil."

-- 14 --
"To you, 0 hot sun, the Creator placed command to have your
road and direct all heavenly bodies to follow your ways. Our
human reasoning is unable to answer the simple question: Where
is the origin or beginning of everything on this world and in
the universe? Who planned and created the roads for al1 the
heavenly bodies? There is nobody who can answer these
questions, and therefore we have to agree with the fact that
there was super-human creator who created the origin of everything
in the universe. Now to you my dearest! I believe that when a
human being is born into this world, its fate is allotted to that
born baby by our Creator super-human. The same Creator who gave
the origin to everything in our universe. The same Creator who
planned the roads to all the Heavenly bodies which we can see.
Therefore we have to agree that our present difficult situation
is assigned by our super-human Creator. In a few minutes we shall
depart into unknown destinations. If it is God's will that we
shall meet together and return to our father's home near Yashorunya,
then sooner or later we shall reunite. But if it is the will
of our Creator to stay from our Father's home -- please remember
our fate -- assignment has been allotted to us by our Creator for
some of His purpose."
	"I am the oldest now of Demyanchuk-Demchuk family and I
consider it is my duty to direct you and suggest to you and
your future descendants, my friendly order or command: Wherever
you or your offspring shall live be you rich or poor, remember
your family's name and origin of your ancestors. It is true that
we have changed our family name, but it is only temporary. When
we return to our father's home he shall announce to the world
that we had to save our lives. Love your own and respect others.
Do not try to be deceitful nor greedy. You shall not take your
wealth into the grave with you. Try to live moderately and set the
example from yourselves. Remember you shall not be loved but you
will be respected. Because with your clear conscience you always
will be able to look straight into the eyes of your worst enemies
with a smile. I am closing my friendly suggestion and order and I
wish you and your future descendants very best of success, Health
and Happiness."
	Michael finished his speech and two pure tears came out from
his heart and eyes. His human emotions, in a few seconds have
been controlled. The last moments before departure of both families
sad the servants were heart sobbing and crying, especially the
both sisters. Michael with raised voice said, "If it is the
Creator's will we will meet in Yaskorunya! God bless you all."

Wasil's family moves first in western direction
	Thus, Wasil helped his wife Anastazia and girl maid to climb
on the wagon and the boys have been on their horses, and Wasil
doffed his straw hat and standing, in a loud voice said, "Good-bye,
Farewell my brother, sister-in-law with your two sons, and you
young girl and you boys, and may God bless you in your life!"
Anastazia's eyes were filled with tears. Maria, also crying,
said: "Nastunya! Remember our family, Yakowliw in Yaskorunya!
and don't forget to let us know about your home!"
	Wasil gave a sign and both boys on their horsebacks started
to move to the west. We only imagine that Wasil's plan was to go
by the village Zhilintzi and towards county town Horodenka, where

-- 15 --
Maria found her small pail with iron handles and sent the
small boys to the water spring and have supper with their
chai tea. She did not cook anything this time because
Maria purchased some luxuries in town just for emergency.
She considered herself as mistress of the house, had to plan
in order to satisfy everyone, and when they finished eating
Maria suggested that after the strenuous day, they all shall
relax and tomorrow being Sunday they may sleep as long as
they wish. The horses are tired and need rest and you boys
are tired so your going to the church tomorrow is out of the
question. If you start to walk it will take you a good one hour.
Standing in the church during two hours service and walking
home another hour, would be too much for you. Later on we will
go together and will surprise all the congregation. Therefore
tomorrow we will have late dinner and family prayer, here in
the open on our new land.
	Michael and boys were discussing additional details
regarding the places of the exact location of the house, stable
and granary and asked the boys' suggestions from the practical
standpoint. Whereas the wind has been blowing from the south-west
direction, therefore it was proper to build all stables
and other buildings for animals on the east side from the house
in order to have fresh air in the house and water-spring shall
always be clean. The water-spring shall be between the house
on the west side and stables on the east side of water-well.
The maid suggested that the well should be close to the house,
because she will be carrying water to the house. The boy
suggested that they shall install the pipes to have the water
cistern. Michael said that he had the water problem in view
because in a few years the maid shall get married and Maria shall
be carrying water. It began to be dark, and as tomorrow is
Sunday therefore our friendly family enjoyed the evening in
July's fresh air, no flies, no mosquitoes, no wind, only
calm Ukrainian night.
	The maid started to yawn and small boys were sound asleep
on the freshly-cut, green with aroma, grass therefore Michael
knelt on his knees and crossed himself and the others followed
him and all started to pray. Michael began with words, "We all
here present, from our hearts thank You Our Creator, for all
your help which we received in our problems so far and we
humbly pray Thee Our Father, grant us Your blessings in our
plans, work, health and weather in the future...."
	Maria, weeping, dried her eyes [and] started to lament: "I wonder
where is my sister Anastazia, now. Why did we not keep together?
We were very fortunate and received even better than we planned.
I am fully satisfied, but I don't know what luck you have?
Why our fortune divided us and what kind of home you have?..."
Michael pressed her and started to comfort her: "Such are our
roads, allotted to us by our Creator. I said to you all that
it may be Creator's plan that we go apart. We don't know. Try
to sing Ukrainian old song: 'Bo tak daw, Bo tak treba boolo.'"
(Meaning: "Such was God's order, because it was necessary to
be so.") It quietened Maria's sorrow and she went to bed, but
she could not go to sleep. She has been digesting Michael's way
and his belief in humans' life. Finally she came to conclusion
as he said in the morning on their departure that every human
being's destiny is granted to him or her as soon as he or she is
born.

-- 16 --
She began to realize that she is Michael's wife, mother of two
small boys, mistress of the family and household. She has to
give example as wife, cook, and member of the Ukrainian nation,
born and raised in Ukraine. She fully realized now her husband
had no choice [but] to leave the wealth in Yaskorunya and to settle
from the enemies and seek another place to settle and live with
her in Austria, or maybe it is Creator's will and plan to do what
has been done; so far and with much a conception Maria went to sleep.
	Next day Maria felt mentally a different woman. With her
maid she discussed everything about their future needs. They
needed two milking cows, some chickens, and geese. The garden
and flowers it was too late in the season, so they left it until
the spring. The main worry is the house. The sheep, hogs, and
bees she left to her husband's worry. Now she sees that the boys
have plenty of work to do so she didn't want to mention anything
to Michael. Not until the house is finished.
	During next week Michael with his boys were busy with cutting
and hauling the logs for the house and stable with granary.
Michael went to the forestry ranger and explained the situation
and asked the ranger a special favour to sell him the
building material in the Losyach forest. The request has been
approved and the ranger took them to an oak bluff with medium
thickness and straight oaks. He directed them to cut the trees
on level with the ground, and chips with branches must be cleaned
away. They counted all the trees, Michael paid for them and they
began to cut at once. Michael's field has been close by, but the
deep fossa between forest and field made impossible transportation.
Therefore, they had to travel the distance of two kilometers and
through the forester's yard. But the ranger suggested to the
boys to use his wagon and they had their own extra team. Thus,
the hauling problem had no difficulty. The boys were young and
willing and with those axes enjoyed the squaring [of] timbers.
	The two-yards-high walls for the house were constructed
in a few days. Even Maria with her maid helped to get the bark
off the trees. The boys were worrying about the roof, but they left
this puzzling problem to chief constructor Michael. Among the oak
trees in the bluff they cut one thick elm tree. It has been
straight, no problem in splitting like the shingles. But it was
only one tree, not enough to cover the whole roof. Michael has
been prepared for this problem. He constructed portable mill.
A scaffold has been attached to one wall. The man on top pulling the
rip-saw up had another boy pulling the rip-saw down.
	Now, let us briefly explain to our young Demchuks born in
Canada how Michael with his boys covered the roof on his buildings.
	The walls were six feet high; near the walls, the boys
squared with their adzes or axes a great many logs, ready to rip them
into the planks, approximately two inches thick. They placed a
few squared logs across the buildings just like ceiling beams
and underneath a sort of a beam and props to support the beam
against the weight on top. Now to get the squared logs on top,
they placed two smooth logs, one end in the ground end, another
end on top of the wall in a slant way (upwards). This end of the
log had to be fastened on top, so it can't move. Then a long rope on
one end of the squared logs, thrown over the wall and same way on
the other end of the log, each end has been pulled by the horse
slowly and evenly on top of that scaffold.

-- 17 --
When the horses, after a few trials, were trained to pull their
end onto the top and over the wall, everything went smoothly
and no hard work for the men. The boys admired Michael's skill
and judgement in such problems. Michael knew from old Ukrainians
who were slaves in Turkish army. The Turks have built many stone
fortresses on Ukrainian land and used similar methods but not
with horses, the slaves had to push the weight. The planks were
ready and enough for all the planned buildings; the roof was easy.
to erect. The slope of the roof has been low. Enough to let the
rain water run off the roof. The planks were placed downwards
and two tiers in order to keep the roof dry and to fit closely
to planks. The boys drilled a hole on each end of the plank and
used the wooden pegs, just like we use the nails now. On top of
the roof (the apex) Michael suggested to the boys to place two
boards in a shape of trough to keep the rain water, in order to
cover the planks' ends.
	We will add Michael's invention of application how to
prevent these logs from rotting in our story Part one:
"Our Visit in the Year 1910."
	The above information we have gathered from both Wasil and
Fedor and Paul Demchuk, the three brothers and we are thankful
to our Creator-God for keeping us alive and writing and describing
the origin of Demyanchuk-Demchuk family. Our only regret is that
we are unable to trace the original place where another brother
Wasil with his wife Anastazia, the younger brother and younger
sister, have found their place. We believe it was under the
Carpathian Mountains but the exact location wasn't known.

[Our Visit in the Year 1910]
	It was on fine Sunday after dinner, middle of month August
1910, my father Paul, my step-mother and myself, on ordinary
peasant wagon have travelled over the same road, the same water-
dam by the same grist-mill over which our Demyanchuk-Demchuk
brothers with their families travelled in the middle of July in
the year 1778. Only the different psychological feeling. They
were travelling under the strain and suspense. We were travelling
without any worries with pleasure to visit our close relative
Mikhail Demchuk and his family, situated and well-settled on the
land in home built by his forefather Michael Demyanchuk-Demchuk.
It seems strange to me, now that we have been travelling from the
highway to the yard, over one-way narrow road. At my present age
I ask myself: "Why is it that some families and nations have
characteristics in keeping their forefathers' traditions, customs
and respect for their past. I have in view this narrow road.
When we were leaving Stry Mihkail's place that evening I asked
Stry Mikhail why that road is so narrow, as in case two wagons
passing by, will not be able to go by and the driver would have to
drive over the grain and spoil some grain, as the horses will
tramp over it." Stry Mikhail smiled and answered seriously,
"It is a good question from young boy, and I shall have two
answers for you," he said. "First answer is: we need two yards
of land all the way and that two yards shall produce a few bags
of grain, which can be used to feed our domestic animals, pigs
or chickens. It means a few Austrian rynski" (read "Canadian dollars")
"and take for example ten years' such a waste, amounts to a small
pile of money."

-- 18 --
"We don't have heavy traffic over this road; do not need it to be
wider. That is one answer, and another answer to the same question
is: our first Michael Demyanchuk, his family with boys, found this
road to the spring, used it and his sons used it in the past over
130 years and it was good and satisfactory for them, therefore I
consider that at this time it is good for me and my children."
Now I consider that Stry Mikhail's philosophy has been proper,
from the economical and family standpoint. My father raised
his family in a manner satisfactory to the society of his nation,
therefore, I did the same with my family and I am proud with my
children and grandchildren and I hope they will prove to be good
citizens and example in our society.

Visit No. 2
	We drove into the yard and first thing I have noticed, two
large dogs tied on the chains beside the doghouse. The dogs were
jumping and barking at us strangers.
	Stry Mikhail came out from the house and greeted us with
cordial smile. As I remember his face now, I have his picture
resembling to the English lords: thick beard, sideburns, and
long Ukrainian Cossack's moustache and long pipe which he smoked,
and holding with his left hand while shaking our hands in greetings.
(During all my life in Canada, when I looked on a package of
tobacco, coarse-cut and called Old Chum, I always had a picture
of my Stry Mikhail. It resembled his package.) He seemed to
reach his seventy years' age, well built like Ukrainian Cossack
with authority. He walked erectly and spoke rather slowly, but
his manners in speech carried the weight in every sentence.
	Following Stry Mikail, came out a rather middle-aged blond
man and greeted us with a smile. "This is our Franko, your cousin
Paul," said Stry Mikhail. After the greetings and a few words,
Franko excused himself and left. "All the cows came home for
their noon portion of chop, but one has not come. Perhaps Franko
will bring a small calf and the cow will follow him," explained
Stry Mikhail.
	Therefore we had no chance to speak with Franko that Sunday.
A few minutes later a lady came out from the house and greeted us
with friend1y feelings. And indeed she was a human beauty: slim,
tall, blond, with blue eyes, rose natural cheeks with very attractive
smile. Her manner in speech was excellent as though she has been
measuring her chosen words and sentences, out of natural dictionary.
"This is my only daughter Anastazia, we call her Nastoonya,"
introduced her to us Stry Mikhail. Nastoonya bowed her head and
with a pleasant expression on her face said, "Vitayte hostye!"
Clasped hands with Anna and my father. It is a pleasure for me to
greet you in our home, my dear relatives! I thank you for visiting
us on this fine holy Sunday," said Nastunya. After hand-shaking
with my parents, Nastunya with sad expression came close to me and
said, "Your and my mothers died and we both are grown up orphans.
Therefore, we should kiss each other like motherless orphans!"
She embraced me and kissed me like my mother would kiss her son.
It has been a sweetest kiss I ever felt in my life, and I kissed
her with brotherly feelings.

-- 19 --
I was only fifteen years old and no girl ever kissed me before,
because the church minister, during his religious hour in the
school, on many occasions told us students that it was sin to kiss
a girl, and after our lips parted my mind began to wonder: Did I
commit a sin? Nastunya was about ten years older than I and being
my stryna she kissed me as an orphan. So we did not commit a sin.
I felt embarrassed because my face blushed and my step-mother noticed
it and started to laugh at us and our kissing.
	My father has been interested in the old buildings which he knew
were built by the first Demchuk in the year 1778 and the new-invented
shingles made of clay, which were fireproof, insurance rate was
low on such houses and modern in style. My father was planning to
build a new house because step-mother being ambitious wanted
something better than ordinary peasant's wife. Another thing, she
was a young woman, had one child and expected to have more and
naturally the girl marrying a widower expects to live longer than
her husband, therefore tries to have her future well secured.
	Another reason was that father also had an experience in erecting
buildings, he was curious to know how the first Demchuk treated
the logs of which the buildings were built, as after 130 years the
logs were sound like they were placed in the walls a few years,
solid like any new logs brought from the forest. Stry Mikhail had
the practical answer to that question. The Turkish army occupied
Ukraine for long many years, built many fortresses which in our times
still remain as solid round stoe, thick-walled buildings (I have seen
one in town Skala) with small windows in the walls. Naturally Turks
brought their engineers, who knew how to mix cement and wood in
order to preserve the life of the logs. The Turks forced the
Ukrainians to help in building those fortresses and [the] first Michael
Denyanchuk must have learned somehow how to prepare such mixtures
to paint or apply to the logs. The[y] burnt kind of certain stones,
crush them and like lime, paint them with a strong-fibred brush.
When the mixture dried out on the logs first, Michael applied another
coat of mixture water and some crushed fine burnt stones. The
mixture sealed and made the logs air tight and lasted during centuries.
	We must admit that Ukrainians were skilful nation and no wonder
that the Russians were so eager to keep the Ukrainians and Ukraine
under the bondage.
	All the buildings were about two-yards-high walls and roof of
medium slope. Stry Mikhail invented the mixture and made the
shingles himself, and all the buildings were covered with green-colored
clay shingles. If my memory serves me right those clay shingles were
about twenty inches long and twelve inches wide. One end was bent like
hooks, faced on the horizontal, about two-inches-thick boards and
four inches wide. The other end of shingle was flat and a bit
sharpened from the top to let water run down faster and the ice
shall have no hold. No nails were needed and the clay shingles
were placed like we place them here in Canada: the top grove covers
one underneath and no rain water can get under, and once these clay
shingles were properly tight, the roof stayed solid for long many years.
I have noticed that father was very attentive to everything Stry
Mikail said.
	After my father's study of the buildings, we went to the pasture
and looked over eight horses: four black and four chestnut and one
twenty year-old chestnut mare with the spring, about five-month-
old colt, and both were expecting that we will treat them with pieces
or cubes of white sugar, according to Stry Mikail's information.

-- 20 --
	On the west side of the house I noticed in high railings
pasture, several sheep. On the east side of the buildings there
was a separate building a hog-pen, and under the walls against the
sun several hogs were grunting and biting each other. The flock
of chickens in one corner and geese with ducks in the dug-out water
on the far eastern end of the farm shed. I realized that the first
Demchuk must have been a good manager and planner, because all the
buildings were erected on eastern side of the house and facing with
the entrance doors to the south side. With my young curiosity I
asked Stry Mikhail for the reason why all the doors were facing
to the south? Has it some particular meaning?
	"The sun's rays are the best medicine for every living creatures
on this planet. The sun's rays through the door, kill the germs
in the barns, which are parasites to the animals; adds the fresh
air into the buildings, which is hea1thy to the animals and dries
the barn walls inside and adds the strength to the logs of the
buildings," explained Stry Mikhail.
	I looked to the south on the field and noticed that the rye
grain has been harvested, shocked, or in plain English, the sheaves
were bound and placed in shape like coils to be cured and dried.
After we have looked over around the yard, Stry Mikhail
suggested that we sit down and Nastunya will bring us lunch.
"If the stomach is filled then it is a pleasure to live on this
world," said Stry Mikhail.
	Nastunya with my step-mother covered with white linen table-
cover a homemade table, and brought out of the house a large
pitcher filled with some liquid, which looked like Canadian beer
and bitter taste. I never tasted old country beer, because our
church minister, during his religious hour in the school, forbid
us to drink the liquor in any form. He said it was sin to be drunk.
I asked Stryna Nastunya, if it will make me drunk, because I did not
wish to be drunk and act funny like a crazy person. She laughed
and assured me that it is a healthy drink and to make it sweet
she gave me a large slice of honey cake and it tasted delicious,
because in the village it was considered as a luxury. Not very
many villagers had honey.
	I praised Stryna Nastunya for her delicious sweet cake. She
thanked me, handed me another helping, and said that she has some
for my younger brother Harry and I must not forget to take with me,
when leaving for home.
	While Stry Mikail, my father and my step-mother were
enjoying with their lunch, Stryna Nastunya suggested that we go into
her garden to pick some late strawberries for supper and see her
orchard, because she knew that I would be more interested in her
work in the garden than listening to the old people's gossip.
Indeed when we entered the beauty part garden among the flowers,
my whole body was filled with sudden wonder. Until now I was under
the impression that only our village nuns had most beautiful garden,
but now in comparison, Stryna Nastunya's garden looked more like in
paradise. It was very picturesque, because the landscape was
slightly slant from the North towards the creek on the south. It
looked like it was painted by a genius painter. In addition to the
natural beauty, the aroma from the different flowers injects into
human body a strange feeling. "This a Paradise and prettier than
the picture in the school Bible," I exclaimed in amazement.

-- 21 --
Stryna Nastunya has been naming all the flowers but I could
not remember their names, because my young mind has been overfilled
with God's plan and help the human beings to decorate this world
with such beautiful plants, and many times when I looked into other
people's gardens, my mind and memory turned to Stryna Nastunya's
garden and that blessed holy Sunday afternoon. I mentioned the aromas
which different flowers produced and that I forgot their names. I
can only add the name of large peonies, because every woman in the
village had them planted under the windows of the house or else she
would not be considered as a mother and a wife. Yet I cannot
recollect the name of those flowers producing such attractive aroma.
Here in Canada I asked many old Ukrainian garden-loving ladies and
we are unable to identify the flowers and aroma.
	"No wonder Stryna, that you are able to bake such a sweet
and delicious honey cake. You have help from the bees and those
flowers." My remarks to Nastunya about the cake, pleased her
immensely. "Now we shall go into the vegetable garden," said
Nastunya. I glanced around and noticed almost every vegetable
plant and without exaggeration said, pointing at the plants,
"You know, Stryna, until today I believed that only our Sisters
or Nuns had best-looking garden, now I see that yours is better-
looking because yours is not scattered. Every kind of vegetable
grow close like families together and it adds a positive natural
beauty and harmony, and all these plants in one garden create
positive and beautifully attractive appearance."
	Nastunya wanted to say something to me, but noticed a few bees
flying into my direction, she ordered me to stay quiet and don't
move and don't touch them. They wouldn't sting if I leave them alone.
From the garden, we entered the orchard and I noticed that some
cherries although fully ripe still were holding to the trees, as
they were under the shadow of the leaves. The small-sized pears
called "Petrivky" after St. Peter's Day on the 10th day in July
have been ripening and gathered by Stry Mikhail, and Nastunya
preserved them as a jelly and stored them in farm dug cellar, close
to the large blocks of ice covered with last year's chaff, Nastunya
informed me. The large pears, red apples and plums were ready to be
picked and awaited Nastunya's preparation for comfitures (or as we
in Canada call jams and jellies) and the green apples were too green
in appearance. "These late apples," said Nastunya "are my father's
favorites; he picked them very carefully and packs them in the
chaff or covers them with the rye or barley straw, and keeps them in
the warm place on the attic near the chimney. This kind of apple
is very good winter-keeper and we enjoy eating them in the evening
during winter seasons. They have a wine-tasty flavour," Nastunya
informed me. She asked me if I know how the bees gather honey
and if I am interested in their work? I told her that we have
two bee hives in our small orchard and I have been watching them
many times, and we passed them. We came into the strawberry patch
to pick some late fresh strawberries for supper. Nastunya warned me
to be careful against the small snakes, as it was a hot day and
they usually crawl among the strawberry plants, and some of them
may have poison in them. It pays to be careful. We picked a
pot full of nice, red and plump strawberries, and started for the house.
	While walking, I asked Nastunya how can she manage so much
work in the house, in the garden and milking the cows and mostly
by herself? "It is very simple if you know how," answered
Nastunya smiling.

-- 22 --
"Franko helps me to milk the cows, in the morning after my daily
kitchen-work I go into the garden and do what has to be done first,
before dinner and after dinner. I don't work too fast, but steady.
Franko works on the field and father, at his age, helps us as much
as he is able. Now stop and listen how our triplets are singing
about an old miller bachelor," said Nastunya sadly.
	Indeed, Stry Mikhail, my father and step-mother have been
singing harmoniously: "Not a house, not a wife, not a child, never
	I had. The wheels are turning, the years pass
	by, I am an old man standing upon the grave...."
"Oh! what a sad song. I pity and feel sorry for him. The people
forced him to work in the mill gristing flour for people and looking
after the wheels, working for the people, but no time for himself,"
said Nastunya dolefully.
	"Well, Paul and Anna, I never dreamt that I will enjoy and
spend so happy [time] on this Holy warm Sunday!" said Stry Mikhail.
"Visit us often; we are relatives and should see each other
frequently." "Nastunya! please bring us some more of that, as
Dimitri calls, bitter beer, and we shall sing another old song
together." After emptying half a mug of the bitter beer, my step-mother
started to sing another controversial song. It was related
to the young woman who married an old man and she wished to mix
with a young people, and he being jealous would not permit her to
go alone. "Come along with me, my boy, and I will show my paintings
painted during cold winter and lonely evenings, and don't hesitate
to express your young opinion. It reminds me that my brother,
Bronislaw, once said that you are poor painter, but you are gifted
in measurement and drawings. If you have a good solid instruction
in draftsmanship you can be a good carpenter or designer. He, as
your teacher, noticed your designs close to the end of your school, yes,
but it was too late to help you."
	We got into her "work-shop" and I was surprised seeing so many
beautiful paintings hanging on the walls. At first I could not
believe that they were Nastunya's creations. I looked into one
corner and on the small table I have noticed a bunch of paint brushes
and colored pencils and small cups with different colours. Then I had
to agree with myself that it was really her work. Her brother Bronko,
the school-teacher, supplied her with hard paper and paints, because
Bronislaw understood her wishes to create fine art and he knew her to
he gifted in paintings, tried to help her in her monotonous life.
She lost her mother's natural and tender affections, Nastunya
inherited her mother's talent in painting because she knew that her
mother has beer studying fine arts in Italy and having the ambition
and perhaps under the influence of loneliness, tried to express her
psychological feelings with her thinking, her eyes, her hands, and
paint brush.
	After looking over her paintings I congratulated her for her
gifted work and assured her that in the future, with her natural
talent she will create some world-famous pictures. She promised
to paint our inspection in her garden and orchard. I don't know, as
the next year I emigrated to Canada. From here I did not write to her
because being too young, I was unable to get a homestead until I was
eighteen years old. I could not write her a lie that I was a rich farmer
or rancher with many hundred heads of cattle. I felt here as a
young immigrant boy, and many times downhearted because I was
unable to get a good job.

-- 23 --
"Not strong to work on the railway...." Then First World War.
My hopes went "Topsy-Turvy" just like that song our triplets
sang: "The years passed by ... the wheels were turning ... I am an old
man standing upon the grave...."
	"Oh! the sun is getting down and it is time to prepare supper.
What happened to Franko?," said Nastunya with expressed distress.
"I should start to prepare supper." She asked father where he would
be willing to eat their supper, in the house or outside?
	"In the house is more convenient for you," answered Stry
Mikhail. Anna, my step-mother, offered the help and they went
into the house. Stry Mikhail got up, got hold of my hand, and
suggested to my father to follow us. He lead us into his small
room, opened the low built door, and lit the small coal oil table
lamp, picked up a sort of wire (like we in Canada call "poker")
with which we clean the ashes out of a stove. It was bent on one end.
It was a homemade key which by turning around twice opened a door
in the homemade fireproof safe. In this safe he kept all the
legal documents and all valuable articles. Stry Mikhail opened
the safe door and pulled [out] two small boxes, about twelve inches long
and six inches wide. Unwrapped them and placed them on the small
table. In the semi-dark room the gold and silver started to twinkle.
I never saw the pure and silver coins and therefore my mind and eyes
were filled with astonishment and surprise, but it was only for a
few seconds. Stry Mikhail explained that these were old coins
accumulated by his ancestors and he is only guardian of these
coins and other documents. Actually it belongs to all Demyanchuk-
Demchuk Family. He has no greedy desires to be only owner of this
ancient money. And that was the reason he wanted me to know about
everything which belongs to all Demchuks. After Stry Mikhail's death
Franko being the oldest in the family shall take possession of the
farm and Stry Mikhail will ask Franko to make promise under the oath
to keen in safety all the coins and documents, as a guardian. "In case
of Franko's death and no other Franko's sons to succeed him, you,
Dimitri, shall have the hereditary rights to these coins and the
legal documents. I will write my testament some day and wrap it
with these documents. I suggest to you to always try and remember
this day, and in case of some dispute you will be able to swear my
verbal request." I have noticed that his hands were trembling
when he started to wrap those coins. Stry Mikhail wrapped the
golden and silver coins and pulled out a roll of documents tied
with red ribbon, and solemnly untied these rolls or scrolls, and spread
them over the table and began to explain to us the importance and
value of every one. The first as I remember was almost like a
new document. It had a red seal with a red ribbon glued or attached
to the document. Stry Mikhail explained that it was the Austrian
citizen's or naturalization paper, granted to the first Michael
Demyanchuk-Demchuk by the county court judge in the town Borshchiv
in July 1778 A.D. This paper I remember well, as it was written
in Latin language. The other few documents had seals attached with
wide red ribbons. Only the writing was in Old Slavic church language.
One document has been larger in size; Stry Mikhail explained that
the document was very important to Demchuk family because it
witnessed that those in authority granted the parcel of land near
the town Yaskorunya, with all the natural resources, cultivated land,
forest, meadow hay, small creek with [description of] direction the water has been
flowing, and the size of that parcel, so many kilometers wide and
its length.

--24--
It was granted to Demyanchuk family and their successors for the
heroic deeds, contributed to the Hetman and Ukraine. The
signatures for me were difficult to read. (I have seen signatures
of Canadian ministers on documents which it was impossible to read.)
Another document was the transfer and sale of the property which
first Michael Demyanchuk-Demchuk purchased in the town Borshchiv,
same day he received his naturalization papers. It has been written
in Latin and had similar description: so many hectares (meaning the
surface measure of land and creek), water running in eastern
direction. This parcel of land was the property of Mikhail Demchuk
and his heirs.
	On several occasions I questioned myself and I came to the
conclusion that it must have been the Creator's plan to my visit
Stry Mikhail's home on that Sunday in August in 1910 [typed text actually says 1919] A.D. to see the
documents and write as a witness to everything and to describe, with
my sound memory and vision which I have before my eyes, and pass it on
to my future Demchuks. I hereby ask you all Demchuks to glorify
our Creator-God. Amen.
	There is one more fact I should mention: Stry Mikhail several
times mentioned that the documents were written on pergament paper.
In English dictionary it is called pergamenum paper. It is very
fine paper and it does not peel. It is just like paper dollar, 
slightly thicker than a dollar. But it keeps solid and all the
documents were of that quality.
	Now I should write briefly about the supper we had with Stry
Mikhail and Stryna Nastunya. I have already mentioned that Stryna
Nastunya and my step-mother went to prepare supper, while we were
inspecting the coins and documents in the small room. I am inclined
to believe that Nastunya had been trying to make an effort that we
shall remember this visit with a pleasure.
	Stry Mikhail invited us into the house for supper and we
entered the dining room from opposite to the kitchen door.
First, I have noticed the homemade table, covered with the linen
table-cloth embroidered with large red roses and green leaves, and
three candles made of natural bees wax were lit, and the aroma of
burning wax has created a compliments of the season or a sort of
sanctity like the incense in the church before the church minister
starts to pray High Mass. The table has been loaded with all kinds
of food.
	We three stood like the school boys, awaiting the command
of hostess. Stryna Nastunya set down first and suggested our places.
Stry Mikhail's chair was on her left and my father sat next to
Stry. My chair was on her right and my step-mother's chair was
next to my right, facing my father. She asked her father to bless the
food. I didn't notice any whiskey. Stry Mikhail filled the glasses
with honey liquid and we all drank "Na zdorowlya" -- to the health
and best wishes. Then we started with pirohi in cream, and chicken
in cream. Stry filled our glasses with strawberry liquid, and later
we drank a liquid made from the basswood flowers, a yellowish
color which was called the cough medicine, and the last drink we had
a juice extracted from the prunes. Stry Mikhail filled the glasses
full for all, but Nastunya divided my glass between her and me.
She said that a fifteen year's boy's system cannot absorb much of
anything. Even too much water could upset young boy's stomach.

-- 25 --
But I had to taste everything that was on the table, because it was
her rule: if the guests are enjoying the food, it means that the
cook knows her profession and is a good cook. The cook is able to
tell from the guests' faces whether they are pleased with the food.
	"Now, you see, Paul and Anna, that my Nastunya is like her mother
Manya [?] (Marusya) in every respect, she was always an example to every-
one. Sometimes I am trying to tell her not to overwork herself. But
she only smiles and overlooks my remarks. I am helpless in my command,"
said Stry Mikhail with resignation.
	"Now, I would like to explain, especially to you my dear cousin
Paul, my conception, regarding my work (or as father says, overwork).
My brother, Bronko, gave me a very interesting book which I read twice
in order to remember its contents. In that book I read that Creator
set the law of motion, which means that everything on this world and
in universe have to move and live. If we look around us we shall
notice that everything, water, wind, humans, fish in the water, birds
in the air, the moon and stars, are moving in their directions, which
the Almighty Creator directed them to move. Therefore by moving they
are creating the energy to live themselves, and helping somehow others
to exist and live. I wonder what would happen if everything around
us stopped moving? There will be no life for anything on this world
and in the universe. I am not much educated but I believe that the
First Creator set the law and command that every living creature should
move and work for living. Therefore, I have the pleasure in my work.
I also believe that if a person does not work he or she being idle is
unable to live long and leaves this world as nogoodnick."
	I stated that Nastunya asked me to sit between her and my step-mother,
and that placed me in a sort of a shy mood. For some unknown
reason I was unable to look around in a natural manner. Now, listening
to Nastunya's speech, I noticed that she was not the girl I walked
with in the garden, orchard, and looked over her paintings.
	Now, sitting by the table as a hostess and explaining her living
philosophy, she seemed to me a different lady. She has been dressed
differently; the long braided hair had been set in a French style.
Her neck was decorated with the pearls, like red freshly-picked
and ripe cranberries. Her earrings matched in colour to the pearls.
Her white blouse, with high collar, [was] embroidered with red roses and
also small green leaves; both sleeves of the blouse near the shoulders
were embroidered with red large roses and green leaves at the end of the
sleeves; near the wrists were embroidered small red roses and
green leaves. These red roses with green leaves have decorated and
added to Nastunya's face, the natural beauty, a real Madonna.
In addition, she wore a wine-coloured skirt and that made her a fully
aristocratic lady. In her veins circulated the Ukrainian blood, from
old Demyanchuk family, and perhaps Polish or Ukrainian assimilated
blood, with Italian manners, as her mother had been studying music
and painting in Italy. Therefore, Nastunya's ambition in fine arts --
beauty, and improving her personality.
	Nastunya not only dressed herself for this eventful supper, she
with her feminine inspiration considered as her duty to increase "Paul's
wife's" higher spirit, during this evening both for Anna and her husband
Paul. She knew that o n certain eventful holidays village women have
been wearing particular head-dress, called rantukh. It was a large
shawl made of silk or fine white cloth. With this rantukh the married
women wrapped their heads and neck with the face open: the style
nuns were wearing.

-- 26 --
This wrapping brings the recollection of husband and wife's marriage
ceremonies in the church and wedding day. Therefore, Nastunya
seeing that Anna was beautiful and in full bloom young woman, tried
to make Anna more attractive and maybe had in her mind to see what
reaction this dress will make on Paul's feelings. Nastunya suggested
to Anna to wear another green skirt and also plain white blouse.
During our supper, with a pleasant smile asked my father, "Paul!
do you recognize your wife in her present attire?" "You can't make
a lord out of a peasant," answered my father. We have been sitting
and singing for another perhaps half an hour, and Anna having noticed
that Nastunya started to be concerned about Franko's absence during
whole afternoon, suggested to my father that we go home. We all got
up after short prayer, [and] left the table. Stry Mikhail expressed his
pleasant and warm gratitude for our visit, and invited us to come
again soon, before the cold winter arrives.
	Nastunya open-heartedly said that she will never forget this
holy and sunny Sunday. She enjoyed our presence here as relatives.
She asked my father to bring my younger brother Gregory along and
asked Anna to bring her first baby girl, as she wants to get acquainted
with all Demchuks, her relatives. She handed to Anna a basket full
of everything: honey cake for Gregory and the little girl, and other
luxuries for the rest of Paul's children, from young Stryna Nastunya.
	The sun was setting behind the Losyach forest on western
horizon and we left Stry Mikhail and Stryna Nastunya with the
friendly and family feelings, and with regret I must say that we
never had a chance to see them again. Next year I left for Canada.
From Canada I neglected to write and I was unable to have the ranch
with wild horses and cattle, and I was too young to get a homestead....
The First World War lasted for several years with Germany-Austria-Russia.
Later Ukrainians with Poles.... I missed my chance to write
to Stry Mikhail and Stryna Nastunya.... "The wheels were turning,
the years passed by ... and I am old man standing upon the grave."
Only sweet memories of August 1910 remained in my memory.
	I am thankful to my Creator for keeping me alive as a witness.
On our way home my father and step-mother were sitting on the
front seat and I had the back seat to myself. Driving over the
narrow one way road to the main highway into our village Tzihani,
my mind has been digesting and reviewing in pictures the history
of my ancestors. I in my mind have been whispering to myself. My
mind was centering upon Stryna Nastunya. I must have forgotten myself
because I was talking loud enough and my step-mother heard me. I
was puzzling over the question why Nastunya, in her age about 25 years,
with her beauty, her talent as a good housekeeper, gifted painter,
with her manners of cultured lady and self-educated, broad-minded
girl, and yet she has not attracted any boy-friend to be her husband.
I must have finished talking to myself because my father's
wife started the question in a sarcastic manner: "Your son has been
preparing a sermon like a preacher," she said. "He tries to solve
Nastunya's life problem like a lawyer," and repeated my question
to my father. My father handed the lines to drive the horses
and started to fill his large pipe with home-grown and coarse-cut
tobacco, and began to digest Nastunya's home-life problem. "First,
Nastunya's home is located farther from the village and peasant
girls are too busy to visit her in the daytime. In the evening
they have to go past cemetery, and same thing can be applied to
Nastunya. On Sundays they have to attend the morning and evening
church services, and no time.

-- 27--
Second, Nastunya having so much work at home and all her work planned,
has no spare time to visit the girls in the village.
Third, her family position is complicated. The Ukrainian educated
boys considered Stry Mikhail as a Ukrainian patriot, but Nastunya's
mother [as] has been known, was of polish nationality. The boys might
have been thinking, "If mother was Polish, her daughter cannot be
Ukrainian." Polish boys considered Stry Mikhail as Ukrainian
patriot, and Nastunya after her mother's death has been under the
influence of her father's national pride, has been considered the
Ukrainian member of the old Demchuk self-centered family.
Therefore, Nastunya's marriage problem has been left to the lucky
days, and her star in the future." It was my father's rational
interpretation of Nastunya's faith [fate?] and I had to agree with it.
There was no alternative.
	I should add to our visit with Stry Mikhail in the year 1910
one historical event which has been told to my father and Anna
by Stry Mikhail on that same afternoon while Nastunya and I have
been in the garden. I remember my father was telling to his friends
a few months later during Christmas gathering. The Polish landlords
who owned large tracts of land along the Zbruch River which was
a boundary between Austria and Russia, knew that Demyanchuks left
their wealth, land, etc, near Yaskorunya and had the titles of
ownership to the wealth. They knew Mikhail Demchuk's feelings
and desires to repossess the property if there was a chance, and as
Mikhail's house was located at a distance from the main highway,
therefore the Polish landlords with their leader Count Goluchowski,
owner of many tracts of land with living quarters and buildings
from town Skala north to town Husyatin, during nights and without
Mikhail's invitation, on several occasions visited Demchuk's home.
It happened that some of them were trying to be too frequent
night visitors. Nastunya one night sent them away, saying that
Austrian gendarmes quite often patrol the highway and she does not
wish to be questioned by gendarmes. Unwillingly they left the Demchuk
home. But one of the visitors pointed out to her that her mother
belonged to the Poles and Nastunya should follow her mother.
Nastunya told him that she will not entertain night intruders.
	About two months later Count Goluchowski has been informed
that some Russian Cossacks have crossed the river Zbruch, over
the shallow Zbrizh bottom and low banks, and set their tents.
Goluchowski summoned his neighbors, Polish landlords, to meet
at Demchuk's after midnight. Several of them on their swift
horses gathered to this emergency meeting. Goluchowski was the
first to come, excused himself, and promised Nastunya that this
shall be the last meeting. He felt that Nastunya was right and
Demchuk's house, being isolated, can be destroyed by some hoodlums.
Suggested that Nastunya go to bed and need not worry. His friends,
after the meeting, will not go to the highway but shall ride scattered
across the fields.
	The windows were blinded and the guards were to listen to
any suspicious noises. Count Goluchowski informed his listeners,
he did not know why the Russians crossed the Zbruch and set their
tents on Austrian soil, without any protest from Austrian gendarmes.
There is puzzling question. The Goluchowski's ambition was to remove
the rich Ukrainian steppes (prairies) on the right bank of Dnipro
River and he wanted to play the political game "Now or Never."
The Austrian dynasty was jealous of Russian expansion and although
both countries were on friendly terms, any misunderstanding

--28 --
may create the war. Therefore, Count Goluchowski's plan was to
provoke misunderstanding between both powers, and in case of conflict
he counted that Turkey and Rumania will take Austrian side. When
he finished his proposed plan Goluchowski asked Mikhail for his
opinion.
	Mikhail, being a host, was trying not to be mixed up in this
useless and not-prepared plan, but they all insisted to hear his
opinion. Finally Mikhail told that he has two opinions on their
plan. "First opinion to play hypocrite, that is, agree with their
plan and praise their bravery. Another plan is different, and he
would rather not express his opinion." But they insisted so he
went on: "Gentlemen! I know that you wouldn't like it, but as this
is very serious problem and has historical value, and as you are
my friends and neighbors, I shall inform you with my honesty and
sincerity, that your plan will fail. Please understand me. I
cannot be a friend to those who robbed my family and forced the
Demyanchuks to seek asylum in Austria. I shall point out to you
that you are not prepared for your daring plan. My mind dictates
me to inform you that you overlooked certain and practical points.
Please be patient and let me finish my argument. You must remember
that Austro-Hungarian and German ruling class is not friendly to
you. They will not shed their blood for your 'From North Sea to
Black Sea' plan which will be very risky. I repeat risky, because
you with your stewards have no sympathy among the peasants and poor
class of people. You will not be able to force them to help you.
During such uncertain times you will not get much help from peasants.
You have not prepared your own followers. The masses are not
informed about your plans, and I am inclined to believe that your
Polish landlords from original Western Poland will not help you.
Therefore I am unable to see your success in your difficult plan.
I am wishing you good luck."
	Mikhail Demchuk read their faces and noticed disagreement.
He knew that because the natural fact is that rich people never
accept advice from poor people. They have decided to fight Russians,
and asked Mikhail to join them and get his fastest horse and left
after midnight.
	They left Demchuk's house in a scattered northern direction
in order not to leave the sign of many horses tracks from Demchuk's
yard across peoples fields, and circled around village Tzihani on the
North, reached one creek, passed the artificial lake where the water
has been diked to use in the grist mill, crossed the highway from
the village Gushtyn into Tzihani, and one after another on their
horses reached Skala forest and small landlords' farmstead. As it
was early before sunrise when they arrived, they placed their horses
in the barn with saddles on, to be ready in case of alarm, and all
the riders being tired went to sleep undressed, wherever they could
find a bed.
	Count Goluchowski, pretending to be friendly with Mikhail
Demchuk, kept close company, and they both slept on one bed. It was
late in the afternoon; our Polish landlords just finished their noon
lunch when the guards gave signal that Russian Cossacks on their
horses, four [?] some, were approaching the Gooshtin Forest. When the
front Cossacks reached the boundary between village Gooshin and
village Tzihani in the open field, Count Goluchowski gave command
to attack the Cossacks and divide them into two halves and thereby
create the chaos among the Cossacks, but Goluchowski's plan failed.

-- 29 --
The landlords horses were heavy and tired after last night's travel
and Cossack's lighter horses. The Cossacks started to surround
the Poles. The Russian commander ordered Cossacks not to kill
the landlords, but disarm them and tie them. Perhaps he wanted
to take them alive in order to hang them as example to all the
Polish rebels. Here the Cossacks had the difficulty in catching
the landlords, because the landlords kept their servants who were
loyal to their landlords, and being practical with sabres tried
their skill with Cossacks. It developed into a real battle. The
servants helped the landlords to escape from their dangerous
position, turned their horses and fled into the Skala forest, and
dispersed in the forest in different directions. A few Cossacks
and Polish servants were wounded by the sabres, and both parties
received practical knowledge of war games. The landlords lost, and
after the battle some of the servants laughed at the bravery of
landlords, and someone with a poetic gift composed a short poem,
when interpreted from Polish language reads like this: "Alas,
brothers there is no time ... Arms into the water ... Run into the
forest...."
	While the Polish landlords were getting ready to attack the
Cossacks, Mikhail Demchuk suggested that the Polish commander,
the leader, should be ahead of the riders, and they shall follow
him, and he suggested, pointing at Count Goluchowski. All the riders
agreed. Mikhail's plan was to get rid of Goluchowski's pretending
company and stay away from the actual skirmish, and while they were
galloping Mihail Demchuk outmanoeuvred with his horse and placed
himself among the horse-riders (attackers) in the last line. When
he noticed that the Cossacks started to surround Polish riders,
he with few others, turned [and] rode back into the Skala's forest, and
being familiar with that part of forest he found the forest guardian's
path between the Skala's and Tzihanski's forests. There has been
fossa-ditch, which divided both forests: One to Count Goluchowski
and the other to Count Bilecki. Therefore he knew that riding
along that path he will reach the main highway from Skala to Tzihani
Few riders followed Mikhail and when they found themselves on
the highway, Mikhail stopped, tied his horse in a grassy ditch, and
opened his lunch kit, started to eat his lunch, and suggested the
others to eat their lunch if they have anything in their saddles.
While they were eating, Mikhail explained to then their exact
position on the road and directed every one to his home. They had
to ride eastward and then south, towards their homes. Mikhail's
home was on the west end of village Tzihani. He had to ride alone.
	The sun still was high and long time before dark evening.
Mikhail's guess was that the Cossacks may stay overnight in the
village Tzihani, and if he rode through the village, someone may
recognize him, report him, and he may find himself in an embarrassing
situation, explaining to Cossacks his lonely ride. He made his
plan to ride around the village, circling the south side. It is
long ride but safe. When he reached the end of the forest, Mikhail
turned his horse to the left and quietly rode along one-way narrow
road, which has been dividing forest and peasants or farmers' lands.
It was almost sunset. Mikhail got off the horse and let the horse
graze the grass, because the horse has been hungry, and finally the
horse in Mikhail's judgement had his stomach filled, and as there
was a river nearby, water of which went through the Tzihanski
grist-mill, Mikhail watered his horse and started for home.

-- 30 --
He reached the village street called Suchivka and turned to the
right. It was dark, and peasants in the village usually went to
sleep after the sunset and got up at the sunrise, and everything
was quiet. Mikhail rode through that street, crossed the highway
leading from Tsihani to the town Borshchiv and across the fields
on the south side of the village, got home without any difficulties.
Unsaddled the horse, fed him oats, dried him, and let the horse into
the pasture and quietly got into the house, had light lunch and
into bed.
	The Russian Cossacks wounded several of landlords' servants
but could not catch any of landlords, and maybe they had no ambition
to bother with the Polish trouble-makers. The general gossip was
that Cossacks enjoyed seeing the Polish big-shots run away from
the battlefront without fight, leaving only their servants for
defence.
	A few weeks later Goluchowski visited Mikhail Demchuk, apologized
and admitted his mistake for not listening and not considering
Mikhail's suggestions. "Had we listened to your practical arguments
we at least could have cherished the hopes for the future, but as it
turned out we lost the prestige among our friends in Western Poland
and our future ambitions are lost," said with self pity Count
Goluchowski. In the future all the neighboring polish landlords
respected Mikhail's practical advice at that particular meeting.

----------
Ukrainian poet Shevchenko wrote: "The downfall of Poland
crushed Ukrainians...." The Russian oligarchy, by force imposed
the national patriotism in Russian masses, conquered Ukraine,
Poland, Baltic nations, and northern Asia-Siberia to the port
Vladivostock.
	The Demchuk family lost their hope to repossess their property
near Yaskorunya. Mikhail's family's faith is not known to us.
The other Demchuks emigrated to Canada and we will write their
biographies in our book part two.

-- 31 --
To conclude my writing of the Demyanchuk-Demchuk family, I
consider it is my duty to prove to the present and future gener-
ations of Demchuks and their relatives the true facts, which are
known to me. Because I consider that some Demchuks may have doubt
when other Canadians start to challenge the origin of [the] Demchuks'
name. "Prove!" Even now, my oldest daughter Lida (Mrs. H. Podealuk)
asked me a proper question (I am grateful to her) which I am able
to explain. "Dad! since the year 1778 A.D. the year our first Michael
with his family entered into Austria, until August in 1910, the time
you and your father visited another Mikhail Demchuk, is a period of
132 years. Counting 30 years as one generation, it will be four
generations. Therefore, don't overlook this fact and try to set
genealogically all Demchuks during that period of time."
	I knew I had the records written down in 1920 but I forgot
what has happened with it. Finally I found it pasted in the
XVIIIth volume of Great Events [of] History. Where and what kind of
records received?
	In August 1920 I have started to attend the Business College
in Dauphin, Manitoba and I had a room and board on 9th Avenue S.W.
at Dauphin with my cousin Katherina, the oldest daughter of my stry
Wasil Demchuk; she was married to Julian Lubiniecki [text has -iecki throughout]. Both my strys
Wasil and Fedor Demchuk were farming on the west side of Sifton,
Manitoba, and once in a while they had some business in Dauphin.
Naturally they visited Lubinieckis and bringing them some of the
farm products. Had dinner and supper at Lubiniecki's.
	It happened that we while eating our dinner discussed our
families' past, and I took the opportunity to get information
about our first Demyanchuks/Demchuks. I have been gathering all
the family information of the past and wanted to find out anything
I did not know. Both strys had to visit and wait for the seven
o'clock passenger to go to Sifton, and as they have finished their
business transactions before dinner, I decided to stay with strys
whole afternoon and record all the events of the past, related
to Denchuk family. I considered it was my best chance to have
both strys, Wasil and Pedor together, and that they may help each
other to remember and remind each other the names, dates of their
birth and deaths and resting places. I asked both strys to help
me with the true facts, and they both should agree without doubt.
I set a number of questions and they tried to discuss, digest and
agree. There were a few questions which both Strys had their
doubts and I left these questions with question marks, as both
strys promised to discuss these questions at home with their
wives and let me know their decisions at the later date.
Both Strys could not remember the year when first Demyanchuk-
Demchuk's wife Maria died and which was her grave. They could not
answer the question what happened to the second youngest boy.
They knew that first boy's name was Olexa. They could not agree
on the correct name and pronunciation of the family of Mikhail's
wife and Nastunya's mother. Stry Wasil's opinion was that it was
mixed marriage. Nastunya's mother was very beautiful and Nastunya's
grandfather was very wealthy. Therefore, we left a few minor
questions unsettled that day. We agreed and settled the main
origin, the place of birth approximately, the year of birth of the
first Michael Demyanchuk-Demchuk, the place, time and manner of
their change of name, the parting of both brothers and selection
of the forty acres land and building home there.

-- 32 --
We were unable to agree on the first Michael's brother Wasil's
original place of family home. It was either Kolomya or Stanislaw
towns under the Carpatian mountains. Yet we could not settle, and
decided to meet some old Demchuks from either of those towns.
	I have discussed this question with old Mikhail Demchuk at
Ethelbert in Manitoba. He fully agreed with our theory and was
of the opinion that between both above mentioned towns there was a
strip of rich land and several large Demchuk families lived there.
He also promised me to investigate this problem but I overlooked
and neglected in our struggle for existence, times. There are many
questions in our lives we overlook and in our late years we feel
sorry, "too late."
	As a lesson to many Ukrainian Canadians I should point out one
case which happened in Canada where close cousins were married.
Three brothers came to Canada with their parents and one of them
changed his name and moved into Ontario and married. A few years
later a son of another brother from the prairies went also to
Ontario. Found himself a good position, met a girl, daughter of
his uncle, unaware that she was his cousin. Married her, had one
child, but she was not happy with their life and finally they found
out blood reason. Result: divorce, broken family....
	We have many Ukrainians with changed names; let us remember
this lesson and try to remember your own original own family.

	For farther proofs of origin of Demchuk family which I
received from both my strys Wasil and Fedor (I should call him
Junior, because his father and my grandfather has been named Fedor),
I believe that I should start from the foundation or the place
where all Demchuks now rest, and that is cemetery.
	I know myself that in the village Tzihani there are two
cemeteries, or at least were two in my days. One small "Old"
cemetery fenced with a deep fossa or ditch, surrounded with a large
bass tree and located on the northeast side of the Count Bilecki's
dvir or farmstead. On many times I walked to visit my sister
Maria, who was married to Peter Skochilas and lived in that part of
the village. Being young and maybe superstitious, I was afraid
to go close by that old cemetery.
	Both strys, Wasil and Fedor Jr., assured me that all Demchuks
buried on that cemetery had the tombstones with their names
inscribed by the man who sold the tombstones, and dates of the years
of birth and deaths, and all of them Stry Wasil copied the names into
the prayer book like we in Canada, keep the records in the bibles.
Only on first Michael Demyanchuk-Demchuk's tombstone there was
no inscription. Yet both strys, Wasil and Fedor Jr., were sure of
his grave and that he was born in the fall (November) and moved into
Austria at the age of thirty years. That would be [i.e. place his birth] around 1748 A.D.
first Michael Demyanchuk-Demchuk was born.
	Proof Number Two: Olexa (Alexander), first Michael's son, was born
on the farmstead near Yaskorunya in the year 1770 and died in 1865,
which means that he lived for 95 years. His wife's name was Marina,
Or Maria. Both were buried on the old cemetery. (Olexa was seven
years old when moved into Austria.)
	Proof Number Three: Olexa and Maria had three sons and two girls.
Fedor, Danil and Mikhail (whom I visited in 1910 [the text actually says 1919] A.D.)
Both girls married boys at the village Zhilintzi; one was a church
cantor and another was a village policeman, the strys informed me.

--33--
We know that Olexander Demchuk and his wife Marina had three
sons: Fedor, Daniel and Mikhail, whom we visited in 1910 A.D.
It may be that someone of my readers ask the question: If it was
practice or rule in Demyanchuk family that the oldest son was the
head of the family why, Fedor being the oldest, [he] has not been the
owner of that parcel, 40 acres of land? Why was the youngest
of the three sons, Mikhail, inherited the home and everything, being
the property of the first Michael Demyanchuk-Demchuk?
	I have been asking my strys, Wasil and Fedor, in 1920 A.D.,
the same question. They were not sure themselves, but they pointed
out to me three reasons. First reason: the unwritten law, but
family agreement which applied only to the granted land near
Yaskorunya. The second possible reason, was that the Austrian
land ownership law might have been different from that in Ukraine,
or in our first case we had the property granted and in Austria the
property has been bought for cash. Both strys were unable to answer
this question. And the third reason might have been that in Austria,
the law required every son in the family had to be conscripted and
serve in the Austrian army for three years, either infantry or
cavalry. Fedor has been conscripted and served in the army his
time and so was Daniel, and Mikail was left as a manager of the
farm. In Austria there was a privilege which the three brothers
could choose. Mikhail might have taken that privilege considering
that he was the youngest. Mikhail enlisted as freelancer before
he was conscripted and served for only one year as a cadet or
student in military Academy, and that might have been the main
reason that he evaded conscription and became the proprietor
of the Demchuks farmstead. At any rate, both strys, Wasil and
Fedor, believed that the oldest son of Alexander, Fedor, served in
Austrian army longer than three years, and therefore Mikhail was
entitled to the 40 acres of property. It must have been some
mutual agreement among the three brothers.
	Regarding the second son [of] Alexander, Daniel, both strys Wasil
and Fedor said that Daniel after three years' service in Austrian
army has been employed as a manager and supervised the estate of
family Boverski. Boverski were a wealthy family, owners of many
acres of cultivated land and forest. Daniel married Boverski's
daughter, became Roman Catholic, and enjoyed his life. Later his
sons became forest rangers.
	Both strys Wasil and Fedor Jr. considered Daniel Demchuk as
an outcast because all the Demchuks were of Orthodox faith and
Daniel became Roman Catholic and considered himself as a Pole.
And Poland has always been a stronghold of Roman Catholicism;
therefore the Poles considered Ukrainians of Orthodox Faith as an
inferior nation and for this reason both lived in an unfriendly
manners for centuries.
	Although Daniel lived only few kilometers from our village,
on the west side of village Losiach, we never exchanged the visits.
I remember one time the mail carrier from Tzihani to Losiach was
sick and we had to carry the mail until he recovered, and when our turn
came I went to be a mail carrier on that particular day, the post
master at Losiach asked me if we related with Demchuks at Voborsky's
farmstead. I said yes, but I never had a chance to get acquainted
with them, as they were considered themselves as big shots. The
postmaster smiled and said: "Yes, they are."

--34--
Now my readers will understand that I am unable to write
much about Danilo/Daniel's family. It may be that some of Danilo's
offspring consider themselves as Polish Demchuks. I have not heard
of any. Although recently I have read in Ukrainian newspaper an
obituary that one Mrs. Demchuk died in Edmonton and that she with
her husband immigrated into Canada from a town in Poland. Now, I
am inclined to believe that after this part one book is published
in both English and Ukrainian languages in Canada, many Demchuks will
be taking more interest in the family's name. I have looked over
the Winnipeg telephone directory and I counted fifteen Demchuk
families. By looking in a hurry over the Manitoba telephone
directory I counted twenty Demchuk families. I knew great number
of Demchuks in Saskatchewan, a few in Alberta and British Columbia.
In Ontario there are two Demchuk families. One of them is Ukrainian
Orthodox minister and there are few Demchuk families in U.S.A.
We must not overlook some of the young ones have changed their
names in dirty thirties, during the depression when the jobs were
scarce and due to their Ukrainian or Polish names they were forced
to change their names....
	Then about the girls of Demchuk's families, married? Surely
not all of them are being assimilated and forgotten their Ukrainian
heritage. As far as I know Demchuk family have no criminals. We
have contributed to Canada prosperity in every field and we have
many Demchuks with university education. Let us find out about them.
In order to finish part one of Demchuk Family I would suggest
to all Demchuks to remember the following Demyanchuk-Demchuk credo:
The founders of Demchuks family were two brothers, Michael and Wasil
Demyanchuks/Demchuks, married with two sisters Maria and Anastazia,
daughters of Alexander and Catherine Yakowliv. They were born near
the town Yaskorunya and married there.
	To save their lives they were forced to leave their farmstead
and run away into Austria. In the second half of the month July
in the year 1778 A.D. while staying overnight in their tent, both
families unanimously agreed to change their name from Demyanchuk to
Demchuk, in the triangle between Losiach-Zhilintzi-Teresiv
forest, the distance of about three kilometers, west from the
village Tzihani near county town Borshchiv. The younger brother
Wasil with his wife Anastazia and their two hired men and one maid
moved to the west via village Zhilintzi (county town Horodenke) and
presumably settled and made their home near or between the county
towns Kolomya and Stanislaw. Because we know that great many Demchuks
from those places immigrated into Canada.
	We believe that the first and oldest founder of Demyanchuks/
Demchuk family was Michael with his wife Maria.
	Michael Demyanchuk-Demchuk was born on his khootir (farmstead)
near Yaskorunya in Ukraine, in November 1748 A.D., year of his death
not recorded. He was buried on the small cemetery in the village
Tzihani. We believe that his wife is also resting beside Michael.
Michael's son Olexa/Alexander was born in the farmstead near
Yaskorunya in the year 1770 A.D. -- died in December 1865 A.D.
Buried in the old cemetery. His wife's name was Marina/Maria.
Olexa and Maria, had three sons and two daughters. The sons were
Fedor, Danilo and Mikhail (read previous pages about D & M).
Fedor, my grandfather, was born in the village Tzihani in the year
18-- A.D. [the text says 1866, his d.d.] died in April 1866 A.D. and was buried in the new
cemetery on the west side of the village Tzihani.

--35--
He was married to Anna Bilinski, and they had four sons end one girl,
Paul (my father), Wasil, Fedor J., and Stefan (died young boy) and
Petrunelia. Paul, my father, was born in July 1852 A.D. and died in
October 30, 1920, buried in the new cemetery.
	Paul married Yagna Baschuk. They had seven children: five boys and
two girls. Boys: Michael, Theodor ("Fred"), Dimitri, and Gregori. Girls
Maria and Yagna. Wasil was the second son of Fedor and Anna.
Wasil was born in the village Tzihani in the month .... 1857 A.D.
and died at Sifton in Manitoba, Canada on March 7th 1934, buried in
the Sifton cemetery. Wasil Demchuk married Antonia Warowy in Tzihani.
Antonia was born in the same village on ........ and died October
5th, 1963 [text says 1968]. Rests beside her husband. They had five sons: Stefan,
Ilia, Ihnaty, Thomas, and Atanazy, and five girls: Caterina, Maria,
Pauline, Helen, and Natalia.
	Fedor Jr. was the third son of Fedor and Anna Silinsky.
Fedor was born in the village Tzihani in the year 1860, died in May
1946 in Dauphin, Manitoba, buried in Dauphin cemetery. Fedor Jr.
married Pauline Krawetz in native village Tzihani. Pauline was born
on ........ and died in July 1940, rests beside her husband.
Fedor and Pauline had three sons: Nikola, Ivan and Dimitri; also
had three daughters; Maria, Lujbina and Anastazia.
	All Paul's and Yagna's children were born in the village
Tzihani, baptized by Rev. Hlibovitzki. Maria, Michael and Ury
married in their native village, lived their lives there, raised
their children then died there. Theodore ("Fred"), Yagna, Dimitri, and
Gregory ("Harry") came to Canada, married in Canada and raised their
families. We will write about them in our The Demchuk Family Part
2 and 3.
	Wasil Demchuk was the second son, and we shall list his children:
Stefan, Catherina, Maria, Ilia, Ihnaty, Thomas, Tanazy, Pauline,
Helen, and Natalka. We will write about their families in Demchuk
Family Book, parts II & III
	Fedor Jr. was the third son in the family of Demchuks. We
should list them here: Maria, Lujbina, Anastazia, Nikola, Ivan,
and Dimitri.

	My only wish is to live and finish writing everything possible
about all Demchuks as I am planning. Part II shall cover children
of the three brothers. Part III shall cover grandchildren of the
Demchuks: Paul, Wasil, Theodor Jr., and their sister Petrunelia.
I finally received brief news about her family in Poland.
	As I am reaching my seventy-seventh birthday, I wish that
all you Demchuks and relatives write your lives past in any way
and mail to me, and I will prepare for the book.

--36--
Here is the example how to write and help me.
Your parents names. Their place of birth, church of your baptism,
your god-father or -mother. Your schooling days, elementary, high school
university, your employment. If you are married, your romance when
first met your boy- or girl-friend, when were you where married.
If mixed marriage write all about her family. In a manner you would
like to write about you. The Truth. Your children, etc.
	At my age I developed tolerance and patience and respect for
everybody because I consider that every human person has an intelligent
reasoning power, and I consider myself as Canadian with Ukrainian
blood and Ukrainian history. I have heard many times, "We English-
men contributed very much to the Western civilization: Democracy,
Magna Carta, Constitutional Monarchy." Frenchmen's exaggeration:
"We are founders of delicate culture -- fine arts and polished
society...." It is true but please remember that Ukrainians with
their blood saved your western civilization. I should point out to
you only three historical events to prove my arguments. First:
Genghis Khan. The Mongol conqueror of central Asia planned to
conquer Europe and destroy western civilization. In the year 1223
A.D. his hordes overran Ukraine. Divided his army into three
divisions: one towards Balkans, second through the central Carpathian
mountains towards Buda-Pest, Hungary, and third division through
Czechoslovakia into Vienna and all armies to meet in Rome.
	The Ukrainian peasants under the command of an old man destroyed
the whole central division and saved the Western civilization.
	Proof Number Two: The Turkish invasion of Vienna in seventeenth
century, and Polish king Jon Sobieski with his small Polish army was
unable to defend Christian city Vienna. King Sobieski appealed
to Ukrainian Cossacks for help. The Ukrainian Cossacks on their
swift horses arrived just in time to save Polish army, Christian
city Vienna and Western Civilization. King Sobieski said: "We came,
we saw, we conquered." But he overlooked or ignored the Ukrainian
Cossacks' help and blood.
	Proof Number Three: The downfall of Hitler's army under the
Stalingrad. When Hitler's army (mechanized) surrounded the Stalingrad
and Germans' supply-line, railway was the shortest line through the
Ukrainian territory Volynka Marshes to supply the provisions for the
Hitler's army. The Hitler's guleiter arrested all the Ukrainian
leaders. The underground Ukrainian peasants gathered, and during one
rainy and dark night destroyed the railway several miles and stopped
the trains. No food, no ammunition, and no warm army clothes forced
the Hitler's generals to surrender and Hitler lost the way. And again
imagination. The English Intelligence Service have this event recorded
and the historians overlook to write this fact from the political
reasons. Because the Ukraine is under the Russian control.
	I wrote this pointing out that we Ukrainians have contributed
to the Western Civilization and to Canadian Prosperity our share, and
we consider ourselves as equal as any other founding nation in Canada.
	When I came to Canada I was unable to express myself in English
and on many occasions I was told: "Demchuk you either speak English
or shut-up!" I had to keep my mouth shut. Now it is my time to
speak English.

Thank you my readers!
D.P. Demchuk

This is the end of the Demyanchuk-Demchuk Book, Part I


--37 -- [misplaced?]
	The third Family of regional Demchuks are living around the
towns Zlochiw and Brody, and further northeast: Volyn.
	The following is the true information we have recorded from
our brother Mikhailo, who visited one family in town Zlochiw on
many occasions, and discussed this question.
	The historical fact is that Austrian Emperors owned many
acres of pasture-land in the province Bukovina, near Rumania.
On that pasture-land the Austrian Emperors have been raising many
thousands of fine horses, and those horses were in demand for
Austro-Hungarian army (cavalry). There were no trains in the old
days; therefore the horses have been distributed to the different
outposts in Austro-Hungarian empire. The outpost and very
important one has been situated east of capital city Lviv (Lemberg)
near towns Zlochiv and Brody.
	There was a time when a transport of horses has been delivered
from Bukovina to the said outpost near town Zlochiv. Such transport
of horses had to travel over the highway from Bukovina across the
Dniester River via Zalischyki-Borshchiv-Tzihani-Husiatyn-Tarnopil-
Zlochiv. And one of the Demchuk boys, being fond of horses
and army, joined this transport as a helper, and when the transport
reached the outpost, he enlisted as a cavalry soldier, served three
years in the army, has been commissioned, married the army commandat's
daughter, raised his family there, and gave the regional name of
Demchuks in that part of Ukraine.
	There may be more Demchuks in other part of Ukraine but we have
no information. We know that Bronislaw Demchuk, the son of Mikhail
and older brother to our Stryna Nastunya, whom we mentioned in our
visit in 1910. This "Bronko" has been a professor in the Ukrainian
high-school in the city of Peremiezl, on the river San, which now is
political boundary between Poland and Ukraine. And his family may
have roots in that region. But we have no information about
Bronislaw Demchuk's home.
	We know from our Stry Wasil Demchuk of Sifton in Manitoba that
Bronislaw's brother, Alexander, emigrated to United States, before
1910, and nobody knows anything about him. It is possible that his
family has the roots in the U.S.A. Our hope is that this our writing
will interest all Demchuks on this continent.