The Slapelis surname can be traced back to Jokūbas Šlapelis born approximately 1680; spouse, town and villiage unknown.
Jokūbas and his wife had at least 3 children that we know of. Possibly more. All children were born Pelyšiai Village of the Simonys Settlement of Kupiškio Municipality, Panevezys County, Lithuania
Jonas [b. 1700's] married Dorota Jurenaite and together they had 7 children. All born in the Pelysiai Village of the Simonys Settlement of Kupiskis Municipality, Panevezys County, Lithuania.
The great Grand-Daughter, Emilija Slapelyte and her Husband, Jonas Dagys, left for the United States. It's unknown if any other Slapeliai family members immigrated to the US.
Family stories tell us the brother [Petras or Lionginas] of Emilija immigrated to Brazil approximately the same time Jonas and Emilija left for America. Possibly around the Sao Paulo area. No documentation has been found to establish this story.
In the 1930's, 1940's, after the death of her husband, Emilija traveled to Chicago Illinois to visit. In this photo, she is shown with an unknown man. We believe it may be a Slapelis cousin. Can you identify him?
Throughout this part of the site, there is a collection of Lithuanian Archive Extracts that entail a comprehensive list of Cernius, Dagys, Slapelis and Vilaniskis Family Relatives that have not been directly connecte../d to our family. They come from the same region as my direct ancestors. Some records indicate a connection because some of our direct ancestors are listed as God Parents, Marriage Witnesses and family friends. For more information visit the Random Vitals section.
We can not find any records of their landing in America. We are not sure which port they came through. It's known they immigrated to the US between 1905 and 1911. We guess that they came through New York. Census records indicate an immigration around 1906.
Emilija and Jonas settled in the East St. Louis, Illinois Lithuanian Community shortly after their arrival. It has not been determined if they temporarily lived elsewhere. They were a part of the Immaculate Conception Lithuanian church on Baugh Ave. Their children were Baptized and married in this church.
Jonas' brother, Juozas Dagys remained in the New York area where his Dagys branch lives today.
After their arrival to the US, Jonas and Emilija kept in touch with their family back in Lithuania. The only letter remaining is torn therefore the full context of it is lost. We are still trying to determine it's Author. We believe the letter was written by K. Varanavicius who may have been married to Emilija's sister, Marijona. We not 100% certain of the Varanavicius connection to our family but they were also (Juozapas Varanavicius)witnesses at the marriage of Emilija's parents. For more information, take a look at the letters. Can you translate it? Know what it means? Relates to your family? Look familiar?! Let me know!
In 1911, Jonas and Emilija gave birth to their first born child; a son. Joseph Dagys died 12 short days after his birth.
The surnames DIRECTLY Linked to me through my Grandmother who was a Dagys are as followed:
Yakstis
Dagys
Slapelis
Vilaniskytė
Vilaniškis
Laužikas
Černius
Jurenaite
Šiaučiunaitė
Žeimytė
Druskytė
Buzaitė
Dapšys
Steizyte
For COMPLETE List of names; please see the master list of names
Towns and Parishes my family descends from:
Pelyšiai Village
Simonys Settlement
Kupiškio Municipality District
Panevezys County
Svėdasai Parish
Simoniai Municipality
Jotkonys Village
Skapiškis Village
South American Countries, Towns and Parishes my family descends from:
Brazil
Argentina
United States: States and Cities my family descends from:
New York
Scranton, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
East St. Louis, IL
St. Louis, MO
