Helena Kalinowska marries Boleslaw Smolinski (Smolnik) in their homeland, Poland. They immigrate to the United States, have a daughter (Wanda) then return to Poland where son William (Boleslaw) is born. They move back to the United States and live in Solvay, NY, where they have two more children, Helen and Edward. Mr. Smolinski deserts the family after Edward is born, leaving his wife to raise the children alone.