Researching a Russian Immigrant Family

My mind was directed towards the family of Norman Ephriam Woolsey who was born in Pontiac, Quebec in 1886, who married Dad's first cousin Lillian Margaret Hamilton who was born 11 Feb 1896 in Neepawa Manitoba. In particular I was mindful of their daughter Norma Edith Woolsey, with whom I had spoken on the telephone maybe 15 years ago. Norma gave me a lot of of Hamilton and Woolsey information, but I realized that I had almost no information on her husband Alexander Kabanuk. Out of curiosity, I decided to see what I could find.  Immediately I found the following:

1921 Census of Canada
Name: Alec Kabanick
Gender: Male
Marital status: Single
Age: 8
Birth Year: abt 1913
Birth Place: USA
Relation to Head of House: Son
Father's name: Vladimir Kabanick
Father Birth Place: Russia
Mother's name: Amar Kabanick
Mother Birth Place: Russia
Year of Immigration: 1916
Racial or Tribal Origin: Russian
Province or Territory: Alberta
District: Edmonton West
District Number: 6
Sub-District Number: 59
City, Town or Village: T74 R6 W6
Section Number: SM6
Township Number: 74
Range Number: 6
Meridian Number: W6
Occupation: Student
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Vladimir Kabanick 39
Amar Kabanick 28
Olga Kabanick 11
Annie Kabanick 10
Alec Kabanick 8
Edward Kabanick 6
Lily Kabanick 9/12

Wow! I had his birth place as Sexsmith, AB, and when I looked up the legal land description, I found a rural area just SW of Sexsmith. So Sexsmith might not be where he was born but he considered it his home town.

I also found the Kabanuk family in the 1916 Canada Census on their farm at Sexsmith,

And I found them in the 1910 US census living in North Dakota, with a baby names Olga, which helps prove it is the same family. Fortunately there are numerous sources in North Dakota to confirm that it is the right family. I find it interesting that that this Russian immigrant family are consistently shown as Baptists, and not Catholic or Orthodox.

1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Ladmer Kabowick [Ladmer Kabonak]  [Ladmer Bakanuk]
Age in 1910: 24
Birth Year: abt 1886
Birthplace: Russia
Home in 1910: Strasburg, Sheridan, North Dakota
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1907
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital status: Married
Spouse's name: Oliana Kabowick
Father's Birthplace: Russia
Mother's Birthplace: Russia
Native Tongue: Russian
Occupation: Farmer
Industry: General Farm
Employer, Employee or Other: Employer
Home Owned or Rented: Rent
Farm or House: Farm
Naturalization Status: Papers
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Years Married: 1
Household Members:
Name Age
Ladmer Kabowick 24
Oliana Kabowick 17
Olga Kabowick 0


This couple are the only one in North Dakota who could be the parents of William (Wladimir) Kabanuk.

1920 United States Federal Census

Name: Carl Kabanuk
Age: 75
Birth Year: abt 1845
Birthplace: Russia
Home in 1920: Max, McLean, North Dakota
House Number: X
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1902
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital status: Married
Spouse's name: Marth Kabanuk
Father's Birthplace: Russia
Mother's Birthplace: Russia
Native Tongue: Russian
Able to Speak English: No
Occupation: None
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Naturalization Status: Naturalized
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Carl Kabanuk 75
Marth Kabanuk 65
Rosy Kabanuk 15 [probably a granddaughter, they lost a daughter-in-law at about that time.]

And there are numerous records for Stephen, Phillip, and Nestor whose ages would make them brothers to William (or possibly cousins.).

I was amazed to all I found in the space of a very short time. I guess the Kabanuks wanted to be found and remembered.