File:Kusionowicz ca 1865-75.jpg

English: Photograph believed to be of Sylwester Kusionowicz (1828-1877), son of Egidius "Idzy" and Maria nee Karnikiewicz), father of Andrzej Kusionowicz Grodyński and "nephew" of father Ludwik Kusionowicz who was the priest at Gdów for many years and later became Dean of Wieliczka. At the time of the Battle of Gdów, chronicled by Ludwik, Sylwester was living in Chochołow and training as a teacher and organist under Jan Kanty Andrusikiewicz (pl) who was one of the leaders of the Chochołow Uprising (pl) which took place on 21 February 1846, five days before the Battle of Gdów. The 'Battle' took place in the field next to Gdów Cemetery and the Polish 'insurgents', under the command of the absent Colonel Suchorzewski, fought for independence from Austria in the only battle of the Kraków Uprising.
Around 1850 Sylwester moved to Gdów to run the first 'state school' in the district (in the former parish school building) and in spite of the efforts of the Austrian authorities to suppress Polish culture in Galicia it continued classes in the Polish language beyond the period of the January Uprising (1863-1864) which extended across the lands controlled by the Russian Empire to the outskirts of Kraków. Sylwester, who was father to a number of children, including Józef, Władysław and Andrzej, was also the organist at the Gdów Church and around 1860 moved into the old church house (to #39 from house #37 "Wikarówka").
Sylwester Kusionowicz is buried beside the Gdów Cemetery Chapel in a prominent grave watched over by a beautiful statue of Mary sculpted by Edward Stehlik (pl).
The Scotch Mist Gallery contains photographs of historic buildings, monuments, memorials and people of Poland.