Genealogy / Manko, Federowicz, Baszczek, Zatwarnicka. Family history mystery. [36]

Ok. I found an interesting document in an old book in my attic. It was made by one of my cousins, for my Great Grandmother that was basically a family tree. I now know some new things.

1) Confirmed family last names- Manko, Federowicz, Baszczek, Zatwarnicka and something along the lines of Hileisnicki? (sp? doesnt sound polish?)
2) an interesting story written in Polish by one of my Cousins. It entailed some of the following info. "When my parents fled Poland, they told me they would come back for me. With the German and Russian borders changing, they did not feel safe and left me (it was between the late 1890's and early 1910's- but not sure exactly) They said they would send for me but they never did. I was taken into Grandma's house and raised there..." it went on and on, but the main point that interested my was the border changing.

3) My grandparents history that we know.
A. Helena Manko- father's name was Teofil Manko and mother was Anna Baszczek. Her father was a forest ranger and her mother died when she was quite young. Her last place of residence was Polana, Austria before coming to US. Apparently, he family fled poland as well as was born in 1889. We do not know where she was born. She could not read or write in any language. She also spoke Russian, but never lived there. Was this common back then? Babcia had a sister who came to america before her, Katarzyna. But, her sister returned to Europe and married into the Zatwarnicka name. Helena also had a Brother (Jan) who lived in Pittsburg, PA. She told her kids that the boys were schooled in the family and girls were not aloud to go to school and stayed home to work in the house. Was this common?

B. Staśko Federowicz- father's name was Stanisław I believe and mother was Tillie Hileisnicki(sp?) He was an only child. He is the real mystery. His last place of residence is believed to be Teresnica, Austria. But we do not know for sure as with many things with him. We know his father was a tailor and mother is unknown. His family had a lot of money and he was (we are assuming) very well schooled as he could speak, read and write 6-7 languages (Polish, Russian, Austrian, German, Hebrew, Czech and we dont know the other one). Now, there are 2 stories that have been told. Both involve him and his family living on the Poland/Russian border or in Russia. Story #1- His parents paid for him to come to America and later changed his name from Federowicz to the current Fredericks. We do not know why he "chose" to change his name. everything seems to lead to him keeping things secretive. Story #2- The Russian Army was going around killing young men. So in fear of loosing him, they sent him with family or friends from their area under there name- thus it being changed to Fredericks. While in America, we got a hold of some Census' from 1910, 1920 and 1930. This is what he put for

1910- he was born in Austria as were both of his parents. they spoke polish and russian.
1920- he was born in Poland, his parents are from poland and they spoke austrian and polish.
1930- he was born in Poland, his parents from Austria and Russia and spoke only polish.

As the stories state, the families were fleeing PL. Was there anything going on at that time that would cause them to? I am assuming they didn't flee PL too long before my Grandparents were born as that would have been more influential to their customs?

Thanks Guys and i hope you can help!!