Probably Polish according to what I've learned Googling.
Quite an extraordinary guy, judging by his gift for drawing.  See this
picture he did of Mark Twain:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mark_Twain_by_Jan_Szczepanik.jpg

He also reminds me of the guy whose work with looms anticipated computers.
I loved a Twain remark comparing inventors with poets.  No wonder this
fellow interested him.

Arianne Laidlaw