By the time Derdowski emigrated to the United States in 1885, he had already studied for the Roman Catholic priesthood, been repeatedly incarcerated by the German authorities, and edited a newspaper in the city of Torun.

His 1880 satirical epic, O Panu Czorlińścim co do Pucka po sece jachoł (Mr. Czorlinsczi Goes To Puck To Buy Fishing Nets) is regarded as the beginning of Kashubian poetry.

[4] Other Kashubian-language works written before his emigration are Kaszubi pod Widnem ("The Kashubians by Widno," 1883) and Jasiek na Knieji ("Johnny from the Forest," 1884).

Upon reaching the United States, Derdowski worked first for the Chicago socialist newspaper Gazeta Narodowa and then for the Pielgrzym Polski of Detroit.

[5] At the invitation of Father Jan Romuald Byzewski, pastor of the Parish of Saint Stanislaus Kostka and (like Derdowski) a participant in the Kashubian diaspora, he came to Winona, Minnesota to edit Wiarus.

[7] Although Wiarus was written in so-called "pure" Polish, Derdowski's literary achievements and presence in Winona contributed to its being known as the "Kashubian Capital of America.

Pacholski as pastor, Saint Stanislaus returned to an even keel and Derdowski played a more settled role in the life of Winona's Kashubian community.

Aside from activities sponsored by Winona's Polish Cultural Institute and Museum,[14][15][16] Derdowski is sadly far less remembered in the United States, where a simple headstone marks his grave in a beautiful, out of the way Roman Catholic cemetery in a sleepy river town of 27,000 souls.