CSAGSI
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January '03 - December '03
Archive

hi can somebody tell me how do i find out information about the beran family surname and its history my grandmothers father was a beran from cheq

Gene Fiese asks on Dec. 17 "  I am seeking a marriage license for Charles Figa and Mary Zerko married in Chicago July 15, 1899." Gene, one possibility here is that these folks were married by a freethinking minister. Then you wouldn't find it in the public records. I suggest reading an article in the Fall 2001 issue of Koreny, journal of CSAGSI titled "FREETHINKERS, From Bohemia to Chicago". You can find this at the CSAGSI library and elsewhere. Best wishes in your searches.

I am seeking a marriage license for Charles Figa and Mary Zerko married in Chicago July 15, 1899. They lived at 87 Fry St. in Chicago for the 1900 Census. No records of their marriage at Ill. State Archives. Any suggestions of the Catholic churches in this area that may have records?

Looking for information on ansestors Horak . Known names are Eduard , Ethel , Elisabeth , Gertrude , Felix ,Wilhelm .
Known to be from Prussia migraited to Austria may of all been born in Austria . Please e-mail above address.

Anyone interested in PICHA family, please contact me.
Alois PICHA moved to Nebraska in about 1876 and lived in Beemer (Cuming county).

I am a Klicka from Klatovy,CZ. my grandfather Joseph came to Chicago about 1870, his children were emil george fredrick, do you know us?

How do I learn who the owner of a particular building in Chicago was in 1894/5? My ancestors, KLIMES and CESAL had a business at 801 Blue Island Avenue, Chicago and lived in the back part of the building. Is there a way to learn what the name of the business was?

I am trying to find information about a Chicago Slovak Social Club that was located around 18th and south May or Carpenter in the 1940s and 50s. The name of the club was either the Rovnan Club, or perhaps Rovnen, Club. What information do you know about this club? Can you confirm the name and address of the club? Do you have information about the purpose of the club?

Records for my ancestors from Reichenthal (formerly known as Hranicky)in Upper Austria are located in the archives in Pilsen. I recently received a response from the archives to a letter I wrote a year ago to confirm this, but the letter only provided a limited amount of detail (the names of a few of my 19th century ancestors, but no dates).
I am looking for suggestions about how to obtain additional information on my Bohemian ancestors from Reichenthal. I don't speak or write Czech. Is there any way to find out information contained in the Pilsen archives other than to hire a researcher or to actually go there? If not, I am looking for recommendations for researchers who can access those records and report the findings.

Thanks.

any info on john cerveny 1800s chicago

I am looking for 1939 and 1940 yearbooks from the Loop YMCA Junior College. I just want to view the books, not buy or disturb in any way. Thank you

Peter Ilgo asks on October 12th: "I would very much appreciate if you could write me few lines about Joseph Ilgo Draskocy".
Peter, you might try contacting the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield. Their e-mail address is trinity@eosinc.com.

My grand father´s brother Joseph Ilgo Draskocy from Drazkovce near Martin in Slovakia emigrated to the USA. According to testament he died at Springfield, Illinois on February 20th, 1951. He had no relatives, however, testament shows names like Alvina Alcott, Paul J. Sckowska, Norman Sckowska, Dolores Ann, Terry and Edwin Paul Patheal, Lutheran Haven, Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Memorial Hospital of Springfield, Illinois College, The Lutheran Children´s Welfare Association etc. I would very much appreciate if you could write me few lines about Joseph Ilgo Draskocy (any kind of information) for our family chronicle. Thanks and best regards.

To Robb Frederick: My grandmother was born in the village of Cajla, now the north end of Pezinok, Slovakia. Her mother was was of German descent born in the nearby village of Limbach. From what I have learned, Limbach has been a German populated village for centuries. I have German relatives still living in Limbach. Let me know if I can be of help.

The very day after I posted my note, I got a wonderful response with so many websites to visit including 2 people with the same Surname of my grandmother still living in the town. I have already written to them, just wanted everyone to know how wonderful csagsi is

Trying to find a town where my paternal ancestors(3 sisters, 1 brother) came from. The name is Ranostay(Ranostaj) and the ships manifest shows my grandmother as coming from Lazkal, aunt coming from Zaszkal other spelling Laskalia. How do I go about finding this town. One is listed as Hungarian and the other Bohemian. They came through Ellis Island, but can't find records for l other sister and brother. Also I have a spelling for my maternal grandmother who was Czech of Chromy and Cherny. How do I find a correct spelling. On a birth certificate is pecat cirkve ev.a.v.dolno-kubinskej. 1784. Help!!

I need to know if anybody can tell me how I can find marriage license from the 1930's in Atchison Kansas for my great granparents Archibald Alexander Austin and Mable Ida Warren Austin for free. If anybody can help it would be really appreciated.

Don Chlupsa asks on Sept. 17 "Does any one have information about the 'Minister of the Gospel'?
Don, this sounds to me like the minister was a member of the Freethinkers. If you have a marriage certificate check if the word "Freethinker" appears on the certificate. These "ministers" are not connected with any of the main line churches. Do you have the name of the minister? This to can verify many of the well known freethinkers.

My mother and father were married by a 'Minister of the Gospel' in the year 1910. The marriage took place at 2542 South Sawyer Ave. Their wedding picture shows that the wedding was a very formal affair. Coes nay one have information about the 'inister of the Gospel'?

Judy R. Nelson asks on Sept. 12: "  I need to locate the 1886 issue of Amerikan Narodni Kalendar". Judy, these early issues, before 1900, can be difficult to locate. Some major repositories to try are: Archives of Czechs and Slovak Abroad at the University of Chicago Library, the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota, the Love Library at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, MN.

I recieved a letter from relative in Czech-Rep. I didnt know existed but it is written in Czech, where can I get it translated??
Thank you

I need to locate the 1886 issue of Amerikan Narodni Kalendar or copy of the interviews therein. Thx, Judy Nelson

Robb Frederick asks on August 25:    "I am interested in making contact with others who might be of, or know about, the German families who populated the area which is now the Slovak Republic, but which was the Kingdom of Hungary in the 1400s to 1700s when these German families were recruited to that area."
Robb. I had not heard of German Slovak families before, only Moravian Slovak. The following web site does mention German immigration to Slovakia as you described. http://www.adc.sk/english/slovakia/slovak04.htm
I hope a German Slovak family will provide further help.

I think I found Forest Home Cemetery on your site here. Still do not have the address for Hursen Chapel.
Thank you Dick

I have an obit from 1961 Chicago Tribune. There is mentioned Hursen Chapel, 5911 W. Madison Street. Interment Forest Home.
Can anyone tell me how to contact these places? I tried to find an address on the internet yellow pages and neither was listed.
Thank you very much, Dick

My question to all is that I am searching the Koncil family name for my kids.I have gone through the ellisiland passenger ship records and only found 3 koncils.
How do I go about reasearching this family name when they are from the old Czec(pardon the spelling)? I am completly lost...Help!!!!!!!!!!

I am interested in making contact with others who might be of, or know about, the German families who populated the area which is now the Slovak Republic, but which was the Kingdom of Hungary in the 1400s to 1700s when these German families were recruited to that area. I descend from two such German/Slovak families, but have found very little on the web about this ethnic group. Are there any German Slovak families who belong to your group?

I am interested in finding information for Josepah Szpacek born March 9, 1859 in Prague, daugter of Simonis and Catherine Solar

I have a birth record that indicates one of my aunts was living at 2917 W. 25th St. Does anyone know which Catholic church would be close to that address. My family was Slovak.
Thank you for any information

Scott Martin asks on August 5: "I am interested in finding information on my great grandfather, Vaclav Vanek".
Scott. Vaclav Vanek was a minister in Chicagoland area at one time. There is significant information available about this remarkable man. Contact me at pdncz@yahoo.com or visit the CSAGSI library in Cicero the second Saturday of September or October. Help is available.

I am interested in finding information on my great grandfather, Vaclav Vanek. Have several documents of his in German and Czech that I cannot read. Any suggestions on translations? Also, he seems to have arrived in US prior to records at Ellis Island (around 1881). Any ideas how to research? He lived in Cicero and died in 1924. Also, interested in any information on the name Martiny as a Czech name. Thank you!

Bette Matousek Wilson asks on July 22: "How do I begin? Where do I begin? Is there much hope of finding family? I have been told that Joseph and Frank Matousek"
Bette! You do have an important great-grandfather in Josef Matousek. Yes he was a founder of Bohemian National Cemetery. I would start by looking up the obituary of Josef.
CSAGSI has an index to obituaries in the Chicago Czech newspaper. Do you know the date of death? There are only nine Josef's in the index. These obituaries are on microfilm which can be secured for viewing. Can you come to the CSAGSI library this Fall when open?

I'm looking for a source for information from Bohemia. The oldest information I can confirm about my father's family is a passenger listing showing my great great grandmother and the children coming over to join her husband in 1879. They settled in Kansas. I've been told my great grandfather was born in "Mihr Tribau" which I think may be "Mährisch Trübau".

After two world wars, how much information is intact and available over there and what is the best way to get to it?

I am just trying to work on my father's genealogy. His name was Robert Matousek born in Chicago in 1921. His father's name was Frank J. Matousek b1879 Chicago- married Mary F. Sturm. His father's name was Joseph (Josef?) Matousek and lived in Cicero/Berwyn area. My grandfather (Frank) was apparently an outcast, and my father only remembers that he had a brother named John and 3 half brothers. My father only remembers seeing the "family" once at a funeral when he was very young. My great grandfather (Joseph) came from Prague before 1879. We were told that he was supposedly rather well-to-do and that he was one of the founders of Bohemian National Cemetery. With only this information, how do I begin? Where do I begin? Is there much hope of finding family? I have been told that Joseph and Frank Matousek are sort of like "John Smith" and I will be lookig for a needle in a haystack. HELP !!!

I did not know that my e-mail address was wrong when I sent the last note. Thanks in advance

I am looking family of John Kadlecek who possible live in the Chicago area. In the early 1900 they live in Industry, Texas later they live in what was called Bohmian Town near Groveton (Trinity County) Texas. One of the daughter Julie Kadlecek married my uncle Charlie (Karel) Skalicky,probably about early 1920's. I was told that the most of the family moved up North to the Chicago area but one or two maybe moved back to the Industry area in Texas. I would very much like to get in touch with the family. Thanks in advance Linda Skalicy Moore

I am searching for information regarding the family of my grandfather, Henry John Droba, who was born in 1899 in a small village in what he once said may have been part of Austria-Hungary (though he always referred to himself as Czech) and moved with his family around 1910 to the south side of Chicago. The family included his father, stepmother and several brothers, sisters and stepsiblings. The only other name of a family member I have is Charlie Droba, a brother. Henry lived in Chicago area until 1960s.

I would like to write to Cook County for a birth certificate. I believe the costs have changed since the last time I wrote. Can anyone tell me what the cost would be today. Thank You Very Much.
Dick Brunson

i am looking for my great grandmother her name is Aurora Quiros she was born in spain i am her grand daughter at the age of 14yrs old. please help her.

Rose Sigut asks on May 23 " I believe he was from a place called Barzova which may be in Slovakia. Can anyone help."
Rose, the exact spelling you give does not appear in Slovakia or Hungary. There are two towns spelled Brezova. One is 70 miles east north-east of Bratislava and the other is 93 miles east north-east of Bratislava. Might this be your town?

I am interested in finding info on my grandfather Istvan Hollis of Hungary. He came to USA in 1894 He had two children Vera and Steve. He came into Canada 1900. I believe he was from a place called Barzova which may be in Slovakia. Can anyone help. Rose Sigut

Looking for Joesph Jicha....It seems that Joe and his older brother were shipped to chicago by the catholic church as child orphans of 11 and 13 years of age. Joe lost his brother in the train station in Chicago, Joe then traveled to St Louis with the Ecker family where he grew up. Now is there records of the orphans coming to Chicago in the 1850's? Or how about the Jicha families in Chicago, were any of them orphans? Please ues the e-mail address...Thanks

Could someone with Baca's book- Vol 4 do a lookup for me? Having never seen the book I don't know how its organized so here is the info..DVORAK- Karel (Charles) and Dorothea Seda with 7-10 children. They imm to NY via Hamburg possibly on the ship Lange, possibly leaving July 1857 and arriving Sept 1857. Any help would be appreciated..You are an - thanks in advace.

Hi ,I would appreciate if someone could translate for me the names Libusky,Valclav and Vojtech in English.Also the names Albert and Jacob translation in Bohemian.

Joe Zima asks on April 29: In 1884 my great grandparents lived at 833 S. Allport, Chicago. What would that address be today?
Joe - The CSAGSI library (and others) has a pamphlet showing the old numbering system and the new numbering system for each intersection in Chicago. Your 833 (old system) falls between 19th and 21st Street today, numbering from 1900 to 2100 south, and closer to 21st Street. To find the exact numbering change you might visit the Newberry Library for the booklet with every old address and its new number. Best wishes.

We are going to Slovakia and would like to know about any of the living relatives of the Bathory or Nadasdy families? Thank you.

Diane Chmelik asks on 4/3: Does anyone know if it was because of changes in borders or were there other reasons why a Czech family would have been living in Poland in the first half of the nineteenth century? Were there Czech communities in Poland at that time?

Diane, at the end of World War I the question of frontiers brought about strained relations betweeen Czechoslovakia and Poland. After lengthy negotiations a settlement was reached in July 1920 (finally settling the boundary of the country). The duchy of Tesinsko, which had for hundreds of years belonged to the crown of Bohemia, was divided into two parts; the boundary passed through the heart of the city of Tesin. The town in Czechoslovkaia is known as Cesky Tesin and is in North-east Moravia.

Can anyone tell me how I can translate the old street numbering system into the current one? For example...in 1884 my great grandparents lived at 833 S. Alport. What would that address be today? Thanks!!!

My father was born in Bocanonice, Czechoslovakia on April 6, 1922. How can I find out more information (how do I searcgh for my roots)
Barry Lycka

Looking for information about relatives of Larissa Tierney. She signed the birth certificate of my cousin John Kresmery of Chicago. Certificate date was November 1942. Thank you for any information.
Dick

Searching for any information re: Albert? Harbulak who would have lived in Cook County circa 1890. Has anyone else come across this name in their research? I believe he was Rusyn. Thanks for any info. or tips you might have.

We are helping a little girl from Czeckoslovakia who is in Dallas for specialized surgery/medical treatment. We have been asked to send a birthday card to her. Can anyone help me to say "Happy Birthday! Get well soon! With love, your new friend, Darby" in her native language?
Thanks you!

How do we get a list of the orphanages or childrens homes in the Czech Rep. Really desperate! Would appreciate some help.

According to the 1880 US census, my great-grandfather, John Hanzlik, born 1858, was born in Poland as were his parents. Does anyone know if that was because of changes in borders or were there other reasons why a Czech family would have been living in Poland in the first half of the nineteenth century? Were there Czech communities in Poland at that time?

My Grandmother, Zsuzsanna Toth Rusz emigrated to the USA from Csaszloc, Hungary on June 13, 1911. Her father may have been the Mayor of this town in this town that is located in the county of UNG. She also may have been a twin. Her parents may have had 15 other children. Prior to leaving Hungary, she borne one known child, James Toth, who also emigrated to the USA at a later date.
Any information greatly appreciated about her or the town.

My g-grandparents were Czech's. How can I find out if there are any more of my relatives with the name of Miskanin still living there. I would also love to find out about all of my relatives that have passed on. Do you know any Miskanin's?

Robert Houser asks on March 9 about his family coming to Chicago at the time of the Chicago Fire and then moving to Wilber, Nebraska. Robert, here are some items on various Houser families. A Waclav Houser is buried at Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago, 9/13/1891. I also noted that there are nineteen obituaries of various Houser names in the Index to Obituaries in the Denni Hlasatel Czech Newspaper in Chicago.
Further there is a Robert B. Houser buried in Calvery Cemetery in Lincoln, NE. Finally, a John Houser is shown in partnership with Jos. M. Hynek in the farm implement business in the Souvenir Edition of the Wilber Republican Newspaper. There also is a picture of the home of his son, Ed Houser. I would suggest visiting the Dvoracek Memorial Library in Wilber, Nebraska, a very fine research library, to gain further ideas on the Houser family.
Paul Nemecek

Hello,
I'm looking for the only family that survived the Holocaust.
The Krauss/Kraus Family arrived the USA from Slovakia between WW1-WW2. The Father name was Alex/Shendor Kraus. He got Married with Erna and they had/have Two kids:Alex and Jason. I'm the third Generation of this family. These are the cousins of my grandmother that survived the holocaust. I moved to live in the US and i am trying to find them. We know that they arrived here and lived here. we Don't know if they are still alive. The contact with this family lost after the WW2. My grandmother never talked about those years, only now when she is so old she started to tell stories from the horror.
Please, Help me to find this family. This is our only family that survived the holocaust.
Yours
Yehudit Feinstein

my father came to chicago from slovakia in 1910.
he married a woman named marie. two sons were born--
andrew and andro. the wife and sons died sometime
before 1921. i would like to find out the cause of death,
when they died, and where they are buried. for information
from the county clerk, you must know the date within three years.
i would like some advise to help me find this information.
thank you. elaine moon

My great grandfather,Joseph Houser, his wife Mary, daughter Mary, sons James,Joseph,Thomas and John emigrated from Bohemia in 1871 and was living in Chicago during the 1871 fire. I was told they lived near the fire area and had mentioned to my father about the fire. I am trying to find out for sure when they came from Bohemia and how. Would any one be able to help me find this information. The family left around 1875 and moved to Wilber Nebraska.

I would like to know something regarding a tea set I purchased @ 15 years ago. On the bottom on each piece is a Phoenix bird stamp that reads PhoeniX China and under that Handpainted Morovian art. Can someone tell me about the manufacturing company, dates, location??
Thank you

I have noticed a number of inquiries about locating towns in Czechoslovakia. One source folks might want to check out is at http://mapy.atlas.cz/aquariusnet/frm_uvod.asp. I have been quite successful in finding very small, obscure towns on this site (works kind of like Mapquest). Only downside is correct spelling is important -- but it's worth a try.

Judith Mason writes on 1/07/03: "Could someone tell me how to obtain Austrian - Hungarian military records?"
Judith: I be glad to give some general advice. Most of the military records you will probably be interested in are Austrian records. Military records date from the 16th century to the end of World War I. Many of these have been microfilmed (regiments formed after 1740 and before 1862) and are available through the Family History Library and local Family History Centers. For later ones you may need to contact Vienna. For a brief summary of Czech military records available at the Family History Library, see Steven Blodgett's article "Czech Military Records," in FEEFHS Quarterly (journal), Volume VII, Numbers 1-2, Spring/Summer 1999. p. 38-43. Also, Karen Hobbs has been heavily involved in research of Austrian military records, and has published articles for the German-Bohemian Heritage Society and the Czech Genalogical Society International. Best wishes on this endeavor.
Paul Nemecek, CSAGSI

Diane T. asks on 1/11/03: "I am seeking ancestry of Jan Marik (b 1826 in Bohemia & d 5/7/1898 in Cleveland, Ohio ". Diane, I know of no written record available here for these early Cleveland settlers. I believe there are some books that have been published on Czech settlers in Cleveland. I also suggest checking Cleveland newspapers for obituaries as well as other Czech achives in that area of the country. Marik is a fairly common surname in Chicago. I find many obituaries for that name in "The Denni Hlasatel Obituary Index, 1891-1970", a Chicago Czech newspaper, published and sold by CSAGSI. Perhaps some children of the Cleveland settlers moved and lived in Chicago. Their obituary may give you the information wanted. Also look at the 1880 census. Good luck.
Paul Nemecek

Bill P. asks on 1/17: "I would like to find obituaries of my relatives in old Czech news papers from around 1908 in the Chicago area. Are there any such records available?"
Bill, you should first look for the surname in The Denni Hlasatel Obituary Index 1891 - 1970 published and sold by CSAGSI. Thousands and thousands of obituaries are indexed. This paper is a Czech newspaper published in Chicago from 1891.
Best wishes.
Paul Nemecek. CSAGSI

Cari Lucansky asks on 1/10: "their surname being Mikeska. There are no living relatives to help me. They arrived in America in 1913 and to my knowledge came to Chicago shortly thereafter. Where do I begin?"
Cari, there were a few Mikeska obituaries in Chicago after 1940. I assume those are not your family. Also there are some men with the Mikeska surname who fought in the Civil War (see book, Czechs in Grey and Blue Too, edited by J.F. Wright). These are all before or after the time period of your ancestors.
I would suggest you look at the 1920 census for Chicago. Another possibility are naturalization records. Best wishes.
Paul Nemecek
Vice President, CSAGSI

 

I would like to find obituaries of my relatives in old Czech news papers from around 1908 in the Chicago area. Are there any such records available?

Hi. I am seeking ancestry of Jan Marik (b 1826 in Bohemia & d 5/7/1898 in Cleveland, Ohio USA) and his wife Mary Cerni (b 1/28/1830 in Bohemia & d 12/3/1896 in Cleveland, Ohio USA) Thank you very much.

I have been working diligently on my Czech ancestry and have come to a dead end. I have traced my family back to Louka, Moravia, but can not find any info on where they lived in Chicago. My Great grandmothers name was Anastazia and it is believed that my great grandfatjers name was Frank(Frantisek). their surname being Mikeska. There are no living relatives to help me. They arrived in America in 1913 and to my knowledge came to Chicago shortly thereafter. Where do I begin?

where can i meet czech people? where can I receive czech lessons or tutoring?

Amy writes on January 3 "my great grandfather Anton Kratochvil was buried in the Bohemian cemetary in chicago any idea how I can get more info? Also my great granmother is in the bohemian cemetary in Braidwood,IL does anyone know how to get to it?"

Amy, you should visit the CSAGSI LIBRARY in Cicero (when it is open) and receive some assistance on your question. There is a form you can use to request information from
Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago. You could also visit the administrative offices there yourself and ask at the desk. The CSAGSI Library also has a volume listing burials at the Braidwood Bohemian Cemetery with additional information. Best wishes Amy in your searching.