The Karas, Souček and Míchal Families of Havlíčkův Brod Czech Republic (Bohemia, Czechoslovakia) By Scott Karas [Please contact me if you have a Karas, Soucek or Michal story to share with our family]
Sunday July 1, 2012 Over the past four days I had the opportunity to visit Plattsmouth, Omaha and Lincoln Nebraska. I was fortunate enough to connect with Barbara Stobbe Fuller, Shirley Warga Dasher and Ruth Warga Johnson and their families. We had a great time sharing Karas stories and photos. I came back with over 300 images I will be sharing on the website. I have posted several today, but many more are coming. I also had a chance to visit the Plattsmouth and Omaha courthouses to gather marriage and deed records along with details of Mike Karas' case against the Cudahy Packing Plant. I look forward to sharing all this great new information with you over the coming days.
Friday June 15, 2012 About a week ago, Barbara Fuller Stobbe provided some details about Shirley Warga Dasher (daughter of Bessie Karas and Albert Warga). I googled Shirley and found she is a local produce farmer in Plattsmouth. I was able to locate her email address and made contact with her. Shirley has provided some great details about the actual address where Matej (Mike) and Marie (Mary) Karas lived in Plattsmouth.
Additionally, I obtained new details about Anna Michalova's mother, Anna Cibulkova, from Sarka. I have included a vital records link for Anna Cibulkova's birth.
Wednesday February 29, 2012 This week I had a great surprise. I received an email from Barbara Stobbe Fuller. Barbara is the daughter of Agnes Karas Stobbe. Agnes was the daughter of Marie and Matej Karas. Agnes is my grandfather's sister.
Barbara told me she googled "Mike Karas Omaha" and came across this website. I was thrilled that the internet search brought Barbara and I into contact.
Barbara has several photos that she found in her mother's things when Agnes died. Barbara has been kind enough to allow me to share those photos and stories on this website.
I look forward to learning more about the Karas family from Barbara.
On December 10, 1909, Matěj Karas Jr boarded the passenger ship S/S Köln in the port city of Bremen, Germany. Matěj was alone. His wife, Marie Karas (Souckova), and their four young boys remained in their home back in the Bohemian Kingdom. Matěj was 26 years old in 1909 and had recently received encouragement from a long time family friend to join him in the United States.
John Cerveny was living in Nebraska in 1909 and was to serve as Matěj’s primary point of contact once he reached the United States. John was about 12 years older than Matěj and had immigrated to the United States in 1890. Most likely, John Cerveny was employed by one of the several Meat Packing Houses in Omaha. In 1909, the Meat Packing industry was booming. The cattle business was robust and an abundance of meat was being driven north from Texas to Kansas and Nebraska for slaughter in order to supply beef to a growing country with a thirst for red meat.
The lure of a better life in America appealed to Matěj. Economic conditions in rural Bohemia were poor in 1909 and Matěj believed that he could provide for his family more adequately by striking out for America. His hope was that he and his family could save enough money in the short term to allow Marie and their four boys to quickly join Matěj soon after he arrived in America. Shortly after Matěj boarded the Köln in Bremen, the ship proceeded north up the waterway to the North Sea through Bremerhaven, Germany. From the North Sea, the Köln made its way to the Atlantic Ocean. Ultimately, the ship navigated to and through the Gulf of Mexico to arrive in Galveston, Texas on December 20, 1909.
Upon arrival in the United States, Matěj filled out all the necessary paperwork required of all immigrants. One of the many questions asked was “where are you from?” Matěj listed Volesna, Bohemia as his place of origin. Additionally, there are a number of other documents for Matěj Karas Jr with many other alternate spellings for his birth location including Vel Olsna, Wollessna and Wolesna. Today, the modern country of the Czech Republic does not possess a village by any of the aforementioned names.
However, as many rural Czechs are accustomed to, Matěj was simply speaking the Czech language he was familiar with. According to Czech language historians, the introduction of the consonant V on the front of words beginning with the letter O was introduced into the language during the fourteenth century. Additionally, V is often defined as “in” or “at” which means it assists with defining location. Therefore, Matěj was essentially stating that he was from the village of Olešná in the Bohemian Kingdom.
The Czech language is extremely complex and diverse. The language has evolved over the centuries. During the Austro-Hungarian and Hapsburg dynasties, the Czech language was under fire and German was the primary language of the Bohemian Kingdom. During this period, the Czech language was primarily used by the peasants in the rural parts of the country. It would not be until the mid 1850s that the Czech language was formalized and taught in schools. However, many rural Czechs (like the Karas') continued to use many of the ancient language usage forms.
So, where, exactly, is the village of Olešná located in today’s Czech Republic? Unfortunately, there are currently thirteen villages in the Czech Republic that possess the name Olešná. It would take some research to help identify definitively which village of Olešná that Matěj originated from.
To help determine the correct Olešná village, it’s important to consider that Matěj’s wife, Marie Souckova, was born in a village named Babice. There are four villages in the Czech Republic named Babice. It’s highly likely that the two villages of Olešná and Babice would be required to be very close in proximity due to the rural nature of Matěj and Marie’s lives and their inability to travel too far from their homes in the late 1890s.
Some Czech genealogists believe that the village of Olešná in the Central Bohemia (Stredoceský kraj) region within the Rakovnik district (about five miles north of the town of Rakovnik) was the Olešná that was commonly referred to as Volesna. It’s possible that Matěj could have been from the Rakovnik District because it is only 62 miles from a village named Babice. This particular Babice is located in the Central Bohemia Region in the Praha-vychod District. However, 62 miles would have been a considerable distance to travel during the late nineteenth century. Therefore, the village of Olešná in the Stredoceský kraj region was most likely not Matěj’s home.
There is another Olešná in the Southern Bohemia (Jihoceský kraj) Region within the Písek District which is close to another Babice located in the Prachatice District in Southern Bohemia. However, once again, it’s likely the distance between the Olešná and Babice villages in this region was still too great.
Finally, there is a village of Olešná in the Vysočina Region southeast of Prague. Additionally, there is a village of Babice within 6 miles of this Olešná in the Havlíčkův Brod district.
Of the thirteen Olešná villages in the Czech Republic, research identified three Olešná villages in the Czech Republic that could be the birth place of Matěj Karas Jr. ...
Olešná, Central Bohemia (Stredoceský kraj) Region, Rakovnik District Olešná, Vysočina Region, Havlíčkův Brod District Olešná, Southern Bohemia (Jihoceský kraj), Písek District
After narrowing down the birth place of Matěj to three possible options, I received a tip from a genealogist to try searching for the Karas surname on the genealogy.com website. On Friday July 1, 2011, I found the following post on genealogy.com by a gentlemen named James R. Karas living in Independence, Missouri …
The following are names in my family tree that came from Hamburg, Germany or Bohemia Czech Republic. If you have any information or are related to them please contact me. Thank you.
Alexander Nicholas Ruge born in Hamburg, Germany. November 11, 1841. Johanna Friedericke Techmier born in Hamburg? December 26, 1844. Martha Regina (Filer?) Hildebrandt born in Leipzac or Danzig Germany. December 25, 1876. Matej Karas Sr born in Olesna Bohemia about 1855? House #38, Country Nemecky Brod, Czech. Matej Karas Jr born in Olesna Bohemia. January 23, 1883. House #35. Country Nemecky Brod, Czech. Marie Kolarova born in Rozsachatic Bohemia about 1855. House #10. Country Nemecky Brod, Czech. Jozef Soucka born in Babic Bohemia about 1855. House #24. Country Nemecky Brod, Czech. Anna Michalova born in Babic Bohemia about 1855. House #24. Country Nemecky Brod, Czech.
Upon learning of this information, I immediately began using maps.google.com to locate the County of Nemecky in the Czech Republic. I had no success finding this county so I utilized wikipedia.com to search for the Regions and Districts in the Czech Republic. Shortly thereafter, I came upon a wiki page with details of the Havlíčkův Brod District in the Vysočina Region. At the top of the wiki page was the following information…
Havlíčkův Brod, Německý Brod until 1945 is a town in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. It is also the capital of the Havlíčkův Brod district. It is located on the Sázava River in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and has a population of 24,321 as of 2003. It belongs to the historical land of Bohemia.
With the information obtained from James R. Karas along with the confirmation of the county using wikipedia.com, I now had the home address for both Matěj Karas Jr and Marie Souckova.
House #38 Marie (Kolářová) and Matěj Karas Sr Family
House #35 Marie (Souckova) and Matěj Karas Jr Family
House #75 Anastázie (Janáková) and Václav Karas Sr Family
Karas Homes
The Karas Homes of Olešná through time...
House #10: Marie Karas (daughter of Vaclav Karas Sr) (~2000) House #17: Jakob Karas (1777) House #28: Joseph Karas (1773), Martin Karas (1777), Josef Karas (1838) House #35: Matěj Karas Jr (1910) House #38: Matěj Karas Sr (1910) House #49: Josef Karas (~1930) House #55: Jan Karas (1838) House #59: Anna Karas (daughter of Josef Karas) House #75: Anastazie and Vaclav Karas Sr (~1930) House #90: Vaclav Karas Jr (2011)
The exact date of the establishment of the village of Olešná is unknown. However, history indicates that people began settling in the area around 1278. The area served as a common path for many traders and armies. As a result, the early settlement suffered many defeats from raiding armies.
After the Hussite Wars, the first owner of the land was Hynek of Žlebu. Hynek possessed the land between 1421 and 1509. It is likely that Hynek was a Protestant Noble since the Hussites were victorious in many areas. It was during Hynek's ownership of the land that serfdom was established. The year 1487 is the year recorded as the beginning of serfdom.
In 1509, Nicholas (William) Trcky of Lime took ownership of the area. Once again, serfs worked the land for Trcky.
Leading up to the Thirty Years War (1618-1648), there was a great deal of religious tension. The Catholic Church had lost a considerable amount of power over the course of the previous two hundred years and the Protestant Nobility Estates acquired power and property.
The tensions in the region finally came to a head when the Protestants revolted. The Thirty Years War (1618-1648) was initiated by the First Defenestration of Prague. The Catholic Church prevailed in the war and the Protestants were defeated. As a result of the war, the population of the Czech lands declined by a third due to war, disease, famine and the expulsion of the Protestants. Upon the expulsion of the Protestants, the Catholic Church looked to reclaim the wealth and land previously held by the Protestants.
It was during this time that Emperor Ferdinand II confiscated the property from the Trckové family in 1634. From 1634 until 1651, the area was merged into a new dominion named Habry. Again, serfs still worked the land during this time.
In 1651, the son of Imperial General Reinhard from Walmerode sold the estate to John Menclovi of Bernfeldu.
Additionally, it was during this time that the Catholic Church sought to restore the power of Catholicism in the region. Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria was a staunch Catholic who wanted to impose religious uniformity on his lands by re-asserting Catholicism as the primary religion.
The Hapsburg ruler looked to re-catholicize the land. As a result, the Register of Subjects According to Their Religion was established. The goal of the census was to determine how many people had remained loyal to the Roman Catholic faith, who had become protestant, and whether they were willing to say they would convert to Catholicism.
It was in this year of 1651 that Jiřík (George) Karas was listed in the Register of Subjects According to Their Religion of the village of Olešná in the Havlíčkův Brod District of the Vysočina Region in the Kingdom of Bohemia. Jiřík was 22 years old and was married to Maruše and had one daughter, Ludmila. Jiřík was born in 1629.
Jiřík Karas owned land as a serf under the estate of John Menclovi of Bernfeldu during this time. As a serf, Jiřík's primary responsibility was to work the land of John Menclovi. Secondarily, Jiřík worked his own land.
It would not be until 1848 when serfdom was abolished that the Karas family was able to make the working of their own land their primary responsibility.
Marie Souckova (my great grandmother) gave birth to my grandfather, Bohumil Soucek, in House #24 in the village of Babice. We have recently discovered that Matej Karas Jr is not the biological father of Bohumil and that Marie's child was officially registered as illegitimate. Therefore, my great grandfather (Bohumil's biological father) must have been living in the village of Babice when Bohumil was conceived. It has become increasingly important to understand the history of the village of Babice in order to understand our heritage. Below are some helpful documents provided by Karel Milichovský and Svatava Milichovská.
Marie Souckova's birth mother was Anna Michalova. Anna was born in Babice #24 in 1866. Anna's parents were Vaclav Michal and Anna Cibulkova. In the Michal family tree provided by Sarka Kocarikova, it has been determined that Anna's great grandfather was Václav Míchal of the village of Pohled' #16. Today, Pohled #16 is a museum that pays tributes to the peasants who farmed the land. According to the Michalův Statek (Farm) Museum Website, Václav Míchal purchased the farm in 1788 for 195 pieces of gold. Below is in excerpt from the museum's website...
The genus Michalů was on this farm to the ground according to the entries in the registers of the estate světelského in 1591. Other references are from the inventory of the population after the thirty years ' war from 1651. Then from the tax stopped from 1654 and its revision from the year 1713. The year 1788 bought this farm Václav Michal from monarch for 195 gold, and in 1798 was divided into two halves. One of the holders of this mess about Mathew Michael was in the years 1902-1926 also the Mayor of the municipality.
Michal Farm Pohled #16
Michal Farm Pohled #16
Michal Farm Pohled #16
Bohemian Kingdom Census Records
On Wednesday July 13, 2011, I came across an excellent resource. An organization called the Czech Census Searchers has a website,http://www.czechfamilytree.com, who specializes in assisting genealogists with locating Census Records in the Czech Republic.
As of this writing, the organization has census records for 1857, 1869, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910 and 1921. The Austro-Hungarian Empire conducted the census in all these years except 1921 when the country of Czechoslovakia handled the census.
The census records included more information each year until, ultimately, all the following pieces of data could be found in the census records…
Name and Birth Date of each individual in the household Marital Status Occupation Religion The relationship between the head of household and other household members Place of Birth Accounting of all farm animals Whether or not household members were literate Mental or physical disabilities of household members
Unfortunately, the 1880 census records for Olešná were destroyed in a fire. However, Martin Kocarik (my Czech Republic Genealogist contact) was able to locate census records for the following...
Birth, Marriage and Death Records in the Czech Republic
There are currently seven State Regional Archives in the Czech Republic that house most pre-1900 historic birth, marriage and death records.
The Central Bohemian Region (State Regional Archive in Prague) The Southern Bohemian Region (State Regional Archive in Třeboň) The Western Bohemian Region (State Regional Archive in Plzeň) The Northern Bohemian Region (State Regional Archive in Litoměřice) The Eastern Bohemian Region (State Regional Archive in Zámrsk) The Northern Moravian Region (Land Archive in Opava) The Southern Moravian Region (Moravian Land Archive in Brno)
The Havlíčkův Brod District contains the villages of Babice and Olešná. It will be necessary to search the Zámrsk Archives in order to find the birth, marriage and death records of our Karas ancestors.
In 1997, the Czech Republic began an initiative to digitize all historic records. As of April 2011, the State Regional Archives completion rate is as follows…
State Regional Archive in Prague – 35% complete (~10,0500 books in the Region) State Regional Archive in Třeboň – 100% complete (~6,750 books in the Region) State Regional Archive in Plzeň – 70% complete (~11,500 books in the Region) State Regional Archive in Litoměřice – 75% complete (~10,500 books in the Region) State Regional Archive in Zámrsk – 25% complete (~11,000 books in the Region) Land Archive in Opava – 70% complete (~11,700 books in the Region) Moravian Land Archive in Brno – 65% complete (~10,000 books in the Region)
The digitized records for each Region can be located at the following URLs…
4th Century BC: Celtic Boii tribe settled in land. Before New Era: The Marcomanni and Quidi German tribes push out the Boii. 6th Century: Slavonic people from the northeast migrate to Bohemia. They are known as Cechen (Czechs). 706: Bohemia pays tribute to Charlemagne. 1278: First settler in the Olešná area. 1346-1378: Peak in the prestige and power of the kingdom of Bohemia during the reign of Charles IV. 1348: Emperor Charles IV founded the University of Praque. 1415: Jan Hus was burned at the stake for heresy against the Catholic Church. 1419: First Defenestration of Prague 1419-1436: The Hussite Revolution. Societal structure changed. Religious tolerance flourished and Catholic church declined. 1419-1436: Czech nation and culture flourished and nobility and towns prospered while the Catholic church suffered. 1421: Hynek of Žlebu begins ownership of the estate where the village of Olešná resides 1487: The nobles established serfdom on their estates. 1509: Nicholas (William) Trcky of Lime begins ownership of the estate where the village of Olešná resides 1526: Death of Louis II at the Battle of Mohácz. 1526: The Hapsburg Dynasty begins. Beginning of Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The union of the Germanic, Slavonic, and Hungarian provinces. 1526: Hapsburg Dynasty re-affirmed Roman Catholic faith and position of the church as authority. 1618: Second Defenestration of Prague 1618: Czech Protestant Estates staged rebellion against the Hapsburg Monarch Ferdinand II. 1618-1648: The Thirty Years War. War between Catholics and Protestants. 1618-1648: Population of Bohemia fell from 3,000,000 to 800,000 due to death or emigration. 1620: (November 8): Emperor Ferdinand defeated the Protestant Estates at the Battle of White Mountain. 1621: Catholicism becomes official religion. No other religions are tolerated. Protestant exiles leave Bohemia. 1627: German becomes official language of Bohemia. The Czech language was repressed. 1628: (April 10) Every person was dutibound to submit the books he owned for inspection to the local parson. 1628: (May 10) An order was issued that non-catholic books should either be burned or handed in into libraries. 1634: Emperor Ferdinand II confiscates the Olešná land from Nicholas (William) Trcky of Lime. 1634: Confiscated Olešná land is merged into a new dominion named Habry. 1636: First pub established in Babice. 1651: The son of Imperial General Reinhard from Walmerode sells estate (Olešná) to John Menclovi of Bernfeldu. 1651: Register of Subjects According to Their Religion was established. This was census to determine who remained faithful to the Catholic Church. 1651: Jiřík Karas listed in the Soupis poddaných dle víry (Notice of the subjects of faith) in soud welkowolessnický (the court of Wolesna). 1654: Jiřík Karas listed in the Volešná Berní rula (The Olešná Tax Record). 1714: (July 31) Sázava river floods Babice. 42 people in the village of Babice die. 1756: Adam Karas listed in the Tereziánský katastr (The Land Register) of Olešná. 1777: Josef and Martin Karas listed in Olešná land record living in House #28. Jakub Karas living in House #17. 1780: Beginning of the Czech National Revival 1781: Patent of Toleration established. Prior to this date, no other church could exist outside of the Catholic religion. 1806: Beginning of the Austrian Empire. 1825: Vaclav Karas (father of Matěj Karas SR) born in Olešná 1828: Katerina Karas (mother of Matěj Karas SR) born in Vesely Zdar, Havlíčkův Brod 1832: (March 24) Emperor Franz I decree governed the emigration process from Austria. 1838: Josef Karas listed in Olešná land record living in House #28. Jan Karas living in House #55. 1848: Serfdom abolished. 1848: Karas ancestors now focus on working their own land and are no longer required to work the land of the Manor as a serf. 1848: The village of Olešná becomes part of the German Brod District. Many former serfs begin working in the silver mines. 1852: Approximately 4000 Bohemians emigrated from the Austrian Empire (Bohemian Kingdom). This included legal and illegal emigrations. 1860: (December 22) Josef Soucek is born in Dobrohostov 1861: (September 1) Matěj Karas Sr. is born in Olešná. 1862: (September 4) Marie Kolářová is born in Chotebor. 1861: (March 15) Frantiska Milichovská is born in Tis 1867: Beginning of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1883: (January 23 or December 24) Matěj Karas Jr. is born 1885: (February 18) Marie Souckova is born in Babice #24. 1904: Volunteer fire corp established in Babice. 1905: (October 12) Bohuslav Karas (aka Bohumil Soucek, aka William Karas) is born in Babice #24. 1908: (March 20) Etta Lucretia Moyer is born. Etta is wife of William Karas. 1909: (December) Matěj Karas emigrates from Bohemia 1912: (December) Marie Karas (Souckova) emigrates from Bohemia 1914: Vaclav Karas (brother of Matěj Karas Jr), Bohuslav Karas and Frantisek Karas attempt to emigrate from Bohemia, but authorities return them home. 1914: Karel Blažek (friend of Karas family) successfully immigrates to the US on May 13, 1914. 1914-1918: World War I 1918: The Kingdom of Bohemia becomes Czechoslovakia 1922: (November 1) Bohumil Soucek, Frantisek Karas and Jan Karas emigrate from Bohemia 1922: (November 11) Bohumil Soucek, Frantisek Karas and Jan Karas arrive in the United States. 1924: The Immigration Act of 1924 was passed. 1929: Village theatre established in Babice. 1934: (May 19) Marie Kolarova dies 1935: World War I monument unveiled in Babice. 1937: Farley Karas (son of William Karas) is born in Omaha, Nebraska 1938: (September 19) Matěj Karas Sr. dies in Olešná 1939: (June 26) William Karas becomes naturalized United States citizen 1939-1945: World War II 1939-1945: German Occupation 1945: Marie and Antonin Karas (son of Matěj Karas Sr) move to Travnik in the Sudetenland 1948: Communist take over. 1949: Czechoslovakia becomes Communist 1955: Marie Karas (Souckova) dies in Plattsmouth, Nebraska 1956: (August 1) Farley Karas weds Marva Jane in Omaha at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church 1962: Jana Karas is born. She is the first daughter of Vaclav Karas Jr. Vaclav Karas Sr is Matěj Karas Jr's brother. 1966: Matěj Karas Jr dies in Omaha, Nebraska 1966: Scott Karas (son of Farley Karas) is born in Houston, Texas 1968: Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact countries brings an end to the Prague Spring. 1969: (January) Jan Palach set himself on fire during protests against the Communist. 1975: Charter 77 emerged with Vaclav Havel as leader. The group protested the Husak regime. This is seed of the future Velvet Revolution. 1976: Petra Dušátková is born. She is the second daughter of Vaclav Karas Jr. Vaclav Karas Sr is Matěj Karas Jr's brother. 1976: Vaclav Karas Sr (brother of Matěj Karas Jr) dies in Olešná in House #75. 1969: William Karas (aka Bohuslav Karas, aka Bohumil Soucek) dies 1989: The Velvet Revolution 1993: Czechoslovakia becomes democratic state and is renamed to The Czech Republic 2002: Floodwaters ravage the Czech Republic 2006: Morgan Karas (daughter of Scott Karas) is born in Tulsa, Oklahoma 2007: Parker Karas (son of Scott Karas) is born in Tulsa, Oklahoma 2011: (July 1) Scott Karas has first conversation with James Karas Jr (grandson of Matěj Karas Jr) 2011: (August 4) Scott Karas has first conversation with Petra Dušátková 2011: (September 19) Scott Karas makes first contact with Jan Doležal (great great great grandson of Matěj Karas Sr through Josef Karas) 2011: (October 10) Scott Karas makes first contact with Walter (Bud) Karas Jr (great grandson of Matěj Karas Jr) 2011: (October 25) Scott Karas makes first contact with the Milichovsky family of Babice 2011: (December 18) Vaclav Havel dies 2012: (January 7) Scott Karas has first contact with Lenka Říhová (Great great grand daughter of Josef Souček, Marie Souckova's father) 2012: (January 24) Scott Karas has first contact (phone conversation) with Frank Karas (son of Frantisek Karas) 2012: (February 3) Scott Karas has first contact (email) with Ondřej Míchal (possible relative of Marie Souckova) 2012: (February 27) Scott Karas has first contact (email) with Barbara Stobbe Fuller (daughter of Agnes Karas Stobbe) 2012: (June 10) Scott Karas has first contact (email) with Shirley Warga Dasher (daughter of Bessie Karas and Albert Warga) 2012: (June 28) Scott Karas first face-to-face contact with Barbara Stobbe Fuller and Shirley Warga Dasher 2012: (June 30) Scott Karas first face-to-face contact with Ruth Warga Johnson
Vaclav Karas (1825-)
Vaclav Karas was born on October 9, 1825 (1890 Census) in Olešná.
Vaclav Karas was my great great great grandfather. Vaclav was married to Katerina Karasova. Currently, we do not know how many children Vaclav and Katerina had, but we do know they are the parents of Matěj Karas SR…
Matěj is pronounced...M as in "me" ; A as in the u in "cup"; T as in "tee"; EY as in "ate"; Y as in "you".
Matěj Karas Sr was born on September 1, 1861 (1900 Census) in Olešná. His father was Vaclav Karas. His mother was Katerina Karasova. Matěj Karas Sr died in Olešná on September 19, 1938. His wife, Marie Kolarova, died on May 19, 1934 in Olešná as well.
Matěj Karas Sr was my great great grandfather. Matěj was married to Marie Kolarova. Marie and Matěj Karas Sr were married on September 28, 1885 in Olešná. Marie and Matěj Karas Sr both died in House #75 in Olešná. Vaclav Karas Sr and his wife, Anastazie, cared for Marie and Matěj Karas Sr in their final years. Matěj and Marie had 5 children…
1. Matěj Jr (b.1883-d.1966) (Birth Place: Olešná)
Matěj Karas Jr and his wife, Marie Souckova, had 11 children.
According to Petra Dusatkova, Antonin and his wife, Marie, had four children...Antonin Jr, Karel, Marie and Božena. The oldest son of Antonin Karas Sr, Antonin Karas Jr, died at a fairly young age in 1945. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the village of Skuhrov. After World War II, Antonin's family moved to the Sudetenland. The family settled in the village of Trávník near Cvikov in the district of Ceská Lípa. Trávník is approximately 50 miles north of Prague.
After World War II, many German families were expelled from Czechoslovakia. During this time after the war, only the Germans were officially expelled, but some Czechs found job opportunities and the chance to own land in the Sudetenland. As a result, Antonin and his family chose to take this opportunity and left Olešná and traveled to the north of the republic to begin a new life after the war.
Later, Antonin's family found work at a glass factory in Nový Bor and moved to this town. 3. Josef (b.1888-d.????) (Birth Place: Olešná)
Josef and his wife, Marie Kubícková, raised three children (Frantisek, Anna and Joseph Jr) in Olešná. Anna Karas (daughter of Joseph) married Jan Doležal. Anna Karas is the great grandmother of Jan Doležal who is currently 24 years old (as of September 2011) living in Olešná. The local Olešná Pub was owned by Josef Karas. Josef was the brother of Matěj Karas Jr. The Doležal family in current day Olešná are the descendents of Josef Karas. Thephoto in the lower-left corner of this postcard provided by Petra is Josef's pub. The photo was taken in 1919. The people standing in front of the building are probably Josef and his wife Marie along with their three children Frantisek, Anna and Josef.
Vaclav Karas Sr and his wife, Anastazie Janáková, had three children...Anna, Marie and Vaclav Karas Jr. Vaclav Karas Jr is still living in Olešná (December 2011) and he has two daughters...Jana Veselý and Petra Dušátková. As of December 2011, Petra is 35 years old and Jana is about 47. Vaclav Karas Jr and his family had the very unfortunate event of losing their oldest son Josef in an accident in 1975.
Marie (Vaclav Karas Sr's daughter) Dundáčková was an important person in the village of Olesna. She went to the Chapel of St. Florián in Olešná three times a day (in the morning, at noon and in the evening). She rang the Angelus Bell for many years (up to her death). This tradition has survived to the present time.
Vaclav Karas Sr (1895-1976)
Anastazie Janakova Karasova
Vaclav Karas Sr (1964)
Vaclav Karas Jr Family
Vaclav Karas Jr (Birth 1934)
Vaclav Karas Jr (Birth 1934)
Marie Karas (Dundáčkova) [Daughter of Vaclav Karas Sr]
Anna Karas (Štefánková) [Daughter of Vaclav Karas Sr]
Joseph Karas (1958-1975) [Son of Vaclav Karas Jr]
Jana Karas (Veselý) [Daughter of Vaclav Karas Jr]
Petra Karas (Dušátková) [Daughter of Vaclav Karas Jr]
Vaclav Karas Jr
5. Marie (b.1898-d.????) (Birth Place: Olešná)
*** Marie died at a very young age and had no children.
Matěj Karas Jr was born on December 24, 1883 in Olešná. His father was Matěj Karas Sr. His mother was Marie Karasova (Kolarova). Matěj Karas Jr had three brothers, Antonin, Josef and Vaclav and one sister, Marie. Marie died at a very young age. Matěj was the only family member that emigrated to the United States. Matěj Karas Jr married Marie Souckova (aka Mary Karas) on May 29, 1906. Marie left Babice and joined Matěj in Olešná.
Mike and Mary Karas Karas Farm - 2314 Young Road Plattsmouth, Nebraska
Matěj Karas Jr at Mary Karas' (Marie Souckova) Funeral in Nebraska in 1955
Marie and Matej Karas Jr (around the 1930s or 40s)
Mike and Mary Karas Karas Farm - 2314 Young Road Plattsmouth, Nebraska
Marie and Matěj Karas Jr raised 11 children, however, the oldest child, Bohumil Soucek, was born on October 13, 1905 (about 6 months prior to the marriage of Marie and Matěj). Bohumil's father was listed as "unknown" on the birth record. Although Matej Karas Jr is not the biological father of Bohumil Soucek, it is admirable that he raised Bohumil as his own.
1. Bohumil Soucek (aka Bohuslav Karas, aka William Karas) (b.1905-d.1969) (Birth Place: Babice) *** Bohumil Soucek had three children... William, Lillian and Farley.
On Saturday February 4, 2012, I received a letter from Frank Karas (son of Frantisek Karas). Frank included some photos of Olesna House #38 taken in 1997 by one of his family members.
3. Jan (aka John Karas) (b.1908-d.1976) (Birth Place: Olešná)
Jan (John) Karas
Jan (John) Karas
Jan (John) Karas Birth Record
Jan (John) Karas School Record (1914)
4. Vaclav (aka James Karas) (b.1909-d.1970) (3 years old in 1912 when immigrated with Marie Karas) (Birth Place: Olešná) *** James had at least one child...James R Karas Jr.
Vaclav (James) Karas Sr
Vaclav (James) Karas Sr and Marie Souckova
Vaclav (James) Karas Sr Birth Record
5. Mary (b.1913-d.1995) [Mrs. Donald Schultz] (Birth Place: Nebraska)
Mary was the eldest girl of Mike and Mary Karas. Mary was born on November 13, 1913 and died in Michigan on April 24, 1995. According to the 1930 census, Mary was living in Omaha with her husband Donald Schultz and his father August Schultz. Mary was only 16 years old when she married Donald. Donald was four years older than Mary and he is listed as 20 years old in the 1930 census. Donald was born to August and Josie [Festler] Schultz on December 11, 1909 in Northfield, Rice, Minnesota. August was the son of German immigrants.
6. Joseph (b.1915-d.1997) (Birth Place: Nebraska)
7. Ann (b.1917-d.1990) [Mrs. Paul Jack Winters] (Birth Place: Omaha, Nebraska)
Ann Karas was born on March 15, 1917 in Omaha, Nebraska. She was known as Anna in the 1930 census at the age of 14, but all other records found have her listed with the name Ann. Ann was the seventh of eleven children. Ann had a son named Robert (Bobby) Riddle in 1934 who was ultimately raised by Ann's parents Mike and Mary Karas.
Residence records in 1939 and 1941 have Ann living in Omaha at the age of 22 and 24 respectively. However, in 1953 her residence changed to Pendleton, Oregon. It appears that Ann lived in Oregon for the remainder of her life up until her death in 1990 in Hermiston, Oregon.
The year of marriage is currently unknown, but at some point, Ann married Paul Jack Winters. Paul was born on March 15, 1912 and passed away in 1980 in Hermiston, Oregon (same residence as Ann at the time of her death).
8. Bessie (b.1918-d.1976) [Mrs. Albert Warga] (Birth Place: Omaha, Nebraska)
Bessie Karas
Albert Warga
Bessie's birth name was Bozema. Bessie married Albert Warga when she was 18 years old. Albert was 40 years old when the two were married. Bessie and Albert had a four year daughter, Ruth, when the 1940 census was taken.
9. Agnes (b.1920-d.2000) [Mrs. Theo Stobbe] (Birth Place: Omaha, Nebraska)
11. Helen (b.1923-d.1970) [Mrs. Paul Edward Aita] (Birth Place: Omaha, Nebraska)
Helen Karas
Paul Edward Aita
Helen Karas was born on December 4, 1923 in Omaha, Nebraska. Helen was the youngest of eleven children of Mike and Mary Karas. As an adult, Helen's residence is listed as Omaha, Nebraska until 1952 when her home changed to Santa Ana, California.
Helen married Paul Edward Aita in 1945 and the two eventually adopted a girl named Jenny. Helen died at the very young age of 47. About four years (1974) after Helen's death, Paul's residence changed to Pendleton, Oregon. Paul must have been good friends with Ann Winters and her husband Paul or a good friend of Ann's son Bobby Riddle because Pendleton was their home as well.
Below is a photo of the Karas sisters in October 1963. From left to right...Jenny Aita (adopted daughter of Helen Aita), Helen Karas Aita, Bessie Karas Warga, Agnes Karas Stobbe, Mary Karas Schultz.
Below is a photo of the husbands of the Karas sisters while at Marie Souckova's funeral in Nebraska in 1955. From left to right...Don Schultz (Mary), Theo Stobbe (Agnes), Paul Edward Aita (Helen) and Albert Warga (Bessie).
Matěj Karas Jr immigrated to the United States in December 1909. Matěj Karas Jr came from Volesna (per his immigration document), Bohemia. A village by the name of Volesna does not currently exist in the present day Czech Republic. The correct village name today is Olešná. Czechs have had a custom of adding a “V” on the front of several words. The use of the V in front of olesna was a type of old slang. After further research, I found that Matěj Karas Jr was from the village of Olešná located in the Havlíčkův Brod district of the Vysočina region of the modern day Czech Republic.
Upon arrival in the United States in December 1909, Matěj Karas Jr listed John Cerny as his person of contact in the US. John Cerny immigrated to the US in 1890. On both John and Matěj's immigration records, John was know as John Cerny. However, John's real last name was Cerveny. He was known as John Cerveny Sr in the 1910 US Census. He was known as John Cerveney in the 1920 US Census and he was known as John Cerveny in the 1930 US Census. Additionally, John's son Frank served as a pallbearer at Matěj's funeral in 1966 and was known as Frank Cerveny in the funeral program. Therefore, I'm confident that John's real last name was Cerveny. Furthermore, in the Olešná 1838 Historic House Record we see a Jan Cerveny and a Josef Karas living in adjacent houses. I believe this is further evidence that the Cerveny and Karas family friendship goes back several generations.
Matěj's good friend, John Cerveny, was born in the Bohemian Kingdom in 1871. He was married to Antonia and appears to have had six children (Frank, Charles, Mary, Joseph, Annie and Sylvia). Did John work at one of the meatpacking companies in Omaha? I assume somehow that John was able to reach Matěj in the Bohemian Kingdom to tell him about the economic opportunities in Omaha.
James (Vaclav) Sr, John (Jan), Joseph, Frank (Frantisek), William (Bohumil Soucek)
In 1919, Matěj Karas Jr was working at the Cudahy Packing House in South Omaha. During his time at the plant, Matěj was involved in an elevator accident. He injured his face and right leg. On April 8, 1920, Matěj's right leg was amputated between his hip and knee. As you can see below in the Nebraska Department of Labor write up, Matěj received $12/week for the accident. According to the US Department of Labor, the average weekly salary in 1919 was $25. Matěj received about half that amount for approximately three and a half years as compensation for the accident.
4-30: Mike Karas vs. Cudahy Packing Company, Omaha. In the spring of 1919, while in the employ of defendant company, plaintiff injured his right leg and face in an elevator accident. On April 8, 1920, plaintiff's right leg was amputated between the knee and the hip. A hearing was had May 6 and 23 and compensation was allowed for 175 weeks at $12 each week, together with medical expenses provided by law.
Below is a photo of the Cudahy Packing House in South Omaha where Matej lost his leg and where many of the Karas men worked. The plant shutdown in 1967. Walter Karas Jr remembers visiting Matěj on his farm and seeing Matěj's wooden leg.
Below is the hospital bill for Mike's time spent in the hospital when his leg was amputated...
In 1922, Matěj Karas Jr was living in Omaha, Nebraska at 3611 Monroe Street. We know this because his sons Bohumil Soucek, Frantisek and Jan Karas put this address on their immigration documents. The sons noted Matěj Karas Jr as their point of contact in the United States. Around the year 1925, Matěj Karas Jr and his family moved to Rock Bluffs (about 6 miles south of Plattsmouth), Nebraska. We know this because Mary Karas' (Matěj's wife) death certificate indicates she had been living in Rock Bluffs for the 30 previous years prior to her death in 1955. Mary and Matěj's address in Rock Bluffs was R.F.D.#1, Box 39. After Mary's death in 1955, it appears that Matěj Karas Jr moved back to Omaha. On Matěj's death certificate, his address was 4920 South 25th Street in Omaha. Additionally, the death certificate states he was at this address for the previous 10 years. So, it was very near the time of Mary's death that Matěj began living at the South 25th Street address.
Between about 1862 and 1912, many Nebraskans on the prairie lived in dugout homes. There was speculation that Matej and Marie may have lived in a similar underground house while living in Rock Bluffs (about 6 miles south of Plattsmouth), Nebraska. However, by the 30s, 40s and 50s (when Matej and Marie were living in Rock Bluffs) these underground homes were not in widespread use. According to Frank Karas Jr, Matej and his family lived in a conventional home in Plattsmouth.
In 1940, Matěj (Mike) Karas Jr and Marie (Mary) Souckova Karas were living in the East Rock Bluffs Precinct (Plattsmouth), Nebraska. According to the 1940 census, Mike and Mary's address was R.F.D.#1, Box 39 (enumeration district 13-4) . The 1940 Census indicates that Matej's occupation was farmer. It also appears that a grandson named Bob Reader (age 5) was living with Mike and Mary. At this time, it is unclear who Bob's parents were. Additionally, the value of their home is listed at $350. $350 in 1940 would be worth about $6,000 in 2012. Also noteworthy on the 1940 census page containing Mike Karas is the presence of his daughter Bessie along with her husband Albert Warga and their four year daughter Ruth.
Mike and Mary lived in East Rock Bluffs between 1925 and 1955 (30 years). Below are a couple links with details on the location of the Karas farm...
Matěj Karas Jr died on Sunday February 13, 1966 in Omaha, Nebraska. The pallbearers at his wedding were James Budka, Frank Cerveny, Frank Kulisek, Walter Luksa, Steve Patera and Emil Zeleny. Matěj's wife Mary Karas died about 11 years earlier on Monday August 15, 1955 in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. The pallbearers at Mary's funeral were Paul Aita, Jim Karas Jr, Stanley Karas, Don Schultz, Theo Stobbe and Albert Warga.
Marie Součková was the wife of Matěj Karas Jr. Marie was born in house #24 in the village of Babice in the Havlickuv Brod district on February 18, 1885 and died in Plattsmouth, Nebraska in 1955.
Mary Karas and Daughters (~1925)
Mary Karas and Carol Stobbe
Mary Karas and Helen Aita (May 14, 1944)
Marie Souckova (~1940s)
Marie's father was Josef Souček and her birth mother was Anna Míchalová. Josef Souček and Anna Míchalová were married in house #24 in Babice on February 12, 1884. Anna Míchalová died on October 9, 1888 at the age of 22 while giving birth to her second child. Marie was only 3 years old when her mother died. Marie's father, Josef Soucek, died on December 16, 1904 in house #24 in Babice as a result of emphysema.
Anna was born in Babice House #24 in 1866. Her parents were Vaclav Michal and Anna Cibulkova of Babice #11. Anna's great grandfather was Vaclav Michal of Pohled House #16. Anna had three siblings...Josef, Jan and Marie.
After Anna's death, Josef Soucek married Františka Krajičkova. Josef and Františka had five children together ...
Katerina (born October 18, 1891) Josef (born November 21, 1893) Jan (born June 23, 1896) Františka (born March 9, 1900) Vaclav (born March 31, 1904)
Josef Soucek died on December 16, 1904. At this time, his five children (other than his adult daughter Marie) were all recorded as orphaned. Vaclav was less than 1 year old. Frantiska was 4. Jan was 8. Josef was 12 and Katerina was 14. Their mother Frantiska was still living and the children's godfather, Jan Michal, took a vow of guardianship for the children. Jan Michal was the brother of Anna Míchalová.
Joseph Soucek's Orphaned Children Upon His Death (Original)
Joseph Soucek's Orphaned Children Upon His Death (Interpreted)
Lenka Říhová [Vaclav Soucek's great granddaughter]
Marie immigrated to the United States in 1912. According to James R. Karas, on the journey from Bohemia in 1912, Marie was robbed. All her money and emigration paperwork (including her birth certificate) was lost at this time from this unfortunate incident.
Babice House #24 (~1930 or 40s) Frantiska Krajickova Souckova and Katerina Souckova
Babice House #24 (2011)
Marie Souckova Birth Record (Original)
Marie Souckova Birth Record (Interpreted)
In an attempt to learn more about Marie's mother Anna Míchalová, I decided to search for descendants of Anna still living in Babice. I came across an onlineCzech Phone Book that allowed me to search for family members of Anna still living in Babice. I found a woman named Dana Milichovská and wrote her a letter. On October 25, 2011, I received an email from a Karel Milichovský. I, apparently, had the last name of Anna incorrect. Karel's family surname is Milichovský, not Míchalovi. However, the Milichovský family (Karel and his mother Svatava) has been extremely helpful with helping me find information and photos on the Soucek and Míchalovi families.
Additionally, Svatava has found that the Michal family came to Babice in the 19th century from the village of Pohled which is just a few miles away from Babice. Svatava has located the Michalův statek website which is the farm of the original Michal family that was settled beginning in the year 1591. It's highly likely that Marie Souckova's mother, Anna Míchalová, is part of the Michal family of Pohled.
In 1992, house #24 was purchased by a Mr. Zdeněk Valenta and his family from the last known Soucek in Babice (Josef Soucek who died in 1991). Josef Soucek's sister, Milena Součková Brzoňová, sold the house to Mr. Valenta in 1992. Mr. Valenta is a glass maker and has recently refurbished house #24. He makes beautiful glass and his work can be found on the Sklo (Glass) Valenta Website.
According to Svatava Milichovska, Milena Součková Brzoňová has two daughters, but their current residence is unknown.
Svatava recently contacted the Krásná Hora Cemetary to help locate the graves of the Soucek and Míchalovi families. #229 has been identified as the grave of Václav Souček (last Soucek buried in the cemetary) who was a carpenter who died in 1970. Svatava also found the grave of Frantiska Souckova who died in 1952.
There are many things we know about William Karas.
His mother was Marie Souckova from the village of Babice (House #24) in the Havlíčkův Brod District of the Vysočina Region in the country of Bohemia. He was born in the village of Babice (House #24) in the Havlíčkův Brod District of the Vysočina Region in the country of Bohemia on October 13, 1905. William Karas' birth name was Bohumil Soucek. His father was listed as "unknown" on his original birth record. Matěj Karas Jr married Marie Souckova on May 29, 1906 and cared for William Karas until he was an adult. He was known as Bohuslav Karas in the 1910 Bohemian Kingdom Census while living in Olešná (House #35). He had three uncles – Antonin, Josef and Vaclav. He was the oldest of 11 children (5 boys, 6 girls). He attempted to emigrate from Bohemia in 1914 with his two brothers, Frantisek (Frank) and Jan (John) and uncle Vaclav, but were sent home. He immigrated to the US when he was 17 with his two younger brothers, Frantisek (Frank) and Jan (John) on November 11, 1922. His occupation when he entered the US was “laborer”. He had $100 in his pocket when he landed on US soil. He became a naturalized US citizen on June 26, 1939. He married Etta Lucretia Moyer in 1928. He had three children with Etta… William J. Karas, Lillian Karas and Farley D. Karas. He was the grandfather of nine grandchildren. William J. Karas had three daughters and Farley D. Karas had four daughters and two sons. He died in Nebraska on December 19, 1969.
William Karas (Bohumil Soucek)
William and Etta Karas Wedding(1928)
Etta and William Karas
Bohemian National Cemetary Nebraska
Guardianship records indicate that my grandfather, Bohumil Soucek, was not the biological son of Matej Karas Jr.
Bohumil's mother was Marie Souckova of Babice #24, but Bohumil's father was listed as "unknown" on his birth certificate. Bohumil's guardianship recordindicates that he was illegitimate and that Matej Karas Jr did not take steps to record Bohumil as his legitimate son. However, it is admirable that Matej Karas Jr married Marie Souckova and raised Bohumil as his own.
According to the guardianship record, a gentlemen named Vaclav Capek (a peasant living in Babice) took a vow of guardianship for Bohumil on November 29, 1905. However, it is not clear whether or not he is the father. Additionally, Jan Michal (brother of Anna Michalova) was listed as Bohumil's godfather. Below are the comments of Martin Kocarik (our Czech Genealogist) about the significance of Vaclav Capek on the guardianship record...
The relation of Vaclav Capek with Bohumil Soucek is not specified in the document. Most probably he is not father. Being father he would be mentioned in the column 3. On purpose I translated the previous record of Petr Josef to show you the note about legitimacy if the father confessed paternity. Sarka talked about the issue with the archive specialist and was told that it is quite clear that father is unknown. There must be some reason why Marie did not declare Bohumil’s father and lost her title to aliments. May be the father was a landlord she worked for and she got compensation out of court to avoid shame on a small village. That was not easy to have out of wedlock child that time. But please note this is only our presumption. Normally the marriages used to take place in the place of bride’s residence. This is not the case. Marie may be did not want to draw attention to herself in Babice-Okrouhlice or simply her parents did not have enough money. I think that Vaclav Capek was godfather or employer.
Bohumil Soucek attempted to emigrate from Bohemia in 1914, but injured his knee and was sent home. This incident occured just prior to World War I so I believe there were some undesirable circumstances that occured at the Hamburg Rail Station.
Bohumil and his two brothers, Frantisek and Jan, eventually made it to the United States on November 22, 1922 (see emigration story for details).
Farley Karas (1937-)
Farley Karas is the youngest child of William Karas. Farley has two siblings - one brother, William, and one sister, Lillian.
Scott Karas is the youngest child of Farley Karas. Scott has five siblings - one brother, David, and four sisters, Cindy (Kuglin), Kae (Parker), Colleen (Wohlford) and Diane.
Matěj Karas Jr was the only one of the five children of Matěj Karas Sr that emigrated from Bohemia.
Matěj Karas (aka Mike Karas) was the first of our Karas ancestors to immigrate to the United States. Matěj traveled from his home village of Olešná, Bohemia to the port city of Bremen, Germany. The trip to Bremen was 432 miles (721 kilometers). Upon reaching Bremen, Matěj boarded the passenger ship Koln.
The Koln departed Bremen, Germany around December 10, 1909 and proceeded north up the waterway to the North Sea through Bremerhaven, Germany. From the North Sea, the Koln made its way to the Atlantic Ocean. Ultimately, the ship navigated to and through the Gulf of Mexico to arrive in Galveston, Texas on December 20, 1909.
S/S Köln (2), Norddeutscher Lloyd
Matěj was 26 years when he landed in Galveston. Upon arrival in the United States in December 1909, Matěj Karas Jr listed John Cerny as his person of contact in the US. John Cerny immigrated to the US in 1890. On both John and Matěj's immigration records, John was know as John Cerny. However, John's real last name was Cerveny. He was known as John Cerveny Sr in the 1910 US Census. He was known as John Cerveney in the 1920 US Census and he was known as John Cerveny in the 1930 US Census. Additionally, John's son Frank served as a pallbearer at Matěj's funeral in 1966 and was known as Frank Cerveny in the funeral program. Therefore, I'm confident that John's real last name was Cerveny. Furthermore, in the Olešná 1838 Historic House Record we see a Jan Cerveny and a Josef Karas living in adjacent houses. I believe this is further evidence that the Cerveny and Karas family friendship goes back several generations.
Matěj's good friend, John Cerveny, was born in the Bohemian Kingdom in 1871. He was married to Antonia and appears to have had six children (Frank, Charles, Mary, Joseph, Annie and Sylvia). Did John work at one of the meatpacking companies in Omaha? I assume somehow that John was able to reach Matěj in the Bohemian Kingdom to tell him about the economic opportunities in Omaha.
Additionally, Matěj listed his mother as his contact person back home in Bohemia. His mother was listed in the immigration document as Mar Karas. Mar appears to be an abbreviation for Marie since Matěj's mother's name was Marie Karasova (Kolarova). The document appears to be short on space and it’s likely the scribe shortened her first name in order to fit it on the page.
Three years later in 1912, Marie Souckova made the same trip from the village of Olešná, Bohemia to the port city of Bremen, Germany. Her ship, the Barbarossa, made a similar journey to the United States, but remained north and landed in the city of Baltimore, Maryland in December of 1912. Similar to Matěj, Marie listed her mother, Frantiska Souckova of Babice House #24, as her person of contact back home in Bohemia. Marie's father, Josef Soucek, passed away in 1905 which explains why Marie did not list him as her primary contact in Bohemia.
Unfortunately for Marie Souckova (Mary Karas), she apparently was robbed on the ship. James R Karas Jr told me that Marie was robbed of all her documentation and money. This is the reason she never had any documentation (birth certificate, etc) when she arrived in the United States.
S/S Barbarossa, Norddeutscher Lloyd
Marie was not alone when she arrived in the United States. Accompanying her was her three year son Vaclav (James Karas Sr). Vaclav was James R. Karas’ father. Additionally, Marie left three young boys behind in Bohemia. Bohumil Soucek was only 7 years old when his mother arrived in the US. Bohumil had a 5 year brother named Frantisek (Frank Karas Sr) and a 4 year old brother named Jan (John Karas).
Unfortunately, according to FamilySearch.com, most of the Bremen emigration records have been destroyed. The only records available are for 1920 or later.
Below are a few excerpts from ProGenealogy.com (the research arm of ancestry.com) that provides an excellent explanation of the lost Bremen passenger lists.
“Due to limited space and to the idea that the emigrants would be lost for their German native country, the Bremen passenger lists were destroyed in 1875, except for the two preceding years, and this procedure was continued until about 1907. The emigration lists from 1905 to May 1914 were preserved.”
“duplicates of the lists for 1905 to 1914 were discovered in a shed on the Loyd platform of the Bremen main railroad station”
“The students first extracted all entries but it soon turned out that 80 per cent of the emigrants were Slavs, Hungarians or Jews, so the job was limited to Germans or people of German descent.”
“The lists in Bremen were totally destroyed in an air raid on 6 Oct. 1944. The duplicates in Stuttgart were probably destroyed when the DAI building was hit by bombs on 12 and 19/20 Sep. 1944. Possibly they were stored for safe keeping somewhere in the Württemberg countryside at the end of the war from where they were not recovered.” Who cared for the three young boys back in Bohemia? According to the Skuhrov School records, Matěj Karas Sr and his wife Marie Kolarova were responsible for registering the boys in school. It appears the boys were cared for by their grandfather and grandmother on the Karas side.
According to Petra Dušátková, Bohuslav and Frantisek Karas along with Vaclav Karas (Matěj Karas Jr's brother) and Karel Blažek (Vaclav's friend) traveled to Hamburg in 1914 to emigrate to the United States. However, an incident occured at the Hamburg Rail Station where Bohuslav Karas injured his knee and the boys were not allowed to board the ship and were subsequently sent home to Olešná.
It appears, however, that Vaclav's friend Karel Blažek was able to successfully board the ship and eventually reached America on May 13, 1914. Karel was born on August 18, 1893 (two years before Vaclav Karas Sr) and arrived in America when he was 21 years old. Karel's immigration record indicates that he was from Olešná. Karel was later drafted by the United States for World War I in 1917. Karel took on the name Charles Blazek when he lived in the United States. He settled in Santa Rosa, California and was listed as a farmer in the US census records throughout the 1930s and 1940s, however, one census record has him listed as a carpenter. Charles Blazek was married to Mary. Charles died on August 1, 1971 in Santa Rosa, California at the age of 71. His wife Mary was born on November 21, 1896 and died on September 25, 1988 in Santa Rosa, California. Petra Dušátková also mentioned that Karel visited Olesna in 1958 and left the following address for the Blazek family in California...316 A SANTA ROSA AVE, Santa Rosa, California.
Resolute Passenger List November 1, 1922 (Bohumil Soucek)
Resolute Passenger List November 1, 1922 (Bohumil's Karas Brothers)
It took 10 days for the Resolute to cross the Atlantic Ocean to reach Ellis Island in New York. On November 11, 1922 the ship carrying the three boys arrived at Ellis Island.
Upon arrival, it appears that Bohumil (age 17) was admitted to the hospital. The reason is unknown. Additionally, Frantisek Karas (age 15) and Jan Karas (age 14) were also “admitted”, but not to the hospital. According to Ellis Island rules, it was common practice for minors to be detained. Perhaps unaccompanied minors were held in a waiting area until an adult picked them up. The two younger boys were isolated from their elder brother until Bohumil was well enough to be discharged from the hospital.
Bohumil Soucek and Karas Boys Immigration Record (page 1)
Bohumil Soucek and Karas Boys Immigration Record (page 2)
Likely Public Charge (LPC)
There are a number of annotations on the three boy’s immigration record. Most notably, the abbreviation LPC was noted by their names. LPC stands for “Likely Public Charge” and represented individuals who may have difficulty contributing to society immediately. It is likely that the “minor” designation on the two younger boys coupled with the sickness of Bohumil (the perceived caretaker of the two younger boys) led to the LPC designation.
The boys arrived in the US with a combined $300 between the three of them. Bohumil was carrying $100 and Frantisek was carrying $200.
All three boys were listed with blonde hair. Bohumil was recorded with brown eyes and the two other boys were recorded with gray eyes. Bohumil was five feet seven inches tall. Frantisek was five feet five inches tall and Jan was five feet one inches tall.
The boys listed Matěj Karas Jr as their contact person in the US. The boys eventually made it to Marie and Matěj's home at 3611 Monroe Street in Omaha, Nebraska.
During the week of March 26, 2012, I was reviewing the Emigration Story details on this website and something caught my attention. I noticed in the immigration record that Bohumil Soucek was listed with BROWN eyes and his two brothers, Frantisek and Jan, were listed with GREY eyes.
As we know, Bohumil Soucek was not the son of Matej Karas Jr so those of us who are his descendents appear to primarily possess BROWN eyes. However, many of the descendents of Matej Karas Sr have strikingly beautiful GREY eyes.
From left to right and top to bottom...Petra, Tereza (Petra's daughter), Vojtech (Petra's son), Lukas Vesely (Jana Karas Vesely's son), Jana Karas Vesely, Walter Bud Karas, Great Nephew of Walter Bud Karas.
Family Tree
Karas Family 1 Vaclav Karas (b.1825-d.????) .. 2 Matěj Karas Sr (b.1860-d.1938) .. + Marie Kolarova (b.1860-d.1934) .... 3 Matěj (Mike) Karas Jr (b.1883-d.1966) .... + Marie Souckova (b.1885-d.1955) ...... 4 William Karas (aka Bohumil Soucek) (b.1905-d.1969) ...... + Etta Lucretia Moyer (b.1908-d.1992) ........ 5 William James "Tony" Karas (b.1930-d.2009) ........ 5 Lillian Karas ........ 5 Farley Karas (b.1937-d.) ........ + Marva Jane (b.1937-d.) .......... 6 Cindy Karas [Robert Kuglin] (b.1956-d.) .......... 6 Kae Karas [Gary Parker] (b.1957-d.) ............ 7 Jeremy Parker (b.1978-d.) .............. 8 Katie Parker (b. 1998, d.) .............. 8 Abigail Parker (b.2001-d.) .............. 8 Alexander Parker (b.2004-d.) ............ 7 Erin Parker (b.1981-d.) ............ 7 Kristin Parker (b.1983-d.) .............. 8 Haylee Johnson (b.2007-d.) .......... 6 David Karas (b.1960-d.) .............+ Patricia Peters ............ 7 Kortney Karas [Chris Reyes] .............. 8 Kaia Reyes .............. 8 Corbin Reyes (b.2010-d.2010) ............ 7 Sarah Karas [Chris Shain] .......... 6 Colleen Karas [Robert Wohlford] (b.1961-d.) ............ 7 Michael Wohlford ............ 7 Rachel Wohlford .......... 6 Diane Karas (b.1963-d.) .......... 6 Scott Karas (b.1966-d.) ............ 7 Morgan Karas (b.2006-d.) ............ 7 Parker Karas (b.2007-d.) ...... 4 Frantisek (Frank) Karas (b.1907-d.1976) ........ + Pauline Vana (b.1907-d.1980) ........ 5 Richard Karas (b.1928-d.) ........ 5 Frank Karas (b.1930-d.) .......... 6 Shannon Karas [Coomes] .......... 6 Debbie Karas [Krahembuhl?] .......... 6 Michael Karas ........ 5 Walter Karas (b.1932-d.) .......... 6 Susie Karas .......... 6 Timothy Karas .......... 6 Terry Karas .......... 6 Walter (Bud) Karas Jr (b.1956-d.) ............ 7 Buddy John Joe Karas .............. 8 Bailey Karas (b.-d.) .............. 8 Luke Karas (b.-d.) ............ 7 Kacey Rae Karas ........ 5 Robert Karas (b.1934-d.) ........ 5 Stanley Karas (b.1937-d.) ...... 4 Jan (John) Karas (b.1908-d.1976) ...... 4 Vaclav (James) Karas ........ 5 James (Jim) Karas ...... 4 Joseph Karas ........ 5 Joseph Karas Jr ...... 4 Mary Karas [Donald Schultz] (b.1913-d.1995) ...... 4 Anna Karas [Paul Winters] (b.1916-d.) ...... 4 Bessie Karas [Albert Warga](b.1917-d.) ........ 5 Jerry Warga ........ 5 Shirley Warga [Al Dasher] ........ 5 Ruth Warga [Bob Johnson] .......... 6 Sandra Johnson .......... 6 Cheryl Johnson .......... 6 Ed Johnson .......... 6 Kathy Johnson ...... 4 Agnes Karas [Theo Stobbe] (b.1920-d.2000) ........ 5 Judith M (Judi) Stobbe [Pemberton] ........ 5 Barbara Stobbe [Steve Fuller] ........ 5 Carol Stobbe ........ 5 Joe Stobbe ...... 4 Ruzenka Karas (b.1923-d.1923) ...... 4 Helen Karas [Paul Aita] (b.1924-d.1970) ........ 5 Jenny Aita .... 3 Antonin Karas Sr .......+ Marie Karasova .......4 Antonin Karas Jr .......4 Karel Karas .......4 Marie Karasova [Bártová] .......4 Božena Karasová [Cechová] .... 3 Josef Karas .......+ Marie Kubíčková ...... 4 Frantisek Karas ...... 4 Anna Karas [Jan Doležal] ........ 5 Josef Doležal (b.1936-d.) .......... 6 Jaroslav Doležal .......... 6 Dana Doležalová ........ 5 Jan Doležal .......... 6 Jan Doležal ............ 7 Jan Doležal (b.1987-d.) ............ 7 Tomáš Doležal ............ 7 Lukáš Doležal .......... 6 Iva Doležal ........ 5 František Doležal .......... 6 Zdeněk Doležal .......... 6 Helena Doležalová ........ 5 Václav Doležal .......... 6 Václav Doležal .......... 6 Eva Doležalová ...... 4 Josef Karas ........ 5 Eliška Karasová [Machalová] ........ 5 Václav Karas ........ 5 Josef Karas .......... 6 Jaroslav Karas .......... 6 Female Karas .... 3 Vaclav Karas Sr (b.1895-d.1976) .......+ Anastazie Janáková (b.????-d.????) ...... 4 Anna Karas [Štefánková] ........ 5 Jan Štefánek .......... 6 Jan Štefánek .......... 6 Jana Štefánková [Dlouhá] .......... 6 Markéta Štefánková [Novotná] ............ 7 Adéla Novotná ............ 7 Jakub Novotný ........ 5 František Štefánek .......... 6 Eva Štefánková .......... 6 Martina Štefánková ...... 4 Marie Karas [Dundáčkova] (b.1922-d.2006) ........ 5 Josef Dundáček .......... 6 Jiří Dundáček .......... 6 Jaroslav Dudáček .......... 6 Jindřiška Dundáčková .......... 6 Josef Dundáček ........ 5 Marie Dundáčková [Nedvědová] .......... 6 Miloš Nedvěd .......... 6 Olga Nedvědová .......... 6 Alena Nedvědová ...... 4 Vaclav Karas Jr (b.1934-d.2012) ........ 5 Josef Karas (b.1958-d.1975) ........ 5 Jana Karas [Veselý] (b.1962-d.) .......... 6 Lukáš Veselý ........ 5 Petra Karas [Dušátková] (b.1976-d.) .......... 6 Vojtěch Dušátko .......... 6 Tereza Dušátková .... 3 Marie Karas
Karel Milichovský ** Neighbors of the Michalova family in Babice.
Svatava Milichovská ** Neighbors of the Michalova family in Babice. Karel's mother.
Lenka Říhovámore about Lenka ** Granddaughter of Milada Součková [Brzoňová] ** Great granddaughter of Václav Souček (brother of Marie Souckova) ** Great great granddaughter of Josef Souček (Marie Souckova's father)
