In 1856, a group of sixteen friends and relatives from Austria set off on a long ocean voyage to settle in America. Their motivation was to improve their economic condition and create a better life for future families.
My goal was to discover how these early Texas settlers were related to my mom, Rose Janda, who grew up in a Czech American community near Hostyn, Texas.
Backstory
Bohemians emigrate to find a new home in Dubina Texas
Eighteen families of Moravia, then a part of Austria-Hungary, banded together in 1856 to find a new home in Texas The hope of bettering their unsatisfactory economic conditions was the impetus that sent them away from home. Their ship, “Elizabeth,” after a long, weary journey of four months, landed the Bohemian colonists in Galveston, from whence they were taken by steamboats to Houston. Ox tems transported the new colonists to La Grange. They chose for their new home a settlement five miles northeast of Schulenburg, which they called Dubina, the Bohemian name for oak trees.
This group of sixteen was the vanguard of a tremendous emigration of Bohemians who settle not only in various sections of Texas but also in all the states of the Union.
The leader of the Fayette County group of Bohemians was Joseph Peter. Those comprising the party were as follow: Ben Klimicek, Alois Kimiicek, Valentine Kolibal, Voitech Knezek, Joseph Janda, Jan Janda, Ignac Sramek, Joseph Kaladi, Ignaz Muzny, Frank Mark, Frank Sugarek, Ignac Pustejosky, Valetin Holub, Valentin Haidusek, Frank Sosa, Frank Sedlacek, and Konstantin Chovanec. A few unmarried men and girls were in the party. According to county deed records, the following were the first Bohemians to acquire land in Fayette County: Ingnatz Muzni, Frank Marek, Joseph Peter, Ignatz Schramek, Joseph Janda, Joseph Kahlig and Valentin Haidusek.
(source: The Bohemian Element in Fayette County – 1856 )
Waves of migration to America followed
Czech Immigration before the Civil War
The Reverend Bergman and Josef Lesikar, both of whom were prolific writers, continued their correspondence to Europe about the opportunities in Texas, and thus encouraged many more Czechs to come to Texas. Many more did indeed come in the period between 1855 and 1861, from both Cechy and Moravia.
Among the Czechs who came to the Cat Spring area during this period were Jan Reimershoffer, Josef Masik, Bohumil Kolacny, Jakub Pachr and many others.
A relatively large group of Czechs, mostly from Moravia, reached Texas in 1860 on the JEVERLAND. Many of these people settled in Fayette County. The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 virtually stopped any immigration from Europe to Texas until the war ended in 1865.
Czech Immigration to Texas – featuring Jan Janda
Where did the Czech immigrants settle in Texas?
About 700 Czechs had settled in Texas by the time of the Civil War. The Central Texas counties of Austin, Fayette, Lavaca, and Washington had early Czech settlements. Fayette County in particular became established as the center of Czech population in Texas.
Following the Civil War, immigration began again in the 1870s through the early 1900s. With the advent of faster steam ships, the travel time was cut in half and became more affordable for low income immigrants.
Early Czech Settlers in Fayette County
Ben Klimicek, Alois Kimicek, Valentine Kolibal, Voitech Knezek, Joseph Janda, Jan Janda, Ignac Sramek, Joseph Kaladi, Ignaz Muzny, Frank Marek, Frank Sugarek, Ignac Pustejosky, Valentin Holub, Valentin Haidusek, Frank Sosa, Frank Sedlacek, and Konstantin Chovanec.
I have seen a few of these names while researching my Czech family line, including Klimicek, Knezek, Janda, Muzny, Holub and Marek. The other surnames are not familiar. Here are relatives that I found in my family tree. Relationships listed are based on Ancestry.com labeling system.
How I am related to the early Czech settlers
Jan “John” Janda (1822-1875) 3rd Great-grandfather
Brother of Josef Janda, John Janda married Anna Jurek in 1850 in Frenstats Moravia. John and Anna Janda left from Trojanovice, Moravia in 1860. They sailed to Galveston, Texas on the Jeverland ship and settled in Hostyn near La Grange. They raised nine children.
Joseph Janda (1824-1867) 3rd Great-uncle
Josef Janda, the first Janda to immigrate to America from Trojanovice, Moravia. He arrived in Galveston on the ship Anna Eliza on 30 Oct 1856. He married Anna Kana (1835-1924) in 1854, before leaving for America. Their first born son, Jan Janda, died young while on board the Anna Elize ship traveling from Europe to Galveston in 1856. They raised five more children on their family farm.
Josef’s family settled in the Czech American community of Hostyn (formerly Bluff) near La Grange, Texas – about 60 miles from Austin. The initial plan was for the Janda family to leave their mountain farm in Austria and start a new farm in Portland, Maine!
Benjamin “Ben” Klimicek (1819-1859) 3rd great-granduncle
Ben Kimicek was born in Frenstat, Austria and later immigrated to America, settling in Bluff, Texas — area my mom grew up. He married Terezie Recek and had a daughter named Franciska.
Alois Louis Kimicek (1810-1899) 3rd great-granduncle
Brother of Ben, Alois was born in Frenstat, Austria and later immigrated to America, living in Hallettsville, Texas. He was married twice and had at least two children.
Ignaz Muzny, Sr (1822 – 1897) Great-grandfather of wife of 1st cousin 2x removed
Born 18 Apr 1822 in Tiche, Moravia and later immigrated to America in 1854 with his family. His wife was Rozalie Drozd, who raised two children, Rosalie and Ignac.
Ignac Muzny, Jr. (1850-1930) was born in Tiche, Moravia on 11 Oct 1850. He came to America in 1854 as a child with his parents and settled in Dubina, Texas. (Weimer Mercury, 26 Dec 1930)
Valentine Holub (1824-1916) Great-grandfather of wife of 4th cousin 1x removed
Valentine was born in Mnisi, Moravia in 1824. He immigrated to America in the 1850s, and settled in Dubina, Texas. He married Teresa Koza and they raised 10 children. A grave marker states:
“Valentine Holub – One of the founding fathers of Dubina, First Czech Settlement in Texas.”
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References
Czech Immigration to Texas – featuring Jan Janda
The Moravian Connection – Find Czech relatives in Texas
Knight Family of Seattle 