Vaclav "James" BLECHA^{[1, 2, 3]}

1894 - 1947  (52 years)

• Name	Vaclav "James" BLECHA  [4, 5]
  Nickname	Potsy
  Born	3 Jun 1894	Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia   [1, 2, 3, 5]
  		Blecha Home #115 in Podmokly, Czech Republic
  		Blecha Home #115 in Podmokly, Czech Republic
  Christened	4 Jun 1894	Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia   [3, 5]
  Gender	Male
  Immigration	27 Apr 1905	New York, New York
  	Immigration to the U.S. through Ellis Island.
  		Ellis Island Dedication Certificate for Frantisek and Annastazie Blecha Family As a dedication to my family who came through Ellis Island in 1905, my wife and I made a donation to the Ellis Island Foundation so that an inscription will be made on the Ellis Island Wall of Fame recognizing this family. Any family member will be able to visit Ellis Island to see this inscription. [Inscription should be finished sometime during 2014]
  		Frantisek Blecha and Family Immigration in 1905
  Census	1910	2727 S. Christiana Ave., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois   [6]
  	Residence for 1910 Census
  		1910 Census Anna Soumer Blecha 1867 and Family
  Census	1920	2727 S. Christiana Ave., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois   [7]
  	Residence for 1920 Census
  		1920 Census Anna Soumer Blecha 1867 Family
  Residence	25 Jan 1924	2527 S. 56th Court, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
  	James and Annastazie purchase this home
  		Home purchased by Annastazie and James Blecha (2527 S. 56th Court, Chicago). They later sold this home to Ed and Blanche Holub (James' sister).
  Census	1930	2527 S. 56th Court, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
  	James, Blanche & Raymond are living at this address. Annastazie and Joseph are living at this address, too.
  		Anna Soumer Blecha 1867 1930 Census
  Residence	18 Sep 1934	2527 S. 56th Court, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
  	James and Blanche sell this home to Ed and Blanche Holub.
  		Information on home on 56th Ct.
  		2527 S 56th Ct Blanche and James Home Data 2.jpg
  Residence	Oct 1934	4010 S. Prairie Ave., Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois
  	Moved into this home with Blanche and Raymond.
  Residence	1940	2523 56th Ave., Cicero, Illinois
  	Residence for 1940 census.
  		1940 Census James Blecha Family
  		2527 S 56th Ct Blanche and James Home Image.jpg
  Died	20 Mar 1947	4010 S. Prairie Ave., Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois   [8]
  		Obituary in Denni Hlasatel
  		James Blecha Memorial Card in 1947.jpg
  Buried	22 Mar 1947	Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA   [9]
  	Block 21, Lot 1007/1008, Sec. 21
  		Headstone for James and Blanche Blecha (Bohemian National Cemetery) Plot: Block 21, Lot 1007/1008, Sec. 21
  Person ID	I1522	Blecha/McDaniel
  Last Modified	25 Jul 2016

  
  

  Father	Frantisek "Frank" BLECHA,   b. 7 Oct 1860, House #46, Podmokly, Czech Republic ,   d. 17 Apr 1912, 2727 S. Christiana Ave., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois  (Age 51 years)
  Mother	Annastazie SOMMROVA,   b. 27 Apr 1863, Podmokly 79, Podmokly, Ceská republika ,   d. 5 Jan 1946, 3314 W. Walnut Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois  (Age 82 years)
  Married	27 Jan 1885	House #46, Podmokly, Czech Republic   [1, 10, 11]
  	Marriage record of Frantisek Blecha and Anastázie Sommerová Parish register of Zvíkovec No. 6, book of marriages, 1765-1905 Page: 524-525 Year, month, day of wedding: Jan 27, 1885 Priest: Frantisek Strnad, parish priest Place: Podmokly No. 46 Bridegroom: FRANTISEK BLECHA, son of Jan Blecha, farmer from Podmokly No. 46, and mother Annastasie H?lková from Podmokly No. 46 Age: 24 years old; 7.10.1860 Religion: Catholic Unmarried Place: Podmokly No. 79 Bride: ANNASTASIE SOMMROVÁ, daughter of Josef Sommr, farmer from Podmokly No. 79, and mother + Barbora Fronková from Podmokly No. 14 Age: 21 years old; 27.4.1863 Religion: Catholic Unmarried Witnesses: Václav Albrecht, farmer; Václav Týsl, cottager, both from Podmokly Notes: Jozef Somr, consenting father of bride; Jan Slapni?ka farmer from Podmokly, witness; Jozef Hlad, verger, witness; baptisms of both in baptismal parish register IV, p. 239 and 291 Language of record: Czech
  Family ID	F525	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Blanche Clotilde (Paulina) ZAJICEK,   b. 13 Oct 1903, 625 Throop Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois ,   d. 20 Dec 1975, Phoenix, Maricopa, AZ  (Age 72 years)  [8]
  Married	2 Sep 1929	Chicago, Cook County, Illinois   [8]
  Children	+ 1. Raymond BLECHA,   b. 2 Apr 1930, 2527 S. 56th Court, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois ,   d. 6 Mar 2004, Sun City West, Arizona  (Age 73 years)
  Family ID	F521	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 3 Jun 1894 - Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Christened - 4 Jun 1894 - Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Immigration - Immigration to the U.S. through Ellis Island. - 27 Apr 1905 - New York, New York Census - Residence for 1910 Census - 1910 - 2727 S. Christiana Ave., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Census - Residence for 1920 Census - 1920 - 2727 S. Christiana Ave., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Residence - James and Annastazie purchase this home - 25 Jan 1924 - 2527 S. 56th Court, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Married - 2 Sep 1929 - Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Census - James, Blanche & Raymond are living at this address. Annastazie and Joseph are living at this address, too. - 1930 - 2527 S. 56th Court, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Residence - James and Blanche sell this home to Ed and Blanche Holub. - 18 Sep 1934 - 2527 S. 56th Court, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Residence - Moved into this home with Blanche and Raymond. - Oct 1934 - 4010 S. Prairie Ave., Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois Residence - Residence for 1940 census. - 1940 - 2523 56th Ave., Cicero, Illinois Died - 20 Mar 1947 - 4010 S. Prairie Ave., Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois Buried - 22 Mar 1947 - Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		James Blecha (Milk Delivery Man)
  		James Blecha
  		James Blecha with friends and family
  		Blecha Brothers: James, John & Frank (l-r)
  		James and John Blecha
  		Home owned by Anna, but lived in by James and Blanche
  		James Blecha as a Milkman with a horse-drawn milk wagon
  		James Blecha and Delivery Wagon: May 30, 1915
  		Anna Blecha and Family About 1916.jpg This photo was sent to Rudy Blecha, brother to James, living in Utah. It was given to me by Diane & Don Gale in 2011
  		James Blecha as Potsy
  		James Blecha Bartender
  		James Blecha in Bartlett Hayward Photo In about the 3rd row from front, and about 4 or 5 from the right.
  		James Blecha in over coat
  		James Blecha with 2 others
  		James and Joseph Blecha

  
  

  Histories

  James Blecha, or Uncle Potsy, as a milkman in Chicago Randolph Blecha, son of Rudolph Blecha, recounts the story he heard from his father about Uncle Potsy and the horse he used to deliver milk in Chicago

  
  

• Notes

  Parish register of Zvikovec No. 8, book of baptisms, 1869-1897 Leaf: 360v-361r Date of birth: Jun 3, 1894 Date of baptism: Jun 4, 1894 Baptizing priest: Frantisek Strnad, parish priest Name of a child: VÃ�CLAV Religion: Catholic Gender: male Legitimate Place and house number: Podmokly No. 115 Midwife: Rosalie Kotvova¡ from Zvi­kovec, examined Father: Frantisek Blecha, cottager at Podmokly No. 115, born in the same place No. 46, son of Jan Blecha, retired farmer from Podmokly No. 46, and Annastasie, née H?lková from Podmokly No. 46 Mother: Annastasie Sommrová, born in Podmokly, daughter of Josef Sommr, farmer from Podmokly No. 79, and + Barbora, nee Fronkova¡ from Podmokly No. 17 Godparents: Rudolf Blecha, farmer in Podmokly; Marie Blechova, godfather's wife Language of record: Czech Rudy shows his birth year as 1897 Other documents show his birthdate as May 31, 1894, however, the original birth information from the Czech book of baptisms has his birth date as June 3, 1894. BURIAL: Buried in the Bohemian National Cem. DEATH: He died of Carcinoma of the Maxillary Sinus (Cancer of the Nose). DEATH: Age at death was 52yr 9mo 19d. 1910 Name: Anastazia Blecha Age in 1910: 46 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1864 Birthplace: Austria Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Austria Mother's Birth Place: Austria Home in 1910: Chicago Ward 12, Cook, Illinois Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Female Year of Immigration: 1905 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Anastazia Blecha 46 Rudolph Blecha 23 Mary Blecha 19 John Blecha 17 James Blecha 15 Anton Blecha 12 Blanche Blecha 9 Joseph Blecha 6 In the 1910 census, John is listed as a tailor working in a coat shop. He's 15 years old at the time. 1920 Census: Name: James Blecha Home in 1920: Chicago Ward 12, Cook (Chicago), Illinois Age: 25 years Estimated Birth Year: abt 1895 Birthplace: Bohemia Relation to Head of House: Son Father's Birth Place: Bohemia Mother's Name: Anna Mother's Birth Place: Bohemia Marital Status: Single Race: White Sex: Male Year of Immigration: 1904 Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Image: 633 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Anna Blecha 56 James Blecha 25 Joseph Blecha 16 Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Chicago Ward 12, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_321; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 719; Image: 633. In the 1920 census, James is a driver for the dairy. His mother, Anna, is listed as the Proprietor of the dairy. 1930 Census: Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Cicero, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 498; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 2094; Image: 641.0. Name: James Blecha Home in 1930: Cicero, Cook, Illinois Age: 35 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1895 Birthplace: Czechoslovakia Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's Name: Blanch Race: White Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age James Blecha 35 Blanch Blecha 26 Raymond Blecha In the 1930 census, James is a driver for Dairy. Also: Anna Blecha (mother) and brother Joseph are living at the same address. Address: 2527 (or 2529) South 56th Court, Chicago 1940 United States Federal Census Name: James Blacha Respondent: Yes Age: 45 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1895 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Czechoslovakia Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1940: Cicero, Cook, Illinois View Map Street: 56th Avenue House Number: 2523 Farm: No Inferred Residence in 1935: Cicero, Cook, Illinois Residence in 1935: Same Place Resident on farm in 1935: No Citizenship: Naturalized Sheet Number: 8A Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 181 Occupation: Milk Vender House Owned or Rented: Rented Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 30 Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 60 Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work Weeks Worked in 1939: 52 Income: 0 Income Other Sources: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age James Blacha 45 Blanche Blacha 46 Raymond Blacha 10 Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: Cicero, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T627_777; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 16-146.

  
  

• Sources

  [S182] 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 12, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_254; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 623; Image: 712. [S496] Ellis Island Record: Arrived April 27, 1905 (New York) on S.S. Barbarossa from Bremen. [S834] Parish register of Zvikovec No. 8, book of baptisms, 1869-1897, 360v-361r. [S1174] Blecha Family Tree from Jan Zajicek. [S1795] Czech Church Records for Marriages, Birth, Deaths, Zvikovec 08, Page 250, entry 3. Birth record for My Grandfather, Vaclav Blecha, in 1894 Actual image at: http://www.portafontium.cz/iipimage/30070551/zvikovec-08_2500-n?x=107&y=309&w=568&h=205 [S1351] 1910 Census. [S1352] 1920 Census. [S20] Vital Personal & Statistical Form filled out by Blance Z. Blecha.. [S25] Bohemian National Cemetary. [S530] 1930 Census. [S832] Parish register of Zvikovec No. 6, book of marriages, 1765-1905.