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    Frantisek "Frank" BLECHA

    Frantisek "Frank" BLECHA[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

    Male 1860 - 1912  (51 years)

    Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

    • Name Frantisek "Frank" BLECHA  [7, 8] 
      Born 7 Oct 1860  House #46, Podmokly, Czech Republic Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9] 
      Frantisek Blecha Birth 7 Oct 1860      		 Frantisek Blecha Birth 7 Oct 1860
      Blecha Home #46 in Podmokly, Czech Republic      		 House where Frantisek Blecha was born
      Christened 8 Oct 1860  House #46, Podmokly, Czech Republic Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 6, 7] 
      Gender Male 
      Immigration 27 Apr 1905  New York, New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
      Immigrated with family to America 

      • Information on the ship manifest when Frank and his family immigrated to this country:

        The Ship: S.S. Barbarossa, left Bremen Germany on April 11, 1905 and arrived in New York (Ellis Island) April 27, 1905 (16 days)

        Frank Sr. is listed as a "gardener". His son Rudolf is a "baker". Other son Frank is a "farmer". Frank, his wife (Anna) and all of the older children are listed as being able to read and write. Their last residence was Podmokly. Frank Sr. is listed as bringing $1,500 with him. The manifest states that the family is going to live with "Adolf Blecha in Chicago. Address: 1417 Turner Ave." It states that "Adlof" is Frank's "brother".

        After living a short time with Adolf, the family moved into 2452 Turner Ave, Chicago.
      Ellis Island Dedication Certificate for Frantisek and Annastazie Blecha Family      		 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      		 Frantisek Blecha and Family Immigration in 1905
      Barbarossa: Ship that brought Blecha family to U.S. on Apr. 27, 1905      		 Barbarossa: Ship that brought Blecha family to U.S. on Apr. 27, 1905
      Immigration 6 Jul 1909  New York, New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
      Frantisek returned from a trip back home to Podmokly.
       
      • As per the article regarding Frantisek's death in the Denni Hlasatel, I confirmed that Frantisek returned to his home in Bohemia. He returned back to the US on July 6, 1909 through Ellis Island on the Kronprinzessin Cecilie having departed from Bremen. In that manifest he is listed as 38 yrs. old [but he was really 48] and single. On this manifest, it says he was returning from Lhotka, Radnice where his brother Josef lived.



      1909 Ship Manifest for Frank Blecha      		 1909 Ship Manifest for Frank Blecha
      Kronprinzessin Celilce      		 Kronprinzessin Celilce
      The ship that brought Frantisek Blecha back to America in 1909
      Other Apr 1912  Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
      Frank's estate is probated and handed to Anna.
       
      Frank Blecha Probate in 1912      		 Frank Blecha Probate in 1912
      Died 17 Apr 1912  2727 S. Christiana Ave., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 12] 
      • Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre1916
        BLECHA, FRANK 04/17/1912 CHICAGO 51 YR U 00011918 COOK

        Information contained on the Death Certificate of Frank Blecha states:
        "Strangulation due to the deceased hanging himself with suicidal intent while temporarily insane." The address was 2727 S. Turner Avenue. He died on April 17, 1912 and was buried on April 19, 1912. John Blecha provided the information for the Death Certificate. As best as we can read the certificate, it states that his father's name was John Blecha, born in Bohemia. We cannot read the mother's maiden name.

      • DEATH: He hung himself. Tradition has it that he came home from work on day an had an argument with Annastazie, his wife, and he hit her. She fell and hit her head and was unconscious on the floor. He saw the blood, and thinking he had killed her, he went upstairs and hung himself. The home address was 2727 S Turner Ave. However, a newspaper article in the Denni Hlasatel gave a much more clear picture of this attempted murder and suicide.
      Frantisek Blecha Death Certificate 1912      		 Death Certificate 1912
      Home purchased by Annastazie Blecha in 1909 and where Frantisek Blecha hung himself.       		Home purchased by Annastazie Blecha in 1909 and where Frantisek Blecha hung himself.
      This was 2727 S. Turner Ave, Chicago, but it was renamed to 2727 S. Christiana Ave.
      Blecha House in Chicago       		Blecha House in Chicago
      Buried 19 Apr 1912  Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
      • He was buried at first in a rental grave. He was later reburied on Nov. 7, 1920 From R1, 485 6.

        He is currently buried in Lot 86, section 19, plot 3.

      • BURIAL: He was buried in 1912 in a "rental grave" at the Bohemian National Cem. in Chicago, IL, Gr. R1 Lot 485, blk 6. The Undertaker was J. T. Chrastka. He was later moved to Lot 86 - 19, sec. 6 on Nov. 7, 1920 after that plot was purchased by Anastazie on Dec. 31, 1919. His original interment # was 28482.
      Headstone for Frantisek, Annastazie & Jaroslav Blecha      		 Headstone for Frantisek, Annastazie & Jaroslav Blecha
      Bohemian National Cemetery
      Person ID I746  Blecha/McDaniel
      Last Modified 7 May 2023 

      Father Jan BLECHA,   b. 30 Jul 1827, Kladruby No. 30, Bohemia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Feb 1900, Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years) 
      Mother Annastazie HULKOVA,   b. 8 Oct 1832, House #46, Podmokly, Czech Republic Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Aug 1895, House #46, Podmokly, Czech Republic Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 62 years) 
      Married 20 Oct 1856  Zvikovec, Bohemia Find all individuals with events at this location  [13, 14] 
      Notes 
      • In the marriage record for Jan, it appears that his father is listed as Vaclav, but this has to be the same son of Frantisek from Kladruby 30.

        [14]
      Family ID F527  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

      Family Annastazie SOMMROVA,   b. 27 Apr 1863, Podmokly 79, Podmokly, Ceská republika Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Jan 1946, 3314 W. Walnut Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years) 
      Married 27 Jan 1885  House #46, Podmokly, Czech Republic Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 15, 16] 
      Type: Catholic 

      • 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
      Children 
       1. Barbora BLECHOVA,   b. 23 Sep 1882, Podmokly 79, Podmokly, Ceská republika Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Jan 1883, Podmokly 79, Podmokly, Ceská republika Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
      +2. Frantisek "Frank" Xaverska BLECHA,   b. 2 Dec 1883, Podmokly 79, Podmokly, Ceská republika Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Sep 1960, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years)
       3. Anna BLECHOVA,   b. 19 Jul 1885, Podmokly 79, Podmokly, Ceská republika Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Jan 1886, Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
      +4. Rudolf (Rudolph) BLECHA,   b. 8 Sep 1887, Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 May 1971, Ogden, Weber, Utah, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years)
      +5. Marie "Mary" BLECHA,   b. 29 Dec 1890, Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Oct 1974, Cicero, Cook Co., Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years)
      +6. Jan "John" F BLECHA,   b. 13 May 1892, Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Sep 1968, Elmhurst, Cook, IL Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years)
      +7. Vaclav "James" BLECHA,   b. 3 Jun 1894, Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Mar 1947, 4010 S. Prairie Ave., Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 52 years)
       8. Josef BLECHA,   b. 17 Mar 1897, Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Aug 1898, Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 1 years)
       9. Anton "Tony" BLECHA,   b. 26 Jul 1898, Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Nov 1919, 2727 S. Christiana Ave., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 21 years)
      +10. Blanche BLECHA,   b. 17 Jun 1900, Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Nov 1979, Cicero, Cook Co., Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)
      +11. Joseph BLECHA,   b. 17 Apr 1903, Podmokly No. 115, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 May 1988, Berwyn, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 85 years)
       12. Jaroslav BLECHA,   b. 16 Jan 1907, 1339 South Christiana Ave., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Oct 1907, 1339 South Christiana Ave., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
      Last Modified 5 Sep 2014 
      Family ID F525  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    • Event Map
      Link to Google MapsBorn - 7 Oct 1860 - House #46, Podmokly, Czech Republic Link to Google Earth
      Link to Google MapsChristened - 8 Oct 1860 - House #46, Podmokly, Czech Republic Link to Google Earth
      Link to Google MapsMarried - Type: Catholic - 27 Jan 1885 - House #46, Podmokly, Czech Republic Link to Google Earth
      Link to Google MapsImmigration - Immigrated with family to America - 27 Apr 1905 - New York, New York Link to Google Earth
      Link to Google MapsImmigration - Frantisek returned from a trip back home to Podmokly. - 6 Jul 1909 - New York, New York Link to Google Earth
      Link to Google MapsOther - Frank's estate is probated and handed to Anna. - Apr 1912 - Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Link to Google Earth
      Link to Google MapsDied - 17 Apr 1912 - 2727 S. Christiana Ave., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Link to Google Earth
      Link to Google MapsBuried - 19 Apr 1912 - Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA Link to Google Earth
       = Link to Google Earth 

    • Photos
      Frank Blecha      		Frank Blecha
      Frantisek Blecha Suicide Daily Tribune April 18, 1912       		Frantisek Blecha Suicide Daily Tribune April 18, 1912
      Frank Blecha English Denni Hlasatal with Footnote.pdf      		Frank Blecha English Denni Hlasatal with Footnote.pdf

      Documents
      Frantisek Blecha News Article Apr 18 1912      		Frantisek Blecha News Article Apr 18 1912

      Albums
      Frantisek Blecha Suicide April 17, 1912      		Frantisek Blecha Suicide April 17, 1912 (8)
      This album contains images of the actual newspaper articles describing the suicide of Frantisek Blecha in 1912. It was big news in the Czech papers in Chicago, but it was minor news in the English papers because the Titanic had also just sunk and that news outshadowed the Blecha story.

    • Notes 
      • Parish register of Zvíkovec No. 4, book of baptisms, 1850-1868
        Page: 238-239
        Date of birth: Oct 7, 1860
        Date of baptism: Oct 8, 1860
        Baptizing priest: Josef Dvorák, parish priest
        Name of a child: FRANTISEK
        Religion: Catholic
        Gender: male
        Legitimate
        Father: Jan Blecha, tenant from Podmokly No. 46, son of + Frantisek Blecha from Suchomelka by Prasný Újezd, and Anna Bornová from Bujesily
        Mother: Annastasie, daughter of + Ján Hulka, tenant from Podmokly No. 46, and Marie Richterova from Podmokly No. 46
        Place and house number: Podmokly No. 46
        Godparents: Václav Tjsl, tenant from Podmokly No. 53; Anna Hulkova from No. 33, housekeeper at parsonage
        Midwife: Johana Thorova from Zvikovec, examined
        Language of record: Czech



        Interesting Note: Frantisek and Annastazie were godparents in 1901 to Jan Andrse, son of Vaclava Andres, in Podmokly. In May of 2010 during our visit to Podmokly, we met the lady who is the daughter of this Jan, and she provided us with a copy of the god-parent paper.


    • Sources 
      1. [S495] Frank Blecha's Death Certificate (State of Illinois) 1912.

      2. [S493] Anastasia Blecha's Death Certificate, State of Illinois (1946).

      3. [S496] Ellis Island Record: Arrived April 27, 1905 (New York) on S.S. Barbarossa from Bremen.

      4. [S832] Parish register of Zvikovec No. 6, book of marriages, 1765-1905.

      5. [S833] Parish register of Zvikovec No. 4, book of baptisms, 1850-1868, p.238.

      6. [S917] Parish register of Zvikovec No. 4 book of baptisms, 1850-1868., (As stored in the archives in Plzen, Czech Republic), 238-239.

      7. [S1267] Czech Church Records for Birth Death Marriage, Zvikovec 04, Page 122 of 205.
        Actual Image at: http://www.portafontium.cz/iipimage/30070547/zvikovec-04_1220-n


      8. [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


      9. [S1792] Czech Church Records for Marriage, Deaths, Births, Zvikovec 04, Page 122 of 205.
        Birth of Frantisek Blecha in 1860. Actual image at:
        https://www.portafontium.eu/iipimage/30070547/zvikovec-04_1220-n?x=-13&y=-3&w=1373&h=560


      10. [S913] Ellis Island Record: Arrived July 6, 1909 on Krouprin Zessin Cecelie from Bremen.

      11. [S1712] Probate documents for Frank Blecha in 1912.

      12. [S175] Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre–1916.

      13. [S1169] Jan Zajicek Email.

      14. [S1795] Czech Church Records for Marriages, Birth, Deaths, Zvikovec 06, Page 211 of 283, Bottom entry.
        Marriage record for Jan Blecha and Anna Hulkova in 1856
        Actual image at: http://www.portafontium.cz/iipimage/30070549/zvikovec-06_2110-o?x=17&y=657&w=429&h=147


      15. [S182] 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 12, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_254; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 623; Image: 712.

      16. [S530] 1930 Census.


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