"To America" pg 4 - Emigration from the Village of Bernatice

The Souhrada Family Website

“To America” – Emigration from the Village of Bernartice and vicinity

Page 4

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THEY WERE CALLED AMERICANS

Life for adults and children wasn't easy in the new country. The immigrants must have been stubborn, adaptable, hard working, and they must have kept in close contact with each other. They had to find places to live, places of employment, and this was on top of problems they had with an unknown language. The new immigrants had to learn to share their lives with members of a society who came from many other nations. They often needed to move for a job, and at that their older children as well must have been required to work very hard.

The immigrants did not forget their native country. They were always hungry for information from their Czech homeland. Every letter that came from their native country went from hand to hand, person to person. When a letter was received about a big storm in Bernatice, and about damage of the tower at Bernartice church, they sent 82 goldsmiths for repairs. By the way, councilman of Bernartice gave for the repair 30 goldsmith. This event was happening at October 1870:

In October of 1870 news came of a great storm in the village of Bernatice that damaged the church's bell tower. So moved by the news were the new American immigrants that they sent home a sum of money (82 goldsmith) to help with the repair. In contrast, the councilmen of Bernatice contributed only 30 goldsmith.

There were many things established to assist the immigrant, such as local Czech newspapers and Czech social associations. The first of the Czech daily newspaper "Svornost" (Concord) was printed in 1875. In this time there lived 200,000 Czech countrymen in Chicago there was a very numerous community of about 20,000 Czech peoples. During the spring of 1882, there were associations established for the protection of immigrants. A newspaper from that time featured this article, "Czech associations for the protection of immigrants were established in Chicago, where life is very much a mix of American-Czech culture. These associations want to help and give protection, advice from how to find a job, to look for lost luggage, how to help sick people obtain free help, and in general to help their poor fellow countrymen. Under the general name of Czech, were represented the countries of Moravia, Slezko, and Slovakia. The money for these associations came from savings, from regular member’s allowances, large donations, and collections. Every person can be member of collections, when will be pay 50 cents every 3 month every Czechoslovakia collections, when will be pay 1 dollar every 3 month for purpose our collection”.

Well, something like this...

At 11th November 1892 was foundation "Amusing and Subsidiary Club of Bernartice countrymans" (whew... I'll guess, by using a Thesaurus: let's try calling it the "Social Auxiliary of the Natives of Bernartice). The founding members committee were:

Karel Krejci - Chairman
Frantisek Mikolasek - amusing Committee
Josef Masek - Deputy Chairman
Frantisek Kalal - amusing Committee
Josef Kalina - Secretary
Jan Hrubec- Councilman from the 29th District
Jan Calta- Cashier
Eduard Petrik - Policeman (I think we might call this person the Sergeant-At-Arms in a club or society)
Emanuel Lukes - Accountant

Members:
Josef Bartunek, Karel Bartunek, Vaclav Bartunek, Jan Brabec, Josef Brcak,
Vincenc Brcak, Josef Cerny, Josef Drozd, Alois Fort, Frantisek Fort, Fr.
Fort, Jr., Vaclav Heidelberg, Vaclav Holub, Alois Hrdlicka, Frantisek
Hruska, Antonin Hrych, Jakub Kalal, Vaclav Kalal, Frantisek Kalina, Josef
Kchodl, Frantisek Kostal, Tomas Krenek, Jan Lukes, Josef Masek, Josef
Masek Jr., Josef Masek, Frantisek Mlady, Josef Novak, Vaclav Pechous,
Frantisek Petrik, Frantisek Rericha, Josef Syrovatka, Adolf Slechta,
Frantisek Svec, Frantisek Vachuta, Josef Vendl, Vaclav Vendl, Vaclav Vendl.

Over the course of time In America, immigrants could rise to a better position. So much so, that they could even send material assistance to their family in the old country. In the year 1887, we find a donation coming from America for 1,277 goldsmiths, and given to the Czech Central Mother School.

A lot of Czech people took a part in the First World War in units of American Army in Mexico and in France, also as Czech volunteers in legions. In 1917 American espionage caught a telegram of an officer of German Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zimmermann, where was instruction for a dealing with a Mexican government for case of German - American war. As a war spoils Germany offered to Mexico to give them back three of American states (Arizona, Texas and New Mexico), which Mexico lost in 1848. The deciphered telegram became an immediate stimulus for an entry of USA into a war against Germany and for a military security of southern frontiers of the Union. One of the members of the American Army in Mexico was a musician Frantisek Mikolasek, native of Bernartice.

In March 1918 an expedition corps of General Pershing landed in France and in June they interfered into struggles. And in August American Army had in Europe a million soldiers. There were among them a lot of Czechs from the first and second generations.

František Mikolášek ( fourth on the left ) - 1918 U.S. army in Mexico

The greatest merit of Czech minority in the USA was about finance of a battle for an inception of Czechoslovakia. Dollars collected by countrymen at folk festivities, cultural actions and at special bazaars were the main source of means for Masaryk's leading of liberated action. At his speech in Chicago in May 1918, 150 thousand Czechs and Slovaks took part.

When the First World War finished, a smaller number of Czechs returned back to the independent republic. Also Marie Soukupova from Bojenice, Frantisek Mikolasek from Bernartice and others were among them. And on the contrary, others immigrated to the USA, for example - for invitation of their cousins Jan Tlapa with his wife Bozena, both native from Krenovice. Before the Second World War in the USA more than 520,000 of Czechs were spread, already from three generations. They effectively supported an effort of Czechoslovakia by defense of state in 1938, during the war they helped to emigrants and to Czechoslovakian army in Great Britain and USSR.

After 1941, 60 thousand of Czech countrymen joined the American army and took part at battles against German, Italian and Japanese armies. And many of them brought the greatest sacrifice. One of them was also Ladislau Tlapa a son of Jan and Bozena Tlapa. Ladislau was killed in action on D-Day, June 6, 1944 which was also his birthday. He was a Private in the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.

Jan (John) Tlapa - in Germany 1945

EXTRACT OF A PROTEST – SENT FROM AMERICA

We, the below signed Czech and Moravian passengers of the steamship “California", protest the slander about the company of Mr. Bohdan Reiner of Hamburg. We have heard the negative criticism of Mr. Reiner's company, but having taken the advice of our friends in America, we gave over our fates into his hands. We have never been sorry. Our life in Hamburg was wonderful from our first arrival, and now that we are aboard ship, we comment that the big steamship "California" is very comfortable, with good, healthy and plentiful meals. The ship physician here is also very conscientious. We feel that it is our obligation to defend the truth of this matter, and we give thanks to Mr. Reiner. We wish him and all his employees of the "New Hamburgh Line", all the very best!

Written aboard the deck of the "SS California ", the 15th of October, 1884
Signed:
V.Barta with family from the village of Prosec
Vaclav Kaur, J. Svoboda, J.Petr, all from the village of Stepanovice
V.Stepanek from the village of Strakonice
F.Mnuck from the village of Horni Jeleni
J.Benes, A.Vodicka, Jan Herlik, all from the village of Strakonice
Anna Svobodova with family from Strakonice
Josef Barta from the village of Prosec
K.Charvatova from the village of Vodnany
Josef Adamec, Jan Oprsal, Frant. Beran, S. Pavelka, F. Safarik, Em. Jenicek,
all from the village of Sedlice
Ignac Mazour, Jan Spitalnik, Helena Morje, and A. Hajek

C.M. Buechler, signed as "Notary Public", New York, October 21, 1884
F.W. Meyer, General Counsel

Sources:

Zlatá kniha Československého Chicaga, Chicago 1926

The Golden Book of Czech-Slovak Chicago 1926

Jihočeský sborník historický.

The historical reports of South Bohemia

1960 : Eva Barborová, Vystěhovalectví do Ameriky v Táborském kraji v létech 1855 –1862

Emigration to America in Tabor region in years 1855 – 1862

1980 : Eva Cironisová, Vystěhovalectví v milevském okrese před první světovou válkou

Emigration in Milevsko region before World War I.

Okresní archiv v Písku : žádosti o vystěhovalecký pas.

The district archives in Pisek : the applications for emigrate passport.

Pamětní kniha městyse Bernartice.

The memorial book of town Bernartice.

Soukromý archiv autora.

The private archives.

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