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Václav “James” Blažek

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Václav “James” Blažek

Birth
Cekov, Okres Rokycany, Plzeň, Czech Republic
Death
14 Aug 1901 (aged 73)
Adams County, Iowa, USA
Burial
Williamson, Adams County, Iowa, USA Add to Map
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On July 4, 1877, Vaclav (James) Blazek, his wife Mary (Marie) and their eight children left the Village of Kareze, Czechoslovakia by train for Bremen, Germany. There they boarded the German ship S.S. Braunschweig and reached the port at Baltimore Maryland on July 21, 1877. A son Joseph had preceded them to America in 1875. Coming to Iowa by train took two weeks due to railroad strikes. Upon arrival in Iowa, the family stayed with Mary sister and her family, The Krisingers, who lived 1/2 mile north of Williamson (now the Orval Boswell residence). Deeds filed in Adams County, September 26, 1877 and February 10, 1882 record the purchase by James Blazek of land 1 3/4 miles south of Williamson now occupied by his great-great grandson Ronald Blazek. What courage it must have taken for a fifty year old man to uproot his family to a new country where the language was foreign to them. We can only be thankful that James possessed that courage. James and Mary had 10 children. All but the youngest one, William, was born in Czechoslovakia. William was the first Blazek to be born in America.

James Blazek sr. died August 14, 1901 at his home near Williamson, aged 74 years of age. He came to Adams county in 1877. The remains were laid to rest in the Bohemian cemetery.

Adams County Union-Republican, August 28, 1901
On July 4, 1877, Vaclav (James) Blazek, his wife Mary (Marie) and their eight children left the Village of Kareze, Czechoslovakia by train for Bremen, Germany. There they boarded the German ship S.S. Braunschweig and reached the port at Baltimore Maryland on July 21, 1877. A son Joseph had preceded them to America in 1875. Coming to Iowa by train took two weeks due to railroad strikes. Upon arrival in Iowa, the family stayed with Mary sister and her family, The Krisingers, who lived 1/2 mile north of Williamson (now the Orval Boswell residence). Deeds filed in Adams County, September 26, 1877 and February 10, 1882 record the purchase by James Blazek of land 1 3/4 miles south of Williamson now occupied by his great-great grandson Ronald Blazek. What courage it must have taken for a fifty year old man to uproot his family to a new country where the language was foreign to them. We can only be thankful that James possessed that courage. James and Mary had 10 children. All but the youngest one, William, was born in Czechoslovakia. William was the first Blazek to be born in America.

James Blazek sr. died August 14, 1901 at his home near Williamson, aged 74 years of age. He came to Adams county in 1877. The remains were laid to rest in the Bohemian cemetery.

Adams County Union-Republican, August 28, 1901

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