Posekany

2g - František and Marie
1g - Anton POSEKANY (1878-1927)
grandfather - Milo W POSEKANY (1905-1961)
mother - Lois POSEKANY (1927-2009)
William HALOUPEK (1956- )

Please see the unidentified photos here and here.

František "Franz" "Frank" POSEKANY (16 Oct 1840 - 5 Mar 1914) was born in Cetoraz (Zetoras), a small village in southern Bohemia, near Tábor and Pacov. Marie "Mary" MACEK (19 Mar 1846 - 29 Oct 1914) was born in Obrataň (Wobratein), another small village, less than 3 miles from Cetoraz. Franz and Marie were married about 1868 in Bohemia, before immigrating to the US. 

I don't know much about the parents and siblings of František and Marie, or their life in Bohemia. The information I have is assembled in this biography. There is some evidence that Marie's father was Václav MACEK, b. 1813 Bohemia, d. aft. 1885 Iowa. Also, František seems to have been related to Josef and Vaclav POSEKANY, who also came to Iowa from Cetoraz, although I don't know if they were brothers, cousins, or otherwise related. See The Mystery of the Three Brothers.

Cetoraz and Obrataň

Bohemia was part of Czechoslovakia, which was part of the Austrian Empire until the Austrian War of 1866. Under the compromise of 1867, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was created, and Bohemia fell under the Austrian side of the empire. They were still under the tight control of the Germans. Religious and cultural suppression forced many Bohemians and other Czechs to leave their homeland, and many set their sights on America. Thousands of Czech immigrants came to Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and the Dakotas.

It is ironic that František and Marie almost lived to see the liberation of Bohemia and the other Czech states, as a result of the Great War, which we call World War I. The new country of Czechoslovakia was then free of the religious and ethnic oppression from which they had fled.

František and Marie were devout Catholics, as were most of the immigrants from Bohemia in the late 19th Century. Many of the Bohemian immigrants were Freethinkers, who did not accept any formal religion. How my own family came to be Protestant is still a mystery to me. That information is lost, perhaps forever.

As far as I can tell, 'posekany' is a Slovak word for 'chopped', 'posekaný' means 'chopped down', and 'macek' means 'cat' in Slovak. In Czech, 'cetoraz' means 'five times' and 'obratan' means 'turn around'. A 'tabor' is a 'camp'.

Immigration

František and Marie traveled on the ship Braunschweig, and arrived at the port of Baltimore on 23 May 1874, along with a 5 year old daughter Marie, and infant son, Franz. Franz Sr is described on the passenger list as a carpenter, but he became a farmer in Iowa. His brother Joseph immigrated, with his family, in 1884, and settled near Chelsea. See the Posekany Branches page.

Also among the passengers on the same voyage was Wenzl MACEK, age 63, hence born about 1811, possibly Marie's father.

The Braunschweig was practically new, having been built in 1873. On the passenger list, the name is spelled POSEKANI. Once in the US, Franz and Franz Jr were both called Frank. Marie and Marie Jr were both called Mary. 

How and when they came to Iowa is not clear, but they settled in Tama County, Iowa, and bought a farm, northeast of Chelsea. They were in IA when Anton was born on 13 Jun 1878, and they were on the farm in Salt Creek when the US Census was taken on 1 Jun 1880. They lived in Salt Creek the rest of their lives, and after 40 years in America, they never learned to speak English.

Names of Mary

I've seen several last names for Marie. Perhaps she was married before Frank, but how many times? Names for Marie (Mary) POSEKANY (1846-1914):

Marriage record for daughter Mary has her listed as Mary MACEK.
Death certificate for daughter Mary has her as Mary VLACH.
Marriage record for son Anton has her listed as Maria TABOR. Possibly a mix-up because they came from the Tabor region.
Death certificate for son Anton has his mother Mary TABOR.
Marriage record for son Albert has her listed as Mary COBER.
Biography of son Albert calls his mother Marie MACEK.
Marriage record for son Charles has Mary FABOR or TABOR.
Death certificate of son Charles has his mother as Marie VONDRAK.
The obituary of son Charles lists his mother as Marie ULACH.
Marriage record for daughter Agnes has her listed as Marie HRUSKA.
Biography of Emil and Agnes (POSEKANY) BEHOUNEK calls her Marie VLACH.
1885 Census has Jim MATSAK, age 72, widowed, living with the family. He could be Mary’s father. MATSAK is probably a misspelling of MACEK.

Mary's obituary (below) says she "was born in 1846 at Vrobatan, near Pacov, Tabor Co., Bohemia." This must refer to Obrataň, which is 3 miles from Cetoraz and 6 miles from Pacov. Many other records confirm that she was born in Bohemia.

Life on the Farm in Salt Creek, Tama County, IA, 1874-1914

The 1880 US Census has the family in Salt Creek Township, presumably already on the farm they later owned. The son named Frank must be Anton, as Frank Jr had died in 1877. The "not named" son is Albert.

The 1885 IA State Census has the family still in Salt Creek, and further specifies that their farm is in Section 4, the N half of the SE quarter. It has 3 Mary POSEKANYs. The one listed after Frank is his wife, age 38. The 16-year-old is the eldest daughter, soon to be married, on 21 Nov 1885. 

The 48-year-old Mary POSEKANY could be Frank's sister. Also with the family is Jim MATSAK, age 72. It could be that MATSAK is MACEK, and Jim is Frank's father-in-law. He could be the Wenzl MACEK who immigrated on the same ship as Frank and Mary.

Unfortunately, the 1890 US Census was mostly destroyed by a fire.

In the 1895 IA State Census, the Ancestry transcriber has 'Saltcrsek' instead of 'Salt Creek', and 'Posckany' instead of 'Posekany'. Only 4 children were still at home.

In 1900 Frank and Mary had the same 4 children at home as in 1895. There were 2 Aggie POSEKANYs because Anton had married Agnes "Aggie" STANEK on 14 Feb 1899, and they were living with his parents. The census confirms that Mary had 8 children, with 5 still living. Frank and Mary had immigrated in 1874, and all could read and write, but Frank and Mary were not able to speak English. I'm sure they were surrounded by Czech speakers, and didn't need English very much. Frank owned the farm, free of mortgage.

By 1908, Frank and Marie POSEKANY were ready to retire from farming. They had made their farm into one of the most prosperous in the area. When their son Charles married, they bought a house in Chelsea, and left the farming to him.

The letter above, dated 30 Mar 1909 in Chelsea, IA, was found among the possessions of Václav and Marie (POSEKANY) PISTULKA, who lived in Calhoun County, IA. I haven't established the exact relationship between Frank and Marie. See the POSEKANY BRANCHES page for more information. I think the author is our Frank M POSEKANY, although there was another Frank POSEKANY near Chelsea. He mentions that 'we are about to move to Chelsea', on 1 Apr 1909. He mention that Charlie, presumably his son, has been ill. A translation appears below.

Frank seems very religious, and writes only about religion, health and his move to Chelsea. It was common for retired farmers to move into town. The living was easier, with neighbors nearby, and healthcare was also more accessible. For Frank and Mary, it also meant that they would be able to attend the Catholic church in Chelsea every day.

By 1910, the children had left home, and Frank and Mary lived in Chelsea. The census confirms again that they had been married 42 years, hence married about 1868, and Mary had 8 children, with 5 still living. Neither was able to speak English, but they spoke Bohemian.

They lived in Chelsea until Frank's death on 5 Mar 1914, age 73. Marie lived less than a year after that, and died 29 Oct 1914, age 68. She spent most of the half year with Anton or Mary.

Frank and Mary share a monument in St Joseph's Cemetery, Chelsea. They were known as Frank and Mary in IA, but the stone says Frantisek and Marie.

The 1916 map of Salt Creek Township shows Albert POSEKANY's farm, in two pieces, about a mile east and a little south of Chelsea. (The name is spelled Prosekany on the map.) The farm of Charles POSEKANY, also in two pieces, is just east of Albert's. Anton's farm is north and east of Chelsea, about a mile and a half.

Descendants of Frank and Mary

Frank and Mary had 8 children, but 3 of them died in early childhood. All stayed in Tama County. Brothers Anton and Albert Posekany married sisters Agnes and Josie Stanek. Although the brothers were only two years apart in age, their families had very different timelines.

For brevity: Chelsea, Elberon, Toledo and Clutier are villages in Tama County, IA, and Ch is Chelsea. Marengo is a village in Iowa County, IA. Cedar Rapids is a city in Linn County, IA. Marshalltown is a city in Marshall County, IA.

Frank POSEKANY b: 16 Oct 1840 in Cetoraz, d: 5 Mar 1914 in Ch, age 73
+ Marie MACEK b: 19 Mar 1846 in Obrataň, m: abt 1867 in Cetoraz, d: 29 Oct 1914 in Ch, age 68

..... 1. Mary Sophia POSEKANY b: 11 Jan 1869 in Cetoraz, d: 23 Jun 1951 in Clutier, age 82
..... + John HEREJK b: 20 Jun 1859 in Plzen, Bohemia, m: 21 Nov 1885 in Elberon, d: 24 Dec 1936 in Elberon, age 77
........... i. Mary Josie HEREJK b: 24 Mar 1886 in Irving, Benton, IA, d: 28 Feb 1965 in Marengo, age 78
........... + John Melvin SHANDA Sr b: 2 Nov 1880 in Tama, IA, m: 21 Feb 1905 in Tama, IA, d: 3 Mar 1969 in Cedar Rapids, age 88
........... ii. Joseph HEREJK b: 27 Apr 1888 in Vining, d: 06 Nov 1896 in Tama, IA, age 8
........... iii. Edward HEREJK b: 04 Oct 1891 in Vining, d: 09 Nov 1896 in Tama, IA, age 5
........... iv. Agnes Frances HEREJK b: 04 Oct 1897 in Ch, d: 29 Jun 1986 in Marengo, age 88
........... + Charles Joseph LEDVINA b: 18 Dec 1887 in Tama, IA, m: 13 Jun 1916 in Vining, d: 25 Sep 1984 in Belle Plaine, Benton, IA, age 96
........... v. Emma Katherine HEREJK b: 28 Oct 1901 in Vining, d: 2 Nov 1997 in Tama, IA, age 96
........... + Emil Daniel VAVRA b: 26 Jan 1891 in Vining, m: 29 Jul 1922 in Marshall, IA, d: 10 Jan 1951 in Ch, age 59
........... + James Henry BOSTIAN b: 7 Mar 1896 in Ch, m: 14 Jun 1952, d: 1 Nov 1977 in Marshalltown, age 81
........... vi. Amil HEREJK b: 1903 in IA, only appeared in 1910 US Census
........... vii. Ella Blanche HEREJK b: 15 Jul 1905 in Vining, d: 9 Feb 2002 in Walford, Benton, IA, age 96
........... + Joseph Julius BATA b: 12 Apr 1900 in Clarkson, Colfax, NE, m: 14 Jun 1928 in Nashua, Chickasaw, IA, d: 12 Jul 1982 in Clutier, age 82
........... viii. Alice Rose HEREJK b: 15 Jul 1905 in Elberon, d: 3 Feb 1999 in Toledo, Tama, IA, age 93
........... + William George NOVOTNY b: 10 Oct 1899 in Clutier, m: 19 Apr 1928 in Cedar Rapids, d: 7 May 1975 in Waterloo, Black Hawk, IA, age 75

..... 2.Vincent POSEKANY b: 1871 in Cetoraz, d: 1871 in Cetoraz, age < 1

..... 3. Frank POSEKANY b: 1873 in Cetoraz, d: 1877 in Tama, IA, age 4

..... 4. Joseph POSEKANY b: 1875 in Tama, IA, d: 1877 in Tama, IA, age 2

..... 5. Anton Vencil POSEKANY b: 13 Jun 1878 in IA, d: 21 Feb 1927 in Ch, age 48
..... + Agnes M. STANEK b: 13 May 1881 in Poweshiek, IA, m: 14 Feb 1899 in Ch, d: Jun 1961, age 80
........... i. Frank E. POSEKANY b: 19 Nov 1900 in Tama, IA, d: Nov 1975 in Marengo, age 75
........... + Amelia Brohec WESLEY b: 30 Mar 1912, m: 15 Feb 1942, d: Aug 1994 in Marengo, age 82
........... ii. Blanche Mayme POSEKANY b: 21 Oct 1911 in Ch, d: 27 Jan 1998 in Toledo, age 86
........... + Frank James SEVCIK b: 11 Jul 1911 in Carroll, Tama, IA, m: 01 Feb 1937 in SJ, d: 13 Mar 2008 in Toledo, age 96
........... iii. Milo William POSEKANY b: 23 Oct 1905 in Ch, d: 12 Jun 1961 in Elberon, age 55
........... + Nora Willamina KRUEGER b: 25 Jan 1904, m: 26 Dec 1925 in Cedar Rapids, d: 1994, age 90
........... iv. Louis POSEKANY b: 1910 in Salt Creek, Tama, IA

..... 6. Albert Frank POSEKANY b: 24 May 1880 in Tama, IA, d: 15 Sep 1957, age 77
..... + Josephine STANEK b: 01 Mar 1879, m: 1 Jun 1903 in SJ, d: 18 Aug 1915, age 36
..... + Josephine KLOBER b: 05 Nov 1887 in Dardanelle, AR, m: 26 Aug 1916 in Elberon, d: 25 Jul 1973, age 85
........... i. Mayme M POSEKANY b: abt. 1917, d: 1990, bur. in Ch, never married, age 73
........... ii. Leo Frank POSEKANY b: 06 May 1920 in Ch, d: 27 Jan 1994 in Cedar Rapids, age 73
........... + Mildred Alma CEJKA b: 11 May 1923 in Belle Plaine, m: 26 Aug 1941 in IA, d: 22 Dec 1989 in Grinnell, Poweshiek, IA, age 66
........... iii. Richard Stanley POSEKANY b: 29 Dec 1926 in Salt Creek, Tama, IA, d: 2 May 1993 in Brooklyn, Poweshiek, IA, age 66
........... + Rosa Helena Dorothea GLANDORF b: 30 Mar 1927 in Williamsburg, Iowa, IA, m: 20 Apr 1952 in York, Tama, IA, d: 22 Apr 2010 in Grinnell, Poweshiek, IA, age 83 

..... 7. Charles POSEKANY b: 20 Mar 1884 in Ch, d: 06 Aug 1941 in Iowa City, Johnson, IA, age 57
..... + Josephine ADAMS b: 1 Mar 1886 in Ch, m: 2 Mar 1908 in Ch, d: 9 Feb 1957 in Ch, age 70
........... i. Mildred Marie POSEKANY b: 08 Apr 1910 in Ch, d: 27 May 2005 in Tama, IA, age 95
........... + Sidney G. WHITSELL b: 14 Mar 1911 in Chicago, Cook, IL, m: 24 Feb 1936, d: 17 Nov 2004, age 93

..... 8. Agnes POSEKANY b: 24 Feb 1886 in Ch, d: 21 Jun 1973 in Marshalltown, age 87
..... + Emil Charles BEHOUNEK b: 16 May 1878 in Ch, m: 06 Jul 1903 in Ch, d: 25 Jun 1971, age 93
........... i. Edward E. BEHOUNEK b: 03 May 1904 in Ch, d: 01 Jul 1966 in Ch, age 62
........... + Agnes Marie KAUFMAN b: 03 Dec 1904 in Ch, m: 27 Oct 1925 in Ch, d: 03 Dec 1970 in IA, age 66
........... ii. Anna Agnes BEHOUNEK b: 23 Apr 1906 in Ch, d: 10 Sep 1980 in Hennepin, MN, age 74
........... + Emil  Charles POLKA b: 25 Dec 1906 in Tama, IA, m: 28 Nov 1928 in Ch, d: 30 Dec 1968 in Hennepin, MN, age 61
........... iii. Emma Mae BEHOUNEK b: 30 Oct 1909 in Ch, d: 23 Feb 1997, Marshalltown, age 87
........... + John Norbert BENDA b: 7 Jul 1908 in Helena, Tama, IA, m: 12 Nov 1929 in Ch, d: 28 Nov 1998 in Marshall, IA, age 90
........... iv. Leo Emil BEHOUNEK b: 07 Aug 1912 in Ch, d: 20 Apr 2003 in Ch, age 80
........... + Mildred Agnes SHEDA b: 23 Feb 1917 in IA, m: 27 Jun 1939 in Ch, d: 16 Oct 2010 in Belle Plaine, age 93
........... v. Wesley Charles BEHOUNEK b: 02 Nov 1916 in Ch, d: 30 Nov 1988, age 72
........... + Hazel Marie DAVIS b: 25 Oct 1918 in Benton, IA, m: 10 Oct 1940 in Newhall, IA, d: 29 Oct 2008 in Ch, age 90
........... vi. Marie J BEHOUNEK b: 27 Jun 1919 in IA, d: 1 Jun 2015 in CA, age 95
........... + Earl Lawrence CROSS b: 12 Aug 1914 in Ch, m: 28 Aug 1940 in CA, d: 2 Jun 1993 in NV, age 78

1. Marie Sophia POSEKANY was born on 11 Jan 1869 in Cetoraz, and came to America with her parents and baby brother, where she was known as Mary. She died on 23 Jun 1951 in Tama County, age 82.

Mary's three younger brothers died in early childhood, and in 1877, she was temporarily left as an only child. When Anton was born on 13 Jun 1878, Mary was 9, so there was a gap of more than 9 years between Mary and her surviving siblings. Mary was already married when her sister Agnes was born, and had her first child a month later.

Mary appeared with her parents and siblings in the 1880 US Census and the 1885 IA State Census, above. 

She married on 21 Nov 1885 in Elberon, Tama, IA to John HEREJK, born 20 Jun 1859, died 24 Dec 1936 in Elberon, age 77. So she was 16 and he was 26. They had 8 children from 1886 to 1905. The first child was born 24 Mar 1886, just 4 months after marriage, when Mary was just over 17 years old. The 2nd and 3rd children both died of diphtheria, just 3 days apart, in 1896. Mary lost 2 sons and 2 brothers in the same way. 

Mary (POSEKANY) HEREJK  was known for crocheting beautiful aprons for her friends and relatives. It's estimated that she must have made more than 50. If you are in the family, and have a very old crocheted apron among your heirlooms, it might have been made by Mary. She was also an enthusiastic supporter of the local high school girls' basketball team, following them to the state finals. Mary was a great lover of flowers. She enjoyed life, in spite of all the hardships she endured.

2. Vincent POSEKANY was born about 1871 in Cetoraz, and died in infancy, about 1871, in Cetoraz.

3. Frank POSEKANY Jr was born about 1873 in Cetoraz, came to America as an infant, and died of diphtheria about 1877 in Tama, IA, age 4.

4. Joseph POSEKANY was born about 1875 in Tama, IA, and died of diphtheria about 1877 in Tama, IA, age 2.

5. Anton Vencil POSEKANY was born on 13 Jun 1878 in Chelsea, and died 21 Feb 1927 in Chelsea, age 48. He married on 14 Feb 1899 in Chelsea, to Agnes M. "Aggie" STANEK, born 13 May 1881 in Poweshiek, IA, died in Jun 1961, age 80. Anton also had a sister named Aggie, so there were two Aggie POSEKANYs.

Anton and Aggie had 4 children: Frank, Milo, Louis and Blanche Mayme. Louis is rarely mentioned in the obituaries of other family members, but he was with the family in the 1910 US Census, and absent in 1920 and 1925. I have not been able to find him in the 1915 Iowa State Census.

Milo was my grandfather. You can see some pictures of Milo on the Nora Kruger Posekany page.

Anton died at age 48, due to infection from a barbed wire scratch. Agnes outlived him by 34 years. Their children:

Frank (19 Nov 1900 - Nov 1975)
Milo William (23 Oct 1905 - 12 Jun 1961)
Blanche Mayme (21 Oct 1911 - 27 Jan 1998)

Blanche Mayme POSEKANY married Frank James SEVCIK (1911 - 2008). The had four children, and lived in Carroll Township, Tama County, IA.

6. Albert Frank POSEKANY was born on 24 May 1880 in Tama County, probably on the farm near Chelsea. He died 15 Sep 1957, at age 77.  He  had two wives, both named Josie. He married (1)
on 1 Jun 1903 in Elberon, to Josephine "Josie" STANEK, born on 1 Mar 1879, and died 18 Aug 1915, in Tama County, age 36. So they were married when he was 23 and she was 24. They lived on a farm in Salt Creek Township, next to his brother Charles. She died after 12 years of marriage, with no children. The cause of death is listed as "acute dilation of heart with acute nephritis tumor". In other words, kidney failure. She had a large tumor removed less than 2 months earlier.

Albert married (2) on 26 Aug 1916 in Elberon, to Josephine "Josie" KLOBER, born on 5 Nov 1887 in Dardanelle, Arkansas, died 25 Jul 1973, in Tama County, age 85. So he was 36 and she was 29. They had 3 children, and were married 41 years when he died.

So Albert's 3 kids came along much later than Anton's 3 kids. And the POSEKANY men were not done marrying Josephines!

7. Charles POSEKANY was born 20 Mar 1884 in Chelsea, and died 6 Aug 1941 in Iowa City, Johnson County, IA, age 57. He married on 2 Mar 1908 in Chelsea, to Josephine ADAMS, born on 1 Mar 1886 in Chelsea, and died 9 Feb 1957 in Chelsea, age 70. He was 23 and she had just turned 22 when they married. They had only one child: Mildred Marie POSEKANY, born 8 Apr 1910, died 27 May 2005, age 95.

8. Agnes POSEKANY was born on 24 Feb 1886 in Chelsea, and died 21 Jun 1973 in Marshalltown, age 87. She married on 6 Jul 1903 in Chelsea, to Emil Charles BEHOUNEK, born 16 May 1878 in Chelsea, died 25 Jun 1971, age 93. She was 17 and he was 25. They had 6 children.

Agnes was married at age 17, and had her first child just a few weeks after her 18th birthday. The pastor, Joseph DOSTAL, was new on the job. He had come to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Chelsea on 1 Jul 1903, married Agnes and Emil on 6 Jul 1903, and the next day he drowned in the Iowa river.

There was quite a lavish wedding reception, at the POSEKANY farm, with "large tables loaded with victuals good enough for a king," serving 250 people, along with dancing and games.

Emil was a prosperous farmer, and always had a decent car, starting with a Chalmers, a 4-door Model-T Ford, a 1928 Chevrolet, a 1936 Pontiac, a 1939 Studebaker, and a 1947 Chrysler New Yorker. The family did a lot of traveling, with many trips to California, New York, and the Chicago World's Fair. Emil was also school director, and was trustee of Poweshiek County for many years. Emil and Agnes both lived to a ripe old age (93 and 87), and had many descendants. 

Emil and Agnes had 6 children:

Edward E. (3 May, 1904 - 1 Jul 1966)
Anna Agnes (23 Apr 1906 - 10 Sep 1980)
Emma Mae (30 Oct 1909 - 23 Feb 1997)
Leo Emil (7 Aug 1912 - 20 April 2003)
Wesley Charles (2 Nov 1916 - 1988)
Maria Josephine ( 27 Jun 1919 - ?)

Nora Krueger Posekany

Back to Bill's Genealogy page

References (mostly hardcopy found in local historical societies)

[CC] Clutier Centennial/Clutier, Iowa 1900-2000

[CTN] Chelsea Then and Now (1976)

[EI] Elberon, Iowa 1881-1981

[HCI] History of Chelsea, Iowa 1864-1989

[HTC] The History of Tama County, Iowa (1987) 

[PRC] A Pictorial Review of 1864 Centennial 1964 Chelsea, Iowa

Websites

[TCH] Tama County Historical and Genealogical Society

[TCI] Tama County IAGenWeb

Updated 5 Apr 2023 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.