Stanek, John

2g - John STANEK (1846-1901) and Anna VISTINE (1853-1938)
1g - Agnes STANEK (1881-1961)
grandfather - Milo W POSEKANY (1905-1961)

mother - Lois POSEKANY (1927-2009)

William HALOUPEK (1956- )

John STANEK was born about 1846 in Bohemia, and died 29 Dec 1901 of stomach cancer at St Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Linn, IA. His gravestone in Saint Joseph's Cemetery, Chelsea, Tama, IA, says that he died on 29 Dec 1901, at age 55, so he was born between 30 Dec 1845 and 29 Dec 1846.

He married on 20 Apr 1873 in Chicago, to Anna VISTINE, born 11 Aug 1853 in Bohemia, died 11 Jul 1938 in Chelsea, Tama, IA, age 84. Their first child, Mary, was born on 27 Feb 1873 in Poweshiek, IA, almost 2 months before their marriage.

John came to America about 1868, and Anna about 1871-2. After marriage in 1873, they lived in Chicago until 1876, where the first of their 15 children was born on 20 Aug 1876. They moved to IA, and were in Jefferson, Poweshiek, IA by 14 Jun 1880.

The 1880 US Census has the family in Jefferson Township, Poweshiek County, IA. They already had 4 daughters. It says they were all born in IA, but I think that's a mistake.

The farm was about 5 miles south of Chelsea.

In 1900 the family was still on the farm in Jefferson. John owned the farm, free of mortgage. Anna was the only one not able to read, write or speak English. John had immigrated in 1868, and was naturalized. Anna had immigrated in 1871, according to this, but other records say 1872.

John and Anna had 11 children with them in 1900. Recall that in 1880 they had 4 daughters, with birth dates estimated by their ages in 1880: Mary (1873), Anna Jr (1875), Josephine (1877) and Agnes (1879).

The eldest, Mary, had married in 1892, and lived with her husband and 3 children in Salt Creek. The 4th child, Agnes, had married in 1899, and in 1900 they lived with his parents, on a farm in Salt Creek. Anna Jr and Josephine were still at home, and single.

So John and Anna had at least 13 children. More details below.

Later records seem to correct a few errors in the dates above. Of particular interest is the birth dates and places of the first 2 children, as that tells us when they moved from Chicago to Poweshiek.

John STANEK wrote his will on 26 Sep 1901, and added a codicil on 23 Dec 1901. He died on 29 Dec 1901 in Cedar Rapids, and the will was proved on 9 Jun 1902.

Wife Annie STANEK is executor, and inherits everything except:

Daughters Josie, Fannie and Louisa each get 2 cows, and $100 when married.

Sons Joseph, John, Frank, Charles, Emil, Edward, William each get $500 at age 24, reduced to $400 in the codicil.

Daughters Mary PETERZALEK, Anna PARTACHEK and Agnes POSEKANG, who are already married, each get $1, having already received their inheritance.

So the will mentions 6 daughters and 7 sons, living in 1901. There is no mention of daughter Elizabeth.

In 1910 Anna was a widow, owner of her farm in Jefferson, with a mortgage, and was called a Farmer. She had 8 of her children still single, living at home. The older sons were working on the farm, and Fannie did the housekeeping. The census says that Anna had had 13 children, all still living. Of course "Job" is John Jr, and "Ameal" is Emil.

In 1920 Anna was still living on the farm in Jefferson, with 5 of her children who were still single. However, John Jr was the head-of-household, and owner of the farm, free of mortgage. Anna was able to read, but unable to write, and still could not speak English. Maybe she could read Czech. It is curious that none of John's siblings were called farm workers.

In 1925 Anna and her sons John and Emil had moved in with her son Edward and his wife and child, in Jefferson. This census names parents, so it provides further evidence that John and Anna were the parents of Edward, John and Emil.

By 1930, Anna and her son John Jr had moved to Chelsea, to live with her eldest son, Joseph H. STANEK. 

Joseph owned a house in town, valued at $1,800 free of mortgage. He worked as a Painter, "On Building". Anna had immigrated in 1872, was naturalized, and was not able to read, write, or speak English.

STANEK Family Gathering, 24 people

The baby is Virgil NOVOTNY, born 2 Jan 1928, looks about 6 months old, so I would guess the photo was taken in Summer, 1928.

4 kids sitting in front, L to R:
Evelyn NOVOTNY, daughter of Louise (STANEK) NOVOTNY
Helen STANEK,
Willie STANEK,
Alfred NOVOTNY, son of Louise (STANEK) NOVOTNY

6 women kneeling, and baby:
Anna (STANEK) BARTACHEK, daughter of John STANEK and Anna VISTINE
Ella (BARTACHEK) HARRIS, daughter of Anna J. (STANEK) BARTACHEK
Fannie (STANEK) PRUSHA (behind Ella and May) daughter of John STANEK and Anna VISTINE
May RUSS,
Louise (STANEK) NOVOTNY, daughter of John STANEK and Anna VISTINE
holding her baby, Virgil NOVOTNY, born 2 Jan 1928
Blanche M. (POSEKANY) SEVCIK, daughter of Agnes (STANEK) POSEKANY

Standing, front:
Anna (VISTINE) STANEK, hair pulled back. This is the only photo of her that I’ve seen.
Agnes (STANEK) POSEKANY, daughter of John STANEK and Anna VISTINE
Mary (STANEK) PETRZALEK, daughter of John STANEK and Anna VISTINE
Tony NOVOTNY, husband of Louise STANEK
RUSS, with bow tie ?
Frank STANEK, son of John STANEK and Anna VISTINE
Charles BARTACHEK, with overalls, husband of Anna J. STANEK

Standing, behind:
Unknown man with golf cap and tie
Sylvia (UPAH) STANEK, wife of Ed STANEK
Ed STANEK, son of John STANEK and Anna VISTINE
George HARRIS, husband of Ella (BARTACHEK) HARRIS
Unknown man in hat, partly blocked
Frank POSEKANY, son of Agnes (STANEK) POSEKANY

Death of Anna (VISTINE) STANEK

Soon after 1930, Anna moved to live with her daughter, Anna (STANEK) NOVOTNY, in Poweshiek County, IA. She died there, on 11 Jul 1938.

Anna's obituary tells us that she was born 11 Aug 1854, in Czech. Her father was Frank VISTAIN (one of many spellings). She died on 11 Jul 1938, at the home of her daughter, Louise (STANEK) NOVOTNY, which was 3 miles southwest of Belle Plaine. She had lived there about 8 years.

Her mother died in Czech, and when she was 18, about 1872, her father brought Anna and her brothers and sisters to Chicago. 

Surviving: 5 daughters and 6 sons:
Mrs. James PETERZELEK of Irving;
Mrs. Antone NOVOTNY of Belle Plaine;
Mrs. Agnes POSEKANY of Chelsea;
Mrs. Anna BARTACHEK of Chelsea;
Mrs. Fred PRUSHA of Chelsea;
Emil, Frank STANEK, all of Belle Plaine;
Jos, John, Edward, William STANEK, all of Chelsea

Deceased children:
Mrs. Josephine POSEKANY
Charles STANEK

Surviving siblings:
Mrs KOMAKA, Mrs SUCHAN, Albert VISTAIN, all of Chicago
Deceased: 2 sisters, 5 brothers

The 2nd will doesn't tell us much, except that Anna had a will, executed in Dec 1922. It also names her children: the same list, except Jos. is Joseph H, and Frank is Frank W.

Ancestors

The name VISTINE has many different spellings. Most are recognizable as phonetic variants. It may have been VYSTAGN in Bohemia. That is the spelling found in her marriage record, from Chicago, 20 Apr 1873.

Anna's father is called James VISTINE in the 1925 Iowa State Census, which names parents. He is called Frank VISTINE in Anna's death certificate, and Frank VISTAIN in Anna's obituary.

The obituary also tells us that Anna had sisters Mrs KOMAKA, Mrs SUCHAN, and brother Albert VISTAIN, all of Chicago.

Descendants of John and Anna

John STANEK and Anna VISTINE had 13 children, all surviving to adulthood. If they had any children who died in childhood, they never were mentioned in any records that I have found.

There were 7 sons and 6 daughters. All married except 4 of the sons, who often lived together, sometimes with their mother. Most were farmers, and stayed in the general area of Chelsea and Belle Plaine.

One daughter, Elizabeth, appeared in early censuses, then disappeared, and another daughter, Louise, appeared. I think they are the same person, as explained in the section on Louise, below.

There is also a discrepancy with some of the birth dates being too close together. Agnes STANEK was born 13 May 1881, according to several records. Her brother Joseph H. STANEK was born 12 Jan 1881 according to his death certificate. It may help to know that the 1900 US Census has Joseph born in Aug 1882. However, his brother John was born 29 Mar 1883, by his death certificate. I'm still working on this.

John STANEK b: 1846 in Bohemia, d: 29 Dec 1901 in Cedar Rapids, IA, age 55
+ Anna VISTINE b: 11 Aug 1853 in Bohemia, m: 20 Apr 1873 in Chicago, IL, d: 11 Jul 1938 in Chelsea, age 84

1. Mary STANEK b: 27 Feb 1873 in Poweshiek, IA, d: 1 Jul 1961 in Belle Plaine, age 88
+ Vincence James PETRZALEK b: 19 Jun 1866 in IA, m: 22 Feb 1892 in Chelsea, d: 20 Nov 1942 in Cedar Rapids, age 76

2. Anna J STANEK b: 20 Aug 1876 in Chicago, d: 8 Jun 1966 in Tama, age 89
+ Charles BARTACHEK b: 1 Nov 1871 in Bohemia, m: 4 Sep 1900 in Chelsea, d:  8 Oct 1933 in Chelsea, age 61

3. Josephine STANEK b: 1 Mar 1879 in IA, d: 18 Aug 1915 in Tama, age 36
+ Albert Frank POSEKANY b: 24 May 1880 in Chelsea, m: 26 Aug 1916 in Tama, d: 15 Sep 1957 in Tama, age 77

4. Agnes M "Aggie" STANEK b: 13 May 1881 in Poweshiek, d: 28 Jun 1961 in Tama, age 80
+ Anton Vencil POSEKANY b: 14 Jun 1878 in Tama, m: 14 Feb 1899 in Chelsea, d: 21 FEB 1927 in Cedar Rapids, age 48

5. Joseph H. STANEK, b: 12 Jan 1881 in IA, d: 9 Sep 1939 in Marshalltown, age 58, single

6. John STANEK b: 29 Mar 1883 in Poweshiek, d: Feb 1969, age 85

7. Frank STANEK b: Oct 1884 in IA, d: aft 1 Jul 1961, age 76+

8. Frances "Fannie" STANEK b: 18 Jul 1887 in IA, d: 23 Jun 1970 in Cedar Rapids, age 82
+ Fred J PRUSHA b: 27 Dec 1878 in Poweshiek, m: 16 Apr 1912 in Chelsea, d: 20 Jan 1965 in Marshalltown, age 86

9. Charles STANEK b: Mar 1889 in IA, d: bef. 1 Jul 1961, age < 73

10. Louise Virginia STANEK b: 15 Dec 1890 in Chelsea, d: Nov 1979 in Atkins, Benton, IA
+ Antone Stephen NOVOTNY b: 13 May 1892 in Vining, Tama, m: 28 Mar 1921 in Tama, d: 7 Aug 1971, age 79

11. Emil Ames STANEK b: 30 Jan 1893 in IA, d: 2 Jul 1982 in Belle Plaine, age 89
+ Tillie A. CHMELIK b: 1895 in Tama, Iowa, m: 9 Sep 1925 in Chelsea, d: 1963, age 68

12. Edward Donald STANEK b: 4 Mar 1896 in Chelsea, d: 19 Dec 1989 in Belle Plaine, age 93
+ Sylvia Ann UPAH b: 28 Sep 1905 in Benton, IA, m: 12 Apr 1924 in Marion, Linn, IA, d: 15 Apr 1997 in Cedar Rapids, age 91

13. William Amos STANEK b: 15 Sep 1897 in IA, d: 1986, age 88-9
+ Antonette MACEK b: 1893 in Bohemia, m: 10 Oct 1923 in Marshalltown, d: 1953, age 60

1. Mary STANEK was born 27 Feb 1873 in Poweshiek, IA, and died 1 Jul 1961 in Belle Plaine, age 88. She married on 22 Feb 1892 in Chelsea, to Vincence James PETRZALEK, born 19 Jun 1866 in IA, died 20 Nov 1942 in Cedar Rapids, age 76. They farmed in Salt Creek, Tama, IA and had 4 children: Agnes (1892), Ella (1897), Charles (1899), William (1903).

After James died in 1942, Mary bought a home in Belle Plaine, where she lived until about 1959, when she went to the Haven nursing home in Belle Plaine. She died just 3 days after her sister, Agnes.

Mary's birthplace is of interest, since her parents moved from Chicago, IL to Poweshiek County, IA in the mid 1870s. Her obituary and death certificate say she was born in Poweshiek, IA, and all the censuses say she was born in IA. She was born 2 months before her parents' marriage, so maybe her mother had gone to Poweshiek to stay with relatives and have the baby.

Vincence went by the name "James" in most records. His last name was spelled many different ways. He is James PETRZALEK on his gravestone in Saint Joseph's Cemetery, Chelsea. 

2. Anna J. STANEK was born 20 Aug 1876 in Chicago, and died 8 Jun 1966 in Tama County, IA, age 89. She married on 4 Sep 1900 in Chelsea, to Charles BARTACHEK, born 1 Nov 1871 in Bohemia, died  8 Oct 1933 in Chelsea, age 61. 

They farmed in Madison, Poweshiek, IA and had two children: Ella (1903) and Milo (1908).

3. Josephine "Josie" STANEK was born 1 Mar 1879 in IA, and died 18 Aug 1915 in Tama County, age 36. She married on 26 Aug 1916 in Tama County, to Albert Frank POSEKANY, born 24 May 1880 in Chelsea, died 15 Sep 1957 in Tama, age 77. 

Brothers Anton and Albert POSEKANY married sisters, Agnes and Josie STANEK, daughters of John STANEK and Anna VISTINE. See my Frantisek POSEKANY page for more.

4. Agnes M "Aggie" STANEK was born 13 May 1881 in Poweshiek, and died 28 Jun 1961 in Tama, age 80. She married on 14 Feb 1899 in Chelsea, to Anton Vencil POSEKANY, born 14 Jun 1878 in Tama County, died 21 FEB 1927 in Cedar Rapids, age 48.

Anton and Aggie were my g-grandparents. More information can be found on my Anton POSEKANY page.

5. Joseph H. "Joe" STANEK was born 12 Jan 1881 in IA, died 9 Sep 1939 at Deaconess Hospital, in Marshalltown, age 58, single.

Just 9 years later, in 1948, Lois POSEKANY (my mother, Joseph's niece) graduated with a nursing degree from the nursing school at the same hospital where her uncle Joe had died.

Joe appeared with his parents and siblings in the 1900 US Census. He was mentioned as deceased in his sister Mary's obituary. His death certificate, below, names his parents as John STANEK and Anna VISTINE.

The death certificate tells us that he retired from farming in 1936, after farming 23 years, so 1913 to 1936. However, the 1930 US Census says he was a painter, in Chelsea. Presumably, before 1913 he was a farm hand. Never married. He died of a gangrenous gall bladder.

6. John STANEK Jr was born 29 Mar 1883 in Poweshiek County, died Feb 1969, age 85. He never married.

John lived with his mother and single siblings in Jefferson, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1925 and in Salt Creek, Tama County, 1930, as shown in the census records, above. He was always a farmer, and in 1930 he was farm owner. He retired and moved to Chelsea by 1935, and lived there alone in 1940. In 1950 he lived in Chelsea, with his sister, Anna. He is called John STANEK of Chelsea in his sister Mary's obituary, 1 Jul 1961.

7. Frank STANEK was born Oct 1884 in IA, died after 1 Jul 1961, as he was mentioned as still living in his sister Mary's obituary, above. So he lived to age 76 or more.

Frank was with the family in Jefferson, in the 1900 and 1910 US Censuses. He was mentioned in his father's 1901 will. His mother's obituary of Jul 1938 says he lived in Belle Plaine. He was Frank STANEK of Walnut Creek (?) in his sister Mary's 50th anniversary announcement, 22 Feb 1942. In Mary's 1 Jul 1961 obituary he was still in Belle Plaine.

8. Frances "Fannie" STANEK was born 18 Jul 1887 in IA, and died 23 Jun 1970 in Cedar Rapids, age 82. She married on 16 Apr 1912 in Chelsea, to Fred J. PRUSHA, born 27 Dec 1878 in Poweshiek County, 20 Jan 1965 in Marshalltown, age 86.

9. Charles "Charlie" STANEK was born Mar 1889 in IA. He died between 19 Apr 1910 and 11 Jul 1928, so he was no more than 49.

Charles was with the family in the 1900 US Census, age 11 with birth date Mar 1889. He was named in his father's 1901 will. In the 1910 US Census he was 18, probably a mistake. He was called deceased in his mother's obituary, 11 Jul 1938.

10. Louise Virginia STANEK was born 15 DEC 1890 in Chelsea, died Nov 1979 in Atkins, Benton, IA. She married on 28 Mar 1921 in Tama, to Antone Stephen NOVOTNY, born 13 May 1892 in Vining, Tama County, died 7 Aug 1971, age 79.

I believe that Louise was first called Elizabeth. The 1900 US Census has Elizabeth STANEK, age 8, daughter of John STANEK, and no Louise. The 1901 will of John STANEK names his daughter Louisa, no Elizabeth. The 1910 US Census has Lizzie STANEK, age 16, daughter of John STANEK, and no Louise. The 1920 US Census has Louise STANEK, age 27, sister of John STANEK Jr. One marriage record names her Louise Virginia STANEK, and her parents John STANEK and Anna VISTINE. She went by Louise after that.

11. Emil Ames STANEK was born 30 Jan 1893 in IA, and died 2 Jul 1982 in Belle Plaine, age 89. He married on 9 Sep 1925 in Chelsea, to Tillie A. CHMELIK, born 1895 in Tama County, died in 1963, age 68.

12. Edward Donald STANEK was born 4 Mar 1896 in Chelsea, died 19 Dec 1989 in Belle Plaine, age 93. He married on 12 Apr 1924 in Marion, Linn, IA, to Sylvia Ann UPAH, born 28 Sep 1905 in Benton, IA, died 15 Apr 1997 in Cedar Rapids, age 91.

13. William Amos STANEK was born 15 Sep 1897 in IA, and died in 1986, age 88-9. He married on 10 Oct 1923 in Marshalltown, to Antonette MACEK, born 1893 in Bohemia, died in 1953, age 60.

Updated 21 Apr 2024 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.