Frank Haloupek Jr

Frank Louis CHALOUPEK, later HALOUPEK, was born in Belle Plaine, Iowa, 25 Mar 1881. His ancestors are on the CHALOUPEK page, and his family is on the HALOUPEK page. He would have been 5 years old when the Jumbo Well made Belle Plaine world famous, for about 15 minutes! (See the Geography page.)

Like most of the Chaloupeks, including Haloupeks and Kaloupeks, Frank worked for the railroad. He was a blacksmith at the C&NW shop in Belle Plaine, where his father also worked. But he didn't start out at the railroad. He completed the 8th grade, and became an apprentice broommaker, in about 1895. The 1897 Belle Plaine City Directory has him listed as broommaker. He did farm work in 1900 and 1901, and joined the railroad on 18 Nov 1903, as an apprentice blacksmith.

A blurb in the Every Other Daily Union, from 17 Jan 1903, reads "Fine 10-months-old colt. Inquire of F.L. Haloupek at Weymer’s broom factory." Frank must have stayed at the broom factory until some time in 1903, taking summers off to do farm work.

The owner of the broom factory, B.F. Weymer, was later sued by an employee, and Frank must have been familiar with the case. This may have contributed to Frank's interest in unions.

Frank's mother, Mary nee Yaroshek, died on 4 Aug 1901, when he was 20. Frank was working as a farmhand, at the farm of Christian Peters at the time, and received the telegraph, shown below.

Frank and his brother, Albert, had their names changed from Chaloupek to Haloupek. Frank's uncle, Vencil, changed from Chaloupek to Kaloupek. There were other Chaloupeks who were not related to us.

There is some evidence that it was Frank's father, also named Frank, who changed the name from Chaloupek to Haloupek. In the 1895 Iowa State Census, both Frank Jr and Frank Sr were listed as Chaloupek. By the time of the 1900 US Census, Frank Sr was still Chaloupek, and Frank Jr was listed as Frank Haloupek, a farm laborer in the household of Christian Peters, in Oneida Township, Tama County, Iowa. In the 1910 US Census, Frank Jr and Frank Sr were both in Belle Plaine, and both appeared on the same page of the census, as heads of households. Frank Sr was Chaloupek and Frank Sr was Haloupek. After 1900, Frank Jr appears as Haloupek in all records. Frank Sr appears in several records as Haloupek, but is still Chaloupek on his gravestone and death record. Frank Jr's brother, Charlie, remained Chaloupek all his life.

Music provided by Frank Chaloupek

Belle Plaine Union 7 Nov 1906

A surprise party was given miss Anna Cherveny Saturday evening at the home of her aunt, Mrs. Prazak, and a very pleasant evening was spent in games and conversation. Music was furnished by Mr. Frank Chaloupek. Before the guests dispersed Miss Emma Zavodsky, on behalf of the company, presented Miss Cherveny with a beautiful bracelet.

It was probably Frank Jr who played at this event, although I don't know what instrument he played. If it was Frank Jr, this shows that he had not yet changed his name by 1906.

Frank married Kathryn Bessie "Katie" Sevcik on 3 Jun 1908 in Belle Plaine. Here is the young couple with their first child, Don, who was born 22 Jan 1911. He looks about 1-2 here, so this was probably taken in 1912.

Frank was a member of the Volunteer Fire Department, and was named 1st Assistant Fire Chief on 21 Mar 1912. Since the devastating fire of 1894 had destroyed the business district of Belle Plaine, the town took fire safety very seriously.

Frank Haloupek ran for City Council in March 1911, on the Socialist Ticket. There were two open seats, and he came in third, but was very close, with 222 votes! As shown in the article below, the first and second place candidates got 250 and 241 votes. He actually won the 2nd Ward, where he lived.

The Socialists came close in this election, and only lost the mayoral race by 5 votes, but in the end they only won one race, for Councilman of the 2nd Ward.

Frank was nominated again for City Council in Sept 1911, and I don't know how that election turned out, but he must not have won.

In March 1912, Frank ran for Treasurer of the School Board, along with two other socialists. The result of the election was a landslide, against the Socialist party, perhaps partly due to a large snowstorm on election day.

In May 1912, Frank was nominated for Treasurer of Benton County, Iowa, again on the Socialist Ticket. It seems odd for a socialist to be Treasurer, or want to be! A sample ballot appeared in the Vinton Eagle. In 1912, there were five parties with candidates registered in Benton County: Democratic, Republican, Prohibition, Progressive and Socialist.

Frank was listed as the delegate from Belle Plaine 2nd Ward, at the Socialist County Convention, in Vinton, Benton County, Iowa, in 1914. I don't think it was a big convention, as there were only three delegates, and no committeemen. It seems that the popularity of the Socialist Party in Benton County had waned, since 1911-12.

In March 1916, Frank Haloupek ran for the Board of Education, and came a distant third. He must have won an election eventually, because several later articles refer to his membership on the Board of Education.

The term "socialist" did not have the same connotation 100 years ago as it has today. It was then associated with the labor movement, and labor unions. Public ownership of utilities was also a major issue.

HERE IS “WHO’S WHO” ON THE RAILROAD

Belle Plaine Union 19 Jan 1928 pages 1 and 5

Frank L. Haloupek, Chairman of R.R. Shop Crafts, is First Member of “Who’s Who”

[Editor’s Note omitted.]

FRANK L. HALOUPEK

The subject this week is Frank L. Haloupek, the blacksmith at the C. and N.W. Round House.

To start with Mr. Haloupek, who is better known as Lob, is a Belle Plaine boy, being the son of Mr. F. Haloupek, a retired employee of the North Western Railroad. He was born in Belle Plaine on March 1^st, 1881, and is therefore 47 years old. He spent his early life like most Belle Plaine boys, fishing and swimming at Salt Creek, getting out of one mess of trouble and into another with all the neighbors prophesying that if he lived to be twenty one that it would be a wonder and that if he escaped the gallows a miracle. However, both guesses went wrong and the out-shot of it all was that he turned out to not only be one of the city’s best citizens but outside of perhaps a few chases on halloween nights from the police, never even came near going to jail.

At home there were a number of other boys and girls and it so happened that when he was in the 8^th grade of the Belle Plaine Schools, Frank had to quit in order to help earn enough money that the family home might be paid for. After quitting school his first job was that of an apprentice in the old B.F. Weymer broom factory on 4^th avenue north of 14^th street. Frank, by hard work managed to learn the broommaker’s trade, but about the time that he had the trade learned the factory went out of business so he had to hunt another job. At that time Theodore Ecker was the blacksmith at the round house, Harve McCune was the general foreman and a man by the name of Wm. Hutchison was the master Mechanic. Mr. Haloupek landed a job at the forge and anvil working 10 hours a day at the then handsome wages of 17 ½ per hour. It was not long afterwards though that Mr. Ecker left the Belle Plaine shops so Frank found himself as an apprentice blacksmith buckling into the job of a journeyman blacksmith, although he had to complete his four years before he drew the wages of the journeyman. This not only made him work but made it necessary for him to figure out for himself what is usually figured out for the apprentice. In spite of it though he went thru with the job, until he was finally a fully accredited blacksmith. Incidentally he was the first and only blacksmith to learn the trade in the local round house.

In commenting upon his work as a blacksmith Mr. Haloupek says that the work of a blacksmith has improved in many ways since he picked up his first hammer and tongs. For one thing the iron and steel used today is of a much better quality than that when he first learned the trade. The tools are better grade of steel, last longer and give better satisfaction than they did at that time. Then, too, the work is not so hard as it was then. Instead of having to hammer everything out by hand, there are now trip hammers and other labor saving machines which tend to lighten the work and permit a man to accomplish more by the end of the day. Ventilating systems are better, sanitary conditions are better, and hours have been reduced from 10 or more hours to 8 and the wages are better, although they are none too high even yet, considering the cost of living. Yet the general trend is much better than it was when he started in to learn the business.

The work now as then consists chiefly of making repairs for either machines in the machine shop or for engines, although there is a certain amount of work from steam shovels, pile drivers, cars and tools, and that when he isn’t busy fixing something for some one else there are his own tools to go over and repair, for on the railroad there is always something that needs repairing and seldom if ever does the time come when the blacksmith does not have all that he can do.

Getting back to the personal side Mr. Haloupek was married on June 3^rd, 1908 to Miss Kathryne B. Sevcik. To them have been born 5 children, namely Donald, Dorothy, George, Walter and Jack, and a fine husky bunch they are too. The oldest is in high school and the rest in the grades.

Realizing the advantages of an education which he unfortunately did not get to complete, therefore Mr. Haloupek is a strong believer in good public schools and bends every effort to see to it that his children get an education if they so desire. He also gives them every encouragement that they continue in school.

In a political way Mr. Haloupek says he is a Progressive Republican although he used to be a Socialist. He says that he still believes in the principles of socialism, but that he is a Progressive Republican because in his opinion socialism will not be a practical thing for years to come, until the public in general is better educated than at present. By socialism he means public ownership of all public utilities and not communism where every man has exactly the same amount of wealth as every other man.

Mr. Haloupek is also interested in public affairs and although he has never been a member of the city council, yet he attends almost every meeting of that body in order that he might find out first hand just what is going on in our public offices.

However, the organization which comes closest to his heart is the labor movement. For the past 9 years he has been chairman of the shop crafts at the round house, and the labor organizations will have a hard time should the occasion ever arise to fill the position as well as he. In fact Mr. Haloupek is a tireless worker for the laboring man regardless of what their particular job may be. He is a fighter for the right as he sees it, and the word defeat is not in his vocabulary.

Besides being interested in the government of the city, state and nation and the labor movement Mr. Haloupek is a Master Mason, a member of the Congregational Church, a member of the Blacksmith’s Organization, and an exempt member of the Fire Department. In the latter organization he served 11 years, entering the department in 1908 and leaving it in 1919. The reason for serving 11 years instead of the usual ten was that at the time he was to receive his discharge certificate one of the city firemen was called to the army and Mr. Haloupek voluntarily stayed with the department until the war was over and the soldier returned. Among some of the big fires he helped fight in Belle Plaine were the elevator fires, livery barn fire and a number of other hot ones. During his term in the fire department he held every office in the hose company and assistant chief, secretary and treasurer of the general company.

Besides his work at the round house Mr. Haloupek also finds time to do considerable outside at a shop he has fixed up at his home.

Nearly every one has a hobby and Mr. Haloupek is no exception to the rule. His hobby is reading and politics, and right here we might say that we doubt if any man gets more enjoyment out of his hobby than Mr. Haloupek. His reading includes everything from economics to newspapers to religion and there are but few subjects that you can mention which he does not have a fairly good knowledge of, and there are some that unless you really know your stuff that you had better not bring up unless you are fond of admitting that you know when you are licked.

When asked what Belle Plaine needs most, Mr. Haloupek’s answer was “More small industries to help keep more men employed.” As to whether he thought the younger generation was better or worse than the older one, Mr. Haloupek thinks that it is better, but that if there is any criticism to be had it is that parents are not quite strict enough with their children and that they should find more jobs for their boys and girls to do, for when a person, child or adult, is idle they are more inclined to get off the straight and narrow than when they are employed.

There are hundreds of other things that we could tell you about Mr. Haloupek, but that would take a book. However, we will say this with all sincerity, whether you agree with Mr. Haloupek politically, religiously or any other way or not, you will find him a man strong in his convictions, honest and square in his dealings, a booster for his home and his town and a mighty fine fellow to spend half an hour with in conversation.

[The above article came out in 1928, when Frank Jr was 46. Frank Sr died the following year, on 20 May 1929. The article doesn't mention Frank Jr's work as a farmhand, but implies that he went right from apprentice broommaker to apprentice blacksmith for the railroad.]

Frank HALOUPEK ran for director of the school board in 1933. Due to the Great Depression, school budgets were being cut, and there was much argument about where the cuts should be made.

This looks like Frank, opening the door to his blacksmith shop.

Again, he liked to wear the hat with the brim turned up a little, on the left.

I remember, as a kid, hearing that Grandpa worked for the railroad, and also that he was a blacksmith, with his own shop behind the house. Now it seems that both are true. He was a blacksmith for C&NW, and he also had his own blacksmith shop, behind the house.

I don't know what the Half-Century club is, but Frank and Katie joined it in 1946.

Haloupeks Join Half Century Club

[Belle Plaine Union, 18 Jul 1946 page 4 (47)]

Half Century Club Members are F.L. Haloupek, 65, and his wife, Kathryn B. Haloupek, 61, of 1505 Fourth avenue. Mr. Haloupek, a son of Frank and Mary Yaroshek Haloupek, was born in Belle Plaine March 21, 1881. He completed the 8^th grade in the public schools and from Nov 18, 1903 to Jan 16, 1946 when he retired, he was employed in the blacksmith department of the North Western railroad. He is a member of the A.F. and A.M., International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths and Helpers and is an exempt city fireman. He has also served as a member of the school board. His hobbies are gardening, fishing and hunting, and the most interesting event in his life was his first ride on a passenger train when he was 12 years old.

Mrs. Haloupek is a daughter of Joseph and Anna Miklas Sevcik and was born Sept 25, 1885 at Tama. Six years later the family moved to a farm where they remained three years and on July 6, 1869 [sic] located in Belle Plaine. Here she attended the grade school. She is a member of the Royal Neighbors and her hobbies are crocheting, raising flowers and collecting salt and pepper shakers. The most interesting thing in her life was trying to raise her children to live clean lives and to give them good schooling.

Mr. and Mrs. Haloupek were married June 3, 1908 in Belle Plaine. They have five living children: Don Haloupek, Mrs. Dorothy McCausland, George, Jack, and William Haloupek. One son, Walter, lost his life while on submarine duty in the Pacific in the recent war.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Haloupek are members of the Congregational church.

[Note: The 1869 date is clearly a misprint. Half a century before 1946 would be 1896.“Half Century” must refer to the Sevciks moving to Belle Plaine in 1896, as the Chaloupeks were already there.]

The Chaloupeks and Sevciks were all Catholic, but at some point, Frank and Katie converted to the Congregational Church.

By 1958 they had moved to a smaller house, at 1509 4th Ave, near the family home at 1505. Here they are holding their 50th Anniversary cake, surrounded by flowers. Since it was 1958, that can't be Tom in the foreground, it must be me (Bill), as I would have been just over 2. (The note below the pictures shows what is on the back of the photo.)

Frank Haloupek died on 18 Jun 1965, at St Luke's Hospital, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The obituary says he worked 50 years for C&NW, but I think it was only 42. He did not start working for them at age 14.

Updated 3 Jan 2021 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.