Vaclav "James" Racek

Notes:

Czechs in Nebraska - Saunders County

Morse Bluff and Bohemian Precincts. (Data furnished by Frank Kaplan, Morse Bluff)

1869--The Following Came:

Matej Racek, Breskovice, Plzen, Jan. 6, 1818, came with five sons to Iowa in 1861. Died June 2, 1900.

Vaclav Racek, Breskovice, Plzen, Nov. 27, 1849, came with father to Iowa in 1861, died Nov. 18, 1908

James Racek, son of Mathias and Maria Racek, was born 11-27-1849 in Breskovice, Czechoslovakia, and came to the U.S. about 1861. He married Veronica Beznoska (born 2-4-1855). To them were born 4 sons: Frank, William, Edward, and Emil; and 5 daughters: Anna Tenopir, Emma Virka, Lizzie Hines Svec, Teresa, and Julie Vachal. James and Veronica lived all their lives on the homestead they acquired in 1874. James died 11-18-1908, and Veronica on 10-14-1946. (Unreferenced, undated xerox of a biography of Vaclav (James) and Veronka Racek. Courtesy of Caroline Mastny.

In a obituary published in Czech for Veronika, he was listed as Vaclava Racka.

CZECH NATIONAL CEMETERY (also known as Killian Cemetery) located in Bohemian township in the NE 1/4 SW 1/4 of Sec 23 Township 17, Range 5E of Saunders County, Nebraska.

Recorded on April 12, 1977 and completed on April 15, 1977 by Clarabelle Mares 1722 E 19 Fremont, Nebraska and assisted by Kathrine Petersen. Cemetery in very good condition. Working from front to back in rows.

Row 3 west to east
Vaclav Racek Nov 1849 18 Nov 1908



(Research):Census InformationL

1880 Census

Census Place:Douglas, Saunders, Nebraska Source:FHL Film 12
54756
National Archives Film T9-0756 Page 37 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
James RATSICK Self M M W 31 BOHEMIA Occ:Farmer Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Flora RATSICK Wife F M W 25 BOHEMIA Occ: Keeps House Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Frank RATSICK Son M S W 9 NE Occ:At Home Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Ann RATSICK Dau F S W 8 NE Occ:At Home Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Willie RATSICK Son M S W 3 NE Occ:At Home Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Eddie RATSICK Son M S W 2 NE Occ: At Home Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA

Vaclav married Veronika Beznoska in 1871. Veronika (daughter of Frantisek "Frank" Beznoska and Anna Krylova) was born on 4 Feb 1855 in Beroun, Stredocesk? kraj, Bohemia; died on 14 Oct 1946 in Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska; was buried in Czech National (Killian) Cemetery, Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Frank Racek was born on 18 Dec 1872 in Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska; died on 10 May 1932 in North Bend, Dodge County, Nebraska.
2. Anna Racek was born on 20 Dec 1873 in Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska; died on 31 Jul 1951 in Geronimo, Comanche County, Oklahoma.
3. William Racek was born on 23 Dec 1876 in Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska; died on 14 Mar 1960 in Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska; was buried in Czech National (Killian) Cemetery, Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska.
4. Edward Racek was born on 15 Sep 1878 in Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska; died on 29 Jan 1937 in Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska.
5. Emma Racek was born on 4 Aug 1880 in Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska; died on 22 Jun 1973 in Schuyler, Colfax County, Nebraska.
6. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Racek was born on 18 Dec 1882 in Saunders County, Nebraska; died on 24 Oct 1961; was buried in Czech National (Killian) Cemetery, Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska.
7. Emil L. Racek was born in 1887 in Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska; died on 31 Oct 1936.
8. Terezie Racek was born in Dec 1890 in Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska; died on 25 Jan 1891 in Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska; was buried in Czech National (Killian) Cemetery, Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska.
9. Julia Racek was born on 19 Feb 1894 in Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska; died on 13 Mar 1987 in North Bend, Dodge County, Nebraska; was buried in Czech National (Killian) Cemetery, Morse Bluff, Saunders County, Nebraska.

Notes:

He was the son of Mathias Raczek, a farmer, and Anna Simpartle, daughter of Simon Simpartl and Eva Kreplin of Stisch, Czechoslovakia.

The following is excerpted from a two page typewritten paper from the Racek reunion of June 25, 1972 (Courtesy of Caroline Mastny)

Great Grand Father Matias (Mike) and Great Grand Mother (Born Suchy) Racek, with their three sons Mike, Jim, and Joe, and one daughter who married a Mensik came to Nebraska about 1868. they came from Czechoslovakia to an Illinois town (unknown). There (he) worked for a cattle feeder for about a year. He outfitted them with a old team of horses, wagon with a cover and a horned cow, and 25 cents in their pockets. They got halfway across Iowa when one of the horses died. There they stayed for more than a year. They started out of Iowa with a horse and cow to homestead in Nebraska. They followed the Platte River on the north side till they came to the town of North Bend. The river was too deep to cross. They met an Indian that knew how to speak a little English, he guided them to a crossing further west towards the present town of Linwood, where they crossed.

They intended to homestead land at Linwood whre the Tahacek farm currently is. There was a Pawnee Indian camp on the Skull Creek where they intended to homestead, so they traveled east and camped on the Homer land west of Morse Bluff. From there they started looking for land to homestead but could only get one eighty. From there they returned where they came in contact with a land agent. He told them there were three eighties together for homesteading south of Morse Bluff. Which are now owned by Uncle John and Aunt Julia Vachal, Lewis Racek, Emma Hunt and Ed Virka. One brother, Joe Racek was not of age to homestead so he went to Omaha to work. Before he became of age to homestead, the homestead act was discontinued. They built a sod house on a fence line between the present Virka and Lewis Racek land.

They just about lost their homestead rights for having one home for two homesteads. They wanted to live together..but the homestead act read one home for each homestead. Lewis Racek told us that when he and the Virka's were making a fence they came upon some stove lids and other articles so he figured that was where the sod house once was.

After they got they Homestead claim the brothers would work in Omaha three days a week. They worked for the City of Omaha leveling hills for 25 cents a day. They would also work two days on the homestead. They walked to work one day there and one day back.

Great Grandmother was killed by a horned cow that they bought with them from Illinois. She is buried on a hill side east of Morse Bluff which is an abandoned cemetery with unmarked graves. Great Grandfather Racek is buried in the Killian Cemetery west of Morse Bluff.

Mathias married Maria Suchy on 8 Nov 1842 in Pollenka, Bohemia. Maria was born on 21 Feb 1824 in Pollenka, Bohemia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was the daughter of Lorenz Suchy and Veronica Katzerowsky, daughter of Ignaz and Maria Katzerowsky. Ignaz Katzerowsky was a townsman (similar to a marshal) and the family lived in Chudenitz, Czechoslovakia.