My Kroulik Line
The family name Kroulik and its variations are of Czechoslovakian (Prussian) derivation, coming from the Czech word kralik, meaning rabbit. (The original Prussians were Western Balts. They were not Teotons. The Germans came later.)
Recorded as early as the eleventh century during the Dark Ages, the family name probably described a quality or characteristic by which an early Kroulik ancestor was identified. Several early spellings are found in documents showing fines and tax assessments: Kroulik, Krollik, Kraulik, Kralik, Kralich, and the variant Krolikowski. Fourteenth century records indicate that the name had, by then, become a hereditary surname.
As the name was evolving, the Crusades had begun. Possibly Kroulik ancestors were among these pilgrims. Perhaps success in the Crusades earned a certain prominence for Krouliks, whose ancestral beginnings were humble. A coat of arms was granted to the family and later confirmed in official heraldic records.
Actually there are two Kroulik coats of arms on record. One is described as “Gules a grand heraldic rose argent, barbed vert, seeded or.” In heraldic language, gules means red, a color which symbolized fortitude and the ability to withstand the ancient test of fire and torture. Considered the most noble of all the colors, gules is a royal color that denotes martial prowess, boldness, hardihood, valor, and magnanimity. Rose argent, barbed vert, seeded or translates to a silver rose with green thorns and golden seeds. The rose alludes to good surrounded by evil, as the rose is surrounded by thorns. Some heralds connect the rose to the church in a time when the Popes customarily presented their “favorites” with flowers either real of sculpted of precious metals. Consequently, a silver rose would imply purity, innocence, truth, justice, chastity, and humility in the person receiving it. Although heraldic roses are frequently shown with green thorns, the color green is actually quite rare in arms. It signifies youth, vitality, and courage on the battlefield. Because it is the color of nature, it may also represent fruitfulness and growth. Or, meaning gold, is purer, finer, and more valuable than any other metal. Therefore, its bearer should be better than all others on his worth, his virtue, and his capabilities. Or is also said to be the emblem of a bearer who is wise, rich, and intelligent.
The other Kroulik coat of arms is described as “Quartered: 1st, or; the letter ‘K’ sable; 2nd and 3rd quarters gules, a peacock in pride proper; 4th or; 2 bendlets sable; charged with small inner shield vert.” What this description means is that the shield is divided into quarters, two of which have a red background. A black “K” appears on one of the gold quarters; two narrow, black, diagonal bands appear on the other gold quarter. On the red quarters are peacocks with their tails fully expanded. A small green inner shield is placed over the four quarters. The peacocks symbolize personal pride. During the days of chivalry, one of the most solemn oaths was taken “on the peacock.” The black bands or “bendlets” are marks of distinction which were added to further ennoble a paternal shield. They were awarded for acts of valor in battle or for public service.
Apparently two separate Kroulik families immigrated to the United States. One line settled first in Minnesota and North Dakota while our Krouliks settled in Kansas. Because of the uniqueness of the name, however, and because these immigrants generally came from the same geographic region of Czechoslovakia, a natural assumption is that the two lines are related.
Of the Kansas Krouliks, Anton A. Kroulik is the earliest on record. Both of his parents were born in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, but to date, their names have not been discovered.
Anton was born 21 Aug 1854 in Zhor, Landskroun, Chrudim (County), Bohemia (Czechoslovakia). After coming to America in 1888 when he was thirty-four years old, he was a farmer in Republic County, KS, where he farmed an eighty-acre farm in the southwest section of Farmington Township. Around 1904 he became a naturalized United States citizen. He died 6 Aug 1933, probably in Republic County.
His wife, Anna Cejnar Kroulik, was born 13 Jun 1857 in Bohemia to Bohemian parents. She and Anton were married 22 Feb 1876, probably in Bohemia. She, too, was naturalized in 1904. Five of their ten children were born in Bohemia, and five were born in Kansas.
Our ancestor, Anna Camelia (or Cecilia) Kroulik, was--apparently--the third child of Anton and Anna. She was born 21 Jan 1877 in Bohemia and died 22 Jul 1964 in Salem, IL. She was married twice. The surname of her first husband was Schoedr, or something with a similar spelling. (Records are difficult to read.) By Mr. Schoedr, she had three children, only one of whom--Albert--was living in 1910. Anna’s second husband was Edward Joseph Garich, whom she married 15 Mar 1902. Family tradition maintains that they were married in Severy, KS; however, a marriage record for them in that location remains elusive. Around 1908 Edward and Anna moved to Polk County, AR, where they owned and operated a grocery store. Supposedly there was disapproval among Anna’s family because Edward was several years older than she and had several grown children by a previous marriage. Eventually Edward and Anna had three surviving children together: Percy Joseph “P.J.” Garich, Clara Garich Van Horn, and Roy Garich.
Anna Kroulik Garich had eight, possibly nine siblings:
CHARLES KROULIK, b. Aug 1874 in Bohemia/m. c1908 to Margaret “Maggie” --?--/at least one child, Laurence, who was b. c1914 in KS. Charles appeared in census records in Washington County and Republic County, KS, as both the owner of a meat market and a farmer.
KAMILIK KROULIK (female), b. 1875-76 in Bohemia. This name appeared on census records. Possibly KAMILIK was the Bohemian form of CAMELIA and referred to Anna Camelia Kroulik.
EDWARD W. KROULIK, b. Oct 1883 in Bohemia. In 1910 he was a hired hand for D.D. Snyder in Washington County, KS, but lived with his uncle, Isador Gross, also in Washington County. By 1920 he was living back home with his parents in Farmington Twp., working the home farm. In 1920 he was unmarried.
MILLIE KROULIK, b. Sep 1885 in Bohemia. In 1910 she was a servant for the Calvin J. Morrow family in Washington County, KS. By 1920 she was back home, living with her parents and working the home farm. In 1920 she was unmarried.
ANTON “TONY” KROULIK, b. Jul 1889 in KS. He was a farmer and married a girl named Albena --?--.
AGNES KROULIK, b. Jul 1891 in KS.
BEASIR “BESSIE” KROULIK, b. Aug 1895 in KS.
BLANCHE KROULIK, b. Feb 1898 in KS.
MOLLIE KROULIK, b. May 1900 in KS. She is listed as OLLIE on the 1900 census.
and Vintage Kin
