BRABCE of PILSEN
American Immigrant Wall of Honor
"AMERICAN IMMIGRANT WALL OF HONOR" ®
"ELLIS ISLAND"
Early in 1998, there will be several of my family names engraved at this historic place, a tribute to our ancestors. The following is an account of one Czech/Bohemian family and their immigration to the US. Little is known of their history in Pilsen, Bohemia. This was a time for a new beginning, "learn the English", cherish the old ways but quietly and unspoken. If anyone knows of this family's "Pilsen" history or genealogy, please email me with the connection. Meanwhile, if you enjoy reading or can relate to their story, part of my purpose has been fulfilled. © 1995
EVELYN MARII BELOVOU and VACLAVA BRABCE
EVA I (BELIE) ----- (BRABEC)
EVELYN MARII BELOVOU was born ca. 1860 near PILSEN, CZEKO, AUST., in an area known as BOHEMIA. It is not known whether Belovou was her maiden name or the name of her first husband at this time. She was married and had three young children plus land to tend when her first husband died young. Evelyn had gone to visit a relative nearby and upon returning found her husband, deceased, near the kitchen table. Most likely he had a stroke. She remarried an older bachelor from nearby, VACLAVA BRABCE, b.1853, for security reasons and the desperate need for help with the children and land. No proper mourning time was observed and this played heavily on her mind. Family verbal history states that when her three children got diptheria and died, she believed it was GOD'S way of punishing her for having married so soon.
Possibly all of their five children were born in Bohemia.
- Firstborn was MARY [m. JOHN PLETICHA]
- 2nd was JANE JOSEPHINE [m. JOHN JOSEF DOSKOCIL]
- 3rd was MAGGIE [m. FRANK BOCEK]
- 4th was ANNIE, refered to by the WI Doskocils as AUNTIE ANNIE] m. [JOHN PECHOUS]
- 5th was their only son, JIMMY [m.______]. Jimmy is supposed to have had a son before [Jimmy] died of the flu about WW1 time.
They came to US in l891 and were "sent" to the Cook CO. area of Chicago, IL.
Chicago has a large Czech population and settling in to a life in the US was made somewhat easier than for many groups. Most of this family lived for a time in this area, some still live there in 1997. A related family, Doskocil,
came the same year, 1891, but a different date and on a different ship. It was a time of hardship and massive emmigration from Czek to US. The Czech law had only recently changed to allow emmigration to US.
Vaclava was a non-demanding, slightly built man whose first love was his family. Eva was a beautiful woman who wore her hair tightly pulled back. She was petite and graceful of movement. She was to die while ironing in 1918 at their home in IL, a heart attack. Vaclava needed to get away from the familiar in Chicago. His daughter, Josephine, was married to John Doskocil and their home on a farm in Crawford County, WI, had just burned down so he went to live with them and help them build a new home. He lived with them in the temporary grainary house where they slept on mattresses stuffed with corn husks and used furniture donated by the neighbors; lumber was donated by the local Lumber company.
Vaclava moved into the new house with them and stayed for some time. He later longed to visit his children who still lived in Chicago... He made the trip and died in Chicago a short time later in 1923. He and Evelyn are both at rest in a Chicago cemetery. The picture above is from their funeral funeral cards.
So if you are at Ellis Island one day in the future and notice their names engraved neatly on that wall, pause for a moment and remember their story... my immigrant ancestors, the BRABECS.
© Compiled and written by John Wm. Greene, a greatgrandson of Eva & Vaclava, in 1995. Sources include: Hattie Doskocil family Bible, church cards, family pictures, conversations (some taped) with Evelyn Doskocil Greene and Hattie D.Geitz. & visits dating back to the mid 193Os to the Plum Creek farm of J. Doskocil & Josie Brabec Doskocil...listening to the family talks but missing the "not for kids parts" that were spoken in Bohemian.
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