Koudelka, Jan (John) and Anna (Kolar)

(JoAnn C. Dostal)

John Koudelka II was born in Rakov, Bohemia, in 1827, the son of Jan and Anna Kolar Koudelka. John's mother Anna was born in Smolec, Bohemia. John married Anna Kolar of Borovany. Anna was born in Borovany in 1823. John II and Anna left Bremen for America with their 3 children: Vaclav age 18, John J. age 12 and Marie age 10, on 1 Jul 1867. John II had an aunt and uncle, Frank and Josephine (Koudelka) Bouska who had purchased land from the U.S. Government in 1854 in Sumner Twp, Winneshiek Co, IA. On 2 Apr 1872, John II and Anna purchased a tract of land from the Bouskas which was to be their family farm. They built a log house on the property and as they prospered, John II purchased more land, eventually having enough to start his sons out in farming.

They also built a frame home to replace the log house. The logs from the house were used to build a granary. Son Vaclav (James) enlisted in the 1st regiment of the U.S. Infantry in 1868. He was honorably discharged in 1871. James was a talented musician and during his military service played in the Infantry band.

John Koudelka and wife Anna Kolar Koudelka and Grandson John III.

Son John J. farmed with his father; daughter Marie married Frank Sobolik and moved to the Sobolik farm in Howard Co.

John II died 5 Sep 1910 - his wife Anna died 13 May 1910. Both are buried in the Little Turkey Church Cemetery.

Koudelka, John J. and Kathryn (Fencl)

(JoAnn C. Dostal)

John J. Koudelka and wife Kathryn Fencl Koudelka.

John J. Koudelka was born in 1855 in Rakov, Bohemia, the son of John II and Anna (Kolar) Koudelka. He came to America with his parents in 1867 at the age of 12. He was raised on the family farm in Sumner Twp, Winneshiek Co, IA. He married Kathryn Fencl, daughter of Frank and Mary (Mares) Fencl. After their marriage and the birth of their son John F., the farm was deeded to John J. by his father. This deed was dated 23 Jan 1877. John J. and Kathryn had seven children. As they grew up and married, John J. bought farms for all his sons. Much of it was in Chickasaw Co. The children of John J. and Kathryn are: John F (b. 16 Nov 1877) he married Frances Jirak; Joseph (b. 25 Mar 1879) married Anna Praska; Anton (b. 13 Jun 1881) married Anna Infeld; Rose (b. 28 Jun 1883) married Charles Hruska; Charles (b. 26 Feb 1886) married Mayme Jirak; Frank (b. 4 Apr 1888) married Lydia Barloon; and Carrie (b. 5 Jul 1890) married Edward Praska.

Frank, the youngest son of John J. and Kathryn remained on the family farm with his parents. After Frank married Lydia Barloon in 1914, John J. and Kathryn moved to a house near Little Turkey, IA. Their daughter Rose who was widowed at age 24, lived with them and cared for them until their deaths. Kathryn died of a heart attack in 1924. She was sitting in a rocking chair shopping for curtains in a catalog and died very suddenly. John J. died of cancer in 1925.

Koudelka, Vaclav (James) and Marie (Voyek)

(JoAnn C. Dostal)

Vaclav Koudelka was born in Rakov, Bohemia 28 Sep 1849 to Jan (John) II and Anna (Kolar) Koudelka. He came to America with them in 1867. Vaclav married Marie Voyek, daughter of Mathias and Katherine (Stepan) Voyek, 2 Feb 1874. Vaclav and Marie farmed Section 20, Sumner Twp which was deeded to him by his father.

Vaclav and Marie had eight children: Mary (b. 27 Jan 1875) married Thomas Marik; Albert (b. 14 Apr 1878) married Katherine Capouch; Frank (b. 16 Dec 1881) married Mary Praska; Anna (b. 16 Dec 1884) married John G. Praska; Rose (b. 30 May 1887) married William J. Lukesh; Emma (b. 23 Sep 1889) married Joseph Kobliska;