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Janota Ancestral Line
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The wife of my grandfather, Jan Kostohryz (1874) was of course my grandmother, Anna Janota (1879) who was born in Caldwell, Texas. Her father was Thomas Janota (1824) who was born in Katernice #45. Thomas Janota's father, Johann Janota (1801) was also born in Katernice #45. In fact, the rest of the Janotas through my 5th great-grandfather, Martin Janota (1700 or 1701) had been born in Katernice (with no house numbers listed--so perhaps the same site). Martin Janota (1700 or 1701) had moved there from Ratibor where he was born. Upon inquiry in Katernice we were told that the probable location of the Janota homewite was on a very high hill overlooking Katernice. We drove up that hill and met a man by the name of Valusek who said that he remembered seeing the Janota ruins in his younger days. He was kind enough to show us the site some distance off the trail. All that remains is the flat pad of ground which once was the floor of the dwelling.. Mr. Valusek said that the living quarters were of wood and the attached animal barn was of stone. No sign of the wood or stone remains. My son James is standing on the flat site that is still visible. All of the surrounding ground is on a slope that is now overgrown with trees. The steep, slopping land is a reminder of how difficut it must have been to cultivate a living from the soil. One can easily forget this fact while taking in the natural beauty of the surroundings. The second picture is taken from a clearing only about half-way up the hill overlooking Katernice. Realizing the homesite was much higher up the steep slope one can imagine the cold of the winters and the isolation from neighbors below. |
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Johann Janota (1801) was married at 18 and died at 32 years of age in 1833 at Katernice 45. His wife, Anna Swabik (1801) outlived her husband by 38 years until 1871. She would have been my 2nd great-grandmother. She died in the house that is pictured here at Katernice #14.. I believe I was told that the original dwelling burned but the original cellar remained. |
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The wife of my grandfather, Jan Kostohryz (1874) was of course my grandmother, Anna Janota (1879) who was born in Caldwell, Texas. Her father was Thomas Janota (1824) who was born in Katernice #45. The second wife of Thomas Janota was Therezia Sisa (1844) who was born in Zadverice #36. Theresia was my great-grandmother. Her Sisa ancestors back at least through my 4th great-grandfather, Franz Sisa (1769), lived on this site in Zadverice #36. We could drive most of the way up the hill to this site and along the rest of the trail up to the house we enjoyed eating from the apple and plum trees along the way. It was a beautiful site. No one was home but we were given constant warnings by a flock of beautiful white geese that kept honking their displeasure with our intrusion. |
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Jura Mikeska (1706) died at this site in Zadverice #65. He was my 5th great-grandfather. His granddaughter , Anna Mikeska (1780) married into the Sisa line when she married Josef Sisa (1778). This Anna Mikeska and Josef Sisa would have been my 3rd great-grandparents and lived elsewhere in Zadverice.. |
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Looking for the old Homesteads
Trip to the Czech Republic
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