A Brief History of Our Horak Family

J�n Horak (aka John) was born about 1806 in Z�rec� near Vamberk, Bohemia, which was in the Austro-Hungarian Empire at that time. Vamberk is east of Prague, near the Polish border. In approximately 1832 or 1833, he married Frances (Frantiska) Jehlicka. To this marriage were born eight children. In October, 1854, the family emigrated to the United States aboard the "Elida",  landing in New York harbor. In a biographical sketch from the History of Johnson County on J�n's son, Frank J. Horak, it states that "He came to Rock Island by railroad and then to Iowa City in a wagon." Another biographical sketch written by Frank's daughter, Bertha Horak Shambaugh, states that "His family came to America and settled in Johnson County in 1854, on a farm between Shueyville and Western near the Linn County line." J�n and his family were one of the early Bohemian families to settle in the area.

It is interesting to note that the Bohemian language survived in this family through the 4th generation. Many of J�n's descendants still live in northern Johnson and southern Linn Counties, and my husband and I live only 4 miles from the original homestead. My husband, Don is descended from J�n through his son, Joseph, his grandson, Thomas, and his great-grandson, Lester Horak.

I would like to say that the following chart is in no way to be considered complete. However, I feel it will be a way for others to possibly connect into the research that has already been done on this family.

Descendants of  J�n Horak and his wife Frances (Frantiska) Jehlicka 

1       J�n HORAK       b: Abt. 1806 near Vamberk, BOH  d: 29 Mar 1873 Linn Co, IA (Click for biography)
..         +Frances JEHLICKA       b: Abt. 1806 BOH        d: Abt. 1860 Johnson Co, IA

(I have left a space between the children of Jan and Frances to distinguish the various descendants)

....   2       Mary HORAK      b: 24 Sep 1834 Vamberk, BOH     d: 16 Jan 1897 Linn Co, IA  (click for MORE on this family)
.........         +Wencel RIGEL   b: 4 Sep 1834 BOH       d: 29 Oct 1879 College Twp, Linn Co, IA (Click for biography and new 2007 information )
.............   3       Frank RIGEL     b: 8 Jul 1861 Ely, IA   d: 10 Apr 1951
.................          +Lydia SMERCHEK b: 14 Sep 1862  d: 21 Apr 1920
....................    4       Albin Frank RIGEL       b: 10 Mar 1888  d: May 1953
........................           +Edith Helen SVOBODA    b: 26 Oct 1895  d: Aug 1965
....................    4       Emil RIGEL      b: 9 Nov 1891   d: Dec 1971
........................           +Anna SEDIVY    b: 26 Jun 1897  d: May 1980
....................    4       George RIGEL    b: 18 Apr 1894  d: Dec 1983
........................           +Edna LANDIS    b: 31 Mar 1903  d: 6 Aug 1994
....................    4       Leonard RIGEL   b: 15 Jan 1897  d: 28 Mar 1982
.............   3       William RIGEL   b: 16 Nov 1863 Ely, IA  d: 18 Apr 1934 Cedar Rapids, IA
.................          +Emma JANSA     b: 27 Jun 1872 Iowa     d: 27 Dec 1932 Cedar Rapids, IA
....................    4       Edward RIGEL    b: Dec 1893     d: 15 Jul 1918
....................    4       Oldrich RIGEL   b: 14 Jun 1895  d: 28 Mar 1972
........................           +Mary KULHANY
....................    4       [4] Leo RIGEL   b: 16 Oct 1899 Linn Co, IA      d: 21 Oct 1994 Linn Co, IA
........................          +[3] Bess BARTA b: 2 May 1902 Linn Co, IA       d: 5 Sep 1988 Linn Co, IA
....................    4       [2] Alfred RIGEL        b: 10 Oct 1901
........................           +[1] Albia HORAK        b: 17 Dec 1904  d: Feb 1985
.............   3       Mary RIGEL      b: 29 Sep 1864 Western, IA      d: 1 Apr 1960
.................          +John VAVERKA
....................    4       William VAVERKA b: 2 Oct 1889   d: 26 Feb 1972
........................          +Hattie FACKLER
....................    4       Edward VAVERKA  b: 26 Sep 1892  d: Aug 1976
....................    4       George VAVERKA  b: 18 Dec 1893  d: 26 Feb 1956
....................    4       Emma VAVERKA    b: 21 Sep 1890  d: 31 Oct 1972
........................          +Charles KONASEK                d: 1932
....................    4       Alice VAVERKA   b: 20 Apr 1889  d: 6 Nov 1962
........................           +Joe PETRICK
.............   3       Catharine RIGEL b: Abt. 1867
.................          +Joe HUDRLIK
.............   3       Wencel RIGEL    b: 10 Mar 1868 College Twp, Linn Co., IA        d: 9 Jun 1934 Cedar Rapids, IA
.............   3       Anthony RIGEL   b: 28 Jul 1873  d: 11 Apr 1951
.................         +Mary DOBROVSKY
....................    4       Lester RIGEL    b: 27 Apr 1905  d: 12 Dec 1962 California
.......................           +Hazel TRINDELL b: 26 Aug 1908  d: Oct 1978
....................    4       Leo RIGEL       b: 1900 d: 1 Oct 1964 Waterloo, IA
 

.1   John HORAK b: 15 Sep 1836 Vamberk, BOH d: 27 Sep 1916
..  +Matilda NOVAK b: 14 Mar 1843 d: 28 Dec 1933
...... 2   Frances HORAK b: Abt. 1864 d: 1954
..........  +Wesley VALENTA b: 1859 d: 1953
..................... 3   Frank VALENTA
..................... 3   Alvia VALENTA   d: 24 Jun 1965
........................  +? DINGLER
..................... 3   Ronald VALENTA
..................... ...+Kate SAATHOFF
..................... 3   Edward VALENTA b: 27 Aug 1883
..........................  +Olga ZAHORIK
........................  *2nd Wife of Edward VALENTA:
...........................  +MAUDE
..... 2   Mary HORAK b: Abt. 1866 d: 1936
........  +John MOSES b: 1862 d: 1931
..................... 3   Lillian MOSES
........................  +Joe TAMPIR
..................... 3   Carolyn MOSES
.........................  +Floyd OXLEY
.....................  *2nd Husband of Carolyn MOSES:
........................  +Irvin MONROE
.....................  3   Bertha MOSES b: 1886 d: 1917
.........................  +Alvin DEITERICH b: 5 Aug 1886 d: 30 Jun 1955
.....................  3   Elizabeth MOSES b: 18 Oct 1888 d: 1958
..........................  +Fredrick William ENGBERG b: 1891 d: 27 Jul 1974
..................... 3   Emil MOSES b: 1890 d: 1918
..........................  +Tillie ASENBRENER b: 1896 d: 1949
..................... 3   Albia MOSES b: 12 Mar 1893 d: 8 Dec 1965
.........................  +Aldrich GREGOR b: 15 Feb 1893
..................... 3   Mae MOSES b: 16 Sep 1898 d: 10 Jan 1947
.........................  +Carl STICKLEY b: 30 Mar 1899 d: 18 Dec 1940
..................... 3   Matilida MOSES b: Private
.......................  +Fred MINOR b: 7 Feb 1896 d: 1956
.... 2   John HORAK b: Abt. 1868 d: 16 Sep 1916
.........  +Antonette LALA b: 1836 d: 1916
..................... 3   William HORAK
..................... 3   Albin HORAK b: 1 Dec 1892 d: 9 Feb 1929
........................  +Emma BULICHEK b: 18 May 1898 d: 15 Jul 1980
.... 2   Frank HORAK b: Abt. 1871 Dakota    d: Abt. 1885 Linn Co, IA
.... 2   Matilda HORAK b: Abt. 1875 d: 1956
........  +Vincent TRUHLAR
.....................  3   Lumir TRUHLAR  d: 5 Sep 1976
..........................  +Lenora HALVA
.....................  3   Leonard TRUHLAR
........  *2nd Husband of Matilda HORAK:
.........  +Steven STASTNY b: 1871 d: 1949
..................... 3   Joe STASTNY b: WFT Est. 1892-1918 d: 9 May 1978
.........................  +Laura NIEDERHIZER
..................... 3   Hubert STASTNY
..........................  +Margaret MALETEK
.....................  3   Viola STASTNY
...........................  +Leonard BECICKA  b: 24 Nov 1907 d: 10 Nov 1978
.... 2   Emma HORAK b: 1877 d: 1967
..........  +Frank VITTENGL b: 1875 d: 1937
.....................  3   Lydia Mae VITTENGL  d: 29 Apr 1950
..........................  +William HUSA, Sr.
.... 2   Clara Mae Jane HORAK b: 26 Dec 1880 Putnam Twp, Linn Co, IA d: 1974
.........  +John A. VITTENGL b: 1880 d: 1934
.....................  3   Morgan John VITTENGL b: 21 Feb 1902 d: 10 Aug 1985 Glens Falls, Warren Co., New York
..........................  +Mary Regina DERBY b: 31 Aug 1900 d: 4 Jul 1986 Glens Falls, Warren Co., New York
.... 2   Bertha HORAK b: Jun 1885
........  +George DEMERS
.....................  3   Isabel DEMERS
.........................  +Warren ERBE
.........................  *2nd Husband of Isabel DEMERS:
..........................  +John R. MORRISON
 
 

 2   Frances HORAK b: Abt. 1838 Vamberk, BOH d: Abt. 1880 McCook Red Willow Co., NE
              +Joseph DUDEK b: 2 Dec 1838 Dlouha Ves, Rychnov BOH d: 10 Nov 1908 McCook, Red Willow Co., NE
.....        3 Frances DUDEK b: 4 Aug 1861 Schueyville, IA d: 16 Aug 1936 Wheatland, Platte Co., Wyoming
.........       +Joseph HUDSON b: 5 Aug 1857 Blackford Co, Indiana d: 12 Jun 1943 Wheatland, Platte Co., Wyoming
.............         4  Eoline HUDSON
.............         4   Effie HUDSON
.............         4  Viola HUDSON
.............         4   Hyacinth HUDSON
.............         4   Hall HUDSON
.............         4   Floyd HUDSON
.............         4   Crystal HUDSON
.............         4   Claudius HUDSON
.............         4   Everett HUDSON
.............         4   Valentine HUDSON
.....         3   Joseph DUDEK b: 4 Sep 1862 Iowa d: 9 Sep 1959 Wauneta, NE
.........          +Sarah Lucinda CAMPBELL b: 29 Oct 1869 Worthington, IN d: 4 Mar 1946 Wauneta, NE
.............         4   Jessie Valentine DUDEK
.....         3   William DUDEK b: 2 Feb 1864 Iowa d: 11 May 1942 Wauneta, NE
.........          +Eva ADY b: 1 Jun 1882 Clay Co., Kansas d: 17 Feb 1909
.............         4   Fred DUDEK
.............         4   Mary DUDEK
.............         4   Anna DUDEK
.............         4   William DUDEK, Jr.
.............         4   Eva DUDEK
.............         4   Nellie DUDEK
.............         4   Joseph DUDEK
.....            *2nd Wife of William DUDEK:
.........             +Hattie KORDLEWSKI b: 1 Nov 1878 Chislovtz, Poland d: 22 Jan 1966 Wauneta, NE
.............         4   Leonard DUDEK
.....        3   Katherine DUDEK b: 25 Nov 1865 Iowa d: 12 Dec 1953 Denver, CO
.........          +Matthew PLEWS b: 4 Oct 1871 Darlington, ENG d: 6 Jan 1946
.............         4   Helene PLEWS
.............         4   James PLEWS
.............         4   Joseph PLEWS
.............         4   Matthew PLEWS, Jr.
.....         3   Frank DUDEK b: 11 Nov 1867 Iowa d: 12 Jun 1950 McCook Red Willow Co., NE
.........          +Idona Valerie BOWER b: 22 Jul 1883 Fennimore, WI d: 12 Dec 1971
.............         4   Joseph Edward DUDEK
.............         4   Arlene Esther DUDEK
.............         4   Frank Edward DUDEK
.............         4   Elmer Dale DUDEK
.....         3   Mary DUDEK b: 2 Feb 1876 Shueyville, Johnson Co, IA d: 16 Jan 1947 McCook, Red Willow Co., NE
.........          +John SCHLAGEL b: 12 Jul 1873 Odessa, Russia d: 18 Jan 1907 McCook Red Willow Co., NE
..............        4  William Joseph SCHLAGEL
.............         4  Albert Glenn SCHLAGEL
.............         4   Raymond Carl SCHLAGEL
.....          *2nd Husband of Mary DUDEK:
.........          +Jacob DEGELE b: 28 Feb 1886 Hoffnungstal, Russia d: 21 Apr 1957 McCook, Red Willow Co., NE
.............         4   Lela Faye DEGELE b: 13 Jan 1916
.................          +Stephen J. HARRISON
.............         4   Lila May DEGELE b: 13 Jan 1916
.............         4   Barbara Frances DEGELE
.....         3   Anthony DUDEK b: 11 Nov 1870 Iowa d: 29 Jan 1902 McCook, Red Willow Co., NE
.....         3   Albert DUDEK b: 28 Aug 1878 Iowa d: 20 Nov 1968 Costa Mesa, CA
.........          +Lettie Mae YOUNG b: 23 Dec 1883 Crathersville, IN d: 28 Aug 1978 Costa Mesa, CA
.............         4   Leona Belle DUDEK
 
 

.....   2       Catharine HORAK b: Abt. 1840    d: 9 Jun 1908
.........          +John WIDRA     b: Abt. 1842
.............   3       John B. WIDRA   b: Nov 1868
.............   3       Frank WIDRA     b: Jun 1871
.............   3       Anna C. WIDRA   b: Nov 1875
 

.....   2       Joseph HORAK    b: 22 Aug 1842 Vamberk, BOH     d: 4 Nov 1921 Linn Co, IA
.........         +Anna SMEJKAL   b: Abt. 1844 Ely, Iowa  d: 6 Jul 1906 Linn Co, IA    (click here for updated info on Smejkal)
.............   3       Anna HORAK      b: 5 Jul 1867 Linn Co, IA       d: 13 Aug 1867 Linn Co, IA
.............   3       Joseph HORAK    b: 20 May 1868 Linn Co, IA      d: 26 Jan 1869 Linn Co, IA
.............   3       John Joseph HORAK       b: 7 Jan 1870 Linn Co, IA       d: 1943 Linn Co, IA
.................          +Anna JIRAS     b: 10 Mar 1872  d: 5 Jan 1950
....................    4       Agnes K. HORAK          d: 28 Mar 1994 Cedar Rapids, IA
........................           +Louis UNZEITIG b: 9 Jan 1892   d: 4 Dec 1972
....................    4       Ervin HORAK
........................           +Emma ANDISLIK
....................            *2nd Wife of Ervin HORAK:
........................           +Emma MODRACEK  b: 1894 d: 1970
....................    4       Sadie M. HORAK  b: 8 May 1906   d: 5 Apr 1997 Cedar Rapids, IA
........................           +Joseph SIROWY          d: 28 Apr 1974
....................    4       Joe HORAK
.............   3       Francis Ferdinand HORAK b: 3 Apr 1872 Linn Co, IA       d: 29 Nov 1942 Linn Co, IA
.................          +Anna JANSA     b: 1 Feb 1877   d: 28 Nov 1942
....................    4       William HORAK
........................           +Mary Rose VAREK
....................    4       Frank HORAK
........................           +Kate SIMANEK
....................    4       [1] Albia HORAK b: 17 Dec 1904  d: Feb 1985
........................               +Alfred RIGEL
.............   3       Julius Martin HORAK     b: 26 Jan 1877 Linn Co, IA      d: Mar 1882 Linn Co, IA
.............   3       Katherine Anna HORAK    b: 22 Sep 1877
.................          +Joseph T. CHADIMA  b. 18 Jan 1870     (click for BIOGRAPHY)
....................    4       Willard J.CHADIMA       b: 16 Jul 1901
........................           +Alma REDELL
....................    4       Harry CHADIMA
....................    4       Lester C. CHADIMA       b: 1 Aug 1899
........................           +Bernadine SHANOR       b: 19 Dec 1896  d: 1976
....................    4       George E. CHADIMA       b: 7 Dec 1903
........................           +Gladys CHARIPAR
.............   3       Emilie HORAK    b: 22 Mar 1879 Linn Co, IA      d: 9 Dec 1903 Cedar Rapids, IA
.................          +Edward HOVORKA
.............   3       Teresa Marie HORAK      b: 18 Mar 1881 Linn Co, IA
.................          +Louis BARTA    b: Jun 1877
....................    4       Edward J. BARTA         d: 7 Feb 1994 Oakland, Calif.
........................           +Wilma WERBA
....................    4       [3] Bess BARTA  b: 2 May 1902 Linn Co, IA       d: 5 Sep 1988 Linn Co, IA
........................           +[4] Leo RIGEL  b: 16 Oct 1899 Linn Co, IA      d: 21 Oct 1994 Linn Co, IA
....................    4       Tille BARTA     b: 7 Feb 1904
........................           +Joseph HORAK
....................    4       Louis A. BARTA
........................           +Emma FISCHER
.............   3       Libuse HORAK    b: 17 Apr 1883 Linn Co, IA
.................          +Frank JANSA
.............   3       Thomas George HORAK     b: 23 Jul 1885 Linn Co, IA      d: 2 Apr 1941 Linn Co, IA
.................          +Otillie HOLETS b: 15 Jul 1890 Linn Co, IA      d: 21 Jan 1977 Cedar Rapids, IA
....................    4       Adeline Katherine HORAK b: 28 Feb 1911
........................           +Glen LEWIS
....................    4       Lester George HORAK     b: 30 Jun 1913 Cedar Rapids, IA d: 2 Feb 1992 Cedar Rapids, IA
........................           +Lillian PELISEK        b: 15 Mar 1921 Tama Co., IA
....................    4       Alma Anna HORAK b: 14 May 1917 Linn Co, IA      d: Cedar Rapids, IA
........................           +Walter STEPHEN b: 17 Mar 1913 Malcolm, IA      d: 26 Jul 1994 Cedar Rapids, IA
.............   3       William J. HORAK        b: 11 Mar 1889 Linn Co, IA      d: 16 Mar 1973
.................          +Olga FEJFAREK  b: 21 Nov 1889  d: 18 May 1985
 

.....   2       Frank J. HORAK  b: 21 Apr 1844 Vamberk, BOH     d: 18 Jun 1915 Iowa City, IA
.........          +Katharine MOSNAT               d: 1909 Iowa City, IA
.............   3       Bertha Maude HORAK      b: 12 Feb 1871 Belle Plaine, IA d: 23 Aug 1953 Iowa City, IA
.................          +Benjamin F. SHAMBAUGH          d: 7 Apr 1940
.............   3       Frank Edward HORAK      b: 8 Jun 1873 Belle Plaine, IA  d: 21 Nov 1956 Iowa City, IA
.................          +Elizabeth Grace COLLINS
....................    4       Frank E. HORAK  b: 2 May 1907   d: 15 Nov 1957 Iowa City, IA
.............   3       Hugo Claude HORACK      b: 16 Nov 1877 Belle Plaine, Iowa       d: 21 May 1958
.................          +Eleanor MCLAUGHLIN     b: 6 Feb 1883   d: 7 Oct 1965
....................    4       Katharine HORACK        b: 12 Jul 1909  d: 13 Aug 1994
........................           +John Wesley DIXON      b: 1 Apr 1905   d: 4 Dec 1978
....................    4       Harold Maclachlan HORACK        b: 23 Nov 1912  d: 30 Jul 1977
........................           +Elsbeth Roline WYMAN   b: 19 Jan 1913  d: 17 Aug 1978
....................    4       Benamin Shambaugh HORACK, Sr.   b: 3 Oct 1917
........................           +Frances Mason BORLAND  b: 14 Apr 1918
 

.....   2       Anna HORAK      b: 1849 Vamberk, BOH    d: 1923 Ely, Iowa
.........          +John E. DOLEZAL        b: 18 Dec 1845 Boh      d: 1879 Ely, Iowa
.............   3       Frank J. DOLEZAL        b: 30 Oct 1868 Ely, Iowa        d: 14 Feb 1960 Cedar Rapids, IA
.............   3       Frances M. DOLEZAL      b: Abt. 1871
 

.....   2       Anton HORAK     b: Abt. 1852    d: 27 Mar 1886 Linn Co, IA
.........          +Filomena HROMEK        b: 1856 d: Abt. 1887
.............   3       Frank HORAK     b: Abt. 1877
.............   3       Sadie HORAK     b: Sep 1879
.............   3       Marje HORAK     b: 10 Sep 1879  d: 3 Aug 1880
.............   3       Klara HORAK     b: 8 Sep 1881   d: 23 Jul 1882
 

  J�n Horak, The original settler

*UPDATED March 2003* - Smejkal information

Wencil Rigel Biography

The "Iowa City" Horacks

Josepht T. Chadima Biography

Other Horak Families 
in Linn and Johnson Counties

We are proud members of  The National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library, here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Our son visited the Czech Republic the summer of 1996, as a "Homestay Ambassador" of the Czech Heritage Foundation,  the first of our family to return to the old country since 1854!