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Rev. Josef Opocensky was born March 9, 1814 in Klaster, Bohemia. He was the son of Rev. Jiri Opocensky, Superintendent of the Church in Moravia, at Jimramov, Moravia
Rev. Josef Opocensky also had two brothers in the ministry, Karel and Benjamin. A sister, Karoline, was the mother of Rev. Adolph Chlumsky's wife, Julie. |
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Rev. Josef Opocensky served for thirteen years at Zadverice, Moravia. When the members of his congregation at Zadverice imigrated to Texas in 1855, Rev. Josef Opocensky promised he would come and serve as their minister. He served three more years at Miroshav, replacing Rev. F. Kun. |
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Rev. Josef Opocensky immigrated to Texas and came on the ship WESER into Galveston on November 27, 1859. The family first settled at Cat Spring and then moved to Fayetteville for one year. In 1860, he was living in Alleyton next to the family of Jan Reimerschoffer. He then moved to Industry.
After Galveston fell to the Federal army in 1862, it became quite evident that many would have to serve in the Confederate Army. Rev. Opocensky was opposed to slavery, and he, amongst many others, took his family to Mexico in 1862.
Six months later in early 1863, Rev. Josef Opocensky returned to Industry as the conditions had settled down and the vigilantes had cooled down. In 1864, Rev. Josef Opocensky moved to Wesley, Texas, where he organized the first Czech-Evangelical Congregation in Texas.
Among his supporters and the first Czech and Moravian settlers in that part of Washington and Austin County (Wesley and Latium) were former members of his congregation in Zadverice in Moravia, and pioneers to Texas:
Peter Mikeska Jiri Psencik Josef Skrivanek Mataus Rubac Paul Sebesta Tom Chupik (father of Johanna, wife of Rev. Ludvik Chlumsky?) Frank Sebesta Ernest Schuerer (married to Marie Opocensky, niece of Rev. J.O) Karl Rypl Vinc Silar Josef Rypl Josef Silar Jan Zabcik Josef Jezek Jan Baletka Josef Masik
One of these supporters, Vinc Silar, hauled cotton to Mexico during the war. On one of these trips he became seriously ill, and his wife was somehow notified. The message said to come and get him as he was dying. Mrs. Silar pleaded with Rev. Opocensky to take her to the place where he was ill. Opocensky owned a horse and buggy, and they made the trip to bring him home where he eventually recovered.
This church of the Czech-Moravian Brethren, built in 1866, was recently declared a national historic landmark and renovated.
Rev. Josef Opocensky died July 17, 1870, and is buried at the Wesley, Texas church. |
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