BLAHNIK Family From Bohemia (Czech Republic)

(Modern coat of arms)

BLAHNIK FAMILY
Ashland, WI/Gogebic, MI/OH/CA
Family contributors for this page include
Mary Ann Blahnik, Sue Dorn, Thomas Blahnik, Joe Chvala
Haplo N1C1 or N-M231
 

 Believed to be from Chodsko, Lhota area (Blahnik Pocket) before 1880.  Photo from 2011 Reunion.

At this point we are aware of  two, probably three brothers who came to Medford, Taylor, WI in about 1880 and appear in the census.  The name is misspelled as "Blacknick" for all three men.
Jacob and Joseph are clearly brothers and are living together.  Frank appears to also be related since he was living a few houses away and they all worked in the Saw Mill.  The families moved to Ashland, WI, Gogebic MI, Ohio and California.  In Gogebic, MI is where the fourth Blahnik (Mary) appears to have lived with the other Blahnik families. Her father, John, was born about 1855 and her immigration record said she was joining her Uncles in MI.  Since we know Jacob and Joseph were brothers and Joseph was living in Gogebec, MI, we can safely believe that Jacob (b.1845-1855), Joseph (b. 1863) and John (b 1855) are indeed brothers.

Additionally, the family of the Canadian Blahnik family (Agnes Hallama) knew the Mary Blahnik Swaiger, daughter of Mary Halama and John Blahnik (1855). 

We have the name of Frank's parents and if he is also a brother as we strongly suspect, then all 4 men were the sons of John Blahnik and Maggie (Salis) Schlais born approximately 1825 in Austria Bohemia.

Family tree these 4 Blahnik immigrants above.
As of 10/17/2014 (Jan) John does not appear to be a brother

1-Jakob Blahnik  born Bet. 1845 - 1855 Bohemia to Bef. 1892 probably Wisconsin.  He immigrated in about 1880 by estimate.
Jakob married Katherine (Kate) Marek or Moreck 1855 Bohemia- 1959 probably Wisconsin.  In the 1880 census he was living with his brother Joseph (below)  Family researchers include Mary (Ann) Blahnik, Sue Dorn, Kim Andexinger.

2- Joseph Blahnik born January 05, 1864 in Bohemia (possibly Chodsko Lhota area) - October 14, 1940 Santa Cruz, CA.
Joseph married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Schurager/Schwerger Swainger September 05, 1892 Bessemer, Gogebic, Michigan. She died 1964 in Ashland, WI. Joseph immigrated in about 1880 and was naturalized 1893. In the 1880 census he was living with his brother Jakob (above).  1910 census has him listed as a Retail dealer and the 1930 census has him as Proprietor: Pool Room.  Family Researcher Thomas Blahnik
 

3-Frank Blahnik born December 12, 1850 in Austria (Bohemia) and died December 04, 1899 in Ashland, WI.  He married Josephine Voselka Wodselko.  She was born in Czech abut 1848 and died April 1895 in Wisconsin.  He was the son of John Blahnik and Maggie Salis of Czech.  Frank appears in the 1880 census for Medford, Taylor Co, WI and was employed in a Saw Mill.  Family Researcher Joe Chvala

4- James Blahnik born abt 1879 in Bohemia married Antonia (unknown at this time) on July 2, 1901 in Ashland, WI or more likely Bohemia.  They appear in the 1920 Ashland, WI Census with their children, Rosie (1907) Nellie (1910), Edward (1917) and Agnes Blahnik (1919).  In the 1920 census James (could be Wenzel) his wife Antonia and their oldest daughter Rosie - are said to have been born in Bohemia.

The Blahnik brothers listed at the top were also from the Chodsko, Lhota area and had family living in Bessemer, Gogebic, MI.  This suggests a connection but nothing definitive has been discovered yet.

John Blahnik born 5/22/1852 at Chodsko Lhota 98 near Domazlice and married to Mary Halama.  Their daughter, Mary, born 1879 in Chodsko, Lhota 98 on Dec 18/1878 and immigrated to NY July 27, 1900. There is no evidence that John and Mary came to America but they are listed on her marriage certificate.  She married Anton (Swagher Sveigher Schvaiger) Swainger in 1902 at Bessemer, Gogebic, MI. 

1-Descendants of Jakob Blahnik 

1 Jakob Blahnik      b: Bet. 1845 - 1855 in Bohemia   d: Bef. 1892 in Wife remarried in 1892 - Probably died WI     Immigration: Abt. 1879 Estimate
.. +Katherine (Kate) Marek or Moreck   b: April 1855 in Bohemia    d: 1959 in Probably died in WI
........2 Anton Blahnik     b: 1879 in Bohemia. Immigration: 1880 from Austria
........2  Frank Blahnik  b: Abt. 1875 Bohemia  d: Nov 02, 1916 Ashland Co, WI  Immigration: 1880 from Austria 1910 census show in the 1900 census for Ashland (2nd census)
............  +Alvina Albina Junger/Younger Yunger b: 1885 in WI  m: June 23, 1903 in Ashland, WI  d: 1963 in Likely OH  1910 census
...................3 Joseph Martin Blahnik   b: Mar 25, 1905 Ashland, WI  d: Aug 11, 1953 in Lorain, OH (Lived in CA) 1910 census
....................... +Francis Graff      b: March 22, 1905 in Germany   d: Jan 09, 1928 in Cleveland, OH   
.................. *2nd Wife of Joseph Martin Blahnik:                            
....................... +Rose Dorothy Kizlik b: Dec 20, 1909   m: Aft. 1928 d: April 09, 1995 
............................. 4 Roselie Evelyn Blahnik      b: OH 
.................................+Alex Joseph Mohnacsky               
........................................ 5 Dale Alan Mohnacsky
........................................ 5 Gary Andrew Mohnacsky              
........................................ 5 Sue Mohnacsky
............................................+Unknown Dorn                             
...................3 Elizabeth (Betty) Blahnik  b: 1907 in WI d: April 03, 1928 in Duluth, St. Louis, MN  1910 census  
...................3 Evelyne Blahnik  b: 1909 in WI 1910 census                      
...................3 Marcella Blahnik b: Abt. 1913                
............................. 4  Josephine Blahnik                              
.................. 3 Ernest Blahnik     b: Abt. 1911 in WI   moved to Cuyahoga, OH                
.......................  +Iris Unknown                            
............................. 4 Glenn Edward Blahnik                              
........................................ 5  Kim Blahnik                        
............................................+Unknown Andexlinger                            
............................. 4 Tammy Blahnik                         
.................................+Unknown Edenfield                         
............................. 4  David Blahnik                             
............................. 4  Ernestine Blahnik                               
...................3  Frank Blahnik      b: Abt. 1917  
........................+Anna Sasak        b: in OH (family from Poland)
..............................4 Jim Blahnik                         
..............................4 John Blahnik                               
..............................4 Linda Blahnik                             
..............................4 Gary Blahnik                               
..............................4 Mary Ann Blahnik (genealogist)                
...................3 Edward J. Blahnik b: Apr 07, 1917  WI (also lived in OH)   d: Oct 1976 in Honolulu, Hawaii (had lived in WI)  US Army SP5 Natl Memorial Cem of  Pacific. Honolulu, HI                        
........ 2 Joseph Blahnik   b. Jan 10, 1882 WI.  Lived in Morse, Ashland, WI in 1930
.........2  Anna Blahnik  b: May 10, 1884 in Medford, WI    d: December 15, 1959  [In 1900 lived with Frank Blahnik immigrant shown below (uncle?)]  1900 Ashland, Co, WI
............+Joseph Selner b: Feb 04, 1871 in Stangeville, Kewaunee Co, WI  m: May 12, 1903 Ashland, WI  d: 1926
...................     3    Joseph Selner  b: February 04, 1904 in Ashland, WI    d: June 1982 in Wood, WI    
...................     3    Michael Selner      b: 1908                 
...................     3    Marie Selner    b: 1910                 
...................     3    Madeline Selner    b: 1913                 
...................     3    Anna Selner    b: 1917                 
...................     3    Rodney Selner      b: 1921 in Ashland, WI
........ 2 Marie Blahnik b. July 1887, WI                           

   
1900 Taylor Co, WI   1910 Ashland-Frank   

    
       Frank Blahnik        Alvina Younger         Jos.M. Blahnik        Frank Blahnik   Mary Ann Blahnik
        1875-1916                  1885-1963                   1905-1953                 b. 1917                Genealogist

 

Jakob was shown in the 1880 census in Medford, Taylor, WI with his wife, Kate, and children Frank and Anton. This would have been shortly after he immigrated to America.  He also lives with his brother Joseph and a brother in law named Joseph "Schlais".  This would suggest that Kate's last name would be Schlais but there is also information about a Katherine Marek that makes things confusing.  Census records are not always accurate and at this point, the information suggests Jakob's wife was Katherine or Katie Marek.

-The date of Jakob's death has not been found yet but we do know that his wife married John Mikulesky on March 3, 1892 in Medford, Taylor Co, WI.  per Wisconsin Marriages, 1836-1930. She was recorded as Katie Blahnik with the parents of Jacob and Mary Marek. Per Wisconsin Marriages, 1836-1930

John and Katie had a son named Emil Mikalesky in March 1893.  It is unclear if John died before 1900 or if the couple divorced.  In 1900 and 1910 she is listed as widowed, but 1905 says divorced. Divorce was uncommon back then so widowed is probably the fact.

-In 1900 Taylor Co, WI Census Katie 'Blaknik' (Marek) (7/1856) is listed as widowed and living in Deer Creek & Browning Towns, Taylor Wisconsin in the census.  She had her youngest daughter Mary (1887) and Emil 'Blaknik' (Mikulesky) (1893) living with her.

It is not clear why Emil went by Mikulesky in 1893 but Blahnik in 1900.  Katie indicated she had 6 children and they were all living.  It is not clear when John Mikulesky died and why Katie would be using the name Blahnik again.  This could have been a census collection error.

-In the 1900 Ashland, WI Census  Katie and Jacob's daughter, Anna, is living with Katie (Schlais) Blahnik (Frank) on Stuntz Street in Ashland, WI.  She was 15 years old listed as a 'border' and attending school.  Frank Blahnik may have been Anne's uncle, so this may be why she was able to also attend school and live in a boarding house.  There is, however,  some confusion here about whether Frank and Katie are still married since Katie is listed as divorced.

There are several other boarders also listed in this 1900 Ashland,  WI Census .  Among the  boarders is James Selnar, age 25 and working as a saloon keeper.  In 1903 Anna and Joseph would get married in Ashland.

-In the 1905 Medford city, Taylor, Wisconsin census Katie is shown as divorced (in 1900 she lists herself as widowed?) with the last name of Blahnik and living with a son named Emil Mikurlasky with her sons Anton and Joseph Blahnik. 

In the 1910 census she listed as Katherine Mikalesky and widowed, living with her sons Emil Mikalesky, Anton (29) and Joseph J. (27 yrs) in Medford ward 2, Taylor Co, WI.