Frank Pyka & Family

Franciszek Pyka was born on 29 November 1859 in Bandera, TX. His parents, Johann and Franciszka, and siblings came from Silesia to Texas in January 1855. Johann Pyka was a master wheelwright and a carpenter (1, 2). Frank grew up where he was born and helped his father with farming on the family farm (3).

 

⚭ 22 May 1883 - young Frank married Miss Franciszka Jureczki (4). She was born in the old country (Kamionek, Opole Region), on 25 January 1860, to Jacob Juretzki and Tekla Matysek (5).

Soon, the first son was born to Frank and his wife. Matthew Frank came to this world on ♦ 21 September 1884.

Then, more children arrived:
Sylvester Leonard on ♦ 31 December 1885,
August James on ♦ 21 August 1887,
Emmett Emanuel Louis on ♦ 26 March 1889,
Valentine Blasius on ♦ 3 February 1891,
Mary Frances on ♦ 1 February 1894.

👉1895 - Frank paid taxes for 289 acres which he rendered. The land (worth $722) was originally granted to W. Kelly. Mr. Pyka owned 1 wagon (or carriage), 8 horses/mules (of $90 value), and 15 head of cattle that were worth $98 (6).

♦ 3 January 1896 -  Johann Pyka, Frank's father, died.

Agatha M, daughter, was born to Frank and Frances on ♦ 29 January 1896.
Helen Susan was born on  ♦ 10 August 1898

Mourning time in the family - baby Agatha M died on ♦ 1 July 1899.

 

The youngest son, Joseph V, came to this world on ♦ 18 September 1900.

👉Taxes 1900 (7) - Frank rendered 239 acres (worth $475) and 50 acres (worth $250). The land originally was granted to Mr. Kelly. Mr. Pyka owned 11 horses/mules, 20 head of cattle (worth $200), and 4 hogs (estimated value of $5).

Grieving time again - ♦ 20 February 1904 - Frank's mother, Franciszka, passed in Bandera.

⚭ 12 November 1906 - Matthew married Miss Lina (Magdalena Elizabeth) Knopp

 

(8), the daughter of Anton and Gertrude Knopp. She was born on 29 October 1886 in Gillespie, TX.

 

Clipping source: Campbell, William. Southern Messenger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. [39], Ed. 1 Thursday, November 22, 1906, newspaper, November 22, 1906; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1247337/: accessed April 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

 

 👉 April 1910 Census - Frank, Frances (both age 50), and children, Emmett (age 21), Mary (age 16), Helen (age 11), and Joseph (age 9) were registered in the family household in Justice Precinct #1, in Bandera. Frances' mother (age 84) lived with them as well (9). The latter (Tekla Juretzki) passed in the same year on 2 July.

⚭ 25 August 2011 - Sylvester (who had gone to Arizona) married Lydia M Stigle in Globe, Gila, AZ (10).

⚭ 28 January 1914 - August James married his sister-in-law, Laura Knopp, who was born on 13 March 1882 (11).

⚭ 16 November 1914 - Mary married two-year-older Henry Mazurek (12), born on 10 January 1892. He was the son of Theodore H. Mazurek and his wife Mary Barbara Kalka.

 

It seems after the marriage Mary and her spouse Henry (a 27-year-old stockfarmer) lived in Mary's family home (or visited during the census?).  January 1920 - the census clerk recorded them and their three children in the household of Frank Pyka (age 60). Frances (Mary's mother, age 60), and siblings, Emanuel (age 30), Valentine (age 28), Helen (age 21), and Joseph (age 19) were the household members as well (13).

 

On ⚭ 15 July of the same year, 21-year-old Helen married Joseph Mazurek (14), born on 16 March 1897. He was the son of Philip Henry Mazurek and Rose Mary Kalka.

⚭ 1 Feb 1921 - 20-year-old Valentine Blasius married 14-year-old Miss Teresa Knopp (15), who was born on 6 December 1896 in Fredericksburg, to Anton and Gertrude Knopp.

Clipping source: Dietel, William. Fredericksburg Standard (Fredericksburg, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 20, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 5, 1921, newspaper, February 5, 1921; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1418378/: accessed April 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

Joseph V married Nettie Lucille Higgins in ⚭ 1929, in Louisiana (?). Nettie was born on 20 November 1907 in Missouri.

👉 1930 - all the children of Frank and Frances' had left the family home. The couple lived on their own in their house in Justice Precinct #1, Bandera, TX (16, 17).

Frank lived 80 years, 6 months, and 11 days. He left this world on ♦ 9 June 1940 at 5:40 PM (18). His wife Frances passed on ♦ 1 July 1952.

 

 

Sources:

1. Silesian Texans
2."United States Census, 1860",  FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFP-JJK: Sat Mar 09 07:26:38 UTC 2024), Entry for John Kilka and Francisca Kilka, 1860.
3."United States Census, 1880",  FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFFK-S99: Thu Mar 07 23:24:37 UTC 2024), Entry for John Pika and Fannie Pika, 1880.
4. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLZV-NQ6 : Sun Mar 10 02:09:25 UTC 2024), Entry for Mr Francis Pyka and Miss Frances Juritzki, 22 May 1883.
5."Deutschland, Preußen, Ostpreußen, Katholische und Lutherisch Kirchenbücher, 1551-1992", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DNGK-5PMM : Sat Mar 09 21:41:19 UTC 2024), Entry for Franzka Juretzka and Jacob Juretzka, 26 Jan 1860.
6. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.fami"Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBMZ-4D3 : Sun Mar 10 00:23:27 UTC 2024), Entry for Frank Pyka, 1895.lysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBMZ-4D3 : Sun Mar 10 00:23:27 UTC 2024), Entry for Frank Pyka, 1895.
7. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBMZ-6D7 : Fri Mar 08 17:07:05 UTC 2024), Entry for Frank Pyka, 1900.
8."Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9KRH : Sun Mar 10 05:47:42 UTC 2024), Entry for Mathew Pyka and Lina Knopp, 1906.
9. "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2MR-KT8 : Sat Mar 09 16:16:18 UTC 2024), Entry for Frank Pyka and Francis Pyka, 1910.
10. "Arizona, County Marriages, 1871-1964", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1X-DL3N : Fri Mar 08 08:36:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Sylvester L Pyka and Lydia M Stigle, 25 August 1911.
11. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLZK-DY8 : Sun Mar 10 13:53:56 UTC 2024), Entry for Mr A J Pyka and Miss Laura Knopp, 28 Jan 1914.
12. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX39-XPJ : 22 January 2020), Mary Pyka in entry for Henry Mazureck, 1914.
13. "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCM5-7Y8 : Sat Mar 09 00:50:41 UTC 2024), Entry for Frank Pyka and Francis Pyka, 1920.
14. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX39-NZC : 22 January 2020), Helen Pyka in entry for Joseph Mazurek, 1920.
15. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLZK-JX7 : Sat Mar 09 14:50:01 UTC 2024), Entry for Mr Valentine B Pyka and Miss Teresa Knopp, 01 Feb 1921.
16. "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HG1W-26Z : Fri Mar 08 09:58:44 UTC 2024), Entry for Frank Pyka and Francis Pyka, 1930.
17. "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWNN-7S1 : Sat Mar 09 07:36:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Frank Pyka and Francis Pyka, 1940.
18. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K39S-1JQ : Sun Mar 10 01:20:10 UTC 2024), Entry for Frank Pyka and John Pyka, 9 June 1940.

familysearch.org

Photos: 12 August 2020