Žofie Kliš

Zofie Klis (Žofie Kliš) was born in Frenštát, Moravia (Moravian-Silesian Region) on 15 May 1972, died at 18, in Ammansville, Texas on 3 February 1891.

Sadly, nothing more I have managed to find out about Zofie. I did not know whose daughter she was and when the girl came to Texas. However, thanks to Joseph F., a Czech Texan History Facebook Group member, I learned who Zofie's parents were. In reply to my inquiry, Joseph posted a link to the Frenštát parish register page, where I could find the data related to Zofie's christening. Thank you, Joseph!

clipping from the Frenštát church parish book (linked above)

Father's name: Ignac Kliš, shoemaker in Frenštát, son of Ignac Kliš and his wife Johanna Chovanec.

Mother's name: Josefa Kalus, daughter of Josef Kalus and Johanna Janda of  Frenštát.

 Žofie's tombstone in Catholic Church Cemetery, Ammannsville, Fayette, TX

A few more persons of the same surname arrived from Moravia in Texas years after Zofie's passing.

20 April 1906
27-year-old Pavel, a miner, and 29-year-old Josef, a farm laborer came to Galveston on the ship SS Koln (from Bremen). 

6 January 1913

15-year-old Františka, a servant, arrived on board of "Breslau". Her destination was Hungerford, TX (1).

 

 

13 February 1909

13-year-old Anton came on "Hannover" to Galveston. He headed to Eagle Lake, TX (2).

 

 

Source:
Galveston Immigration Online Database 

1. "Texas, Passenger and Crew Lists Arriving at Various Ports, 1896-1951", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CYVN-NBN2 : 12 June 2020), Anton Klis, 1909.

2. "Texas, Passenger and Crew Lists Arriving at Various Ports, 1896-1951", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CYVN-NB2M : 12 June 2020), Frantiska Klis, 1913.

 

 

 This post is part of our series

 

KJT, Ammannsville

At the end of 1888, Father Chromcik and Czech Catholic men met in Hostyn, TX. The latter expressed their dissatisfaction with the membership in the insurance organizations which had their headquarters in the northern states.

The Texans were charged with a higher premium than the members living in the northern area of the US due to the estimated shorter life expectancy in Texas. According to those northern organizations, the calculated higher death risk factor included the presence of Indians and mosquitoes spreading malaria and yellow fever. The Texans saw it all differently and believed that the Texas air and climate were more beneficial to health and favored a longer life than the atmospheric conditions in the northern states.

During the discussion held at the meeting, Father Chromcik suggested creating a local insurance organization. On 4 July 1889, the Czech Catholic Union of Texas (Katolicka Jednota Teksaska) started their work. Initially, it had 150 members (Catholic men and boys only). Besides the insurance, KJT provides also assistance to disabled and indigent members and supports future priest studies. Furthermore, the organization promotes the Chech language and culture.

We visited Ammannsville, Fayette County, during our "Painted Churches of Texas" day trip.

Source: "The Texians and the Texans. The Czech Texans" The University of Texas, Institute of Texan Cultures, 1972.
Photo: KJT Hall, Ammannsville, TX