J. Murchison and His Gold Expedition

History pieces on the pavement, La Grange, TX

John Murchison was born 30 June 1804, in Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina. He had at least10 siblings and they were the children of Kenneth McKenzie Murchison, Jr. and Flora McDonald's.

On 20 January 1831, in Coweta, Georgia, John married Miss Sarah Ann Terry (1).

 Sarah Ann passed in about 1846. John remarried on 19 February 1848, in La Grange, Fayette, TX (2).

His second spouse was Miss Nancy Cox Nail (born on 20 September 1827), widow of Mr. William A. Nail.

As mentioned above, John Murchison organized The La Grange Company.

Clipping source: The Texas Democrat (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 10, Ed. 1, Saturday, March 31, 1849, newspaper, March 31, 1849; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48390/: accessed October 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

He also found gold in California and tried to get there with his company to collect the riches.

 

Clipping Source: The Texas Democrat (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 14, Ed. 1, Saturday, April 28, 1849, newspaper, April 28, 1849; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48393/: accessed October 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

 

 

Clipping Source: Moore, Francis, Jr. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 20, Ed. 1, Thursday, May 17, 1849, newspaper, May 17, 1849; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48540/: accessed October 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

 

 

 

Clipping source: Moore, Francis, Jr. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 20, Ed. 1, Thursday, May 17, 1849, newspaper, May 17, 1849; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48540/: accessed October 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.  

 

 

Clipping source: The Texas Democrat (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 21, Ed. 1, Saturday, June 16, 1849, newspaper, June 16, 1849; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48396/: accessed October 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

 

 

Clipping source: The Corpus Christi Star. (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 46, Ed. 1, Saturday, August 4, 1849, newspaper, August 4, 1849; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80238/: accessed October 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

 

 

Clipping source: The Texas Democrat (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 28, Ed. 1, Saturday, August 4, 1849, newspaper, August 4, 1849; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48402/: accessed October 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. 

 

 

Clipping source: Moore, Francis, Jr. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 33, Ed. 1, Thursday, August 16, 1849, newspaper, August 16, 1849; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48551/: accessed October 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

Clippings source: Moore, Francis, Jr. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 33, Ed. 1, Thursday, August 16, 1849, newspaper, August 16, 1849; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48551/: accessed October 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

 Clippings source: Moore, Francis, Jr. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 33, Ed. 1, Thursday, August 16, 1849, newspaper, August 16, 1849; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48551/: accessed October 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

John Murchinson did not live to enjoy the California riches. He died after he shot himself by accident on July 28, 1849.

Louis Peter Vitek

 About one couple whose marriage certificate is on display at the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange, TX. 

⭐

Louis (Alois) Peter Vitek, the son of Joe Vitek and Antonia Novak, was born on 8 July 1914 in Texas (0). 

 Louis' grandparents, Martin Vitek and Anna Slansky were born in Moravia.

 

🏠 Census 1920 - Louis lived with his parents (age 33 and 30) and siblings, Bohumil (age 7) and Emil (age 5), in Justice Precinct #3, Austin, TX. Mr. Joe Vitek was a farmer (1).

On ⚭ 24 November 1936, the young man married Miss Edith Rita Bohac. It happened in Austin, TX (2). Edith, born on 31 July 1918 in Granger, Williamson, TX, was the daughter of Vinc E Bohac and Antonia Marek (3).

👉 1940 Census, on April 6, Louis Vitek worked as a truck driver for road construction and lived at the home of Mr. Albert G Kulhanek in the town of Bedias, Justice Precinct #7, Grimes County (4).

👉 April 22 - The young couple, Louis and Edith, was registered in Justice Precinct #2, Williamson County (5).

Louis passed on ♦ 3 November 1986 in Williamson, Texas (6). Edith lived much longer, until ♦ 23 August 2007.

According to my finds, the couple had one son.

 Sources:

0. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VDVW-6PB : 1 January 2015), Alois Vitek, 08 Jul 1914; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.

1. "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHY2-RYG : Sun Mar 10 08:34:47 UTC 2024), Entry for Joe Vitek and Tonie Vitek, 1920.

2. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLZN-FZK : Sat Mar 09 07:23:28 UTC 2024), Entry for Louis P Vitek and Edith Bohac, 24 Nov 1936.

3. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LJ6-42MM : 14 February 2020), Edith Rita Bohac, 1918.

4. "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWV1-994 : Sun Mar 10 21:09:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Albert G Kulhanek and Ruby A Kulhanek, 1940.

5. "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4QV-P36 : Sun Mar 10 07:56:28 UTC 2024), Entry for Louis P Vitek and Edith Vitek, 1940.

6. "Texas Death Index, 1964-1998," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JVT6-JJF : 5 December 2014), Louis Peter Vitek, Williamson, Texas, United States; citing Department of State Health Services, Austin.

About Tamburash Orchestra & Instruments

The Czech Music Museum of Texas is part of the open-air part of the Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange. The museum is situated in the house which used to belong to Jonathon and Peggy Kalich (Kalič). It was built in the 1890s, and much later was donated by the owners to the Heritage Center. In 2000 the building was moved to the current area from Schulenburg.

 

The exhibition in the Music Museum is displayed in four rooms dedicated to four music categories: sacral music, classical Czech composers, polka, and folk and dance Czech music.

 

 

By the way, not everybody knows that polka is a Czech dance which is also popular in other European countries, including Poland, Germany, and Austria. I mention this because I have heard so many times: "Poland? Ah yes, polka!". No, it is not a Polish national dance.

 

 

 

Talking about music and the museum, a good time to mention the tamburash and the Houston Tamburash Orchestra. Tamburash is a string instrument similar to the lute, from the same instrument group that originally come from the gusla. The latter is played with a bow and is traditionally used in the Balkans. 

 

 

The Czech Tamburash Orchestra was organized by Josef Drozda in 1932 in Houston. Mato Gujranovic was the orchestra director. The man was a painter and a musician as well. He came to Houston from Galveston and taught music in the city.

 

 

The Tamburash Orchestra was a band of traditional Czech string instruments from the tamburash group such as bisernica, kontrashic, bracas (equivalents of violins and cellos), bugarias (similar to wood strings), and berda. The latter instrument is six feet and six inches high. All the instruments have four strings and some have them tuned on the same range or two different ones. The smallest piece in the orchestra was 18 inches long. A full tamburash orchestra has 32 instruments, the Texas Tamburash Orchestra had only 9. 

 

 

However, they managed to play not only polka and other folk music, but also classical music pieces by Dvořak, Smetana, and some Russian composers as well. The youngest musician in the group was Miss Helen Vajčik, whose father was the orchestra coorganizer. The girl started playing with the band when she was 10.

Clipping source: Valcik, Stephen. Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 48, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 28, 1951, newspaper, November 28, 1951; West, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth626401/: accessed November 24, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas.

PS

In the Museum, we did not see any tamburash, dulcimers only.

Source: 

• "The Czech Pioneers of the Southwest. The History of a People in the Development of a Nation", Henry R Maresh and Estelle Hudson, 1934, 1962, 1996.
• "The Roots of Texas Music", Joe W Specht, Lawrence Clayton, Texas A&M University Press, 2005.
  Photos: Texas Czech Culture and Heritage Center, La Grange, TX

SPJST

On 28 December 1896, in La Grange, TX, 25 local inhabitants of Czech and Slovak descent held a meeting. They were members of the Česko Slovensko Podporujici Spolek (CSPS - Czech Slavonic Benevolent Society) a fraternal insurance organization that operated in all the American states including Texas. The men selected a committee that was to start working on creating the Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Stanu Texas (SPJST/Slavonic Benevolent Association of the State of Texas). The committee members were J R Kubena, judge Augustin Haidusek, and F. Čistina. Later, Mr. Haidušek was replaced by CV Vanek. 

On 29 June 1897, a convention of  22 SPJST lodges members took place. The organization started its proper work on 1 July 1897 - that was the day on which SPJST officers were elected: president I J Gallia, Mr. Fred Breska vice-president, secretary, and treasurer - J R Kubena.

SPJST was a fraternal insurance organization of non-sectary character. It offered the members death and sick benefits. The organization was also into promoting mutual acquaintance of people of Czechoslovakian descent and supporting cultural, benevolent, and national projects.

 

Birthplace of SPJST - Fayette County Courthouse, La Grange

 

Early presidents of SPJST were: I J Gallia, J J Holik, Joseph Dušek, judge C H Chernosky. The initial 22 lodges/496 members grew by the end of 1993 to 152 lodges/11,141 members.

 

Another insurance-type organization came into being on 1 July 1926. It was the Slavonic Mutual Fire Insurance Association. Its first convention took place in June 1927 in Houston, and the first officers were Frank Ančinec, Anton Bily, judge C H Chernosky, Stephen Valik, M Bubac, Frank Bečan, John Kelarek, and Tom Hošek.

Source: "The Czech Pioneers of the Southwest. The History of a People in the Development of a Nation", Henry R Maresh and Estelle Hudson, 1934, 1962, 1996.

Monument to Dawson's Men

The Monument is dedicated to the men who fell during the so-called Dawson Massacre (1842) and Mier Expedition. 

 

One of the men who took part in the Somervell/Mier Expedition was Mr. Kinchen William Davis. He was captured by Mexican troops and happened to draw a white bean, then was kept at the Perote prison. 

More about Mr. Davis, his fate, and family in the post HERE.  

 

More information related to the historical events mentioned above:

• Dawson Massacre: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/dawson-massacre
• Somervell Expedition: https://www.tshaonline.org/.../entries/somervell-expedition
• Mier Expedition: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/mier-expedition
• Black Bean Episode/Drawing: https://www.tshaonline.org/han.../entries/black-bean-episode 

Pictures taken in La Grange, TX.

František Migl & Family

František A Migl was born on 1 April 1827 in Dobčice/Budejovice/Czechia, part of Austria then. He married Johanna Ježek, born 12 February 1830 in Dubenec, Budejovice, Czechia.

Their children

• Marie Anna - born on 24 March 1850,
• Anna - born on 16 April 1853, Jan Josef - born on 8 June 1855,
• Magdalena - born on 2 May 1850,
• Katherine Jane - born on 3 July 1859,
• Rosalia, born on 4 August 1861,
• Thomas - born on 25 December 1862,
• František J - born on 23 May 1866,
• Josef - born on 20 May 1868,
• Teresie - born on 24 January 1871/died on 20 April 1871,
• Theresa - was born on 6 April 1862.

Marie, the first daughter of Franz and Johanna, left for America first. Then it was Magdalena, Jan, and Katherine who went to Texas. The parents and other siblings came to Galveston in 1874.

Frank Migl's passport*

1900 - 74-year-old Frank and 70-year-old Johanna lived in Justice Precinct #4, Lavaca County, TX. Jan, with his wife and children, lived in the household next to his parents (1). Johanna passed 3 years later, on 22 February (in Praha, Fayette, TX).

Frank Migl's Citizenship Certificate*

Frank Migl died on 3 February 1915 (2).

Paper clipping: Halletsville Herald. (Hallettsville, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 39, Ed. 1 Friday, February 5, 1915, newspaper, February 5, 1915; Hallettsville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1036237/: accessed May 3, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Friench Simpson Memorial Library.

---
More about Frank Migl and his family: HERE

* The papers are on display at the Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange, TX.

Sources:

1. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3PZ-91N: accessed 2 May 2023), Frank Migl Sr., Justice Precinct 6 (east part), Lavaca, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 95, sheet 16A, family 184, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,653.

2. "Texas Death Index, 1903-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZN6-DFM: 24 May 2014), Frank Migl, 03 Feb 1915; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: 2006); citing certificate number 3185, Fayette, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin.

 - familysearch.org 

- findagrave.com

G for Goliad and Gonzales

 

In "My Texas Alphabet", the letter "G" is for Goliad and Gonzales. Both are connected with the early history of Texas State and its fights for independence.

In 1835, Texas was still part of Mexico, however, the Texas insurrection had already begun. The Goliad Campaign, which took place that year, was related to suppressing the Texas uprising by the Mexican government and their army.

I am not going to describe it all here, as experts in Texas history have done it already.
You can read about the Goliad Campaign here.

Gonzales was a crucial spot during the Campaign. On 2 October 1835, the battle of Gonzales took place. The attack of Texan troops made the Mexican army withdraw their forces from Gonzales to Bexar. A certain cannon played an important part in it all. Upon the request of the citizens of Gonzales who needed protection from the Indian attacks, the cannon had been provided by the Mexican army. There was one condition, though. The cannon was to be returned to the givers whenever they wanted it back. That time came during the Goliad Campaign in 1835, when the representatives of the Mexican army came to Gonzales to retrieve the gift. Nevertheless, the colonists, who were not willing to give the cannon back, arrested the soldiers. All in all, the conflict arose and led to the Battle of Gonzales. Before the battle, two women of Gonzales made a flag that became symbolic later. It contained the picture of the cannon and the slogan "Come and Take It". 

More about the Gonzales cannon and flag here.

 Recently, the flag and the slogan have become controversial, to say the least.

Well, I do not intend to provoke any political discussion here regarding the flag, the places mentioned or the people who were involved in the Campaign. According to philosophers, everything is subjective. That was what I have been taught during my philosophy studies. I would say, (history) facts are just facts. Yet, adding interpretation to those facts is a totally different matter.

--

"My Texas Alphabet" is quite a particular and personal summary of our hitherto life in Texas.

You can find more Alphabet entries Here

Photos from:

1. La Grange, TX.

2, 3. Bandera, TX

Lodge No.19 in Velehrad

 In 1897, the SPJST (Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas) came into being and Lodge 19 in the Velehrad Community, Lavaca County, was established.

 

The lodge hall was built there in August 1895. The building served as a community lodge meeting place. Business and social gatherings, dances, and funerals took place in the hall as well. When there were more children in the area than there was room in the nearby school, the lodge building was also used as a school.

 

 

After WWII, many of the community residents left Velehrad, and it started deteriorating. The last meeting of the members of the SPJST Lodge 19 in Velehrad took place on 16 February 1999.

On 9 November 2017, the lodge hall was moved from Velehrad to the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange, where you can see it/visit nowadays.

 

Source: leaflet issued by TCHCC

 

Photos from our visit to the Czech Heritage and Cultural Center - on a very hot summer day in August 2021.

 

The double doors were used when a funeral ceremony was held in the building. A coffin was brought in (and out) through those doors.

 

The meeting has been started

 

Guest speaker today...