Vital Information
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Josef (Joseph) Jelinek |
| Born | 8 Mar 1838, Mezna, Czech Republic (Bohemia) |
| Died | 24 Mar 1930, Crete, Saline County, NE |
| Burial | Riverside Cemetery, Crete, NE |
| FindAGrave | #116417433 |
| Spouse | Anna Kozlovsky |
| Children | At least 11, including Adolph (1866), Louise (~1870), Frank J. |
| Occupation | Pioneer farmer |
Biography
Josef Jelinek was born on 8 March 1838 in Mezna, Bohemia (now Czech Republic). He immigrated to the United States as part of the major wave of Czech settlement in Nebraska between 1865 and 1880.
Josef married Anna Kozlovsky (also Czech). They settled in Saline County, Nebraska, near the town of Crete, where Josef worked as a farmer. A log schoolhouse was reportedly built on his farm, indicating his standing in the community. The couple had at least 11 children.
The Jelinek family were neighbors of the Warnke family in Saline County; both families are buried at Riverside Cemetery in Crete. Josef's daughter Louise married the Warnkes' son William John in 1892.
Josef died on 24 March 1930 in Crete at the age of 92.
Known Children
| Name | Born | Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adolph Jelinek | 23 Jun 1866, NE | 1 Mar 1936, Crete, NE | m. Anna Nespory (1892). Remained in Crete. |
| Louise Jelinek | ~1870, NE | 1961, MO | m. William John Warnke (1892). Moved to St. Louis. |
| Frank J. Jelinek | Details incomplete | ||
| (8+ others) | Names unresolved. Nebraska State Historical Society may hold records (Czech Reminiscences collection, RG1606.AM). |
Research Notes
The Jelinek family's Czech origins in Mezna and their settlement in Saline County, Nebraska place them within the largest Czech community in the United States outside of Chicago. DNA matches with surnames Bartoska (also Czech) may connect through this Nebraska Bohemian community, either through Anna Kozlovsky's line or through marriages among the Jelinek siblings.
Source Notes
FindAGrave #116417433 for burial and dates. Father identification from Ancestry record for son Adolph. Birthplace (Mezna) from FindAGrave. Nebraska Czech Reminiscences collection at Nebraska State Historical Society (RG1606.AM) includes a Mrs. Frank Jelinek's reminiscences from Crete, which may be a daughter-in-law.