Surname Saturday: Danchak and Dushek

On my father's side our heritage is Dutch and Czechoslovakian.  I've already written about the Dutch ancestry (Rosa), so that leaves the Czech: Danchak and Dushek.

 From left to right: John Roy, John, Gardina, Lydia and Bessie

My grandmother, Gardina (Gardie) Matilda Danchak was one of five children born to John Danchak and Lydia Dushek. Her oldest sister Ella (born Sept. 12, 1898) died in October of 1902.  Next was Bessie (July 20, 1899 - Nov. 1982), then my grandmother (March 13, 1902 to July 15, 1979).  She had two younger brothers, John Roy (July 3, 1904 - Feb. 18, 1978) and Allen Edward (Feb. 16, 1911 - Oct. 29, 1942).

John Danchak (originally Dancak) was born Dec. 2, 1868 in Przno, Moravia, Austria in what later became Czechoslovakia.  He died in Port Lavaca, Texas, on Oct. 11, 1922.  He was one of several children born to John Danchak (1839 - 1925) and Rosalie Adamek (1841 - 1903).

Lydia Mary Dushek (originally Dusek) was born May 30, 1875 in Brenham, Texas and died Nov. 6, 1956 in Colton, California.  She was one of eight children born to Jan Dushek (b. 1847 in Cermna, Bohemia/Czechoslovakia, d. 1908 in Caldwell, Texas) and Terezie Janke/Janku/Janak (1848 - 1903).

Thanks to a kind soul I met on the TexasCzech group, I have more information on the Dushek line (Thanks, Mike!), but I'm still having a heck of a time researching the Danchak's.  If you're part of the Danchak line, please contact me!

Wordless Wednesday: My Grandmother

Gardina Matilda Danchak

b. 13 March 1902 in Lyons, Texas

d. 15 July, 1979 in Colton, California

They Fought for Their Country

I know Veteran's Day was yesterday, but who says our veterans only get one day?  I know I could wait until May for Memorial Day, but why?  So I'm declaring today a Thankful Thursday.  I am thankful for those who served our country and risked their lives so that we can remain free.

My ancestors who have served in the military since the Revolutionary War include:

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Revolutionary War:

James Doran (1730 - 1799) of Washington Co., Virginia ~ fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant

Alexander Doran (1760 - 1814) of Washington Co., Virginia ~ fought at Kings Mountain

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War of 1812:

Alexander Doran (1760 - 1814) of Washington Co., Virginia ~ same as fought at Kings Mtn

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Civil War:

Edward Bonham (1840 - 1928) of Marshall Co., Illinois ~ 47th IL Infantry (Union)

Hamilton Green Doran (1839 - 1905) of Christian Co., Missourri ~ MO Infantry Co F (Union)

William James McCroskey (1846 - 1922) of Valley View, Texas ~ Texas Calvary Co B  (Confederate)

John W Rawlings (1836 - 1864) of Crawford Co., Indiana ~ 117th Regiment Co F (died of dysentery while in Andersonville prison

Annual Stroud (1813 - 1890) of Crawford Co. Indiana ~ Co B 13th Regiment Indiana (Union)

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World War I:

Leonard Paul Doran (1881 - 1975) of  Christian Co. Missourri ~ Navy

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World War II:

Allen Edward Danchak (1911 - 1942) of Burleson Co., Texas ~ Merchant Marines

Richard Ernest McLaughlin (1920 - 1994) of Peoria Co. Illinois ~ Army (Rangers)

I'm sure there's more, but those are the ones I know about at this point in time.  I think tomorrow I'll pay tribute to my husbands military ancestors....

In Honor of Veteran's Day: Allen Edward Danchak

Growing up all I knew was that Allen had died at sea.  Here's the rest of the sory....

Allen was the youngest child of John & Lydia Danchak; he was born in Lyons, Burleson Co., Texas on February 16, 1911.  He was my grandmother's youngest brother.  He's also the reason she had her ashes scattered at sea.

Allen was in the Merchant Marines.  He served aboard the Steadfast as per the 1930 Census of Merchant Seamen.  I've found several passenger and crew lists on Ancestry.com that show him serving aboard the Standard (1934), the Warwick (1940) and the Utacarbon (1941).  The picture above is Allen on the Utacarbon.  During World War II Allen served as chief mate on the Gurney E. Newlin. 

The Gurney E. Newlin was a steam tanker carrying gasoline and kerosene from New York to Manchester, England.  On October 27, 1942 it was struck by one torpedo in the engine room on the port side and immediately began to settle by the stern. The crew abondoned ship and only three lives were lost.  The master and eleven others were picked up by the HMCS Alberni and the rest (31 crew members which included Allen and 13 armed guards) were picked up by the Bic Island.  The Bic Island was torpeedoed and sunk with all hands on October 29, 1942.<sup>1

1</sup> From U-boat.net - Allied Ships Hit by U-boats

Tombstone Tuesday: John Danchak

John Danchak

Born Dec 30, 1839

Died Apr 30 1925

Gravestone is in the Frenstat Cemetery in Burleson County, Texas next to that of his wife, Rosie (Adamek) Danchak.

Tombstone Tuesday: Rosalie (Adamek) Danchak

 

Zde odpociva  --  Here lies

Rosalie  --  Rosalie

Dancak  --  Danchak

roz. 1841  --  Born 1841

u Vsetina  --  near Vestin

na Morave  --  in Moravia

Zem  --  Died

4 ril 1903  --  4 Oct. 1903

(There are four more lines ~ mostly unreadable)

Gravestone is in the Frenstat Cemetery in Burleson County, Texas.  Thank you to Mike Hejl for the translation from Czechoslovakian to English.