Czech cigar makers in NYC
Hello;When your ancestors came from Bohemia, Austria (the Czech Republic today), there is a good chance they arrived in NYC. Many continued on to Cleveland, Chicago, Wisconsin or Iowa.A good number who came early stayed in NYC for some years.They lived in the Czech community adjoining Central Park, around 72nd or 74th Street and most of them worked as cigar makers, many working at home in small tenement style appartments. Most, about 92%, became either Catholic in name only, only marrying and having their children baptized in the church but without last rights and Catholic burial; OR they became Protestant (Many Presbyterian, as that church still stands in that neighborhood). Many had a Free Thinker speak at their funeral.My grandmother, Barbara Raus (or Raush or Germanized to Rausch) mrd first to Franc Raz with whom she had 5 children, of which only one, Charles, reached adulthood.Albie and Frankie Raz died before 1895 as totlers but I have no idea where they were buried.My question is:Where in the NYC area were Czech babies buried?Which cemeteries did the NYC Czechs use?If you don't know, who would?Is there a Czech genealogical society, maybe a segment of the NYC genealogical society? Address?Martha Steward bragged about how helpful the New York Public Library had been in helping her trace her NYC ancestors, without asking them.I wrote them regarding the cemetery question and they didn't show the courtesy of answering me!Thanks.Lloyd Johnson, 2008 Bodega Lane, Modesto, CA 95350, formerly of Cicero, Berwyn, Riverside, LaGrange and Wheaton, IL.
More Replies:
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Re: Czech cigar makers in NYC
1/05/02
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Re: Czech cigar makers in NYC
Thomas Brabec 12/10/01
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Re: Czech cigar makers in NYC
Lloyd Johnson 12/11/01
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Re: Czech cigar makers in NYC