Going Sideways to Learn More...

     For quite a while, I thought that Vaclav Bláha (also known as Wenzl and James) came to the United States without relatives. According to the 1900 Federal  Census records, he arrived here about 1881.
    The 1905 Minnesota Census led me down another path.  Living with James Bláha and his family were 2 girls--Mary and Elizabeth Havel.  Their occupations were given as cook and housework. I figured they weren't servants in James household, so I investigated further.
     I found their family of origin in Rice County, Minnesota.  Now that is hitting close to home!  It was a huge surprise. Their parents were Marie Voneš Havel and Martin Havel. Voneš is the probable connection.  On James' marriage record to Mary Henych, it gives his parents as Matej Bláha and Marie Voneš.
     I did further research on Marie Voneš Havel's parents.  They were found living in Wheatland Township, Rice County.  There names were Mathias Voneš and Anna Bláha Voneš.  Yikes!  So which side is the connection?
     In the obituary for Marie Voneš Havel, it said that she was from Drahotěšice, Bohemia.  Also mentioned in her obituary was that James  Bláha  came from St. Paul for the funeral. Since there was no info in the family (or records thus far) about where James Bláha  was from in Bohemia, this was a great help as to where to start looking.  
     The Trebon section of the Czech Republic has a wonderful website with Digital Archives. Not many of them are indexed, so it means scrolling page by page through the church records. Drahotěšice is in the parish of Ševětín.
     So far I have had good luck finding records for the Voneš family of Wheatland. The records added another generation to both sides of the family. Anna's parents are Tomas  Bláha and Ludmilla Vanasek.  Mathias' parents are Josef Voneš and Katerina Ziska.
     Unfortunately, I have not found James or his parents records yet.  I'll just have to keep on diggin'.  Trouble is--some of the handwriting is atrocious and of course mostly in Czech.  
     If you have a Voneš in your tree from this area, contact me!! I have quite a few records indexed!