Biography

Joseph Čapek migrated from Bohemia to New York.

Joseph Anton Čapek was born about 1875 in Dolní Krupá, Mladá Boleslav, Central Bohemia, Austria (now Czechoslovakia), son of John Čapek and Frances Bemák (see Research Note).^[1]

On July 4, 1899, Josef, age 24, boarded the S.S. Prinz Regent Luitpold in Bremen, Germany. The voyage took 11 days to reach the Port of New York City, New York on July 15, 1899. Josef was listed as a 24 year old single make from Bohemia, Austria. His last residence was D. Krupa and his final destination was New York. He paid for his own passage and had $10 in cash on him. His mother tongue was Bohemian and he was noted to be Roman Catholic. He was listed next to another male, Jan Zak, who was also from D. Krupa. They both had "acquaintance in N.Y." as their final destination so it's possible they were traveling together. Neither of them had ever been to the U.S. before.^[2]

S.S. Prinzregent Luitpold

Joseph, age 25, and Antonia Procházka, age 25, were married on September 21, 1901 in Manhattan, New York, New York. Antonia was born in Hraběšín, Bohemia. She was the daughter of Joseph Procházka and Marie (Čermak) Procházka.^[1]

ca 1901, possible wedding photo

They had their first child Rosie Čapek on July 23, 1902 in Manhattan, New York City, New York. They were living at 311 East 71st Street and Joseph was working as a carpenter.^[3] Their second child Joseph Frank Čapek was born March 3, 1904, also in Manhattan, however, they were living at 428 E. 73rd Street.^[4] Sadly, he would die only 7 days later.^[5] They had their third child at the same address, Antonia Čapek, on April 28, 1905.^[6]

In the 1905 New York State Census, Joseph, age 30, was enumerated as the head of household at 428 E. 73rd Street in Manhattan, New York City, New York. He was living with his wife and two young daughters, while working as a carpenter.^[7]

|+ Joseph Capek Household |- bgcolor=#e1f0b4 | Name || Age || Relation || Sex || Birth Place || No of Yrs in US || Occupation |- | Joseph Capek || 30 || Head || M || Bohemia || 8 || Carpenter |- | Antonia Capek || 30 || Wife || F || Bohemia || 8 || Housework |- | Rosie Capek || 3 || Daughter || F || United States || || x |- | Antonia Capek || 2 mos || Daughter || F || United States || || x |}

Joseph and Antonia would have a third child, Jaroslaf Čapek, on February 28, 1907. They were living at 1847 East "I" Avenue in Manhattan. Joseph was listed as Anton on this birth record and was still working as a carpenter.^[8] This child would live longer than his older brother, however, he passed away on July 27, 1907, just one day shy of 5 months old.^[9]

Joseph Čapek passed away on January 29, 1908 in Manhattan, New York at the age of 33. His cause of death was cirrhosis hepatis, for which he had been treated for from January 7 to his time of death. At the time of his death he was living at 1441 Avenue A. He was buried on January 31, 1908 in St. Michaels Cemetery in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York.^[10][11] His daughter, Antonia Čapek died on May 11, 1913 and was buried in the same plot.^[12]

Research Notes

1. Parents: His marriage record has his mother's name as Frances or Francia (it looks as someone wrote over the last two letters) and the last name Bemák or Bamák or Barnák. His death record has his mother Barbara Basták/h or Barták/h. Will need further research. Rienerth-1 15:44, 23 February 2025 (UTC)
2. Birth: Searched https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/5221 for birth record for Joseph Čapek in Roman Catholic records. The records start in 1871 and I searched page by page up through 1880. No Čapek birth record under Joseph and no Čapek mentioned at all during that period. Searched https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/5217 for birth record (this collection ends in 1871) and went back to 1869 and no Čapek name at all. Rienerth-1 15:44, 23 February 2025 (UTC)
3. 1900 US Census: Searched the 1900 Census, E.D. 710, at the address of 418 E. 73rd as written in on the Passenger List for the individual who seemed to be traveling with Josef. No Čapek at that address or on that block of 73rd Street. Searched E.D. 712 next for the addresses 422 E. 75th and 424 E. 75th, the addresses listed on their marriage record. No Čapek or Procházka at those addresses, and no Josef or Antonia in that enumeration district (searched page by page). Rienerth-1 15:44, 23 February 2025 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Marriage: "NYC Municipal Archives Historical Vital Records"; New York City Municipal Archives, 2023; Čapek-Procházka Marriage Record; Joseph Čapek and Antonie Procházka, married 21 Sep 1901, Manhattan, New York; image record M-M-1901-0016063.
2. ↑ Passenger List: "New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957," database with images, The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7488 #4040476179 (accessed 22 February 2025), Name: Josef Capek; Gender: Male; Age: 24; Birth Date: abt 1875; Place of Origin: Bohemia, Czechoslovakia; Departure Port: Bremen; Arrival Date: 15 Jul 1899; Arrival Port: New York, New York, USA; Residence Place: D Krupa; Ship Name: Prince Regent Liutpold.
3. ↑ Birth of daughter Rosie Čapek: "NYC Municipal Archives Historical Vital Records"; New York City Municipal Archives, 2023; (https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/view/1339814 : accessed 29 December 2023) Rosie Čapek Birth Certificate image record B-M-1902-0029969; Rosie Čapek, born July 23, 1902, Manhattan, New York.
4. ↑ Birth of son Joseph Frank Capek: "Historical Vital Records"; New York City Department of Records and Information Services; Joseph Frank Capek Birth Certificate (accessed 29 December 2023); Joseph Frank Capek, born March 3, 1904; image record B-M-1904-0011417.
5. ↑ Death of son Josef Capek: "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949"; citing Death, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,323,044; FamilySearch Record: 2WX2-76W (accessed 29 December 2023)
6. ↑ Birth of daughter Antonia Čapek: "Historical Vital Records"; New York City Department of Records and Information Services; Tony Čapek Birth Certificate (accessed 21 February 2025); Tony Čapek, born April 28, 1905; image record B-M-1905-0020179.
7. ↑ 1905 NYS Census: "New York, U.S., State Census, 1905"; New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1905; Election District: A.D. 26 E.D. 13; City: Manhattan; County: New York; Page: 90; Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7364 #3132961 (accessed 29 December 2023)
8. ↑ Birth of son Jaroslaf Čapek: "Historical Vital Records"; New York City Department of Records and Information Services; Jaroslaf Čapek Birth Certificate (accessed 21 February 2025); Jaroslaf Čapek, born February 28, 1907; image record B-M-1907-0012559.
9. ↑ Death of son Jaroslaf Čapek: "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", citing Death, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,323,159, FamilySearch Record: 2W9W-XXB (accessed 21 September 2024), Jaroslav Capek death 27 Jul 1907 (age 0), son of Joseph Capek & Antonie Prochazka, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.
10. ↑ Death: City of New York, New York, (Municipal Archives, New York), death certificate no. 3374 (1908), Joseph Čapek; FHL microfilm 4,323,176; copy in possession of Monica (Rienerth) Palmer.
11. ↑ Memorial: "Find a Grave," database with images, Find A Grave: Memorial #70448723 (accessed 23 February 2025), Memorial page for Joseph Čapek (1875-29 Jan 1908), citing Saint Michael's Cemetery, East Elmhurst, Queens County, New York, USA (plot: Grave 98, Range (Row) 34, Plot 5); Maintained by Monica Palmer (contributor 47048530); photo of burial plot, no grave marker.
12. ↑ Death of daughter Antonia Čapek: "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, citing Digital film/folder number: 004002125; FHL microfilm: 1323337; Record number: 93; Packet letter: B, FamilySearch Record: 2WMZ-2SK (accessed 23 February 2025), Joseph Capek in death record for daughter Antonia Capek 11 May 1913 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.

See also:

• FamilySearch Person: 9ZMW-G67
• Čapek-Procházka Marriage Record (transcription of record)
• Death: "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, citing Digital film/folder number: 004003016; FHL microfilm: 1323176; Record number: 74; Packet letter: J, FamilySearch Record: 2W9T-7FS (accessed 23 February 2025), Joseph Capek death 29 Jan 1908 (age 33), son of John Capek & Barbara Bastak, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.
• Marriage of daughter Rose Anna Frantl: "New York, County Marriages, 1778-1848; 1908-1937," database with images, citing Page: 000180; Digital film/folder number: 004541160; FHL microfilm: 000849271; Image number: 99; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: V01522-2, FamilySearch Record: KZ9C-NWV (accessed 23 February 2025) FamilySearch Image: 939Z-1Z3J-K, Joseph Capek's daughter Rose Anna Frantl marriage to Ezra Canfield Barrows on 11 Oct 1924 in Chemung, Chemung, Chemung, New York, United States.
• Obituary of daughter Rose Ann Barrows: Star-Gazette, April 26, 2005, Page 19. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-gazette-obituary-for-rose-a-barrow/135625318/ : accessed February 23, 2025), clip page for Obituary for Rose A. BARROWS (part 1 of 2) by user inkasi888