George Novotny (1890 - 1952)

Born 3 Nov 1890 in Reading, Livingston, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Died 9 Aug 1952 at age 61 in Northbrook, Cook, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Daniel Sedory [send private message]

Biography

Birth

George was born on November 3, 1890^[1] in South Streator (Reading Township), IL. He was the son of Jur (George) Novotny and Susanna Vanta. His father having died before he was born, George was raised by his mother and her second husband George (Szegyory) Sedory.

World War 1

During the Great War as it's called in Europe, George enlisted on September 21, 1917 and served as a Private (1st class) in the 7th Engineers of the Fifth Infantry. And by the time Major General Hanson E. Ely issued a special citation to all his troops^[2] on November 11, 1918 (Armistice Day), George had been "over the top six times" (climbed out of the trenches in an attack against the enemy 6 times without any injuries).^[3] George was discharged on June 27, 1919.^[4]

1930

On April 11, 1930, "George; 39" was living on "Dundee Rd." in "Northbrook Village" ("Northfield Township", "Cook" County), IL as a "Roomer" in the family of "John; 34" and "Henrietta; 35" "Cosmin", and working as a "Sorter" (or "Porter") at a "Soft Drink Co."^[5]

1940

During the 1940 US Census, on April 6, 1940, "George; 49" was a "Boarder" in a household with two other men ("Head" was a "Truck Driver" other border a "Laborer") living in Benld,^[6] Macoupin County, IL. George was working as a "Laborer" at some "golf course".^[7]

1942

George's WWII draft card has him living at 1250 Church St., Northbrook, IL, which was quite close to the golf course he worked at (Blackheath Golf Course) for the remainder of his life.^[8]

Death

He passed away on August 9, 1952 (at the age of 61) at the Blackheath Golf Course in Northbrook, IL where he had been working for a decade.^{[1] [8]} He was buried at the Riverview Cemetery in Streator, IL.^[9]

George's granite marker at Riverview Cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MH-2RJP : 17 March 2018), George Novotny, 09 Aug 1952; citing Northbrook, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm.
2. ↑ General Orders, No. 73 in The Official History of the Fifth Division, U. S. A., page 336.
3. ↑ Quote from a Streator newspaper: [Title:] "STREATOR BOY IN BRAVE FIFTH" [Subtitle:] "GEORGE NOVOTNEY-SEDORY [incorrectly spelling his last name] HAS BEEN OVER THE TOP SIX TIMES." [Text:] "Private George Novotney-Sedory [incorrect spelling again] is one of the most modest of soldiers and has never allowed any hint of his brave deeds in France leak out back here in his home town. For this reason it gives his sister, Miss Mary Sedory the greate[s]t of pleasure to receive a copy of the citation for distinguished conduct which was made by the major general of the fifth division and concerns the seventh U, S. Engineers, Co. A, Div. 5, of of which George is a member. Miss Sedory is employed at the Svedok Publishing house. / George has been over the top six times, and came out without a scratch. His letters have been brim full of exciting experiences and have been a source of pride to his relatives but he urgently requested them never to have one of them published. He sent the following citation to show what his division had done." What followed was a copy of Major General Ely's General Orders, No. 73; which we've cited above. (Article was most likely from the Streator Times; date unknown, though it must have been printed some days or weeks after 11 NOV 1918).
4. ↑ "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W3W8-FJN2 : 23 October 2019), George Novotny, 27 Jun 1919; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSTK-T7C : accessed 17 November 2019), George Novotny in household of John Cosmin, Northfield, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2237, sheet 16A, line 18, family 210, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 504; FHL microfilm 2,340,239.
6. ↑ Benld was declared the "most difficult to pronounce" place name in the state of Illinois by Reader's Digest.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWCW-VZB : 17 November 2019), George Novotney, Ward 6, Streator, Bruce Township, La Salle, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 50-16, sheet 13B, line 46, family 5, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 832. [Note: I have requested a review of this record that George's last name be changed from "Novatny" to "Novotny" for this record, since his Age, Marriage Status, birth state and occupation all match that of our relative. If anyone has any other first-hand information to support this being our relative, please provide that; e.g., why would George be living in Benld, IL; e.g., a letter from George working there would be very helpful.]
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V1KZ-12G : 9 March 2018), George Novotny, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). [Note: I believe the contact name "Anna Novatny" was incorrectly entered on this record, and should have been Anna Novotney (George's half sister).]
9. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 17 November 2019), memorial page for George Novotny (3 Nov 1890–9 Aug 1952), Find A Grave: Memorial #79621823, citing Riverview Cemetery, Streator, LaSalle County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by john steele (contributor 47046686).

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