MARRIAGE OF JOSEPH ROUSAR AND FRANZISKA NOVOTNY

Joseph Rousar and Franziska Novotny were married circa 1870. They had three children: Francisca (b.1868), Joseph Jr. (b.1872) and Josephine (b.1875).

In 1875, Joseph and Fannie, with their small children, immigrated to the United States from Svratouch, Bohemia (Czech Republic). They arrived at Castle Garden, Port of New York, on July 27 1875 aboard the German steam ship S.S. Pommerania.¹ Josepha (Josephine), just 12 days old, was born en route. Their 14-day sea voyage began at the Port of Hamburg, Germany, July 14 1875.² From the Port of Hamburg, the S.S. Pommerania steamed down the Elbe River to the North Sea, passed through the English Channel to Havre, France, where they boarded additional passengers before crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The New York Times (Marine Intelligence section) reported their arrival as follows: "Steam-ship Pommerania (Ger.), [Captain] Schwensen, Hamburg July 14, via Havre 17th with mdse. and [229] passengers to [agents] Kunhardt & Co." The skies were partly cloudy with a high temperature of 86 degrees.

Rousar Family Hamburg Passenger List entry.

Rousar Family Port of New York Passenger List entry.

Josepha Rousar Port of New York Passenger List entry.

Little is known as to the reason why the Rousar Family emigrated from Bohemia. During the 19th Century, an increasing rural population and a dwindling supply of farmland had begun to put pressure upon the rural economy of Bohemia. Many farmers were forced to earn their livelihoods from increasingly smaller farming plots. In 1873, an economic crash shook the Austrian Empire, resulting in a serious agricultural depression in the Czech countryside. One can only assume that, as it was for thousands of other Czechs, the Rousars came to America to escape the economic hardship of their homeland.

Joseph and Fannie settled in Quarry, Iowa, where they farmed until circa 1903. They then moved to the Town of Arthur, Chippewa County, Wisconsin settling on a wild piece of land, which was developed into one of the finest dairy farms in that vicinity.³ One hundred years later, the farm is owned and operated by their great grandson, David Roshell.

Photograph taken circa 1910.  From l to r:  Joseph and Fannie Rousar, Emma and Joseph Roshell Jr., Will Vajgrt (seated) and John Vajgrt.  Photo courtesy of Michael Vajgrt.

In 1880, Joseph Sr. and Fannie, with their children Fannie, Joseph and Josephine, were living in the Village of Quarry, Marshall County, Iowa.⁴

In 1900, Joseph Sr. and Fannie, with their son Joseph Jr. and grandson Frank, were farming in the Town of Le Grand, Marshall County, Iowa.⁵

In 1910, Joseph Sr. and his wife Fannie were living with their son Joseph Jr. in the Town of Arthur, Chippewa County, Wisconsin.⁶

The S.S. POMMERANIA⁷ was a 3382 gross ton ship, length 360.3ft x beam 40ft (109.80m x 12.20m), one funnel, two masts, iron hull, single screw, speed 13 knots. Accommodation for 100-1st, 70-2nd and 600-3rd class passengers. Built by Caird & Co, Greenock, Scotland, she was launched for the Hamburg-American Line on 26 Jul 1873 and started her maiden voyage from Hamburg to Southampton and New York on 3 Dec 1873. Her last voyage, from Hamburg to Havre and New York, started 23 Oct 1878 and on 26 Nov 1878 she was sunk in collision with the sailing ship MOEL EILIAN near Folkestone (just south of Dover, England) with the loss of 50 lives.⁸