Czech (National) Cemetery, Rapides Parish Louisiana Submitted by Jane Parker McManus ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** History: The first settlers of the Czech community in Rapides Parish came from far and wide in answer to an advertisement in their local papers. Because of conditions in their country, many of the Czech citizens were searching for a better, safer place to live. When the newspaper article told them to "come to Kolin where fertile land, splendid health, grand southern climate, abundant rainfall, pure water and good markets assure success," it seemed the answer to their prayers. They packed up their families and began the long trek to Louisiana. The Alexandria Daily Town Talk documented the arrival of the Bohemians as 12 January 1914. The town of Kolin had been named after the Bohemian town of Kolin that was built on two islands in the Elbe River, 45 miles East of Prague. The town of Libuse was named after the first queen of the Czechs. Soon after their arrival in the area, the settlers established their church and by necessity, their cemeteries. Each community had its own burial ground and held regular meetings for the upkeep and decoration of the graves. Kolin Cemetery Association was formed in 1915, and its first president, Mr. John Lehky, accepted 1-1/2 acres from the Alexandria Lumber Company for one dollar on 19 January 1915. The first settlers were buried with eulogies delivered by speakers from the Bohemian Association. (1) A translation of Czech words is included at the bottom of the Libuse Czech Cemetery Listing. Directions: South on LA Hwy 107 from Pineville, approximately 1.7 miles past blinking light at Kraft Paper Mill Rd, turn left on Miller (Bonnie Miller) Rd. Cemetery is 1.8 miles on the left, next to the highway (driveway is between a house and the cemetery). Large cedar trees outline three sides of the cemetery and smaller spruce trees on the back outline the newer addition. Tombstone inscriptions were recorded from inside the front gate in rows from the right (next to the road) to the left (next to the woods) by Mary Parker Partain 18 January 1993 and submitted by Jane P. McManus 22 October 2000. A hurricane fence surrounds the entire property. A sign over the gate reads: Cesko. Narodni Hrbytov [Czech National Cemetery] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 1: [Front to Back] Chruma, Sgt. Frank S. - 25 Aug 1907/17 Jan 1945 [Identical slab to above burial - no information] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Filipi, Alvin J. - 8 Sep 1905/3 Dec 1950 Filipi, John - narozen 13 prosince year 1863/zemrel 22 zari year 1936 [born Dec/died Sep] Zde Odpociva "Here Rests" Filipi, Elizabeth A. - narozena 4 lispopadu year 1879/zemrela 23 rijen 1955 [4 Nov 1879/23 Oct 1955] Zde Odpociva "Here Rests" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chruma, Joseph F. - 21 Oct 1876/18 Mar 1953 Chruma, Katie I. - 30 Mar 1882/1 Nov 1976 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Smetak, Lily - prosince 5 1925/duben 26 1923 [Dec/Apr] Spi Sladce "Sleep Sweetly" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Smetak, Joseph - brezen 20 1871/rijen 20 1936 [Mar/Oct] Spi Sladce "Sleep Sweetly" Smetak, Anna B. - 15 Aug 1884/11 Dec 1961 Mother [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bernat, Charles J. - 17 Jan 1917/9 May 1939 Bernat, Augustin - narozen 29 srpna 1882/zemrel 28 zari 1946 [born Aug/died Sep] Mily Manzel A Otec "Dear husband and father" Bernat, Anna - narozena 27 rijna 1885/zemrela 20 ledna 1966 [born Oct/died Jan] [Identical Stones] - Spi Sladce "Sleep Sweetly" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bernat, Gus A. - 4 May 1910/11 Aug 1968 [Double Stone - no inscription on 2nd side] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Filipi, Dorothy M. - 19 Mar 1924/[no dates] Filipi, Marvin F. - 21 Feb 1924/[no dates] [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Filipi, Barbara Ann - 24 Jan 1953/24 Mar 1971 Daughter Lucyna, [no name] - "A precious gift from the Lord" Mama [on reverse side: Normand] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 2: [Back to Front] Baley, Frank Edward - 21 Jul 1895 Mt. Pleasant, PA/14 Feb 1976 Baley, Bessie Krejci - 23 Sep 1907 Chippawa Falls, WI/8 Jul 1980 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baley, Emma F. - 11 Mar 1910 Chardon, OH/12 Mar 1967 "Sister" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baley, Anna L. - 16 kveten 1872 24 unora 1949 [May/Feb] Rozeny v Pilsner, Vcechach/zemrela v Kolin, LA Born in Pilsner, Czechslovakia/died in Kolin, LA Baley, Jan - 27 prosince 1860/ 30 srpna 1943 [Dec/Aug] Rozeny v Syra, Vcechach/zemrela v Kolin, LA Born in Syra, Czechslovakia/died in Kolin, LA [Identical Stones] - Zde Odpociva "Here rests" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Henderson, Helen Locker - 16 Jun 1916 [only date] Locker, Edward Anthony - 2 May 1909/4 Oct 1965 Father [Identical Stones] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sencl, James - 26 Nov 1916/30 Sep 1986 "Brother" Sencl, Hattie - 15 Oct 1921/[no dates] "Sister" [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sencl, Mary K. - 18 Sep 1892/16 May 1988 Mother Sencl, Anton V. - 13 Jun 1888/11 Mar 1971 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lehky, Jan - 1884/1959 Lehky, Marie - 1889/1935 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lehky, Anton - 1881/1937 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brozik, Marie - 5 May 1962, 92 yrs [iron cross & small marker] Brozik, Josef - zemrel 28 cerven 1948, stari 77 year [died Jun, 77 years old] Odpocivej Upokoji "Rest in peace" Zde Odpociva "Here rests" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 3: [Front to Back] Helcl, Albert W. - 21 Jun 1885/11 May 1954 Helcl, Eva H. - 18 Aug 1899/12 Oct 1983 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Helcl, Marvin W. - 16 Aug 1923/29 Nov 1985 Filipi, William - narozen brezen 28 1901/zemrel brezen 28 1924 [born Mar/died Mar] Zde Odpociva Odpocivej V Pokoji Drahi Muj Manzeli "Here rests" "Rest in peace dear my husband" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hrachovina, Josefh - 1865/12 Jan 1942 Hrachovina, Pani - 1864/24 Apr 1918 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hrochovina, Joseph Sr. - Jul 1864/Jan 1942 Hrochovina, Roza - 2 Apr 1864/24 Apr 1918 Hrochovina, Frank - 29 Jul 1901/28 Jun 1920 Hrochovina, George - 11 May 1899/7 Jul 1920 [Above 4 names on single tombstone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hrochovina, Frank - 28 Jun 1920, 19 yrs 11 mos ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dvorak, Anna R. - cervenec 13 1865/cervenec 6 1949 [Jul/Jul] Dvorak, Vaclav - listopadu 25 1867/duben 24 1958 [Nov/Apr] [Double Stone] - Drimej Vegny Sen. "Dreaming everlasting dreams" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cespiva, Frank - 1881/1959 Cespiva, Josephine - 1888/1951 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steffek, Carl - 23 Jan 1880/10 Jan 1967 Steffek, Emilie - 7 Jul 1885/24 Mar 1972 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Westerchil, Fred - 23 Feb 1895/31 Aug 1973 Father [masonic] Westerchil, Jodie Scroggs - 29 Jan 1908/30 Sep 1976 Mother [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hrachovina, William - 6 Apr 1895/10 Jul 1974, Pvt. US Army WWI ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 4: [Back to Front] Smigura, Louis J. - 22 Dec 1913/18 Jun 1985, 71 yrs [funeral marker] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cole, Janice - 12 Aug 1941/17 Sep 1987 Mother ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baker, Blanche Smigura - 30 Jun 1922/3 Jan 1980 Mother "Mom" Baker, Emmett Lee - 26 Aug 1919/23 Nov 1979, SSgt. US AF WWII Korea "Pop" [Double Stone] - Married 25 Oct 1960 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 5: [Back to Front] Novomestky, Paul - 1 Feb 1904/26 Jan 1981 Novomestky, Agnes T. - 21 Mar 1909/4 Jan 1975 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marecik, Tomes - 14 Jan 1929, 75 yrs ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kocourek, Vaclav - 6 Jun 1949, 75 yrs Kocourek, Anna - 1884/1949 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tauber, Anne C. - 13 Oct 1911/[no dates] Tauber, Oldrich - 16 Feb 1910/21 Mar 1986 [Double Stone] - Married 19 Oct 1933 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nosek, Jan - 14 Dec 1940, 85 yrs ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Krejci, Marie David - 10 leden [Jan] 1877/23 rijen [Oct] 1957 Mother Krejci, Vaclav - 28 duben [Apr] 1857/7 kveten [May] 1925 Father [Double Stone] - Spanem Bohem Na Vecnost "Goodbye with God forever" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Varvarovsky, Josef - narozen 20 srpna 1872/zemrel 22 cerven 1943 [born Aug/died Jun] Varvarovsky, Josefa - narozena 9 cerven 1877/zemrela 1 zari 1958 [born Jun/died Sep] Odpocivej po boji "Rest after struggle" [Double Stone] - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Varvarovsky, Antoinette - narozena 8 kveten 1901/zemrela 26 listopadu 1943 [born May/died Nov] Spi Sladce "Sleep sweetly" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 6: [Front to back] Frank, Joseph - 29 brezen [Mar] 1861/17 unora [Feb] 1935 Frank, Marie Mach, wife of Joseph Frank - 22 Mar 1858/14 Oct 1936 [Identical Stones] Budic Ti Zem Lehka "Let the earth be light" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- [unreadable funeral marker, infant burial] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wosterchil, Annie - 1867/1937 Wosterchil, Wesley - 1863/1944 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcek, Jacob - 15 Jul 1858/10 Sep 1935 Odpogivej V Pokoji "Rest in Peace" Welcek, Marie - 18 Aug 1860/3 Aug 1948 Odpogivej V Pokoji [Identical stones & slabs] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Janulikovi, August - 17 Jul 1873/5 Jan 1944 Janulikovi, Katerina - 9 Oct 1868/5 Oct 1952 [Double Stone] - Odpocivejte V Pokoji Po Boji "Both rest in peace after struggle" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vondracek, John - nar [born] 1878/zemrel [died] 25 rijen [Oct] 1921 Osud Nas Daleko Od Vas V Zal Ale v Zpominkv Nase Jdou Stale Jen K Vam. Manzelka A Dilky "Deliver us far from your sorrow, also our thoughts still remain just with you. Wife & Children" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Godwin, Leontine - 19 Jul 1881/29 Jan 1976 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Varvarovsky, Joseph - 5 Apr 1917/15 Jul 1977 Father ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 6 & 7: [Back to front] Wallmuth, George F. - 11 Nov 1918/16 Jan 1990 Wallmuth, Agnes F. - 13 Aug 1914/[no dates] [Double Stone] - Married 26 Apr 1945 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frank, Claudell S. - 5 May 1946/11 Aug 1988 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zehrung, Warren K. - 19 Aug 1916/[no dates] Zehrung, Gertrude C. - 17 Oct 1917/2 Dec 1986 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- [round concrete barrier around flower bed - no information] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sedlacek, J. J. - zemrel 4 rijen ue sta re 58 roku [died 4 Oct, was this old 58 years] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fuchy, Frank - 21 Mar 1891/29 Sep 1929 Filipi, Anna Fuchy - 28 Nov 1894/15 Jun 1987 Filipi, Louis - 23 Jul 1899/20 Nov 1963 [Three stones on common concrete base] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baley, Edward J. - 18 Mar 1876/22 Oct 1918 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stuchlik, Infant of M&M Rudolph Stuchlik - [no dates] Stuchlik, Infant son of Rudolph Stucklik - 13 Jul 1937 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stuchlik, Rudolph - 16 Apr 1893/10 Jan 1952 LA Pvt. 2 BN Repl. Tng. Center WW1 Stuchlik, Mary P. - 11 Sep 1899/8 May 1977 Si Ra Peme Se Deli, Vysokc Obloha Na S Spojuje! "The wide world is divided, the high sky unites us!" [translation is on the stone] [Double Stone] - Married 9 Feb 1924 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 8: [Front to Back] Borovic, Louis - Poland 13 Oct 1894/30 Jun 1958 Dvorak, Mary J. - 10 May 1894/14 Jul 1925 Sli Tise Bilas Jsi Verna Zena A Uprimna Ke Vsem "Sleep quietly you were faithful wife and friend to all" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcek, Baby - dead at birth 1 May 1926 Welcek, Baby - 22 Dec 1922 Welcek, Marie M. - 24 Jun 1898/16 May 1945 Welcek, Francis J. - 13 Oct 1884/6 Jan 1970 [Four stones on common concrete slab] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alexander, Bess T. - 1908/1965 Mother ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tauber, Margaret - 13 cervence [Jul] 1873/zemrela [died] 1 unor [Feb] 1926 Zde Odpociva "Here Rests" Tauber, Josef - narozen 14 leden 1883/zemrel 13 brezen 1921 [born Jan/died Mar]Zde Odpociva "Here Rests" Sli Sladce "Sleep Sweetly" [rest of the epitaph unreadable on both stones] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nadrchal, Thomas - 13 Jul 1884/13 Jul 1977 Nadrchal, Anna J. - 14 Feb 1888/19 Oct 1979 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Madjarosh, Frank - zemrel 3 srpna 1920, vevjeku 36 [died 3 Aug 1920, of the year 36] Spi Sladce Zde Odpociva "Sleep Sweetly" "Here Rests" Ethridge, Helen N. - 9 May 1919 East St. Louis IL/23 Aug 1986 Alexandria, LA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brousek, Andrew - 10 Jan 1882/1 Aug 1972 Father Brousek, Marie Wittera - 17 Sep 1888/31 Oct 1963 Mother [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brousek, William - 1914/1919 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 9: [Back to Front] Denghel, John Gordon - 16 Sep 1930/28 Mar 1992 [funeral marker] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Denghel, Simeon Nicolaie - 1897/1973, Born Sibiu, Romania/American Citizen 1922 Denghel, Joana Denes - Garrett, IN 1910/1971 "Fine Wife & Mother" [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vlasek, M. F. - nar 2/9 1860/zem 1/12 1934 [born/died] [handlettered] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Filipi, Anna Welcek - 3 Jul 1900/5 Dec 1976 "Mom" Filipi, Infant of Louis & Anna Filipi - 6 Jun 1929 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kaderka, Hattie - 18 Aug 1928/2 Oct 1928 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kaderka, John - 27 Mar 1890/8 Mar 1966 Kaderka, Katherine M. - 19 Oct 1893/5 Dec 1967 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stegner, Charles F. - 8 Jul 1896/14 May 1970 Stegner, Katherine Baley - 25 Nov 1866/24 Jan 1953 Stegner, Joseph F. - 15 Aug 1870/17 May 1966 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Suchy, Marie - 3 Jan 1870/16 Jul 1954 Suchy, Karel - 13 Dec 1862/22 Mar 1955 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 10: [Front to Back] Zerbe, Charles R. - 11 Nov 1887/24 Dec 1977 Zerbe, Emilie F. - 25 Aug 1895/23 Nov 1977 [Identical Stones] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zerbe, Bobbie Ray, son of M&M C.R. Zerbe - 11 Mar 1927/25 Sep 1935 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frank, Edward - 6 Jun 1892/2 Mar 1950 Frank, Helen Vonesh - 18 Aug 1902/6 Aug 1988 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vonesh, John - 1874/25 Aug 1954 Vonesh, Katerina - narozena 20 duben year 1874/zemrela 23 cervence year 1952 [born April year 1874/died July year 1952] Zde Odpociva Budis Ti Zeme Lehka "Let the soil be light" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cestiva, Blanche K. - 18 Sep 1922/1 Apr 1953 Mother ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marhefka, Steve - 15 Aug 1891/17 Apr 1982 Father Marhefka, Kathryn - 7 Apr 1891/21 Jun 1974 Mother [Double Stone] - Married 25 May 1913 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 11: [Back to Front] Goudeau, Lofton J. - 8 Oct 1904/5 Dec 1989 [funeral marker] Kaderka, Joe - 4 Mar 1921/13 Nov 1985 Father ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weatherford, Lillian Krejzl - 25 Nov 1919/16 Jun 1978 Weatherford, John William - 13 Oct 1923/17 Aug 1958 [Double Stone] - LA Tec. 4 201 Ord. Depot Co. WW2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Krejzl, Julia V. - 10 Sep 1884/21 Jul 1963 Krejzl, John J. - 1 Jun 1875/30 Dec 1956 [Identical Stones] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kastanek, Martha S. - 6 Mar 1901/[no dates] Kastanek, Edward J. - 8 Jan 1894/1 Nov 1986, US Army WW1 [Double Stone] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Curtis, Travis M. - 21 Aug 1931/6 Sep 1977, Cpl. US Army Korea Curtis, Deborah Sue, daughter of M&M Travis Curtis - 7 Mar 1959/26 Nov 1960 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Footnotes: 1Walker, Rosie Ann Locker, "A History of the Rural Schools of the Czech Communities of Kolin and Libuse", Dissertation for Northwestern State University of Louisiana, 25 August 1986.