Michael Bouzek, 1835-1879

Michael Bouzek was born on 6 October 1835 in house number 54, Dneschitz (today’s Dnešice), Pilsen, Bohemia, to parents Adalbert Bouzek age forty-nine, and Margaretha Levora, age forty-three, the last of their eleven children. He was baptized the same day, and his godparents were Michael Massak and Magdalena Tobermann.

By 1860, Michael had made his way to St. Louis, appearing on the 1860 census as a single man in the first ward of St. Louis with his sister, Magdalena, her husband, John Pesel, and their two children, Maria and Magdalena. Throughout his life his occupation was a tailor.

Michael Bouzek married Josephine Tobermann on 19 August 1861 at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church in St. Louis at age twenty-five. Josephine was born in the same town in Bohemia, on 20 February 1836 in house number 14, Dneschitz. She was the first of seven children born to Joseph Tobermann and Katharina Sedlaczek. The witnesses to this marriage were Michael’s brother-in-law, John Pesel, and Wenceslaus Jirauch. Michael’s wife, Josephine, gave birth to their only child, Michael, on 29 September 1861. The baby was baptized two weeks later on 16 October, and the sponsors were Carl Sametz and Magdalena Bouzek Pesel, his sister. Although his baptismal name was Michael, the child was known as Charles for the remainder of his life.

Michael was a signed witness to the marriage of his sister, Maria Anna Bouzek, and Wenzel Hanusch on 11 February 1862 at St. John Nepomuk. He was listed in the 1864 city directory at 10th Street between Marion and Carroll, and in the 1866 city directory at 38 N. 10th, at which time, he was a tailor working for Henry Schaub.

According to the 1870 census, Michael was living in the third ward in St. Louis, along with Josephine and Charles. He was listed in the city directories of 1872 and 1875 at 1115 Soulard Street, occupation tailor. He was listed in the city directory at 1700 Rosatti in 1876 and 1877, again as a tailor. He was listed in the city directory at 1700 S. 12th Street in 1878, still as a tailor.

Michael Bouzek passed away at age forty-three on 6 February 1879 at 2120 N. 19th Street of phthisis pulmonalis with burial at New Pickers Cemetery (now Gatewood Gardens) in St. Louis, section B5, lot 43, grave 1. His wife, Josephine Tobermann Bouzek, died at 1719 Linn Street in St. Louis on 18 September 1885 due to burns from an accident. She was forty-nine years old and is buried with Michael at New Pickers Cemetery, grave 2. Their son, Charles Bouzek, married Rosie Ptacek in 1882, had two sons, Charles, born 1890, and William, born 1894. He died on 20 December 1901 and is buried with his parents.

Written by Chris Jacobson
June 2021

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Last Modified: 28-Jan-2022 15:46