THE HOLEC/HOLETS FAMILY
Emigrated from Chrudim, Bohemia to Johnson & Linn County, Iowa, 1857

Vaclav and Anna Holec and three of their children arrived in the United States from Bohemia in the year of 1857.  After a 14 week crossing and three days before reaching Baltimore they encountered a great storm and their boat eventually struck a rock.  All passengers  survived, but none of their possessions were saved.  The Holec family and the other passengers were subsequently helped by charities to continue their journey.  They reached Burlington, Iowa by train and made their way to family friends from the old country, the Janko family, who lived near what was to become the town of Swisher in Johnson County, Iowa.  In 1858 Vaclav acquired land and set up a homestead just south of the town of Swisher.  He died in 1869 at the age of 47, leaving his son Wencil, age 18, in charge of supporting his mother and 6 siblings.  (A note of thanks goes to Ted Kubicek, great-grandson of Vaclav and Anna for the above information.)

POSSIBLE IMMIGRATION:   Baltimore Passenger and Immigration Lists,
Name: Wenzl Holetz    Arrival in Baltimore Harbor: 21 Dec 1857 - Embarked Oct 15, 1857 from Bremen, Germany aboard the ship "Eva Dorthea"]
Listed are one male (Wenzl), one female, 2 children age 1 to 8, and 1 child age 0 to 1. This would be wife Anna, son Wencil about age 8, daughter Anna, nearly 3, and son John, not yet 2.
Place of Origin: **Budislav (*The Janko family, with whom they stayed when they first arrived in Iowa, were also from Budislav.)

HOLETS FAMILY REUNION RECORDS - When we learned of the death of Gladys Holets of Ely, Iowa,  22 December, 1999, we realized that she had in her possession all the records from 50 years of Holets family reunions spanning the years of 1929 to 1979.  We were afraid these precious records would be destroyed.  After contacting the people in charge of her estate, we were able to obtain all of the records, pictures and Holets family  items that Gladys had kept so diligently all of these years.  They are in safe keeping once again.  I have posted old family pictures and stories from "Uncle John" Holets about his early years in this country, and other items of interest as I have had the time.  Hopefully others in this Holets family line will find them here on the net, and also have access to them. If any Holets family member is interested in Gladys' belongings, please contact me.  Otherwise, they will eventually be donated to the Ely Community History Society Archives, in Ely, Iowa.

The log cabin a mile south of Swisher, Iowa
built in 1858 by Vaclav Holec and his family

Holec/Holets Family pictures

Holets Family Pictures II 

Vaclav Holets Will;   Wesley J. Holets History

Old Letters by John Holets

The chart below is in no way to be considered complete, 
but gives an indication of the families associated with the Holets family. 

Descendants of Vaclav Holec and Anna Pecina
(First Three Generations)

1 Vaclav HOLEC b: 1822 Chrudim, CZE d: 1869 Johnson Co, IA
. +Anna PECINA b: 1828 Chrudim, CZE d: 3 Jul 1908 Ely, Linn Co., IA
........ 2 Wencil J. HOLETS b: 28 Sep 1848 Bohemia d: 11 Oct 1932 Johnson Co, IA
............ +Anna DRINOVSKY b: 2 Nov 1855 Lubna, Bohemia m: 20 Feb 1873 Iowa City, IA d: 12 Jan 1917 Johnson Co, IA
................... 3 Mary HOLETS
....................... +Fred SULEK b: 4 Feb 1898 Iowa d: Mar 1976 Ft. Dodge, IA
................... 3 Anna HOLETS
....................... +Joe SIROWY
................... 3 William M. HOLETS b: 2 Jul 1877 d: May 1964 Minneapolis, MN
....................... +Albina KUCERA
................... 3 Charles W. HOLETS
....................... +Agnes JANKO b: 7 Dec 1892 d: 19 Dec 1978 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
................... 3 Edward M. HOLETS b: 3 Jul 1896 Iowa d: Jul 1976 Wykoff, MN
....................... +Anna Stella CUHEL
........ 2 Anna HOLETS b: 1 Jan 1854 Chrudimskeho CZE d: 10 Feb 1931
............ +Joseph JONAS d: Unknown
................... 3 Mary JONAS
....................... +Joseph Vaclav NEMEC
................... 3 Frank JONAS d: Unknown
....................... +Bessie COCHNOUR d: Unknown
................... 3 Millie JONAS
....................... +Joseph J. HUDACHEK
................... 3 Lulu JONAS
....................... +Clyde O. WILSON
................... 3 Louis W. JONAS d: Unknown
....................... +Florence ACKERLY d: Unknown
........ 2 John HOLETS b: 27 Jun 1855 Bohemia d: 30 Apr 1950 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
............ +Anna SEDLACEK b: Abt. 1860 Bohemia d: Unknown Father: Jan SEDLACEK Mother: MARIE (See Sedlacek page)
................... 3 Frank E. HOLETS b: 16 Oct 1890 Fairfax, Linn Co., IA d: Sep 1971
....................... +Helen HOADLEY d: 1947
................... 3 Joseph HOLETS d: Unknown
....................... +Belle ROSE d: Unknown
................... 3 Benjamin F. HOLETS b: Abt. 1883
....................... +Alta RAMSEY
................... 3 Mary HOLETS b: 8 Aug 1893
....................... +Leland TAYLOR
................... 3 Lillian HOLETS b: 11 Oct 1898 Fairfax, Linn Co., IA d: 6 Jan 1995 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
....................... +Charles G. SELZER m: 5 May 1926 Fairfax, Linn Co., IA d: 4 Jul 1961
........ 2 Joseph HOLETS b: 7 May 1859 near Swisher, Johnson Co, IA d: 28 Apr 1939 Ely, Linn Co., IA
............ +Katherine SEDLACEK b: 20 Jan 1863 Bohemia m: Sep 1879 First Presbyterian Church, Ely, IA d: 27 Apr 1951 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA Father: Jan SEDLACEK Mother: MARIE/Mary (See Sedlacek page)
................... 3 Mary HOLETS b: 15 Sep 1881 Ely, Linn Co., IA d: 3 Jul 1973 Iowa
....................... +Frank HENIK b: 15 Sep 1878 Cedar Bluffs, IA m: 3 May 1905 Ely, IA d: 4 Dec 1951 near Mt. Vernon, IA
................... 3 Joseph Wencil HOLETS b: 27 Jul 1886 Ely, Linn Co., IA d: 2 Apr 1984 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
....................... +Ida BARTA b: 1887 d: 1965
................... 3 Otilla HOLETS b: 15 Jul 1890 near Ely, Linn Co., IA d: 21 Jan 1977 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
....................... +Thomas George HORAK b: 23 Jul 1885 College Twp., Linn Co, IA m: 23 Nov 1909 Linn Co, IA d: 2 Apr 1941 College Twp., Linn Co, IA Father: Joseph HORAK Mother: Anna SMEJKAL (See Smejkal page)
........ 2 Frank J. HOLETS b: 22 Mar 1862 Johnson Co, IA d: 1930
............ +Annie PELL b: 1866 d: 1949
................... 3 Frances HOLETS b: 14 Sep 1888 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA d: 23 Jun 1987 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
....................... +Charles ZVACEK b: 5 Sep 1889 near Ely, Linn Co., IA m: 30 Jun 1915 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA d: 24 Dec 1989 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
................... 3 Sylvia HOLETS
....................... +Horace JONAS
................... 3 Victor Hugo HOLEC b: 29 Jul 1895 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA d: Aug 1975 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
....................... +Louise Inez CASTEK b: 26 Mar 1899 Swisher, Linn Co., IA m: 18 May 1926 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA d: 16 May 1989 Florissant, MO
................... 3 Irma HOLETS b: 13 Feb 1899 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA d: 21 Jan 1990 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
....................... +John S. KADLEC m: 18 May 1921 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA d: 1988
........ 2 Katherine HOLETS b: 16 Sep 1865 Johnson Co, IA d: 16 Jul 1953 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
............ +Alvin O. LATIMER d: Unknown
................... 3 Louise B. LATIMER d: Unknown
....................... +James L. HALPIN d: Unknown
................... 3 Osa W. LATIMER d: 15 Oct 1951
....................... +Helen KEMP d: Unknown
........ 2 Mary HOLETS b: 16 May 1867 near Swisher, Johnson Co, IA d: 7 Nov 1946 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
............ +Joseph KUBICEK b: 19 Mar 1866 Cedar Rapids,  IA m: 3 Jul 1888 Marion, Linn Co., IA d: 15 Aug 1939 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
................... 3 Lula KUBICEK b: Unknown d: Unknown Died as a child
................... 3 Fred H. KUBICEK b: 18 Jul 1891 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA d: 21 Mar 1977 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA
....................... +Mary B. BRUNA b: 15 Aug 1890 m: 29 Jun 1916 Cedar Rapids, IA d: 12 Oct 1970 Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA Father: John BRUNA, Sr Mother: Anna SKRDLA