Franz Josef Chmelicek

Franz Josef Chmelicek

• Father: Josef Chmelicek
• Mother: Josefa Suhm

• Franz Josef Chmelicek was born on 10 August 1866 in Böhmen, Österreich.
• He was known as Joseph F. C. Luhan in the United States, officially changed during 1900.
• Franz Josef Chmelicek arrived in the Port of New York on 31 August 1885, aboard the Hamburg-Amerika Linie SS Lessing, having departed Hamburg on the 19th. On the Hamburg passenger manifest, he is described as as Josef Chmelicek, age 19, Kaufmann (merchant) from Kasejovice, Böhmen, traveling Zwischendeck (steerage class.)
• He married Emily J. Rezac, daughter of Frank Rezac and Josefa Cerna, on 24 August 1889 in Manhattan, New York.
• He was naturalized on 15 September 1890 at the Court of Common Pleas, New York City.
• He and Emily J. Rezac applied for a passport on 14 July 1891 while living in New York City, New York, at 309 East 72nd Street. Passport was issued 15 July 1891.
• Franz Josef Chmelicek and Emily J. Rezac arrived in the Port of New York on 19 October 1891, accompanied by Josephine Emily Luhan aboard the Hamburg-Amerika Linie SS Normannia, having departed Hamburg on the 9th, traveling in Kajüte (cabin class).
• The following appeared on 20 October 1895 in The New York Herald: The Herald has continued its poll of the legislative candidates in the city and throughout the State on the excise question, and presents to-day the results of that poll up to date.
       With few exceptions those interfiewed were republicans, and to them the following questions were put:--
       "Would you favor a porposition to submit the question of opening the saloons on Sunday to a popular vote in cities of the first class?
       "Would you remain out of a party caucus if you believed a majority would decide against amending the Excise law for New York city?
       "How would you amend the law?"
       . . . Dr. J. F. Chmelicek, republican Assembly candidate in the Twenty-sixth district, said:-- "I favor letting the people decide whether they want Sunday opening or not, and I would oppose my party if it stood for the maintenance of the present law. I would like to see the saloons allowed to do business on Sundays in such a way as not to interfere with Sabbath observance."
• The following appeared on 6 November 1895 in the New-York Tribune: Benjamin Hirsch, a lieutenant of Thomas Dunn, the Tammany captain in the XXIVth Assembly District, was arrested early yesterday for fighting with Frank Schaustel, of No. 480 East Seventy-fourth-st., in front of the home of Dr. J. F. Chmelicek, the Republican candidate for eht Assembly in the district. Schaustel, who is a worker for the State Democracy, was also made a prisoner. They were fined $5 each, which they paid, in the Yorkville Court.
       Hirsch was responsible for Schaustel's arrest. Soon after midnight Dr. Chmelicek entered Monzet's saloon, at No. 340 East Seventy-first-st., where Hirsch and sevewral of his followers were engaged in a heated argument about the term of office of Assemblyman. Hirsch exclaimed in a loud voice that he was willing to wager $0 to $100 that the Assemblyman held office only for a year. Dr. Chmelicek took Hirsch's bet. All Hirsch had was $10. This was given to the saloonkeeper, who acted as stakeholder. Dr. Chmelicek bet that under the new law the term of Assemblyman was two years. When Hirsch learned that he had lost he became enraged, and hastened after Dr. Chmelicek and several of the doctor's friends, who had left the saloon after the bet was made. Hirsch, with six of his fellows, reached the doctor's home as the doctor was entering. Some one of Hirsch's men threw a cobble-stone toward the doctor's house, and then Hirsch and Schaustel came to blows. The doctor escaped being assaulted by running into his house. He fired off a toy pistol to attract the attention of the police. Hirsch and Schaustel were arrested as they were pummelling each other.
• The following appeared on 23 September 1897 in The World: Dr. J. F. Chmelicek, of No. 204 East Seventy-second street, is one of the most active opponents of the present freedom which midwives enjoy in New York State. His practice is among the Bohemians of the city, who number 45,000.
       Dr. Chmelicek makes the revelation that Europe trains midwives especially for work in this county. In his work he is almost daily called on in cases where incompetent midwives have performed their nefarious practice. He says:
       "The worst section in the city, where most suffering results, is on the east side, from Forty-second to One Hundered and Twenty0fifth street, but particularly above Seventy-second street. There are over forty Bohemian midwives in the city to my knowledge. Their ignorance results in suffering and deformities. That can only be understood when personally met. At home in Bohemia midwives are the reliance of the mass of women. There they have to study two to three years in order to get a diploma.
       "So well is the laxity in American laws on midwives understood there that a special classification is made for women intending to practise in this country.
       "In the Lying-in Hospital at Prague, the biggest institution of its kind on the Continent, women have to stay over two years to graduate and practise there. Yet this hospital offers rapid-transit courses of three months to women coming to practise here for $200.
       "Women go from here especially to get their diplomas, because there is only one class where instruction is given in Czech in this country, Dr. Wederlas runs one in Chicago that is crowded all the time.
       "Some of those Bohemian midwives make big money. They are, in fact, so overworked that some have actually had to retire to rest. Others have made money enough to return to Bohemia to live. Another has a fine place bought with the proceeds of her work.
       "The only way by which a law to prevent such possible practice will be passed is for The World to take the matter into the Legislature. I am disgusted at the legalized barbarities of midwives and the neglect of the State to protect poor people against them."
• The following appeared on 5 August 1898 in the New-York Tribune: (Washington, Aug. 4) The following Army and Navy orders have been issued: Army. . . . The following officers of the Medical Department will proceed from the places hereinafter designated to Tampa, Fla., for duty: Acting Assistant Surgeon Joseph F. Chmelicek, New-York City. . . .
• The following appeared on 14 July 1899 in the New-York Tribune: (Washington, July 13) The following Army and Marine Corps orders have been issued: Army. . . . The following volunteer officers, recently appointed, will join their respective regiments at the places indicated: . . . Acting Assistant Surgeon Joseph F. Chmelicek will proceed from New-York City to San Francisco for duty. . . .
• J. F. Chemelieck was listed in as a U.S. Army Acting Assistant Surgeon present for duty during July 1899 at Letterman General Hospital, Presidio of San Francisco.
• Franz Josef Chmelicek and Emily J. Rezac appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Bronx, New York, at 1274 Avenue E. Other members of the household included Josephine Emily Luhan, Elizabeth F. Luhan, Olga Marie Luhan, Emily E. Luhan and Joseph E. L. Luhan.
• He was a physician, according to the 1900 census.
• The following appeared on 2 February 1901 in The Gloversville Daily Leader: (from the New York Evening Post) The clerk of the city court recently made public the names of seventy persons who changed their names in legal form in the year 1900. Most of the original names are of palpably foreign extraction. As a rule all reasonalbe requests for change of name are grante. They are then filed away, the petition giving the avowed reasons for change and the judgment passed upon it by the court. A glance at the records and the various name changes gives rise to considerable speculation as to the real cause of dissatisfaction. . . . In the case of foreigners who have become American citizens, the stiff consonants of Russia, Bohemia or Poland prove too much for our Anglicized tongues and a change is really necessary. Under this reason come s---- changes, no doubt, as Chmelicek to Luhan, Neugroschel to Rochelle, Yuzukjian to Yuzuk, and Rochmovitz to Rockmore. . . .
• Franz Josef Chmelicek and Emily J. Rezac appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Manhattan, New York. Other members of the household included Josephine Emily Luhan, Elizabeth F. Luhan, Olga Marie Luhan, Emily E. Luhan and Joseph E. L. Luhan.
• He was employed a a physician by the US Health Department, according to the 1910 census.
• Franz Josef Chmelicek and Emily J. Rezac appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Manhattan, New York, at 220 East 72nd Street. Other members of the household included Olga Marie Luhan, Elizabeth F. Luhan, Emily E. Luhan and Joseph E. L. Luhan. Also in the household was domestic servant Mary Korbel, age 19.
• He was a doctor of medicine, according to the 1920 census.
• The following appeared on 27 June 1920 in the Philadelphia Inquirer: Dr. and Mrs. Joseph F. C. Luhan, of 220 East Seventy-second street, New York city, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Olga Marie, to Mr. Erle Cullen Herman, formerly of Germantown. During the war Mr. Herman held a commission as captain in the Chemical Warfare Service, U. S. A., and was detailed for service with the Gas Defense Division.
• The following appeared on 26 October 1920 in The New York Times: Dr. J. F. C. Luhan and Mrs. Luhan of 220 East Seventy-second Street, announce the marriage of their daughter, Miss Olga Marie Luhan, to Erle Cullen Herman on Oct. 19 at St. James's Church. The Bride's only attendant was her sister, Miss Betty Luhan.
• Franz Josef Chmelicek and Emily J. Rezac appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Forest Hills, Queens County, New York, at 24 70th (Harvest) Road. Other members of the household included Elizabeth F. Luhan.
• He was a physician, according to the 1930 census.
• Franz Josef Chmelicek died on 30 June 1931 at age 64 in Forest Hills, Long Island, Queens County, New York, at 24 Forest Street at his residence.
• The following appeared on 2 July 1931 in The Daily Star: [Died] Joseph F. Chmelicek, M. D., suddenly on June 30 at 24 Harvest street, Forest Hills, L. I., husband of Emily Luhan and father of Josephine, Betty, Olga, Emily and Joseph, Jr.
       Funeral services 10 a.m., Friday, July 3, at 204 East Seventy-second street, New York City. Interment private.
• The following appeared on 2 July 1931 in The Daily Star: A funeral service for Dr. Joseph F. Chmelicek Luhan, 24 Harvest street, Forest Hills, who practiced in Manhattan for thirty-five years and who died Tuesday, will be held at 10 a. m. tomorrow at 204 East Seventy-second street, Manhattan.
       Dr. Luhan was sixty-four. He leaves his wife, Emily R; two sons, Joseph, Jr., and Arthur, and three daughters, Betty, Emily and Dr. Josephine Luhan, assistant professor of dentistry at Columbia University.
       A native of Bohemia, Dr. Luhan came to this country when he was nineteen. He was graduated from New York University, the Columbia College of Pharmacy, and the University of Prague.
       He was a United States pension examining surgeon, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, a member of the American Medical Association, the New York County and State Medical Societies, Masons, Shiners, Odd Fellows and several Bohemian organizations.
       Burial will be private.
       Note mention of son Arthur, and no reference to daughter Olga Marie Herman, although the children appear to be listed correctly in the death notice appearing on the same page.

• Last Edited: 22 Oct 2016