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Note: Julius Octavius August Sroka was the first member of the Sroka family to come to America. He came by ship from Hamburg in 1851 at age 52. He was born in Moliers, Trebnitzer County near Breslau (German name) or Wroclaw (Polish name) in what was then Prussia - now southwest Poland. Julius Octavius attended the University of Leipzig studying chemistry. He was a chemist by profession and was a citizen of Namslau, a town near Breslau, on October 30, 1826. He worked with fireworks, colored inks, and medicines. Medicines were obtained in those days from chemists' laboratories. He travelled through Europe for two years as part of his university education. The notes he made during one of his trips are transcribed as follows: May 23, 1823 From Festinberg over Juliusberg, Oels (Olesnica), to Breslau (Wroclaw), and 24th and 25th stayed. 26th over Ohlau (Olawa), to Brieg (Brzeg), the 28th over Kreisewitz, Schoenfeld, gr. Jankewitz (Jankowice Wlk), Sensterdorf, Grootkau (Grodkow), KL Nuedorf, Alt Grottkau (Str Grodkow), Falkenau, Friedewalde, Maywitz, Boesdorf, Struwitz, Hannsdorf, passed the Monument up to town Neisse (Nysa), and then the 29th over Neuland, and Neetz, Oppersdorf, Griesau, Hingerscharf, Leuchelsdorf, up to Neustadt (Golden Adler); the 31st over Kunzendorf and over the border to Maidelberg the city with the castle (very tasteful wine and pretty girls) over Obersdorf and Roswalde, then on to Prussia, Mocker and Peterwittz (Pietrovice), and then over the border Jaegerndorf Tropau )Opava), to Hof. 1st June over Sternberg (Sternberk) with a beautiful church, Olnoetz (Olmutz or Olomoud), with many beautiful fountains, over Prostnitz (Prostejov) (beautiful girls), Wishau (Vyskoz), Posrzitz to Bruen (Brno or Brunn), beautiful boulevards and parks on the Frangenberg with a monument, to the left side Speilberg. The 2nd over Reggern, Poharlitz (Pohorelice), Nicholsburg (Mikulov), with very old high castle, Gaunnersdorf (Gaweinstal), Wolkersdorf, Stammersdorf to Wein (Vienna). Evenings I went to the Theater in der Leopoldstadt. The 4th I went to the Prater (amusement park); the 5th Augarten (a Viennese Park) to the art museum, the 6th to the Hof Theater (Royal, very finest), the 7th in the city, the 8th to the Prater and Theater in Wien, the 9th to Schoenbrunn (Kaiser's Castle), the 10th in Lachsenburg. Total distance 240 miles in a straight line from Breslau to Wein; about 20 miles per day. The following miscellaneus notes were included in the notebook. The Lord's Supper 20 ellen (yards) long Giacomo Raffaelli 8 ellen high Faceva 1816 made of colored stone (mosaic) Directions in Wien: Police Station is next to Seitzr Post across from the Military War Building. No 422 Wien Cities Captain Society in the lettle Peter's Court behind the new avenue No. 3. His return trip was as follows: 30th May out of Neustadt, 6th of June from Wien, 12th from Wien, 18th Prague, 6th July in Dresden. The following were letters to friends which he had copied into the notebook. Wien, May 18th #1 - Dearest Honorable Friend, I am with all my heart your true friend. The Grace which you havehonored me during my visit in Breslau is lively in my memory and I cannot any longer refrain from thanking you. I flatter myself that the affection and your heart still remains the same towards me. I hope that someday it is my privilege to be obligated to you and how deeply you are in esteem of your very humble friend. #2 - Dearest Honorable Friend, You know that I'm not likely to refuse a request to a dear friend i hold in so high esteem. I accept with willingness your offer, to give you in this letter information about my last pleasure trip, which I will make very brief. I beg you to accept these little posies as I have no roses to give away. After the termination of my six weeks vacation at the home of my parents which with the usually fast tempo and to my regret slipped by too fast, I returned to Breslau where I received a warm welcome. "Blessed is he who does not seek his right place in fear, but is watining patiently, which often shows the way to reform." Providence leads many to a particular path. I spent two days in Breslau and continued my trip after I departed from my dearest friends, for whom I hold a deep affection. #3 - In the company of your dear wife if you will put up with my small apartment in which I will serve a baptismal meal. With deepest thanks, realizing this honor, I remain with sincere respect and devotion, yours. #4 - Through a friend, I received your address and am taking the privilege to show before the coming of spring my manufactured dye-stuff, and the price table of the season. I hope you will accept this offer and give me the kindest consideration. It will enable you to judge the quality of my merchandise which I am sending you sufficient samples. Eisenach 1821 Thueringen On May 24, 1828 he became Herr Luetnant Sroka in Capt 9 Burgergarde Company under Capt S. J. Ruchas. The following is an extract of the citizen's paper granting Julius Octavius August Sroka citizenship in the town of Namslua on October 30, 1826. The enclosed citizen paper of the free estate owner, Mr. Julius Octavius August Sroka, born Maliers, Trebnitzer County, after he had the necessary experience and same were established, ha was sworn as follows: " I, Julius Octavius August Sroka, do swear by God Almighty and omniscene His Majesty King of Prussia, my gracious master, I faithfully and humbly will obey to my superiors willingly to do my best and my duty as citizen. I will fulfill concientiously to the welfare of my state and to the people to which I belong, I will cooperate to the best of my knowledge and to this may God help me, til my eternal salvation, Amen. The faithful fulfillment of all citizen's duty he has solemnly promised and therefore we keep in mind that Herr free state owner Julius Octavius August Sroka is entitled to all rights and benefits as a citizen of Namslau, promise to him, who has now obtained citizen papers, to protect all his rights as he is obedient to the law. Documentation published under the inscriptors of the City Seal. Later, before 1851, Julius Octavius August Sroka had moved to Breslau. As he was contemplating moving to America, he received a letter from a friend, addressed to him in Breslau, discouraging him from going to America. That letter is reproduced as follows. Friedburg, May 4, 1851 Honorable Friend, Before I bid you goodbye, once more by letter I will fulfill a duty which I would have done to any stranger. Last night I was at a party without any inducement from anywhere the conversation went to several well known friends who had emigrated to America. One of the guests stepped forward and said, "Gentleman, yesterday I have spoken with one who has returned from America. He is a tanner by the name of Gerber from Kroblich in Waldenburg. The man said, "For God's sake, please do not believe all that good luck stories which you hear from America, tears are shed from thousands of immigrants. As is told by one who has neither family nor property and returned to his homeland, Europe. 1. Not a day of his is secure. 2. It is so easy to speculate but it is not so easy to earn something as it is told and as you might believe. An example as I know, the merchant and tanner Hildebrandt, exceedingly wealthy, furthermore a very educated man; this man lost in inconceivable ways about half of his ways on the way to America. At the end of the trip, almost in part, the steamer ran into great trouble and was close to sinking; the captain of the ship told the people to be prepared for their death. My crew and I are perfectly helpless and have no hope for your safety. But the Lord did listen to the immigrants prayer in despair and came to their salvation. They reached the chosen land of their dreams and settled down. But oh, they are shedding many tears in great disappointment, knowing that further subjections could arise. Hildebrandt must support his family working in a cotton factory spinning cotton. A man who could afford to pay the trip for his workers to America has to live such a simple life. "Yes," said the returned Knoblich, which I mentioned in this letter before, "if some of the immigrants were fortunate, most of the information you hear are boasting lies". These same comments I heard from a citizen of this community whose brother has been for some years in America and died after having been home for a short time only. Dearest friend, much more was told about the lives of an immigrant in America which was, in the course of the evening, our only conversation. What else can I do to make myself free from blame as again I touch your great big heart to let you know of the danger in a new world before you undertake such a costly trip, place your life in idle danger, and instead of being a man of wealth if you could possibly return home, would return an impecunious man. "Remain in your country and live the honest life" is the saying. I am happy to have fulfilled my obligation to you and hope that you will not bear me a grudge. I will now make short my conversation and leave all in your hands. I wish you, if you would insist upon your plans, with all my heart a happy voyage and if God wills I will look forward to a happy reunion. My wife and children send their best greetings as well as Inspector Meuller and wife in Pollnitz. Remember the place where we entered during a rainstorm? Greetings to your wife and if I can be of any service to you and your wife it will give me a great pleasure. Your Faithful Friend F. B. Hagen The envelope was addressed to "The Merchant Sroka, Breslau, At the Sand Gateway, Flour Mill Street, not far from Apotheke on the same side of a new house. Julius Octavius August left Hamburg for Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 5, 1851, bringing many possessions with him. The following was noted on his passport. Merchant August Sroka; born in Maliers, Germany; lived in Namslau; came to visit friends and for pleasure from Namslau over Hamburg; dated June 5, 1851. Religion - Evangelical Age - 51; Ht - 5 feet; Hair - Brunette; High Forehead; Brunette Eyebrows; Eyes - blue-like; Nose - strong; Mouth - common; Beard - grayish; Chin - round; Face - longish; Complexion - Healthy; Stature - little; Birthmark - none Julius Octavius August first owned a farm in or near Milwaukee and later moved to a farm at Briggsville. His first wife Maria Sophia Caroline Hein stayed in Germany until about 1853 when she also came to America. She was in poor health and died a few years later. They had no children. In 1854 Julius Octavius August wrote a letter to a friend still in Germany, a copy of which was retained and is transcribed as follows. Milwaukee, October 9, 1854 Honorable Friend! Your letter of July 9, 1854 I received on the first of the month through Mr. Pietsch, an earlier letter from you I have not received. I was very pleased to hear from you. Sorry that you did not write any more. Thank God, I am well and live on a farm four miles north of Milwaukee. Peaceful and happy I live in my domain like a little Duke, and never wish it any better. $1000 I borrowed with 10% interest for first mortgage, less $100 I drew out of the farm and besides I have $200 to live on. I work very steady and drive a one-horse wagon to town and inquire about the times abroad. I do go hunting or visit a friend in the neighborhood and time flies on and we with it. My wife who wanted to die in Breslau, came here a year ago, the trip was very strenuous for her because she left Germany in an ill condition. She was very touched when she saw the large beautiful country and the city of New York, so her eyes filled with tears. I went to New York to meet her, a little stretch of 1450 miles. I went by train and steamship; took me five days and cost $7 each; $50 for her luggage. Dear Mr. Bitke, if you want to wait until you have received from me an encouraging answer you would never come to America. I will not encourage anyone to come. If I may tell you something, anyone who has a good income in Germany should stay there. Because the long trip and expense connected with much trouble and worry is not for everybody. Whoever sees that he cannot make his point in Germany, he should not wait until it is too late. I went from there in the right time but believe me that you are three years too late. The saying is, "Those who go slow, get there too". My friend and brother Hagen warned me not to come to America, but I do not regret that I threw it to the wind. If you think you are strong enough for going to America, then come, I would be so happy to have an old friend near me. But I advise you to think carefully before you take this step. And please do not blame me, that I have encouraged you to come here. The pharmacist Schulz was in the beginning unhappy until he established himself and that is how it happens to most. Now to answer your question. Hardware stores here are very large costs, several thousand dollars; also limber yards, sawmills are likewise expensive. If (whether) you could establish yourself in a theater would be hard to tell before hand. For you I would recommend a grocery on a street where the farmers with their produce would come, with a few acres of land would be good. Beer and whiskey is a very common product to sell and you would buy from the farmers and exchange for what they have. You could have a good business because there are many farmers who speak German and you could get along well without English. Your voyage over Bremen to New york is recommended. Please get in contact with Reisch, Mueller, and Lolscher, Greenwich Street, and the agent from Wisconsin, Horn, Greenwich, and Rector, so you do not get cheated. Do not take anything but feather beds and your clothes; everything else you can buy here. My wife and all acquaintances send their greetings, and I remain your friend - Sroka. It is very hot here in the summer; please think twice before you decide. Please give this letter to the nearest Post Office. After the death of his first wife, he married the widow Theressa Kern Whitte who had two children, Philip and Justina (Jessie), by her first marriage. While living on the farm in Briggsville, large flocks of carrier pigeons came into the area for several years. He and the other farmers in the area netted large numbers of the pigeons, butchered tham and packed them for shipment to Chicago. Julius August's land was purchased in 1871 from a Widow Brainard. It was located at; "the SW quarter of the NW quarter of Sect. 27, Township 14, north range 8, east containing forty acres and ; the east half of the SE quarter of Sect. 28 and the SE quarter of the NW quarter of Sect. 27 and the SE quarter of the NE quarter of Sect. 28 all in Twonship 14, North Range 8 east in the Town of Douglas in the County of Marquette in the State of Wisconsin. It can also be described just south of the intersection of SR 23 and CR O where CR O truns sharpley towards the east. There was a mortgage on his land at Briggsville, which is believed to have been unknown to him when he bought the farm. As a result he did not have a clear title to the land. He could have cleared the title by selling timber from the land but did not and therefore lost the land in a foreclosure sale in 1877. The north part of the "L shaped piece of land is currently owned by Mr. Wampler. The south portion is owned by the Joyce family. He then moved to Portage where he operated a drug store. In his later years, he was a gardener. In 1862, when Julius August Octavius Sroka married Theresa Whitte she was 32 years of age. They had two sons, first Charles and then Julius August Sroka (father of Lester Sroka) who was born 4 years after their marriage. He and Theresa were married in Kilbourn, Wisconsin. The following is a copy of the marriage certificate. State of Wisconsin Adams County Be it remembered that on this 12th day of January, AD 1862, I joined in the holy bond of matrimony Mr. August Sroka, a son of Rev. W. Sroka, and Fredericka Lenzky, now a resident of the City of Kilbourn, private man, born at Breslau, Prussia, 62 years of age, and widow, Mrs. Theresa Whitte, daughter of Mr. Briks, now a resident of the City of Kilbourn, born at Boehmen, Germany, after they both were examined by oath and found no legal impediment. This set I did in the presence of Mr. Haedel of the City of Kilbourn and Mr. Zinkel of the same place, as a witness for according to the solemn rite of the Evangelical Lutheran Church empowered to perform solemn marriages by a License of Circuit Court at Adams County. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal. P. Bredow Ordained Minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Iowa As one would expect with his father being a minister, Julius Octavius August was a religious man and had a family alter in his home where family Bible reading was practiced each day. Julius Octavius had autograph album which was written in beautiful old German penmanship by his family and friends. He left a gold insignia ring from Germany and the album to his son Julius August Sroka. Julius Octavius August died of cystitis at Portage, Wisconsin, at age 86. He is buried in the Cemetery Silver Lake, Columbia County, Portage, Wisconsin.
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