Return
Franz and Johanna Labus Family
| Relation
| Born
| Died
| Days
Lived
| SSN
|
| Franz Labus, Sr.
| Father
| April 2, 1813
Jasiona (Prussia-Silesia)
| May 21, 1887
Clover Bottom, MO
| 27,077
(74 yr.)
| -
|
Johanna Labus
nee Knopp
| Mother
| May 30, 1812
Gogolin (Prussia-Silesia)
| August 24, 1898
Clover Bottom, MO
| 31,497
(86 yr.)
| -
|
Franz and Johanna Labus Children
| Relation
| Born
| Died
| Days
Lived
| SSN
|
| Paul Labus
| Son
| June 29, 1836
Jasiona (Prussia-Silesia)
| (?) Missouri/Texas
| -
| -
|
| Vallentin Labus
| Son
| Feb. 9, 1840
Jasiona (Prussia-Silesia)
| Aug. 10, 1840
Jasiona (Prussia-Silesia)
| 183
| -
|
| Johan Labus
| Son
| Feb. 9, 1840
Jasiona (Prussia-Silesia)
| (?) Missouri/Texas
| -
| -
|
| Philipp Labus
| Son
| May 13, 1843
Jasiona (Prussia-Silesia)
| March 27, 1846
Jasiona (Prussia-Silesia)
| 1049
| -
|
| Franz Labus, Jr.
| Son
| Oct. 12, 1845
Jasiona (Prussia-Silesia)
| (?) Missouri
| -
| -
|
| George Labus
| Son
| April 26, 1849
Jasiona (Prussia-Silesia)
| (?) Missouri
| -
| -
|
| Leopold Labus
| Son
| Dec. 15, 1851
Jasiona (Prussia-Silesia)
| Feb. 20, 1855
Jasiona (Prussia-Silesia)
| 1163
| -
|
Mary Elizabeth Filla
nee Labus
| Daughter
| March 19, 1855
Bremerhaven, Germany
| Jan. 12, 1943 (6/13/1943 ?)
Clover Bottom, MO
| 32076
(87 yr.)
| -
|
Franz was born in the village of Jasiona in Prussia-Silesia. Jasiona [Jaschen
in German] lies along the Oder river and the Czech border being about 14 miles
south-east of Opole and 3.5 miles east of Krapkowice. He was baptized in the
church of St. Mary Magdalena which still stands in Jasiona, During the Napoleonic
wars, Silesia was governed by Prussia and the young men were subject to universal
and compulsive military service. This is one of the reasons so many left. Along
with his wife and five surviving children as well the family of his brother Adam
Labus, he moved to the United States in the second wave of immigrants from his
home province. He arrived in the sailing ship "Weser" in Galveston, TX on June 3,
1855 and then trekked overland to Panna Maria, Tx to forge a new homestead. According
to an 1857 Karnes County, TX, Tax Assessment, Franz owned a horse, two head of cattle,
oxen, and a wagon all of which were valued at $85.
After a devastating drought in Texas in 1855-1856, the family migrated overland
following old cattle trails north to Clover Bottom, MO. Their home in Clover
Bottom had silt-loam soil along several creeks. Due to the creeks overflowing,
the village with its school was built on higher grounds. One of the first teachers
in the log school was Franz Labus. On October 12, 1866, Franz formally renounced
his previously sworn allegiance to the King of Prussia and was granted American
citizenship. In 1867, they purchased 81.44 acres in Franklin County, MO for $950.
or about $11/acre. But three years later they sold 60 of these acres for $25/acre
for a windfall profit of $1,500.
Franz attended St. Ann Church in Clover Bottom, MO but is buried in St. Gertrude
Catholic Cemetery in Krakow, MO.
Johanna was born in Gogolin in Prussia-Silesia which is about 10.5 miles
south-east of Opole and 1.5 miles east of Krapkowice. Her birthplace was
thus about 2 miles distant from that of her future husband. She was married
in Otmet (Prussia-Silesia) on Sept. 8, 1835 in the church of The Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary and migrated with her husband and extended family
to the United States in 1855 after a brief stay in Bremmenhaven, Germany.
Johanna is buried in St. Gertrude Catholic Cemetery in Krakow, MO.
Travelled with the family to Panna Maria, TX.
Had a twin brother but died at 6 months of age in Jasiona, Prussia-Silesia.
Had a twin brother who died as a young child. Travelled with the family to
Panna Maria, TX.
Travelled with the family to Panna Maria, TX.
Travelled with the family to Panna Maria, TX.
Travelled with the family to Panna Maria, TX.
Died as a young child in Jasiona, Prussia-Silesia.
Mary was the youngest of eight children. Her seven older siblings were all boys
of whom three died as children in Jasiona, Prussia-Silesia and four came with
her to Texas.
She was apparently born in Bremerhaven, Germany, waiting for the ship to come
to America. In the early 19th century Bremerhaven was not a city, it was simply
the dock up the river from Bremen, where emigrants sailing to America boarded
the ships. Sometimes passengers had to wait days for their ship to sail, and
there was a need for a place for them to stay overnight, so in 1849 the
Auswandererhaus was built to solve this problem. The Auswandererhaus was
described as being able to house easily 2000 people, and served emigrants until
1865, when the new railroad made it possible for emigrants to ride to ships
quickly from Bremen. Other versions claim she was born at sea; but in any
event she arrived in Galveston, TX at 77 days of age.
She relocated to Missouri sometime after the Texas drought of 1855-56. She
later married Andrew Filla in Clover Bottom in Missouri about 1872. She is
buried next to her husband at St. Ann's Cemetery in Clover Bottom, MO.