Josephine Slodovnik(ova) Helebrant Kostal

Josephine Kostal; My great great grandmother & her story.

Josephine Sladovnik(ova) Helebrant Kostal

My great great grandmother Josephine immigrated into America from Bohemia at the age of 25 in 1880. Born in 1855 in Onboci near Pilzen Bohemia to the parents John Sladovnik and Katherina Kunes. Josephine immigrated in 1880 to Saunders County, NE, where she met John Helebrant (My great great grandfather). She married Mr. Helebrant on November 30 1880 in Douglas county NE by Reverend Vaclav Kocernik in the Saint Wenceslaus Parish, Omaha. She was 25, He was 34. Once married, they resided for the rest of their marriage in Ravenna, Nebraska.

John and Josephine had four children together; Anna (1881), Antonia "Tonnie" (1883), Louis, my great grandfather (1884), and James (1886). After John died (of unknown causes, as almost everything is unknown about this man) in October of 1887,  Josephine married James Kostal in 1889. She and James also had four children together; Agnes (1890), Edward (1893), Emma (1896), and Albie (1899). Josephine died on February 21 1923 at the age of 68 in Ravenna, NE due to diabetes. She is buried in the Highland Cemetery.

Josephine was also a part (president and treasurer) of, Ruze Viterstvi No. 92, Jednota Ceskych Dam (J. C. D.), Bohemian Woman's Auxiliary to Z. C. B. J. Order. Organized February 22, 1898, with twenty three charter members. The ladies at the J. C. D. ended up being the women who conducted her funeral in the family home.

Though her first husband John (my great great grandfather) is quite the mystery man, Josephine didn't seem to be too camera shy, as I have many photos and much more information on her. It is astonishing to me that after seven years of marriage to the man, our family is yet to find any photos or information of the couple, and the records through Ravenna, NE are scarce on John Helebrant as well, though there are many pictures of her and her family.

This is a record of the marriages that took place in Douglas County, Nebraska from 1854 to 1881. This is the only official documentation I have on John & Josephine's marriage. Found at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Another record of Marriages in Douglas County.

This was a list Reverends in the area, one of which (Rev. Vaclav Korcarnik) Married John and Josephine to witnesses Adam Hajek and John Hora.

Rev. Vaclav Korcarnik

This photo was taken shortly after James and Josephine were married. The child on James's lap was his first born, Agnes. Antonia "Tonnie"  and young James are sitting in front. Louis and Anna are standing just behind them.

(1) Antonia "Tonnie" Helebrant-Stanton, (2) Louis Helebrant, (3) Agnes Kostal-Glodowski, (4) James "Jim" Helebrant, (5) Anna Helebrant-Smaha
(6) Albie Kostal-Psota, (7) James Kostal, (8) Edward Kostal, (9) Josephine Sladovnik-Helebrant-Kostal, (10) Emma Kostal-Psota

There was nothing on the back of this photo when I received it but I have been able to pick out a few familiar faces from this summer get together, one of which being Josephine and James Kostal. Other familiar faces belonging to Katherina and James Novy (My other great great grandparents. Katherina and James Novy ended up being the in-laws to Louis Helebrant). Josephine is in front and the sixth woman from the left. James Kostal is standing just behind her and to the right. Katherina is the woman in white standing to the right of Josephine, and James Novy is just behind Katherina and to the right.

From Left to Right:      (1) Antonia "Tonnie" Helebrant  (2) Louis Helebrant  (3) Anna Helebrant  (4) Albie Kostal  (5) Edward Kostal  (6) Agnes Kostal  (7) James Helebrant  (8) Emma Kostal       In front: Josephine and James Kostal

Josephine Sladovnik(ova) Helebrant Kostal with her second husband James Kostal

This is a copy of the newspaper with Josephine's Obituary

John Helebrant

John Helebrant; My Great Great Grandfather & His Story

This photo is one that I received from Loray Hastings (Frank Helebrant's Great Granddaughter). The man on left has been confirmed as Frank Helebrant (My Great Great Great Uncle, brother to John Helebrant who is my Great Great Grandpa). The man on the right, however, has not been confirmed as to which family member he may be. It has been said that he could possibly be John Helebrant, but again, that has not been confirmed thus far.

           My great great grandfather, John Helebrant, has been somewhat of mystery to the family. This has made it extremely difficult to research him and his intermediate family, because there just isn't very much documentation or family information on him. Nonetheless, these are copies of the original documents and very little information that I was able to scrape together on him.

          John Helebrant was born in December of 1845 in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia to his parents, John Helebrant and Frantiskr Lytver. The exact day of his birth is unknown. He had one brother, Frank Helebrant (born February 24, 1842). John immigrated to America from Bohemia sometime in 1879 and resided in Revanna, Nebraska. He married Josephine Slodovnik(ova) on November 30, 1880, in Douglas County, Nebraska. He was 34, She was 25. They were married by Reverend Vaclav Kocernik in the Saint Wenceslaus Parish, Omaha. John and Josephine had four children together; Anna (1881), Antonia "Tonnie" (1883), Louis (1884), and James (1886). During that time John worked as a farmer. He died in October of 1887 (42). The cause of his death is still unknown to the family. He is buried in the Horak Cemetery in Revanna, Nebraska.

This was a census I was able to find at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. This census would have been taken shortly after he immigrated here to America, but just before he Married Josephine Slodovnik(ova).

This is a record of the marriages that took place in Douglas County, Nebraska from 1854 to 1881. This is the only official documentation I have on John & Josephine's marriage, and the only documentation that has been found to mention his parents. Also found at the Family History Library.

Another record of Marriages in Douglas County.

This was a list Reverends in the area, one of which (Rev. Vaclav Korcarnik) Married John and Josephine to witnesses Adam Hajek and John Hora.

Reverend Valcav Kocarnik of the Wenceslaus Parish in Omaha, NE

A map of what is known as the Horak Cemetery where John Helebrant is buried.

The Marker stone of John Helebrant in the Horak Cemetary.

A little bit of history on the Horak Cemetery (or the Bohemian National Cemetary) where John is buried. Located in Revanna, NE.

Where My Journey Into The Past Began

(1) Antonia "Tonnie" Helebrant-Stanton, (2) Louis Helebrant, (3) Agnes Kostal-Glodowski, (4) James "Jim" Helebrant, (5) Anna Helebrant-Smaha
(6) Albie Kostal-Psota, (7) James Kostal, (8) Edward Kostal, (9) Josephine Sladovnik-Helebrant-Kostal, (10) Emma Kostal-Psota

          In July of 2006 I took a routine summer trip to Idaho to visit my family. While there, my Aunt Laurel (Fern, as the family calls her) was gracious in parting with some very old family photos. As I entered her home we received a warm welcome and then visited for a while. At one point she handed me a stack of old photos and it was fascinating to see family photos of what seemed to (almost) be familiar faces, and yet I had not a clue as to who they were. We visited for a short while longer and then parted with goodbyes. I then finished my stay in Idaho before returning home. Upon arriving home late in the evening, I couldn't wait another day before looking at the photos again. This time, looking much more closely, trying to make sense of any small clue of finding names that belong to the beautiful people in the photos. All I could really see was the town name and state printed on the front of some of the original photos. Looking back I am so grateful for that tiny bit of information. Where it led me next was amazing.

          I decided then, to try a Google search. I typed in one of our family names, with the town and state. I tried "Helebrant, Revanna NE" and the search came up with the family memories blog. I held in my hands a group family photo (above) in hopes of finding some connection. I proceeded to click on family memories and found myself absolutely speechless for a few moments. There before me on my computer screen was the exact family photo staring at me that I held in my hands. A beautiful blog with very neatly typed names, in order, beneath the photo. A name listed below the photo for each family member.

          Hungry for even more information on the family members I had never known, I emailed the writer (Steve Cornelius) of the blog the very next day. Not too long after (though a painfully long wait), I received an email back. It was just the beginning, but I now knew who the people in photograph were, and I had just met my long lost, long distance, second Cousins.





** Reference for the family members in the photo (above) and their relation to me:

(1) Antonia "Tonnie" Helebrant Stanton (1883-1964) - My Great Great Aunt, Louis Helebrant's (My Great   Grandpa) Sister, John Helebrant and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Daughter.
(2) Louis Helebrant (1884-1971) - My Great Grandpa, Married Josephine "Josie" Novy-Helebrant, and was father to Evelyn Veronica Helebrant-Monroe (My Grandmother).
(3) Agnes Kostal-Glodowski (1890-1985) - My Great Great Half Aunt, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Half Sister, James and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Daughter.
(4) James "Jim" Helebrant (1886-1955) -  My Great Great Uncle, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Brother, John Helebrant and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Son, Married Rose Horak-Helebrant (My Great Aunt and distant cousin).
(5) Anna Helebrant-Smaha (1881-1959) - My Great Great Aunt, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Sister, John Helebrant and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Daughter.
(6) Albie Kostal-Psota (1899-1978) - My Great Great Half Aunt, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Half Sister, James and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Daughter.
(7) James Kostal (1863-1948)  - My Great Great Step Grandpa, My Great Great Grandma Josephine's second husband.
(8) Edward Kostal (1893-1967) - My Great Great Half Uncle, James and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Son, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Half Brother, along with Arlene Kostal-Cornelius's Dad and Steve Cornelius's Grandpa.
(9) Josephine Sladovnik-Helebrant-Kostal (1844-1928) - My Great Great Grandmother, Married first to John Helebrant (not pictured) then widowed and ma rried to James Kostal, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Mother.
(10) Emma Kostal-Psota (1896-1919) - My Great Great Half Aunt, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Half Sister.