Family History
John and Christina Chumchal
John Anton Chumchal
...son of John Chumchal and Genefeva Bialek was born on May 10, 1885, at Sweet Home, Lavaca County, Texas. He was baptized on May 23, 1885, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hallettsville, Lavaca County, Texas. His sponsors were Philip Chumchal and Joanna Bialek. John had light eyes (sometimes blue and sometimes green) and black hair. He could speak English pretty well but usually spoke Czech. He also could write a little. It is believed that he attended school through the 3rd grade.
Christina Slovacek
...daughter of Paul Slovacek and Mary Kopecky, was born on May 15, 1888, at Ellinger, Fayette County, Texas. She was christened at Evangelical Reformed Church at Fayetteville, in Fayette County, Texas, on April 22, 1889, with Frantisek and Marie Mikeska as sponsors. Later her family moved to Sweet Home. Christina had brown eyes and dark brown hair. She could speak some English, but preferred to speak Czech. It is believed that Christina never attended school. She had a beautiful voice and enjoyed singing.
When Christina was a young woman, her parents bought her an new pair of shoes and a new red dress so that she could attend a house dance. john was also at this dance. When he saw Christina, it was "love at first sight" and he knew that she was the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
On October 23, 1905, John and Christina were married at the Presbyterian Church in Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas. Christina later became a Catholic and they were remarried in the Catholic Church. After their marriage, the rented a farm near Kokernot where John Jr. and Joe were born. Around 1909, they rented a place called "Green Ranch" around the Nickel-Dilworth Communities. Genevieve and Albert were born on this farm. The family lived here until 1912 at which time they bought a 61 acre farm near Dilworth (not too far from the Green Ranch). John and Christina worked and saved $1000. With this money, they built a 2 story house which consisted of 1 large bedroom and a kitchen downstairs and an upstairs area. John and another man dug a well by hand. One day, Albert almost fell into the well, so John put a cover on it. Willie, Louis, Julius, and Bettie were born on this place. In 1918, John and Christina sold the 61 acres and bought a 79 acre farm just down the road with a bigger house on it. The seven remaining children were born while living on this farm. John and Christina continued to live on the 79 acres until John's death. At this time, Christina bought a small house on the former Green School property near Shiner where she lived the rest of her life.
John passed away at the family home on Sunday, February 17, 1952 at 11:35 a.m. at the age of 66 years. Having suffered from high blood pressure for several years, John apparently died from a stroke.
Christina passed away in the Frank Wagner Memorial Hospital in Shiner, on Wednesday, February 9, 1966, at 10:00 p.m. at the age of 77 years. She had suffered from hardening of the arteries and diabetes which eventually led to her death.
Both John and Christina are buried in the Shiner Catholic Cemetery.
John and Christina had fifteen children, namely, John Jr. (died in infancy), Joe, Genevieve, Albert, William (died in infancy), Louis, Julius, Bettie, Richard, Edwin, Edna, Isabella, Rosie, Alfred, and Felix. Christina also suffered a miscarriage between Joe and Genevieve.
(history taken from John and Christina book compiled by Betty Chumchal and Darlene Hartmann at 1st annual reunion)