Frank James Smrz
Frank James Smrz was born on 7 November 1875. His parents were Vaclav Smrz and Marie Barcal, both natives of Bohemia. His death certificate gives his birthplace as Chicago, Illinois. His parents' obituaries say they left Bohemia in 1876 or 1879, which would make him Bohemian-born, and the 1940 and 1950 censuses give Bohemia and Austria. He had one brother, James F. Smrz, who stayed in Chicago.
He grew up in Chicago, where his father worked for many years as a bricklayer. In 1897 his parents moved to Eastman, in Crawford County, Wisconsin, and Frank's own family began there. He married a woman named Mary, also of Bohemian birth. Their children were born across three states: Rose about 1898 to 1901 in Wisconsin, Frank in 1902 and Lillian in 1904 at Eastman, Anna about 1909 in Wisconsin, Charles in 1911 at Hingham, Montana, and George and Joseph in Montana. Mary, Alice, Lawrence and James complete the eleven.
In the spring of 1910 the family went west to northern Montana. Frank took up a homestead nine miles north of Hingham. His father filed on the claim next to his. Frank farmed and worked as a mail carrier.
In 1918 he brought his family to Seattle. He was hired by the post office and worked at the terminal annex and the main post office until he retired in 1941. In 1940 he and Mary were living in the Lake Ballinger precinct of Snohomish County, just north of the Seattle city line, with their grown children Rose, George and Joseph. They were in Snohomish County again in 1950.
Frank James Smrz died at Ballard General Hospital in Seattle on 9 July 1955, aged 79. He had heart disease. His home was then on Greenwood Avenue in north Seattle, and he had lived in the city thirty-seven years. A rosary was said for him at the Wiggen and Sons chapel and a requiem mass at Christ the King Church. He was buried at Evergreen on 14 July 1955. His obituary listed his widow Mary, eleven children, twelve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. His stone at Evergreen-Washelli reads FRANK J. SMRZ 1875 1955.
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Cite: Heirology, "Frank James Smrz (1875-1955)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/frank-james-smrz-1875-1955-2b4623.