Amalia Kressa Kuhnel
(1866-1932)
Born July 10, 1866
Hradec/Markersdorf, Czechia
In 1884, the family moved from Grätz/Hradec to Girsig/Jirikov, about 50 miles east in the mountains."After completing public schools, she helped her parents with the farming and was hired to do housework for friends and neighbors. She saved her money to come to America."
"All the arrangements were made, passports obtained, birth certifiates copied, and Amelia, sister Anna and brother Adolf traveled by train to Hamburg, Germany to the seaport where the S.S. Wieland was waiting to sail to America. The Captain's name was Athars. It was the 234th ship to sail from the Hamburg seaport in 1888. Her passport was dated August 31, 1888. They arrived on September 8, 1888, passing the Statue of Liberty and disembarked on September 9th, at Castle Garden, New York City, where they spent their two weeks in quarantine." The passenger list reads that the Kressa's had all come from Jirikov/Girsig, Austria, now Jirikov, Czechia.
"Amalia got off the train at Schuyler, Nebraska, where she had a job waiting for her. The train travelled west to Columbus, where siblings Adolf and Anna also had employment."
Alfred Kuhnel (1866-1956)
Amalia had a fiancé, Adolf Kuhnel, who was born on February 24, 1866 near Jirikov/Girsig, the son of Frank and Mary (Schwartzer) Kuhnel. His grandparents were John and Victoria (Helvert) Kuhnel.
"When Adolf, a farmer, came to the Kressa home to ask for one of his daughters in marriage, Theodor said, "Amalia is the oldest now, she gets married first." Adolf and Amalia had a child, named Alois Theodor Kuhnel June 10, 1887. [unknown if they were married in Moravia] When the baby was a year old, Amalia went with her brother and sister to America in 1888. After Adolf had saved some money, he came a year later, in May of 1889, presumably joining Amalia."
"Feeling the need to have their marriage legal in America, according to the marriage license, Amalia and Adolf were married by a judge in Colfax County, Nebraska. It was dated December 31, 1889, Schuyler, NE."
Alois Theodor had stayed with his Kressa grandparents, who brought him in May of 1890 to be with his parents. However, his name had changed to Louis Walter.
"The family lived at Richland, NE where Adolf worked on the railroad. Amalia did laundry for the railroad laborers. Adolf purchased his first team of horses in Columbus, NE, so that he could earn more money on the railroad.
"Adolf Kuhnel, Jr was born around 1890 in Richland. As a toddler, he was critically burned when he pulled a hot pot of coffee down upon himself. He is buried in Richland.
"After earning enough money on the railroad, Adolf and Amalia moved to near Silver Creek, NE where they bought a farm. Adolf Edmund Junior was born there on July 18, 1892; followed by Mollie (February 6, 1895) and Frank (July 23, 1901).
"In 1905, the family moved to a farm northwest of Gresham, NE, where Alfred Herman was born on October 9, 1906. Emery followed on January 4, 1911.
"In 1918, the family moved to a farm near Shelby, NE where they lived for many years.
"Amalia's health started to fail because of high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. The doctor tried to put her on a strict diet. Amalia [was reputed to have] said, "If I can't eat all the foods I like, such as sauerkraut, liverwurst, and sweets, why go on living?" Ann Kresha, Amalia's niece and daughter of brother Adolf, was sent to the Kuhnel home to help Amalia with the housekeeping, but she died not long after of a stroke on August 7, 1932 at the age of 66.
Adolf Kuhnel, lived another 24 years, dying on July 23, 1956. Amalia and Adolf are buried side be side in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Shelby, NE."
Amelia and Alfred's children were:
1. Louis Walter Kuhnel, born about 1887 in Girsig/Jirikov, North Moravia, CZ. He married Florence Cook, Mamie Wright, then Lucille B. Pollard. He was a farmer and rancher in Crawford, NE for many years, but eventually took his family to California during the 'dust bowl' years, where he worked as a carpenter. He died September 24, 1971 at age 84.
2. Adolf Kuhnel, Jr. was born about 1890 at Richland, NE. He died as a child when he pulled a pot of hot coffee on himself. Dates are uncertain, but about 1891.
3. Adolf Edmund Kuhnel, Jr. was born July 18, 1892 near Silver Creek, NE. He married Caroline Lanspa. They lived on a farm near Gresham for 6 years, then moved to a farm near Shelby, NE. Adolf, Jr died January 28, 1971 at age 78.
4. Amelia (Mollie) Kuhnel was born February 6, 1895 near Silver Creek, NE. She married George Hasselbach and together farmed north of Shelby, NE. Mollie died February 17, 1965 at age 70.
5. Frank Kuhnel was born near Silver Creek on July 23, 1901. He married Margaret Kaminksi in 1926. He farmed in Polk County for many years, dying on 31 Mar 1964 at age 62 near Shelby, NE
6. Alfred Hermann Kuhnel was born October 9, 1906 near Gresham, NE. He married Esther Gabriel on May 14, 1926 at Fullerton, NE. Alfred 'Frank' Kuhnel died April 3, 1981, age 74. He is buried in Osceola, NE.
7. Emery Theodore Kuhnel was born Jan 11, 1911 near Gresham, NE. He married Margaret Gabriel and died July 4, 1972, at age 61.
- Above information on this page is from "Kresha Family in America 1888-1988 and written by Lillian Kresha.
