Theodor Kressa Kresha III
(1862-1938)
From a family record:
"Theodor Krehsa was born on June 22, 1862 to Theodor and Cecilia in House Number 33, at Markersdorf, Moravia, now Nova Hradečna. After attending school until the age of 15, he came to America with friends of that area who had also booked passage with the Immigration Agent. He settled in Platte County, Nebraska, where he had employment. It is believed that the time was after 1877. An emigrant had to have a job waiting for him before he could come into the United States. Joseph worked for farmers in Merrick County also, a blacksmith by trade."
It should be noted that people were flocking to Nebraska seeking a free homestead of 160 acres to anyone who would come and live on the land for five years. The Homestead Act of 1862 kicked it off, but not everybody made it, and good deals could be had.
On April 6, 1886, Theodor applied for his Citizenship papers at Osceola, NE and on March 1, 1887, Theodor became a citizen of the United States and renounced his allegiance to THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA, of whom he was a subject.
Theodor apparently had troubles adjusting. In 1893, Platte County NE officials sent him (age 31) to the Norfolk, NE insane asylum. He was later found insane by the "insanity board" in September of 1904 and sent to the insane asylum in Lincoln, NE. It was noted that this was his third time being found insane because he
He later escaped from the asylum and perhaps this lead to his going to New York."had been extremely irrational for some time and of late has been a source of annoyance on the streets, causing the police considerable trouble."
"Theodore had good friends in Binghamton, New York, who had lived in or around Nova Hradecčna, so he went there to visit them. There he spent the rest of his life, frequently sick and requiring hospitalization. Theodore Krehsa died on July 19, 1938 at the age of 76."
Family stories never mentioned the sickness or why he needed hospitalization. Census records indicate he was a patient at the Binghamton State Hospital, known for ground-breaking treatments of alcoholism as a disease. Theodore died there and was buried on the Hospital grounds. [see more below]
December 26, 1915
Dear Brother,
Adolf Kresha"We received your letter of November 27, 1915 and learned that you are in the hospital. Now we know that you are still among the living. Write us about the money... Your naturalization papers can be supplied... I will take care of this. Did you leave them in Osceola? On the 11th of November our father died.We are all well and things are going well for us. Many greetings from your brother and family."
Osceola, Nebraska"
Binghamton, New York
1/3/1916
Dear Adolf,
[a second page from the letter is missing. The letter was in German and this is a translation.]"I have received your letter. I would like to have you see if you can do something about my naturalization papers.In the year of 1886, on April 6th, I took out my first naturalization papers. When I was in Omaha, I stayed at the City Hotel. I gave the man my check tab for the safekeeping/storage of my trunk. Later when I asked for the check tab, the man said he could not find it. Therefore, I could not claim my trunk. The citizenship papers were in the trunk."
The response:
Binghamton
1/3/1916
Dear Adolf,
[a second page from the letter is missing. The letter was in German and this is a translation.]"I have received your letter. I would like to have you see if you can do something about my naturalization papers.In the year of 1886, on April 6th, I took out my first naturalization papers. When I was in Omaha, I stayed at the City Hotel. I gave the man my check tab for the safekeeping/storage of my trunk. Later when I asked for the check tab, the man said he could not find it. Therefore, I could not claim my trunk. The citizenship papers were in the trunk."
From Kresha Family In America 1888-1988:
"In answer to the question about "the money," there was a reply. Theodor states that one day he returned to the Hotel in order to change his clothing. The proprietor had come to his room and suggested that Theodor give him his money for safe keeping. (He must have agreed to this.) From the Hotel, he walked to the hospital and inquired of the superintendent about employment. The superintendent said that he was too old to work there and suggested that he seek work with a Mr. Henry Drake (farming) and was hired for $5.00 cash per month, with room and board. Theodor wishes the Adolf Kresha family a Happy New Year."
The last time Adolf heard from Theodor was on December 20, 1926. He was in Tunnell, New York, and stated that he had a new job with a farmer named Henry Stahl. When he visited his friends in Binghamton, they told him that a letter had come from Osceola, which they forwarded and that he never received. He sent his greetings to all the Nebraska family.
The Kresha family never heard from Theodor again.
He was listed as being an "inmate" at the Binghamton State Hospital in census data from 1925 (state) and 1930 (US). The death certificate mentions "chronic gastritis [stomach inflamation], chronic intersitial nefritis [a kidney disease], and [psychological problems]" There is no record of marriage or children.
The long abandoned graveyard where Theodore III is believed to be buried in an unmarked grave. Called the New York State Inebriate Asylum, it was chartered in 1854 but was closed in 1993. It is now Binghamton University.
