Chicago's Blahnik Pharmacists
Chicago and Iowa Family Connections

Associated With Chicago

Anna Blahnik Frish

Daughter of Jan Blahnik and first wife Anna, Anna Blahnik Frish was born on 3-27-1855 in Polenka. (1)  There is a ship registry record for an Anna Blahnik (spelled as Blanck) arriving in the USA on 3-15-1875 in New York City, aboard the ship Hermann. She was traveling with a Wenzel Blahnik, age 9, who could possibly be Vencel, step brother to Anna and her brother Lorenz. (2)

In the 1880 Chicago census, Anna is living with her married brother Lorenz, and Lorenz's wife and several of her family at 88 W. 18th.  Lorenz is usually referenced as Chicago's first Czech pharmacist. (3)  Anna married Frank Frish in Chicago on 5-22-1882.

There is a record of the Frish (Frisch) departing Bremen and arriving in Baltimore on 6-21-1861 aboard the ship Bremerhaven:   Frisch Paul 36, Marie 35, Rose 3, Johann, Franz 32, Josepha 25, Franz 3, Ferdinand (4)

In 1870 Frank and Josephine Frish and family are living in Chicago.  In 1880 Josephine is listed as a widow.  Paul and Marie Frish and their family are in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Frank, who will marry Anna, is living at home.  (5)

All census records for Anna and Frank Frish, through 1930, list addresses along Fisk Street, the family not venturing far from their original area.

Anna died in 1935 - Bohemian National Cemetery - Lot 181 Section 3 Find A Grave #158408525

"Anna Frish, nee Blahnik, Aug. 27, late of 1709 W. Fisk street, dearly beloved wife of Frank, devoted mother of Mrs. Marie Cech, Mrs. Anna Capek, and Mrs. Helen Cunat, Frank L., Otto, and Lawrence. Funeral Friday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. from chapel, 6229 W. Cermak-rd. (Berwyn). Bohemian National." (August 28, 1935, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Page 12)

Frank died in 1939 - Bohemian National Cemetery - Lot 181 Section 3 Find A Grave#158408529

"Frank Frish, a general contractor who built many strucures on the west side, died yesterday at his home 1709 South Carpenter Street.  He was 83 years old.  Mr. Frish came to Chicago with his parents nearly eighty years ago from Bohemia.  As a boy he saw Abraham Lincoln's funeral procession.  The family lived at Taylor and Sherman streets, near the home of Mrs. Patrick O'Leary, in whose cow barn the fire of 1871 is supposed to have started.  In 1874 Mr. Frish succeeded his father in the general contracting business, continuing in that business for firty one years.  He is survived by three sons and three daughters.  Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Saturday in the shapel at 6227 Cermak road. (Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois 10-26-1939, Page 16)

Barbara Blahnik Ricker

Daughter of Jan Blahnik, and second wife Marie, Barbara Blahnik Ricker was born on 11-13-1868 in Polenka. (6)

Barbara Blahnik married Konrad Richer on 8-12-1889 in Chicago.

"Konrad Richer, at present engaged in the insurance, real estate and loan business, at 3452 West 26th Street, was born in the village of Pecin, County of Zamberk, Bohemia, on Decmber 20, 1867, and is the son of Heinrich and Barbora (Divisek) Ricker. (My note: they are also buried in Saint Adalbert Catholic Cemetery).  These parents came to the United States in 1891, and here they resided until their respective deths - the father in 1894, aat the age of sixty-nine years, and the mother, 1906, at the age of sixty-seven years.

Konrad, their son and the subject of this sketch, was reared in his native country and there received a liberal education in the Bohemian and German languages.  In 1887 he crossed the Atlantic and landed in the United States, locating in Chicago, which has ever since been his home.  In order to learn the English language he attended schools in the evenings in this city and soon had a speacing command of the tongue here.  He begn his business career in a shoe store at Halsted and 18th streets as a cleck, and there served for a period of five years.  Then for one year he was at 1183 St. Louis avenue, but in 1908 he erected the handsome offie buildint at 3452 West 26th street whic he has occupied since July 3, 1908.  He is a member of the Cook county Real Estate Board, Bohemian American Foresters, Catholic Order of Foresters, and in politics is a Republican.  On August 12, 1889, he married Barbora, a daughter of Jan Blahnik, of Polen, Bohemia and by her has four children: Konrad, Anna, Ladislaw, died September 28, 1909, and Ruzena" (7)

Barbara died in 1960 - Saint Adalbert Catholic Cemetery - Lot 5 Block J Section 9 - Find A Grave -  99115058

Conrad died in 1945 - Saint Adalbert Catholic Cemtery - Lot 5 Block J Section 9 - Find A Grave - 99113682