Jacob Zahratka

Name: Jacob Zahratka Company: A
Birth Date: August 1841 Place: Smrzov, Bohemia (Czechoslovakia)	Mustered In Date: November 21, 1864 Rank: Private Age: 23 Residence prior to military service: Smrzov, Bohemia (Czechoslovakia)
Death Date: April 12, 1915 Place: Rice County, Minnesota Burial: St. John's Cemetery, Veseli, Rice County, Minnesota	Mustered Out Date: September 6, 1865 Rank: Private Age: about 24 Residence following military service: Wheatland Township, Rice County, Minnesota; Erin Township, Rice County, Minnesota Vocation following military service: Farmer

Jacob Saratha Biography and Civil War Narrative

Jacob Zahratka (military rosters use the last name "Saratha") was born to Jasper and Maria (Trenda) Zahratka in August 1841 in the town of Smrzov, Bohemia, about 15 kilometers northeast of Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. Jasper was born about 1817 in Bohemia; Mary was born about 1810, also in Bohemia; and they were married about 1836. Jacob had at least two brothers: Martin (born about 1848 in Bohemia) and John (born June 1849 in Bohemia). Some time between 1855 and 1862, Jacob migrated to the United States of America, settling in Rice County, Minnesota.

Jacob Saratha enlisted as a Private in the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment toward the end of the Civil War on November 21, 1864. According to family members, he was "paid $360 to take the place of a rich kid." On the 24th of November, the rest of the 5th Minnesota was at St. Louis, Missouri, leaving for Nashville, Tennessee. Depending on how quickly he was trained and transported to join the rest of the regiment, Jacob may have arrived at Nashville in time to participate in the Battle of Nashville on December 15 & 16. Under the leadership of General George Thomas, the Union Army routed Hood's Confederates and then pursued them to the Tennessee River. After spending the month of January 1865 at Eastport, Mississippi, the 5th Minnesota was moved to New Orleans, Louisiana for the month of February. Being attached to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division of the 16th Army Corps, the men of the 5th Minnesota participated in the Campaign against Mobile, Alabama and its Defenses from March 7 through April 12. Having captured Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely and occupying Mobile, the regiment marched to Montgomery, Alabama. They finished their time in the Union Army by serving garrison duty at Montgomery, Selma, and Demopolis, Alabama. On September 6, 1865, Jacob Saratha was mustered out with the regiment.

Jacob returned to Minnesota and married Mary Trenda, born in Bohemia about 1840-1842. The 1870 U.S. Census shows Jacob and Mary farming in Wheatland Township, Rice County, Minnesota (the name spelling looks more like "Zurubska"). They have two daughters born in Minnesota: Mary (age 3), and Rosa (age 1). The same census also shows Jacob's father, 53-year-old Jasper "Zeratska," farming in Wheatland Township. Living with him are his wife Mary (age 60, Keeping House) and his son John (age 15, helps on farm). Next door to Jasper live his son Martin (age 22, farmer), his wife Mary (age 21), and his son John (age 1).

Ten years later Jacob and Mary Zahratka are recorded in the census as still farming in Wheatland Township, Rice County, Minnesota. In addition to their first two children (13-year-old Mary and 11-year-old Rosa), three more children have been born: Catherine (age 9), Frank (age 7), and Anna (age 8). Jacob's wife Mary is listed as being 40 years old. Also living with them is Jacob's mother Mary (age 70). Jacob's father Jasper had died some time in the 1870's. Both of Jacob's brothers also continued to live and farm in Wheatland Township. Martin (age 31) had six children, and John (age 25) was now married and had two daughters.

Jacob Zahratka Grave

Jacob's wife Mary died April 12, 1897, so at the time of the 1900 census, Jacob lived with his daughter Mary and her family in Erin Township, Rice County, Minnesota. About 1887, Mary had married James Hruska, born April 1865 in Minnesota to Bohemian parents. James and Mary had six children in 1900: Frank (born March 1887), James (born December 1889), Mary (born May 1892), Joseph (born June 1894), Elisabeth (born May 1896), and Josephine (born July 1898). At age 58, Jacob worked as a Farm Laborer, most likely helping his son-in-law James, who was a Farmer. By 1900, Jacob's brother John and his family had moved to Moran Township, Todd County, Minnesota.

On October 24, 1909, Jacob's son-in-law James Hruska died in Rice County, Minnesota. Sometime between 1900 and 1910, Jacob moved back to Wheatland Township to live with his son Frank and his family. Jacob's source of income at age 69 was his soldier's pension. In 1910, son Frank was 36 years old and a farmer. His wife Annie of eleven years was 30 years old. They had five children born in Minnesota: son Thomas (age 11), daughter Mary (age 7), daughter Sidora (age 6), daughter Annie (age 3), and son Edward (age 1).

Jacob Zahratka died on April 12, 1915, in Rice County, Minnesota. He was buried in St. John's Cemetery, Veseli, Rice County, Minnesota.

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This page is maintained by Tim Bode (timbode@juno.com ). Page created on 9/29/2009. Last modified on 9/29/2009.