Based on our research from the middle 1980's, we believe that many of the Jelen's living in the United States today descended from one of five families that emigrated to the U.S.A. in the 1800's. Below is a summary of each family. See if you can trace your roots to one of these families.
- John Jelen came to America from Bohemia in 1850. He and his wife Threasie worked in Chicago. After the great Chicago fire, they moved to New Prague, Minnesota, and later to St. Leo Minnesota. John had five children: Frank, Vincent, Charlie, Prokop, and Peternella, who became Sister Wenceslaus. Vincent Jelen was born in 1882. He and Mary Geib were married in 1906 and had 12 children: Edmond, Joseph, Albert, Cecelia, Alois, Mathias, Francis, Leo, Rita, Clem, Lucille, and Lillian. The oldest boy was born in 1907. The youngest was born in 1928. Vincent had 54 grandchildren, starting with Joseph's daughter Evelyn in1941 and running through Lillian's son Michael in 1965. Here are the names of the grandchildren: Ralph, Eunice Full, Evelyn Fossom, Ronald, Leroy, Janice Clark, Mary Lou Gustafson, Daniel, Thomas, Joseph, Joan Citrowske, Eugene, Dennis, James, Elaine Kervliet, Gerald, Robert, Arlene, Betty Odowsek, Lambert, Joyce, Sister Pauline, Ruth Pederson, Kenneth, Colleen Freetly, Nancy, Beverly, Gary, Deborah, Lori Ann, Tammy, Suzanne, Julie, Bruce, Carol, Larry, Byron, Jeffrey, Lisa, Linda, Diane, Janet, Brenda, Catherine, Richard, Patricia Mondello, Bill, Roselyn, Gregory, Cynthia, Scott, Michael, Jean, Steven and Brian.
- Brothers August and Felix Jelen came to the U.S. from Strackonice, in what is now the Czech Republic. They married sisters Frantiska and Katerina Brezina and moved to Cleveland, Ohio. August had children Gus Jr., Betty, Ladislav and Ottillie. Grandchildren of August included Lad Jr., Robert, Norma Setteur, Jeanette DeSimone, Donald Kozeny. Felix had three sons, Rudolph, Fred, and William F. Grandchildren of Felix include: Glenn, Leonard, Charlotte, Ray, Ruth Keane, William J, and Robert F. Great-Grandchildren of August and Felix are: David, Christine, Catherine, Thomas, Todd, Denise Setteur, Renee Flynn, Michell Trivelli, Glenn Jr., Idona, Ray Jr., Lawrence, Joann Paul, Kenneth, Richard, August Felix, Elizabeth Marvin, Christopher, Linda, Terrence, Alyce, William R., Robert J., Jeanette, Barbara, Robert K. and William M. Some members of this family moved to Mississippi and have spread to Florida. Others are still in Ohio.
- Edward Jelen was born in Popielow, Silesia, Prussia (now Poland) in October 1848 to John & Maria Jelen. He moved to Tremplau County, Wisconsin. With his wife Marie Rumple, he had nine children: Julia, Peter, Paul, Anna, John, Maria, Catherine, Frank and Thomas. One of the daughters became Sister Daria, a nun. John Jelen had four children: Eva Miller, Pelchie, John, and a second son. Paul Jelen married Sophie Mish. They had 8 children: Andrew, Arthur, Edward, Roman, Louie, Ernie ,Coddy, and Mary Elstad. Paul's granchildren include Thomas, Frank, Michael, Richard, Paul, Loraine Olson, Patricia Stought, Gary, Jacqueline Berg, Shirley Jircoma, Betty Mills, Judy Jelen, Greta, John, Mark, Thomas, Charlane, Mary Coultas and Michael. These group of Jelen's originally settled in Wisconsin. Some grandchildren and great grandchildren are living in California.
- The Victor Jelen family in Cincinnati descended from another Czech immigrant. Other family members are Jean, Peter and Andrew. More details to come on this family.
Questions we have about Jelen's in the United States:
John and Threasie Jelen came to the U.S. in 1850. We've learned a lot about the descendants of their son Vincent, but need to fill in information about any descendants of their children Frank, Charlie, and Prokop. Also, we would like to document any births or marriages that happened after 1971 in the Vincent Jelen line.
For the Edward Jelen family, does anyone have information on Edwards parents and grandparents? Which ancestors came to the U.S., and did they come from Poland or the Czech Republic? I would like to document birth and marriage dates for everyone in this line of the Jelen's.
Who are the other Jelens who emigrated to the U.S. from Europe? If you are descended from a Jelen family who does not appear to be represented above, please contact us.
Questions about Jelen's in Europe
John Jelen had at least one brother in Bohemia. We would like to find any descendants of this brother in Europe.
Felix Jelen was born November 6, 1869 in Chrastovicich to Josef Jelen and Alzbeta Levy. Josef and Alzbeta were married October 1, 1867 in Radomysli. Josef Jelen was born May 28, 1842 in Chrastovicich to parents Frantisek Jelen and Marie Liskovce. Frantisek & Marie Liskovcove were married August 17, 1841 in Radomysli. Frantisek was a widower when he married Marie. He was born February 3, 1787 in Rohozne to Josef Jelen and Anna Rozena Praklova. Are their other Jelen descendants in Europe who can trace their family back to one of these ancestors?
Felix and August had brothers that stayed behind in the Czech Republic. Ferdinand, Johanna, and Rudolph were probably the names of other siblings. We believe Ferdinand had children Otto and Vladimer. We would like to locate living descendants of this family in Europe.
If you are a descendant of a Jelen, I would like to hear from you. Drop a note to pub at mrexcel dot com.