Charles Joseph Vopička was born to:

 

Father:

Joseph Vopička

Address: Dolní Hbity house number 2 

Born: 1st of May 1834 

 

Mother:

Alžběta Lacínová

Address: Svaté Pole house number 6 

Born: 10th of February 1838

 

Charles was one of 16 children, and according to "family stories" his parents wanted him to become a priest. However, this was not what he wanted, he said "I believe I can make more of a difference in this world if I go into business." At the age of 22 in 1880 he emigrated to the United States.

 

His "favorite" sister, who had married a protestant, died at the age of 34. He took it upon himself to help care for her 4 children. One of her children was named Anna. Charles Vopička asked Anna to be the governess to his children in Chicago. Anna promised to go, as long as her older sister Marie, who had cared for her, would also promise to come to Chicago.

 

His father, Josef Vopička, won a bid from the 5th of March 1881 to build the local school building and the 19th of April 1881 the cornerstone was laid.¹ Josef Vopička also became a Mayor.

 

¹See Škola section of Wikipedia.org's information about "Dolní Hbity" http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doln%C3%AD_Hbity