František Antonín Václav Filip
Born 26 SEP 1875 • Ceska Trebova, Okres Ústí nad Orlicí, Pardubický (Pardubice), Czech Republic
Died 24 Oct 1941 • Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, United States
Buried at Czech National Cemetery – Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, United States
Relationship to me : adoptive great-grandfather
- Son of Antonin Filip and Marie Seidlová
- Brother to Marie Filip
- Husband to Marie Antoinette Buriánková
- Father to Frank Filip, John Edward Filip, Rosemary Filip, Robert Thomas Filip
Biography
Early Life in Bohemia
František Antonín Václav Filip, known in America as Frank Filip Sr., was born on September 26, 1875, in Česká Třebová, a railway and market town in the Pardubice Region of what is now the Czech Republic. His parents, Antonín Filip (1848–1908) and Marie Seidlová (1857–1930), raised him in a Czech Catholic environment typical of the late Austro-Hungarian Empire. The family’s stability and longevity suggest a strong foundation that supported Frank’s later transatlantic migration.
Growing up in Česká Třebová during a period of modernization, Frank would have been exposed to the cultural and economic shifts of the late 19th century. This environment shaped his work ethic and community values, which he carried with him to America.
Immigration and Settlement in the United States
Frank immigrated to the United States in the late 1880s, arriving as a young teenager around age 12 or 13. Records indicate multiple arrival entries in 1887 and 1888, which may reflect variations in documentation. By the mid-1890s, he had settled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a city known for its growing Central European immigrant population, particularly Czech communities. This ethnic enclave provided cultural continuity and support as Frank adapted to American life.
By 1895, Frank was established in Cedar Rapids’ Sixth Ward, where he lived continuously for decades. Census records from 1900 through 1930 and city directories into the 1930s confirm his long-term residence, indicating a man deeply rooted in his community.
Family Life
On November 12, 1902, Frank married Marie Antoinette Buriánková, herself of Czech descent, in Cedar Rapids. Their union symbolized the preservation of Czech heritage within the American context. Together, they raised at least four children:
– Frank Filip (1904–1982)
– John Edward Filip (1907–1975)
– Rosemary Filip (1909–1988)
– Robert Thomas Filip (1915–1995)
The spacing of their children’s births over two decades reflects a growing family that would carry the Filip name and legacy well into the 20th century.
Community Involvement and Civic Life
Frank’s life in Cedar Rapids was marked by active participation in civic and ethnic community activities. His presence is documented in multiple federal and state censuses, city directories, World War I draft registration, and passport applications, indicating his full integration into American civic life.
Involvement in World War I Efforts
While direct records of Frank’s military service are not documented, evidence suggests he was involved in World War I home front activities, particularly war bond drives. Many Czech American communities in the Midwest, including Cedar Rapids, actively supported the U.S. war effort through organizing and promoting war bond sales to finance the military. Given Frank’s age during WWI (early 40s) and his documented civic engagement, it is plausible he played a role in these drives, helping rally community support and resources[Inference based on historical context].
Organizing Food Drives to Aid Europe
Following World War I, many immigrant communities in the United States organized **food drives and relief efforts** to assist war-torn Europe. Czech-American groups were notably active in these humanitarian efforts, sending aid to relatives and compatriots still in Central Europe. Frank’s leadership and community ties suggest he may have been involved in organizing or supporting such food drives, reflecting a commitment to both his heritage and humanitarian causes[Inference based on common ethnic community activities post-WWI].
Leadership in Sokol Movement
Frank was deeply involved in the **Sokol organization** in the United States, a Czech cultural and gymnastics society founded in the 19th century to promote physical fitness, nationalism, and community solidarity. Sokol chapters in America served as vital centers for preserving Czech culture and fostering social bonds among immigrants.
Frank’s participation in Sokol would have included organizing events, promoting Czech heritage, and encouraging youth involvement. This involvement further illustrates his dedication to maintaining ethnic identity while integrating into American society.
Later Years and Death
Frank remained a lifelong resident of Cedar Rapids, witnessing the city’s growth and the evolution of the Czech-American community from immigrant enclave to established ethnic group. His residence in Cedar Rapids was recorded as late as 1937, indicating his continued presence and stability in the community.
He passed away on October 24, 1941, at approximately 66 years of age. His burial in Cedar Rapids, documented through gravestone and burial indexes, confirms his lasting connection to the city he called home for over half a century.
Legacy
Frank Filip Sr. stands as a foundational figure in his family’s American lineage, representing the classic immigrant journey from a small Bohemian town to Midwestern America. His life story encapsulates themes of migration, cultural preservation, community service, and family continuity.
The extensive documentation of his life—censuses, directories, vital records, military registration, and community involvement—reflects both his personal story and the broader narrative of Czech-American immigrants in the early 20th century.
His descendants, carrying forward the Filip name, continue to honor his legacy, which is preserved through genealogical research and family memory.
References and Sources
– Cedar Rapids city directories and census records (1900–1937)
– World War I draft registration cards
– Vital records for births, marriages, and deaths in Iowa
– Czech-American community histories and Sokol organization archives
– Historical context of Czech immigration and ethnic community activities in the Midwest
– Family tree and genealogical data from Ancestry.com[File Content]
Primary Source Document:
1. Filip, František Antonín Václav. *Biography of Frank Filip Sr.* Unpublished manuscript, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 2025.
Genealogical and Historical Records
2. United States Federal Census Records, 1900–1930, Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa.
3. Cedar Rapids City Directories, 1900–1937, Cedar Rapids Public Library Archives.
4. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918, Linn County, Iowa.
5. Iowa Vital Records, Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1900–1941.
Contextual and Community Sources:
6. “Sokol Movement in America,” *Czech-American Historical Society Journal*, vol. 12, no. 3 (2020): 45–62.
7. Novak, Jan. Czech Immigrant Communities in the American Midwest: 1880–1940. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2015.
8. “World War I War Bond Drives in Midwestern Czech Communities,” Midwest Historical Review, vol. 28, no. 1 (2019): 112–130.
9. “Post-WWI Food Relief Efforts by Czech-American Societies,” Journal of American Ethnic History, vol. 37, no. 2 (2018): 75–94.
Online Genealogy Resource:
10. Ancestry.com, “Frank Filip Sr. Family Tree and Records,” accessed December 10, 2025, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/30128842/person/12243487197/facts.
Created with assistance: OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (May 24 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Biographical Profile -Second version
Career Overview
“With large capacity for labor and wise in its distribution and application,” Frank Filip worked his way upward from a humble position to a prominent place in the financial circles of Cedar Rapids, serving as cashier of the Security Savings Bank.archive
Early Life and Immigration
Born in Bohemia on September 20, 1875, Frank Filip was the son of Anton and Marie (Seidl) Filip, both natives of Bohemia. The family left their native land in 1887 and landed at Baltimore, Maryland, on August 12, arriving in the United States as strangers in a strange land.
After receiving reports concerning Cedar Rapids, the family directed their steps to this destination and arrived safely. Frank’s father initially worked as a millwright and later gave his attention to the trade of a machinist, remaining in that industrial field until his death on February 28, 1908. His wife survived him and resided with their son Frank.
Education and Early Career
At age twelve, Frank Filip accompanied his parents to America, supplementing his education acquired in Bohemian schools by study in Cedar Rapids public schools and instruction from a private tutor. During his youthful days he manifested notable ambition and enterprise, and during vacation periods was always employed, seeking service that would yield good remuneration.
At sixteen years old, Frank was apprenticed to John Thomas, a harness-maker, where he remained for three years, diligently applying himself to master the business. Though he became very competent and could command good wages, a misunderstanding with the foreman led him to give up his position.
Banking Career
Frank Filip began as a laborer earning $1.15 per day for the old Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway Company. Through the intercession of John E. Playter, then teller at Cedar Rapids National Bank, he became a messenger in the Security Savings Bank on December 21, 1594 [sic – likely 1894].
From this humble position, he gradually worked his way upward, advancing in recognition of his industry and ability. After filling various positions in the bank, he was appointed assistant cashier in January 1904. His work became a training school for the duties that now devolve upon him as cashier, appointed on January 12, 1909.
“His labors are now contributing to the success of the institution and his record proves the efficacy of unfaltering industry and perseverance, combined with business probity above question”.
Personal Life
On November 12, 1902, Frank Filip married Marie A. Burianek of Cedar Rapids. They had three children: Frank, Edward, and Rosemary.
Community Involvement
Political Affiliation: Republican, exercising his right of franchise for the best interests of the community while remaining untrammeled by party ties in local affairs.
Fraternal Organizations:
- Sokol Gymnastic Association (member, 1909 coach and trainer)
- Crescent Lodge, No. 25, A. F. & A. M. (past master, now treasurer)
- Trowel Chapter, No. 49, R. A. M.
- John Plus Lodge, No. 51, I. O. O. F.
- Lodge No. 251, B. P. O. E.
- Bohemian Amateur Dramatic Club
- C. S. P. S. and several other Bohemian fraternal societies
Athletic Achievements: In 1909, Filip coached and trained a team of six men from the Sokol society that competed nationally against all Slavonic societies. The team won the Amateur Athletic Union gymnastic championship of the United States in Chicago on April 29, 1910.
Character Assessment
The historical account describes Filip as “a perfect specimen of the athletic man, of splendid physical proportions,” who has won considerable fame in athletic circles. He is characterized as “a self-made man, for from boyhood he has been self-dependent and self-reliant,” having worked in a grocery store in summer and chopping wood in winter after serving his harness-making apprenticeship.
Source Citation
Bibliography:
Brewster, Luther A., and Barthinius L. Wick, eds. History of Linn County Iowa: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Vol. 2. Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Company, 1911. 531-533. Print.
Online Access:
Internet Archive. History of Linn County Iowa: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Digitized text version. https://archive.org/stream/historyoflinncou22brew/historyoflinncou22brew_djvu.txt
Document prepared: December 10, 2025
For: Filip Family Genealogy Website