Historical Marker
Josef Lidumil Leshikar
New Ulm, Austin County · Texas
Erected 1985
Lesikar was born at Herboritice and worked chiefly as a tailor and farmer in the village of Nepomuky. Elected to the Czech parliament in Prague, he never took his seat because of the revolution of 1848. He organized two groups of about 160 Czechs to emigrate in 1851 and 1853; about half of the first group died, and he and his family reached Galveston with the second on the Suwa late in December 1853. They farmed at New Bremen, where the log house they built still stands. He helped found Národní noviny, a Czech paper in St. Louis.
What the plaque says
Josef Lidumil Leshikar (May 16, 1806-October 21, 1887) Born along the Czech-Moravian border, Josef Lidumil Leshikar received early training as a tailor. During the revolution of 1848, he became a spokesman for political freedom in his homeland. In 1853 he led a group of immigrants to the new Czech settlements in Austin county. Always opposed to slavery, Leshikar spoke out against secession and Civil War in articles he wrote for Czech and U.S. newspapers. Lesikar married Terezie Silar (1808-1884) and had four sons. Recorded - 1985
Where it stands
29.90633, -96.48819 · Directions
More markers nearby
- Site of Town of New Ulm — 0.9 mi
- Education in Industry — 4.3 mi
- Frelsburg — 4.3 mi
- Industry State Bank — 4.6 mi