Zimola Family History

Name Origin

The Czech surname Zimola (and variant Zmola and Smola) is primarily a metonymic occupational name, derived from the Slavic word smola ("pitch" or "tar"). It likely referred to a person who gathered natural resins from pines and firs or a distiller/burner of pitch. It could also function as a nickname for someone with very dark hair or, rarely, a slow person.

The Voyage to America

Josef & Antonína brought their two daughters —Mary, who was four and Božena, who was only two. They also brought along Antonia's mother and father —Josef Fila and Františka Kourková— our 2nd-great-grandparents. A cousin, 18-year-old Františka 'Fanny' Cíhal, joined them. Antonia's sister, Marie, and her husband, František 'Frank' Vlec, were also on the journey. They had their three sons and one daughter in tow.

When looking at the ship's manifest, it's challenging to decipher the name of which relative or friend in America they listed as their American contact. It seems like it was an uncle of Mary Fila's husband —Frank Vlec— who lived in Wahoo, Nebraska.

The Zimolas bought their first farm and settled near Cedar Bluffs in Saunders County, Nebraska. They began the task of learning the language, customs and laws of their new home.

Five years after arriving in America, Josef and Antonia had their third and last daughter, Anna. Unfortunately, Anna only lived for 18 months. I don't ever recall my grandmother or mom ever mentioning what she died from.

Antonia died at 61, and Josef lived alone on his farm for another 25 years. The tragic story of his death and the loss of most of the Zimola heirlooms in a mysterious Zimola house fire.

A German Superliner

The SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große was a German transatlantic ocean liner named after Emperor Wilhelm I, the first head of state of the German Empire. The liner was constructed in Stettin for the North German Lloyd (NDL) and entered service in 1897. It was the first liner to have four funnels and is considered to be the first-ever superliner. She marked the beginning of a change in how maritime supremacy was demonstrated in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century.

In March 1898, she successfully gained the Blue Riband with an average crossing speed of 22.3 knots (41.3 km/h; 25.7 mph), thus establishing the new German competitiveness. The Blue Riband is an award given for the fastest crossing of the North Atlantic.

The SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was designed to carry a maximum of 1,506 passengers (206 first, 226 second, and 1,074 third class) with a crew of 488, totaling nearly 2,000 people on board. Following a 1913 refit, crew accommodations were expanded to 800 to support higher service standards.

Though we can all thank the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große for delivering our ancestors safely to America, it did not end well for her.

The Battle off Rio de Oro

Under the command of Max Reymann, the German ship SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große was requisitioned for service at the outbreak of World War I and fitted with six 4-inch guns and two 37-millimeter guns. It was renamed the SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der GroßeThe German vessel set steam for a commerce raiding mission in the Atlantic Ocean.

Commanded by Henry T. Buller, the British ship HMS Highflyer was a protected cruiser built in 1898 with eleven 6-inch guns, nine 12-pounder guns, six 3-pounder guns, and two torpedo tubes. She had been detached to support the 5th Cruiser Squadron in hunting the German raider.

The battle off Rio de Oro on 26 August 1914 began when the German raider SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große was caught by surprise in a harbor, taking on coal from three German and Austrian colliers. Highflyer, badly outgunning the German auxiliary cruiser, first demanded surrender, but the German commander argued that the British had violated Spain's neutrality.

The British disregarded this because the Germans had already violated Spain's neutrality by taking over a week to resupply in a neutral port. The battle ran from 15:10 to 16:45 and the two ships bombarded each other, sometimes dodging the shots. Eventually, the SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große exhausted her ammunition and began to flee the battle. Now out of ammunition, running from several larger guns, the crew scuttled their ship and abandoned her to the Atlantic.

The German sailors made it to shore and escaped into the Saharan Desert.

Multi-Language Instructions

Russian

Прибывь на железнодорожный воксаль вь бремень, сльдуеть показать сю карточку

Arrive at the railway station in Bremen, you must show this card

Slovakian

V Bremen na zelezniel treba túto kartku pokazať a meno Missler volať

In Bremen, you have to show this card and call the name Missler

Hungarian

Ezen jegy Bremen-be a vaspálván előmutatandó és Missler név kiltándó.

This ticket to Bremen must be presented at iron pole and name Missler must be given.

Polish

Po przybyciu na dworzec kolei żelaznej w Bremen trzeba głośno wolać imię Missler i tę kartę pokazać.

When you arrive at the Bremen railway station, you must call out the name Missler loudly and show this card.

Slovenian

Ko pridete na kolodvor v Bremen pokažite to karto in kličite ime Missler.

When you arrive at the train station in Bremen, show this card and call the name Missler.

Croatian

U Bremenu na kolodvoru treba ovu kartu pokazati i ime Missler zvati.

In Bremen, at station, this card must be shown and the name Missler must be called.

Romanian

Acestu bílet trăbue la Gară in Bremen arătatu şi sč cheme nůmele Missler.

This ticket is valid at the train station in Bremen, show the name Missler.

Immigration Inspection Card

The wreck of the SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große has been dived on many times. The image above shows the wreck on the sea floor. It lies off the coast of Morocco.

1880's SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große Souvenirs and Artifacts in my collection.

A metal plate was retrieved during a dive of the SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große that I acquired.

Additional SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große artifacts I acquired.

Miniture Pewter Replica of the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große is about 3" long.

Child's sovenir toy

This is a Miniture Pewter Replica of the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große purchased by a passenger in the early 1900s.

This is a sterling silver and enamel spoon purchased by a passenger on the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große in the late 1800s.

Silver and Enamel Spoon

Sovenir spoon that a passenger could purchase while onboard the ship.

This is a sterling and enamel silver spoon purchased by a passenger on the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große in the late 1800s.

Silver Spoon

Sovenir spoon that a passenger could purchase while onboard the ship.

1897 cover of the Scientific American featuring the SS Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse.

Scientific American Cover

A great article published in 1897 about the technology behind the World's faster ship.

This is a postcard purchased by a passenger on the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große in the June of 1904. This would have been only six weeks after the Zimola and Fila families were onboard for their journey to America.

The purchaser wrote: "I am going to be an Artist. Love from Walter. I will write to mother." It was sent to a Dublin, Ireland.

1904 Postcard

A postcard that a passenger purchased and sent while onboard the ship.

This is a postcard purchased by a passenger on the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große in May of 1905. Since it was sent to the daughter of the postcard author in Baltimore Maryland, it can be assumed that this passenger was on an Eastbound voyage.

Though a bit hard to read the handwritng —even using AI— I believe the purchaser wrote: "Little daughter - I had no time for a leter. So excuse me. Many kisses."

1905 Postcard

A postcard that a passenger purchased and sent while onboard the ship.

This is a photo of the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große after it was converted by the German Navy to an Auxilary Cruiser in August of 1914. Renamed SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, the former passenger vessel was painted in camouflage gray and black, and armed with cannons to raid Allied merchant shipping. It captured or sank several ships in the Atlantic before being sunk. See the story above.

SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große

A photo shortly before her sinking by the British Navy during WWI.

Land & Legacy

1907 Platt Maps

Cedar Township Section 34 - Josef Zimola

1918 Platt Maps

Cedar Township Section 26 - Josef Zimola

Pohocco Township Section 32 - Josef Zimola