Vaclav Filipek's Traveler Card (February 6, 1896)

This traveler cards states:

James Filipek is a member in good standing of the St. John Nepomucene Court, No. 437 in Chicago Illinois and is entitled to all the benefits fo the Catholic Order of Foresters. Given under the seal of the Court, this Sixth day of February 1896.
John K. Sokolik
Secretary

N.B. This traveling card is good for thirty days only. A renewal can be secured by the payment of dues at the end of thirty days.

Comments:

  • Both the St. John Nepomucene Court and Catholic Order of Foresters were mentioned in Valcav Filipek's 1914 obituary. The Catholic Order of Foresters was a fraternal insurance organization. It is possible that with this card, Vaclav could contact a local chapter in Pueblo to pay his dues or obtain assistance. Perhaps it was also accident insurance.
  • The letters from Colorado seem to regularly mention paying dues for the various fraternal insurance organizations. This was the way the early immigrants obtained insurance and it was important to them to be paid up should calamity strike the family.

This card was discovered in March 2001 by Terry Nelson, a g-granddaughter of Vaclav and Katerina Filipek in her grandmother Rose Filipek's home in Florida. If you would like to add information about this picture, please contact Dave Jordan, a g-grandson of Vaclav and Katerina Filipek. The Picture Reference Number is DJA51