Foreword

This is a story about the life and legacy of Joseph E. Dolezal (1867-1956). It is also a story about the value of property rights.

The target audience for this story is the extended family of the author, John H. Dolezal, Joseph’s great-grandson. However,

Before diving into the details of Joseph’s life, let me explain the “Bundle of Sticks” title.

A “Bundle of Sticks” is a metaphor that relates to the set of legal rights associated with ownership of real property.

The “Bundle” consists of five different rights or “Sticks” (right of possession, the right of control, the right of exclusion, the right of enjoyment, and the right of disposition).

The “String”, tying the Sticks together into a Bundle, is a legal deed.

So, why this story title?

As I reflect on the life of Joseph and our extended family, “Land” seems to be a common theme.

 

This story is authored by Joseph’s great-grandson, John H. Dolezal.

The primary intended audience for this story is John’s extended family. However, those interested in the value and importance of property rights or …. for achieving big dreams …

While the story contains certain historical details, most of the content relates to family folklore and the author’s first-hand experience. Having been blessed to live next door to Joseph as a young child, living close to Joseph’s……and having several Dolezal family members in the community……

It was the “Bundle of Sticks” that fueled the drive and motivation of Joseph’s parents’ to immigrate to the United States in (1867) and the vision Joseph would have for someday owning his own land.

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Jan and Helena Dolezal, Joseph’s parents lived through the………in Dzbanov, Czechoslovakia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph's grandparents, Charles and Marie had passed on the legacy for the importance of owning land to Jan and Helena. 

With knowledge that a person could enjoy property rights in America and that the end of the United States Civil War would mean the east coast had opened for immigrants to come to the …… Jan and Helena (who was pregnant with Joseph at the time) decided to risk everything in hopes of acquiring property in America and enjoying protection of property rights by the U.S. legal system.