9781422277621

Johann Mendel attended religious services at this Roman Catholic church in Opava while he was attending the gymnasium, or high school, there.

recommendations.” This disappointment made him ill again and this time, he spent a year at home on the farm to recover. By 1841, Anton had to give up his farm. He sold it to Alois Sturm, the husband of his elder daughter Veronica. In turning over the farm, Anton also made provisions for Johann and for his younger daughter Theresia. Johann’s share included a small sum of money if he “should enter the priesthood, or should in any other way begin to earn an independent livelihood.” Theresia gave her share of the property to Johann. With this and the private tutoring work he eventually obtained, he was able to study philosophy at Olomouc. “By a mighty effort,” Johann wrote about himself, “he succeeded in completing two years of philosophy.” But Johann was exhausted and “realized that it was impossible for him to endure such exertions any further.” He could no longer put

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