Pioneer Czechs
In Colfax County
Written in 1926.
CHAPTER 16
(Continued from last week.)
FELIX SEVCIK, born in Mila Ves, County Domažlice, in 1844, came to the United States in 1863, going to his uncle Peter Steinberger in Ohio. Later, with his parents, who in the meantime had arrived, he moved to Kewaunee, Wisconsin, and there married Margaret Valenta. In 1869 with his family and father-in-law Joseph Valenta he came to Colfax county, Nebraska, where each took a homestead ten miles northeast of Schuyler. Mr. and Mrs. Sevcik had three daughters and a son. Anna Clara, the eldest, became the wife of Lev. J. Palda of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a very prominent Bohemian in his day. Mrs. K. F. Kirchner lives in Circle, Montana, Mrs. A. V. Vondracek in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Felix Sevcik Jr. in Hillsboro, Illinois. In 1879 Mr. Sevcik sold his farm and moved to Schuyler, where he practiced his trade of blacksmith to 1892, when he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There he was for twenty years employed by the Rock Island railroad company and pensioned. He died May 23, 1926 and is buried in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
JACOB KRULA came in 1875. His son John Krula writes: “My father Jacob Krula was born in 1825 or 1826 in Sadek, Moravia. From an early age he was employed as sheep herder on the nobleman’s estate and in 1858 was made sheep master. In 1859 he married Veronika Novotny, born in Petrovice, Moravia, in 1833, of peasant birth. They were married in Pribyslavice, Moravia. In 1875 with their five children, Frank, Anton, John, Anna and Marie, they came to this country, arriving in Schuyler, May 21, 1875. Mr. John Kovar helped him select a homestead, an eigthy, partly improved, for $1100.00. Father liked our new home very much, but did not enjoy it long, he died two years later, of pneumonia and my sister Mary died two years after him. My mother was obliged to get along as best she could with her young children, but it must have been very hard for her, as the country was more or less yet a waste and she felt very helpless. However, time went by, we children grew up; the country was settled more and more and times improved. My brother Frank left home first, he now lives in Dawson county, Anna married John Nebuda and lives on a farm near West Point, Nebraska. Anton married and lived two miles from our homestead, where he died in 1917. I was left alone with mother. She died in 1896 and in 1899 I married Fanny Woracek and we live on the original homestead.
BOHEMIANS IN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE IN SCHUYLER, IN 1926.
CHARLES J. SAFARIK, druggist, proprietor of drug store since 1887. Son of Saline county pioneers, Peter and Anna Safarik. Born May 15, 1866, in Dayton, Ohio, where his parents arrived that year from Bohemia and where he was born six weeks later. They moved to Crete in the early seventies, in Saline county, and then to Wilber, where both died. Of their eight children but two are living: Chas. J. and Robert. Mr. Safarik married Josephine, eldest daughter of Joseph W. Zerzan.
RUDOLPH A. DARICEK, harness maker and partner in Schuyler Harness Co. In business since 1894. Born in 1873 in Brno, Moravia. His father Frank and mother Anna came to Schuyler in 1884. Mr. Daricek used to be compositor when the newspaper Nova Doba (New Era) was established in 1887, Hugo Chotek editor. He is an ardent Bohemian patriot, Sokol and member of several lodges and stage manager of the dramatic society of Tel. Jed. Sokol. It was his suggestion that the Bohemian Dancing Club bought and presented to the city, with proceeds from entertainment, the fine clock in the city hall tower costing $600.00. He was the president of the club, Emil Faltys secretary and R. Langer treasurer. The two latter are not among the living now. The clock is an ornament to the city, the building was erected in 1908.
VACLAV PAVLICEK, partner with his son in the meat market Pavlicek & Son, since 1895. Born in Rouchovany, Znojmo, Moravia, in 1867. His father Vaclav and mother Mary came to this country in 1883, settling in Schuyler, Nebraska. The mother died in 1887 and is buried in Heun, the father in 1894, buried in Schuyler. Mr. Pavlicek married Antonie Divis in 1894 and have two children, Vaclav and Lottie.
JOSEPH BURES, proprietor of shoe shop since 1898. Born in Krizanky, Nove Mesto, Jihlava, Moravia, in 1854. In this country since 1887, having lived previously in Tabor, South Dakota.
JOHN L. DUDEK, partner in Schuyler Harness Co. and Schuyler Auto Co. since 1903. Born in 1877 in Nove Mesto, Nove Sady, Moravia. His father Frank and mother (Antonie Hejtmanek) came in 1882 and settled on a farm eight miles northwest of Schuyler. Young Dudek, having gone through school, began to learn the harness making trade with R. A. Daricek and then became his partner. He was three times a member of the city council and in 1920 was elected mayor.
JOSEPH SVOBODA, tailoring shop since 1900. Born in Priluk, December 13, 1873, county Litomysl, Bohemia. His father John and mother Katherine (Hanel) had a small estate, he learned the tailoring trade and worked in Vienna. February 18, 1894 he came to this country, to his relatives the Hanels near Clarkson. Then he worked for Albert Loukota in Schuyler, later buying him out. He is a good Bohemian patriot, a cheery companion and excellent actor. He was very active during the war, when the Bohemians of Schuyler gathered over $15,000 to help free Bohemia from Austria and Germany.
MAREK & SON, soft drink parlor and restaurant. In business since 1918. Marek was born in Prilepy, county Unhost, in 1867. He came with his mother and brother Anton to Wilber, Nebraska, in 1880, later moving to Omaha, then Madison and finally to Schuyler. His mother was an expert midwife and had good practice. She and the brother are dead, both buried in Schuyler.
RUDOLPH RUBRINGER, teacher of music, since 1923. Born in Trebon, Bohemia, in 1870. Came to Chicago, Ill. in 1892 and there married Josephine Tupy. In Schuyler he has trained a band of 24 musicians, which excites great admiration. Teaches to play on all instruments and at present has 45 pupils.
JOSEPH H. OTRADOVSKY & SONS, grocery store, since 1892. Mr Otradovsky was born in Caslav, Bohemia, July 22, 1873. He came to this country with his parents in 1890, to Schuyler, where Joseph went to school one year, to learn English. Then he worked for his uncle Frank Otradovsky, in his store and later, in company with his father, established his own store. He has been a member of the city council three times.
JOHN AND FRANK KOLIHA, tinsmiths since 1921. Both born in Schuyler. Their parents, Joseph and Mary, came in 1881 from Oparany near Tabor, Bohemia. John was born in 1890, Frank 1895. Their father died in 1907.
(To be continued.)
