Pioneer Czechs
In Colfax County
Written in 1926.
CHAPTER 18
(Continued from last week.)
DR. L. J. FISHER, dentist, since 1912. Has the best equipped office, with an X-ray machine, the only one of its kind in town. Dr. Fisher was born in Wahoo in 1891, where his parents, Henry A. and Marie, (born Simanek) were pioneers. They came to Iowa in 1856, in 1870 to Saunders county. Dr. Fisher studied music and a business course in Chicago, then dentistry for two years. In 1913 married Anna Novak, they have two sons.
FRANK B. BURES, grocery since 1921. Born in Nove Sady, County Nove Mesto, Moravia, in 1885. In 1887 came to Schuyler with his parents Frank and Anna, born Balaban. When through school, young Bures began to work in the mill, where he worked eighteen years. In 1916 married Katherine Mares, one son.
JOS. J. MILLER, proprietor filling station since 1924. Born in Milwaukee, Wis. in 1869. Came with parents to Dodge county, Nebraska, when but a few months old. In 1900 married Mary Steffl. Farmed the Joseph Smatlan farm three years, then moved to Schuyler.
F. W. SHONKA, born in Smolec, County Bechyně, in May 1858. Came with parents John and Mary to this country in 1867, settling on a farm near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1871 the family moved to Butler county near Abie. When young Frank finished school, he got a position as clerk in Schuyler, in 1879. In 1887 married Frances Simanek of Crete, Saline county, daughter of pioneers there. They have four children. In 1903 established an insurance, real estate, abstract, loan etc. office in the Schuyler State Bank of which he is a stockholder. A good Bohemian-American, esteemed by all. Held several city and county offices.
SMATLAN BROTHERS, Iumberyard, since 1901, successors to their father Joseph Smatlan, who established it in 1878. Joseph E. Smatlan is the president and also owner of a farm, where he breeds thoroughbred Poland China hogs.
V. B. KADLEC, partner Kadlec & Wittera, agricultural implements, since 1915. Born in 1870 in Pisek county, Bohemia. Came to this country in 1891 and worked in Omaha as baker. A year later went to David City, Nebraska, and farmed in the vicinity. In 1893 married Anna Veleba, born in Butler county. In 1894 engaged in the general merchandise business in Octavia and eight years later went into the real state business. In 1911 moved to Schuyler, engaging in real estate, then with John Wittera bought out the business in which they are at present engaged.
JOHN WITTERA, partner Kadlec & Wittera since 1915. Born on a farm in Butler county, Nebraska, near Linwood, in 1876. His parents, Vaclav and Anna, came to this country, to Iowa, in 1867, from Pelhrimov, Jirina, Bohemia. Moved to Nebraska in 1870. John Wittera married Albina Shonka in 1801, they have five children.
JOHN HORAK soft drink parlor and restaurant, since 1925. Born in Saunders county Nebraska, in 1882. His parents John and Anna, came to this country in 1881 and settled on a farm in Saunders county. John Horak married Anna Vnuk in Dodge in 1907.
ANTON PESEK, bakery shop, since 1912. Born in Schuyler in 1888. Parents, F. J. and Mary, came from Moravia in 1883 and settled in Schuyler, where F. J. established a bakery shop, his son succeeding him.
C. A. NOVOTNY, dealer in poultry, cream and eggs since 1905, born in David City in 1879, living in Schuyler since 1898. Parents Martin and Anna. In 1909 married to Julia Bartunek.
JOHN L. PROKES, hardware store, since 1925. Parents, Martin and Barbora, came from Moravia in 1872. Married Frances Herbrich in 1915, they have one son.
A. M. SALAK, restaurant, since 1906. Born in Moravia. Came to this country in 1879, with parents Matej and Anna. In 1902 married Anna Knap, they have five children.
DR. L. A. PROSKOVEC, dentist in Schuyler since 1919. Born in Bruno, Butler county, Nebraska, in 1889. His parents, Vaclav and Anna, came to this country in 1874 and settled in Bruno. Dr. Proskovec studied in the State University, Lincoln, graduating in 1919. Married Anna Suchy in 1916, they have one daughter.
F. H. SVOBODA, photographer, since 1920. Born in Kynice, Moravia in 1871. His parents came to Saunders county in 1872 and farmed there. Young Svoboda, after finishing grammar school, studied in the Normal College in Fremont, for teacher and there he learned Bohemian also. In 1791 he taught district school, in 1895 married Clara Kruntorad from Abie and moved to Prague, Saunders county, there teaching for five years, for four years as principal. On Fridays he taught the Bohemian language. He then moved to Schuyler, where he began to publish a Bohemian magazine for children “Golden Star” (Zlata Hvezda), something he had long dreamed about; but he could not make a success of it. He then taught school a while and established a photographic gallery. In 1909 he began to publish a non-political paper “The Schuyler Messenger”, his entire family assisting him, in 1920 he handed it over to his son Amos, who sold it to The Schuyler Sun, now the only newspaper in the town, of which Amos is part owner. F. H. Svoboda again entered the photographing business and is successful in it.
MRS. JULIA JOSEPHINE ROUSAR-KNIPPING, teacher of piano and violin, since 1906. Born in Colfax county. Her father, John Rousar, came with his family in 1875 from the village of Milovy, County Hlinsko, and bought a farm west of town (Schuyler). Mrs. Knipping lived on the farm until fifteen years old, then with her parents moved to Omaha, where they lived nine years. She studied in Fremont Normal College, then in Omaha Commercial College and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Omaha. She taught music in Omaha three years. Then in Schuyler, teaching also vocal, and before her marriage she had 65 pupils, now she has about 35. In Schuyler she taught two singing clubs and one in North Bend. Active in Red Cross and American Legion Auxiliary work, founded Jr. American Auxiliary. Married G. Knipping in 1919. Mrs. Knipping is a good Bohemian patriot, an amateur actress and during the war (1914–1918) was active in the Schuyler branch of the Bohemian National Alliance, the purpose of which was to aid Bohemian in freeing herself from the yoke of Austria, and helped to found a branch of the “Bees”, an organization of Bohemian women in the United States, who sewed and knitted from Bohemian legionnaires in France and Siberia.
DR. A. W. JOHANES, dentist since 1924. Born in Abie, Butler county, in 1892. His parents, William and Anna, both born in this country. Dr. Johanes studied in the State University of Lincoln, graduating in 1924 and in that year married Anna Rezac.
EDWARD HRUBECKY, implements, since 1908. Born in 1872 in Dubuque, Iowa. His father, Thomas, came to Racine county, Iowa, in 1852, to Schuyler in 1878. With two brothers he practiced the blacksmithing and wheelwright’s trade. Died in 1912 and buried in Schuyler. Edward married Emma Wanke in 1907.
(To be continued.)
