Written in 1926.
CHAPTER 28
(Continued from last week.)
In 1900 a school was founded in Howell, supported by lodge Svoboda No. 60, Western Bohemian Fraternal Union. The first teacher was Anton Rysavy, succeeded by Miss Louise Dusatko, who used to come from Clarkson. Later Prof. Srb taught in the public school.
In the years 1913 to 1919 a law was in effect allowing the teaching of any foreign language one hour daily in the public school, when fifty parents or guardians of pupils signed a petition to that effect. In those years Bohemian was thus taught in towns largely inhabited by Bohemians. At that time also the Department of Slavonic Languages was established in the Nebraska State University and educational clubs Komensky flourished. There were composed, as to membership, of students and supporters of culture. The war too destroyed this activity and it has never been resumed. In Clarkson the Komensky Club No. 18 and in Howell Komensky Club No. 24 were active. Komensky, by the way, means Comenius, that being the way to spell the name in Bohemian.
In 1911 Rev. John St. Broz stablished in Dodge the first Catholic school where Bohemian was taught by the Bohemian branch of the Notre Dame Order. Such a school is now in existence in Schuyler, where also music, arts, foreign languages and Bohemian is taught.
BOHEMIAN CEMETERIES
(With the exception of Dry Creek, information furnished by Joseph M. Mundil, Clarkson).
CLARKSON—BOHEMIAN SLAVONIAN AND CATHOLIC, both in one area, one half being for the Catholics, the other half for non-Catholics. October 7, 1888, lodge Zapadni Svornost No. 147 C. S. P. S. (now No. 28, Western Bohemian Fraternal Union) established this cemetery, at first called National. In 1903 the Catholic portion of it was established for the parishioners of the Ssts. Cyril & Methodius parish.
NINE MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLARKSON is a cemetery founded by the members of the Liberal Thinkers’ League (Svobodna Obec, by that name. Established in 1897 on the land of Joseph Sousek, in Midland Precinct.
HALF A MILE WEST OF HOWELL is the National Cemetery established in 1912.
ONE MILE NORTH OF HOWELL is the Catholic cemetery on the boundary of Stanton county. Established in 1893 and used by Bohemians living in Stanton and Colfax county.
SIX MILES SOUTHEAST OF HOWELL the Catholic cemetery Tabor, established in 1880 on land donated by Joseph Sindelar.
NINE MILES SOUTHWEST OF HOWELL is the Catholic cemetery called Heun, in Midland precinct, established about 1879, on land donated by John Folda and Wilhelm Heun.
FOUR MILES SOUTH OF HEUN CEMETERY is the Catholic Cemetery called Dry Creek, established February 12, 1876 in a meeting called for the purpose in the home of John Kovar, who donated five acres of land for it. The founders were John Kovar, Frank Polak, Martin Svacina, Jacob Krula, Matej Dobry, Vaclav Sudik, Felix Sevcik, Joseph Valenta, Joseph Krenek, Martin Palik, John Vobornik and Joseph Houfek. The following were elected trustees: John Kovar, Matej Dobry and Vaclav Sudik. Later the following members were added: Joseph Riha, Frank Dvorak, Frank Cech, John Nozicka, John Dvorak, Joseph Krejci, Joseph Coufal, Cyril Kuzel, Martin Rygel, John Zahradnik, Anton Votava, Jacob Mares and Frank Roupetz. In 1879, when the settlers began to divide as to religion, differences arose. In 1881 a church was built and inasmuch as the Catholics were in a majority, it was agreed that non-members of the church lose membership in the cemetery association. It is interesting to note that the donor of the land thereby lost membership in the cemetery. The first to be buried there were children, those of John Vobornik, Dvorak, Rubes, Kovar, Sudik and Zmotany.
TWELVE MILES SOUTHWEST OF CLARKSON is the so-called Wilson Catholic church, in Wilson precinct, established in 1888 a Mrazek’s land.
SIX MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLARKSON the Protestant cemetery belonging to the Zion church, established in 1875, on land donated by Joseph Smatlan, Adams precinct.
ABOUT 1885 A CEMETERY was established on Frank Tejkl’s land, southwest quarter Section 8, Township 19, Range 3, Midland Precinct, seven miles south of Clarkson. About seventeen bodies were buried there, but when other cemeteries were being established in the vicinity, these were removed.
The Tabor, Heun, Dry Creek and Wilson Catholic cemeteries adjoin Bohemian Catholic churches of these names.
POSTOFFICE STATION BEARING A BOHEMIAN NAME.
Before rural free delivery was instituted, there was a large number of small postoffice stations, often situated on farms, the owners whereof were postmasters. One such in Colfax county bore the name of Praha (for Prague, the capital city of Bohemia) and was established by a Bohemian pioneer, John F. Sobota, who was postmaster. With rural free delivery many of these were abolished, Praha being among them.
POLITICAL OFFICERS.
The majority of Bohemians are Democrats. As is natural, in localities heavily settled by them, they hold their share of offices, but we here list only the more imporatant ones.
MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE: 1875—Frank Fonda, Democrat. 1899—Jos. G. Dobry, Fusionist. 1903—Jos. G. Dobry, Fusinist. 1911–1913 and 1915–1917—Jos B. Sindelar, Democrat. 1919–1921 and 1923–1925—Thomas Stibal, Republican. All of these were representatives.
COUNTY OFFICES: 1876–1880—Joseph Dvorak Clerk. 1880–1864—John Lapacek (Pache) clerk. 1882—Thomas Vrba, commissioner. 1884–1888—John Lapacek (Lapache) treasurer. 1888–1892—John Novotny, treasurer. 1886–1890—Joseph Kudrna, sheriff. 1892–1896—M. F. Bednar, treasurer. 1894–1898—Frank W. Shonka, clerk and register of deeds. 1898–1902—Frank Hrubecky, commissioner. 1898–1902—Frank Cuba, judge. 1900–1908—Frank Sucha, clerk of district court. 1900–1904—Frank W. Shonka, treasurer. 1902–1908—John Chleboun, superintendent of schools. 1905–1907—Jos. B. Sindelar, assesor. 1905—R. B. Folda, commissioner. 198–1912—R. B. Folda, commissioner. 1908–1912—Mike F. Shonka, clerk. 1908–1926—F. J. Vogltance, superintendent of schools. 1910.—J. E. Cerny (Cherney) judge. 1910–1924—Adolph Fiala, judge. 1910–1912—Anton Kaspar, sheriff. 1911—Vaclav Maly, commissioner. 1912–1917—Ed. F. Vrzal, clerk and register of deeds. 1914–1916—Frank Prokes, commissioner. 1914–1918—Joseph Bartunek, sheriff. 1914–1918—F. K. Sindelar, commissioner. 1918–1922—Walter B. Sadilek, attorney. 1918–1926—John Moural, commissioner. 1919–1920—Ed. H. Vrana, surveyor. 1920–1924—A. C. Fajman, commissioner. 1922–1926—Joseph Sedlacek, treasurer. 1922–1922—Jerry E. Severyn, clerk. 1924–1926—Frank Houfek Jr., commissioner.
Frank J. Jonas was superintendent in the reform school for boys in Kearney, under President Cleveland, 1893–1897.
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS.
As far a recorded, the first public school teacher, a Bohemian, was John F. Sobota, who in 1874 and 1875 taught in District No. 17. Later he taught in Saunders and Butler counties. Joseph W. Zerzan taught in 1876 and John Novotny in 1876, the latter in a little building on John Folda’s farm, now district No. 47. School was taught three or four months in the year, in winter, at a salary of $30.00 per month.
From this vanguard of workers in the noble calling of teaching children, a veritable army has arisen, composed largely of women. Mr. F. J. Vogltance, a Bohemian, has been superintendent of schools for Colfax county for many years.
The following were teaching schools in Colfax county in 1926: Marie Sobota, Clarkson. John J. Koliha, Clarkson. Ella Benes, Theodore Kubik, Howells, Dist. 59. Hattie M. Prochazka, Schuyler. Elizabeth Castek, Schuyler. Irene Shonka, Schuyler. Eleanor Cech (principal) Schuyler. Mary Vybiral, school nurse, Schuyler. Anna Stastny, Dist. 1. Anna Sulc, Dist. 5. Julia Tyburec, Dist. 6. Julia Teply, Dist. 8. Charles V. Jonas, Dist. 11. Josephine Sterba, Dist. 14. Mary O. Krula, Dist. 13. Tillie Pokorny, Dist. 17. Mamie Krcma, Dist. 19. Bessie Havrda, Dist. 22. Agnes Jura, Dist. 23. Mayme Skala, Dist. 24. Sylvia Tyburec, Dist. 25. Vlasta Ulihrach, Dist. 28. Anna M. Karel, Dist. 29. Anna M. Hajek, Dist. 30. Olga Indra, Dist. 31. Lillian Novak, Dist. 32. Josephine Svoboda, Dist. 34. Gilbert Prucha, Dist. 35. Eleanor Rysavy, Dist. 37. Rose Prazak, Dist. 38. Olga A. Severa, Dist. 42. Rose Slama, Dist 44. Frances Cerny, Dist. 47. Tillie A. Karel, Dist. 48. Emma Tresnak, Dist. 51. Elsie M. Petr, Dist. 53. Emily Fayman, Dist. 54. Bertha Hudec, Dist. 56. Ethel Petr, Dist. 57. Josephine Filipi, Dist. 58. Martha Bukacek, Dist. 58. Joseph F. Blazek, Dist. 59. Clara Kovar, Dist. 59. Helen Mares, Dist. 60. Adelaide Kovar, Dist. 61. Adela Urbanek, Dist. 62.
A complete list of lawyers, physicians, dentists etc., is not available, but Bohemians, or rather the children of the pioneers, are well represented in these lines too, for those who came across the sea and suffered hardships in the early days, did so to not only better themselves, but also to prepare a better future for their children.
With empty hands you came to wilderness uncharted.
Lo, gaze upon it now, oh pioneers brave-hearted,
From Father of Waters west to Rocky Mountains’ base,
Prosperity’s sweet streams those prairies grace.
You triumphed over hardships, weary and heart breaking,
None censures you today for prideful joy you are taking
In your fair handiwork, which far and wide you view.
Instead—sucess we wish, success to you!
From the poem by Bartos Bittner,
translated by Libbie Breuer Scholten.
—The End.—
