FAMILY STORIES

   The family attended Holy Rosary Catholic church northwest of Colon. Since 1919, they attended Saint Joseph's Church, Colon.

   Many memories and stories were told to me by my Dad and Uncle John. They often mentioned the neighbors who helped each other with daily chores, and especially in times of need. Submitted by Andrew Murren.

   Anton Musilek lives on a farm 3/4 mile north of Prague, Nebraska. The farm was first settled by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Musilek, and is now in the third generation of the Musilek family.

Anton Musilek Family

   Anton's grandfather and Anton's father (Joseph, who was four years old at the time) came from Europe to settle in America.

   Grandfather John Musilek brought a small chair with him from Europe and passed it on to his son, Joseph, who then passed it to Anton. This chair is still in Anton's possession and brings back many memories for him of the past.

   Anton was the youngest of the seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Musilek. The rest of the family was Mrs. Joseph (Anna) Kliment, Joe (who died in 1975), Mrs. Joe (Josephine) Chmelka (who died in 1981), George, Mrs. Charles (Lucille) Vlach, and Anton. Another brother, Francis, died in infancy. Anton's mother passed away on May 14, 1946, and his father on December 6, 1949.

   Anton has farmed his 100 acres most of his life, although he had to quit farming in 1978 on account of his health. The farm now consists of 94 acres, since the highway took about 6 acres when they were resurfacing it.

   On April 27, 1955 Anton was joined in marriage to Eleanor Kratky in St. John's Catholic Church in Prague by Rt. Rev. Monsignor Rezabek.

   Eleanor, daughter of James and Emma (Mach) Kratky of Prague, was the second oldest of six children. In the family was a sister, Mrs. Lawrence (Adeline) Whidden; Mrs. Anton (Eleanor) Musilek; Richard; James (who was killed in a car accident in 1942); Joe; and Francis.

   Eleanor's father was a carpenter before he retired and moved to Schuyler in 1962. He passed away on May 12, 1977. Her mother died August 31, 1932.

   Anton and Eleanor had one daughter, Charlotte, born December 28, 1957. She graduated from Prague High School and also Platte College. She now lives and is employed in Columbus. Submitted by: Mrs. Anton Musilek

   Leonard was born May 23, 1926 to James C. and Mary (Hula) Musilek. He was the only son, having four older sisters, Marie, Georgia Shimerka, Sylvia Pabian and Irene TePoel. Leonard attended St. John's Parochial Grade School and Prague High School. He entered the Navy on February 19, 1945. Upon returning home in August 1946, Leonard started farming with his father. He is a member of the American Legion, 25 years with the Prague Fire Department and the only original member left on the Rural Fire Dept. board.

Back Row, L. to R.: Larry, Terry and Connie Carlson, Jim; Front Row: Leonard, Theresa, Gary, and Bertha Musilek.

   I, Bertha, am the daughter of James J. and Rose (Kotil) Nejdl, being born to Lewis and Mary (Kotil) Nejdl of Friend, Nebraska on February 11, 1928 and adopted nine months later, following the death of my mother. I was raised as an only child, with the privilege of having two brothers and two sisters, Milo Nejdl, Dorchester, Nebr., Emil Nejdl, Mountain Home, Indiana, Olga Bruka, Dorchester, Nebr., and Irene Wagner, Lincoln, Nebr.

   Nejdls had a grocery store in Exeter, Nebraska before moving to Prague in 1939, continuing in the grocery business. After finishing school in Prague and summer school at Midland College, I taught country school for three years.

   Leonard and I were married February 3, 1948 at St. John's Catholic Church in Prague. We live on a farm one and one-half miles east of town. We have four children: Jim, born Jan. 4, 1949; Connie, August 10, 1951; Gary, January 13, 1953; and Larry, December 11, 1955. They all attended St. John's Grade School and graduated from Neumann High School, Wahoo.

   Jim graduated from UNL College of Engineering as a civil engineer in 1973. He married Karen Gerweck, daughter of Vern and Gladys Gerweck of Falls City, Nebr. on June 26, 1982 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lincoln. He is presently employed at Geotechnical Services, Inc. as a soils consultant and lives in Lincoln.

   Connie attended Patricia Stevens, Omaha, taking up Fashion Merchandising. She worked on the Fremont Tribune Newspaper in the Commercial Advertising Dept. She married Terry Carlson, son of Albert Carlson, Fremont, on June 3, 1972 at St. John's Prague. They have lived in Fremont, Nebr., Milwaukee, Wis., Louisville, Ky., Omaha, Nebr. and currently reside at Richland, Wash. She presently works as an insurance agent and bookkeeper for Gallant, Brown, & Stingham Inc., Pasco, Wash.

   Gary was active in all sports throughout his high school years and graduated in 1972. He works at Valmont Industries in Valley, Nebr. He married Theresa Kuncl, daughter of Joe and Darlene Kuncl, Prague, on September 1, 1979. They live on an acreage near Malmo, Nebr.

   Larry attended UNL and majored in music. He plays trumpet and is a member of the Dennis Wesely Orchestra, playing with Bud Comte and Adolph Nemec before that. He lives in Lincoln.

   I went to work in 1967 for several years, sewing at Pendleton in Fremont, something I still enjoy doing. Since the family is grown and gone from home, I'd like to pursue other things as well, like oil painting, quilting and wood refinishing, to name a few. Also to get Leonard to relax a little and interested in other things besides hard farm work. I did talk him into a vacation in Hawaii in 1976. Perhaps we can go again. By Bertha Musilek

   Henry Elbert Nash was born to Oscar and Emilie (Curtis) Nash in Wyoming County, New York on March 8, 1868. He was an infant when he came with his parents to Nebraska.

   Family property was sold and treasured possessions and necessities shipped to Nebraska six weeks prior to the family's departure by train from Perry, N.Y.: February 22, 1870. At a stop at Elkhart, Ind. Oscar got off the train to obtain milk for the baby ... Henry ... The train pulled out without him. At the next station a message arrived from Oscar instructing the family to get off at Chicago and wait for his arrival on the next train.

   Travel resumed at Chicago for Council Bluffs. Here they boarded a train for Plattsmouth where a steam ferryboat took them across the Missouri River. They were met there by Emilie's brother, Henry Curtis, and went by team and wagon to New York settlement (near Ashland). Arrival: February 25, 1870. They stayed at the Albert Gould farm.

   They rented a farm from a Sheffer family three miles south and one and a half miles east of Ashland ... in Cass County. Home was a dugout, boarded on the inside with three rooms and a pantry downstairs and one room upstairs. By 1873 they purchased land from the Burlington Railroad ... five miles from Ceresco ... in the Pleasant Hill vicinity. On January 20, 1874 the Nash family moved to Section 25, Richland Precinct.

   All of the Nash children grew up here.

   (1) Mary Emmanetta "Nettie" married John S.P. Moyer and resided Richland Precinct.
   (2) Mittie A. never married.
   (3) Clarice Alena married E. Kimmer Reece; and resided Salt Creek Precinct, Cass County.
   (4) Chauncey Levi married Anna Frederick; and resided Clear Creek Precinct.
   (5) Flora Louise married Charley B.B. Boydston; and resided Richland Precinct.
   (6) Henry Elbert married Lillian E. Lasure; and resided Richland Precinct and Ceresco.
   (7) William Orvin was the last child.

   The "homeplace" Henry E. Nash purchased from his father's estate (1893) and became the home of Henry and his bride, Lillian Estelle Lasure, married on February 9, 1898. Henry's mother, Emilie (Curtis) Nash and spinster sister, Mittie, made their home with Henry.

   Henry and Lillie had a baby boy July 28, 1900. He died at birth. A daughter, Verna Lillian, was born April 14, 1905. Another daughter, Letha Emilie, was born March 16, 1909.

   For a time Henry Nash owned the Ford Garage in Ceresco and they lived there until he sold out and returned to the farm. Henry Nash died here on August 22, 1916 and was buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery with his parents and infant son.

   Lillie sold the farm and moved to University Place. In 1923, Lillie and her two daughters were stricken with typhoid fever. Lillie and Verna recovered. Letha died July 13, 1923 and was buried with her father after her mother's recovery on September 14, 1923.

   Verna Lillian Nash graduated from Wesleyan University and on March 20, 1929 married Fay H. Schiefelbein, grandson of Frederick C. and Pauline (Mallwitz), Schiefelbein of Ithaca. The couple had five children.

   (1) Roy Elbert married D. Jo Ann Shimonek of Ashland.
   (2) Ralph Dale married Donna R. Leslie of Duluth, Minn.
   (3) Beverly Ann married Robert M. Chandler of Bellevue.
   (4) Donald Fay married Mary Jo Halterman of Bellevue.
   (5) Evelyn Vera married Jens A. Rahr of Glenwood, Ia.

   Verna passed away on December 31, 1959. Fay passed away on March 23, 1979. Both are buried in Bellevue Cemetery, Bellevue, Nebraska. D. JoAnn Schiefelbein

   Albert, son of George and Mathilda (Kounovsky) Nau, was born in Fremont, Nebraska in 1912. He had three brothers, two step-brothers and two sisters. They lived on farms in the Fremont, Prague, Malmo and Colon areas. Albert attended grade school at District 60, Fremont, and District 63, Prague, and the Prague High School.

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Albert and Alyce Nau

   I, Alyce (Novak) Nau am one of eight children, daughter of Louis and Frances Pallas Novak, born on a farm near Malmo, having attended grade school in District 97 and graduating from the Malmo High School in 1935.

   Albert and I were married in the Czech Presbyterian Church in 1939 by Rev. Marek. We lived on farms in the Malmo and Colon areas. We had two children (twins), Barbara Ann and Robert Lee. They attended grade school in District 70 and District 85. In 1950, we moved to Malmo. Barbara and Robert graduated from Malmo High School in 1958. Robert served in the United States Navy, being stationed in Pearl Harbor, the Philippines and Japan, home base in San Francisco, and San Diego, California. He married Carol Duhrkop in 1966 at the Bethlehem Lutheran church in Wahoo. They have one daughter, Shalisa, and live in Waverly, Nebraska.

   Barbara worked at the Mead Ordnance Plant and the Cheyenne, Wyoming plant. She met Glen Flarity and, in 1962, they were married in the Las Vegas Chapel. They have three children, Carrie, Chris, and Colleen, and presently reside in Cypress, California. They have one granddaughter, Robyn Cole.

   Albert was a mechanic for Texel Implement for 26 years. He passed away December 7, 1978.

   I have four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Alyce Nau

   I, Adolph Navrkal, was the youngest son of James Navrkal, who, at the age of 16, immigrated with his parents, Frank and Antonia Navrkal, in 1885 to Saunders County from Czechoslovakia.

   The Frank Navrkals, with their six sons, settled on a small farm east of Linwood. They lived there all their lives. This farm is now a part of beautiful Camp Moses Merrill.

   My father, James, married my mother, Mary Cerny, in January, 1903. This union was blessed with 13 children. The six sons were Frank, James, Anton, Albin, John, and myself, Adolph. The seven daughters were Gustie Wesely, Mary Thomsen, Kristie Vyhlidal, Antoinette Buchholtz, Blanche Knight, Marcella Stejskal, and Rose Pospisil. James, Anton, Albin, Marcella, and my parents are deceased.

Frank and Antonia Navrkal, Grandparents of Adolph

   I lived with my parents on a farm east of my grandparents until my marriage. At that time, my parents moved to Linwood.

   I married Louise Pokorny on Dec. 16, 1942. We were married by Rev. Benjamin Marek at the Czech Presbyterian Church near Wahoo. Louise was the daughter of Henry and Lojzi Pokorny (deceased) of Wahoo, Nebraska. She has 3 sisters and four brothers. Her twin is Vera Divis. The other sisters are Mildred Benson and Jarmila Schlotman. Her brothers are Henry, Reuben, Edward, and Emil Pokorny of Weston and Wahoo areas.

   Adolph and Louise have four children and five grandchildren. Their son, Gary, and his wife, the former Joyce Henderson, farm west of Bellwood, Nebraska. Their daughters are Mrs. Jack (Gayle) Eberly and Gina Navrkal of David City and Mrs. John (Gwynette) Matulka of Houston, Texas.

   Adolph and Louise spent all their married life farming. Before moving to Bellwood, they farmed in the Prague and Bruno areas also. We are members of the Bellwood Methodist Church. My wife and I have our roots in Saunders County and have many friends and relatives there. Submitted by Adolph Navrkal

   This story is about my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur (Nina) Barry, my grandparents, and myself, Darlene Needham, and my family. My grandparents on my mother's and father's side, both immigrated from Sweden. My mother's parents were Henry and Carolina Hanson, Mead, Nebraska. My father's were Swan and Albertina Barry, Malmo, Nebraska.

   My maternal grandmother came here in 1872 when she was 2 years old. Nebraska was a prairie then with Indians still roaming the area. She used to tell of the terrible prairie fires. My parents lived on a farm during most of their married life. They lived on the farm that my grandfather, Swan Barry, bought in the early 1900's.

   Swan Barry came from Sweden in the late 1800's along with his brothers, Anton, Barney and John Barry.

   I am living on the same farm that my parents lived on. They passed away in 1960. My husband, LaVern Needham, was born near Minden, Nebr. We were married in Lincoln, Nebraska. We have lived in this area most of our married life.

   In 1967 we remodeled my parents' home and have lived here since then. Our children are: Mrs. Ralph (Judith Ann) Peterson, Wahoo; Kathy Lee Needham, Fremont; Dean Barry Needham, Colon; and Dale Alan Needham, Malmo. We have one grandson, Christopher Peterson, son of Ralph and Judy Peterson. He was born on Febr. 25, 1980.

   Presently we are engaged in the insurance business in Wahoo. Submitted by Darlene Barry Needham

   Henry C. Nelson was born in Sweden in 1834. He came to Malmo, married, and had eight children. He settled on a farm 2 miles west and ½ north of Malmo.

Edmont and Lena's 50th Anniversary -- 1953, Ervin, Lena, Edmont, Gordon.

   Edmont was one of these eight children and he was my grandfather. He married Carolina (Lena) Olson. From this marriage Ervin and Gordon were born. Ervin passed away in 1982 and Gordon in 1970. They both farmed in the Malmo area, Ervin on the Olson place and Gordon on the Nelson place. Gordon married Sylvia Siemsen on September 5, 1933. They resided in the Malmo and Colon area and retired in Weston.

   Ervin and Gordon were in the trucking business along with their farming.

   Gordon and Sylvia had three daughters. They are Fern Jansa, Weston; Joyce Kucera of Lincoln; and Linda Semrad, Weston.

   Fern married Donald Jansa and had two children, Randy and Lori. They reside in Weston.

   Joyce married Donald Kucera from Weston. They have made their home in Lincoln.

   Linda married Bill Semrad and they have three children; Billy Jr., Rhonda Jean, and Bradley -- all reside in Weston.

   Randy Jansa married Elizabeth Sheets from Penn. and they have two girls -- Rhianon Jean and Sarah Gail. They reside in Weston. Lori Jansa married Jon Williams and resides by Wahoo.

   The Nelson farmstead by Malmo was a beautiful farm place with a very large house. The house consisted of fourteen rooms, a big enclosed porch, and a summer kitchen attached to the enclosed porch. Many neighbors had the remembrance of Christmas at this house, because they would light a candle in each window. It was a beautiful sight to see in this big rambling house with all its windows. The house was always open to anyone who needed help. The railroad tracks ran by the farm. Many a person stopped for a handout. This beautiful home had many memories and was a landmark in between the hills. It was so stately that it did not want to crumble when it was bulldozed down in 1972. Edmont and Lena had retired to Wahoo.

   Grandpa had a smoke house that was always full of meat and a cave that was full of canned foods, butter, cream, milk, etc. You never left there hungry. Grandpa used to sit and tell me how he delivered mail by Pony Express in the Dakotas and how rattlesnakes would scare the horses, and even get on the wagon wheel when they would run over a nest of them. Grandpa worked in Illinois and Iowa, coal mining. This was before he married Grandma. Then he farmed and threshed in the Malmo area.

   Grandma's family had a great loss when the fever went through. Grandma was very sick, too, and even lost all her hair at age 16 but it grew back to be very thick and beautiful. Her brother, Emil, survived and he lived with Grandpa and Grandma all his life.

   They were members of the Edensburg Lutheran Church at Malmo and are buried at the Malmo Cemetery. Submitted by Fern Jansa

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