LOUIS JOHN BARTAK FAMILY
Louis J. Bartak, son of John and Mar Bartak, was born November 15,
1882, on a farm seven miles west of Verdigre. When Louis was five
years old, he attended the Pleasant Valley rural school near their
farm. When he was six years old, he with his sisters and parents
moved to Verdigre.
When Louis reached the eighth grade, he began working two nights a
week for Editor E. Purcell at the Knox County Recorder. He finished
high school when eleven grades completed the course.
Louis then learned the harness business from his father who owned a
harness shop in Verdigre. In 1907 he became his father’s partner and
the firm was known as John Bartak and Son, until his father’s death
in 1922. Then he carried on the business. Louis had faith in
Verdigre and his country and was always looking ahead.
[pg 199 PHOTO - Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Bartak on 50th Anniversary
June 28, 1960]
On June 28, 1910, he was united in marriage to Miss Antoinette
Preslicka in Verdigre at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. They
observed their 50th anniversary on June 28, 1960. They made their
home in Verdigre where Louis operated the Harness and Saddle Shop
for 52 years.
In 1912 Louis was elected treasurer of the Verdigre Volunteer Fire
Department, a position he held for 52 years. On January 2, 1958,
Louis received a “Meritorious Service Award,” from the Nebraska
Volunteer Firemen’s Association. He was also presented a valuable
wrist watch by the local firemen. In 1948 the Modern Woodmen
presented Mr. Bartak a “Certificate of Appreciation” for 25 years as
financial secretary. He was treasurer of the Verdigre School Board
for 20 years, served on the town board, township board, and
Commercial Club; for 30 years he was a member of the Verdigre
military Band and the famous baseball club which flourished about
1905. Mr. Bartak recorded that he had never missed a meeting or fire
when in Verdigre.
The Louis J. Bartak Harness and Saddlery Shop was in the same
building 62 years and closed December 31, 1951, when he retired.
Founded in 1889, it was one of the oldest establishments in
northeast Nebraska.
Louis’ father John Bartak built the frame structure in which he
started his harness business on main street (north of Dr. Walstrom’s
Veterinary Clinic). The elder Bartak, who had learned the
harness-making trade in Europe, taught it to Louis. The Bartak shop
was always well-stocked with harnesses, saddles, lariats, spurs,
buggy whips, blankets, collars, stock remedies, and all equipment
used by horsemen. John Bartak, and later his son Louis, first sewed
harnesses by hand. They used full cowhide leather, making bridles,
tugs, and every strap needed a complete harness. After the early
years, sewing machines were purchased to make harnesses. The Bartak
stitch horse was used over 72 years. That relic is now in the Old
Mill in Verdigre, along with many other keepsakes. The Bartak
Harness Business had survived drought, grasshoppers, bank failures,
anthrax, epidemics, and just plain hard times, but the Bartaks had
their faith in the community, Knox County, and their business.
Mrs. Bartak (Antoinette Preslicka) was born to Frank and Mary
Preslicka on June 11, 1888, in New Prague, Minnesota. The family
later moved to Montgomery, Minnesota, where she attended school. On
Saturdays she clerked in a store.
The year after her father died, she, her mother, and sisters, Rose,
Anna and Josephine, moved to Verdigre where another sister, Mrs.
John (Mary) Pavlik lived. She continued her education in Verdigre
and graduated in May 1905 as a member of Verdigre high School’s
first graduating class. That summer she attended Fremont College. In
September of 1905, she began teaching. Antoinette, or Nettie as she
was called, taught in a rural school for two years and then in the
Verdigre Public School for three years. At one time she had 52
students in the third, fourth, and fifth grades. She loved teaching
and took great pride in each of her students.
Louis and Antoinette were blessed with two children, Blanche Bartak
Dobrichovsky of Verdigre and Robert Bartak of Merced, California.
There are three grandchildren: Linda Bartak Shank and Robert Bartak,
Jr., of California and Shirley Dobrichovsky Thompson of Verdigrr,
five great-grandchildren, Brook and Blake Bartak and David Shank of
California, Lori Thompson Pierce and Kathi Thompson Liska of
Verdigre, and two great-great-grandchildren, Brett and Staci Pierce
of Verdigre.
Nettie’s interest were gardening, raising flowers, cooking, sewing,
visiting with friends and neighbors, babysitting, and just being
there when needed. The loves of her life were her grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
Louis passed away September 20, 1965, at the age of 82 and
Antoinette died May 7, 1984, at the age of 95.
Submitted by Shirley Thompson
Page 199
