A transcription of pages 195-469,
Family Histories from the Verdigre Centennial Book
Thanks to the Verdigre Library and its volunteers for making this available.
 
The index below only includes the husband and wife for each family.
The maiden name for the wife is used if listed.
For other names, use the search on the Home Page.

Index's A-I, J-P, & Q-Z

JOSEPH J. JACOT, SR.

Joseph J. Jacot was the son of Edward and Mary (Steinbach) Jacot of Verdel, Nebraska. They lived on a homestead southwest of Verdel in Raymond Township, Knox County. Joe, one of ten children, was born August 18, 1898, near Verdel, Nebraska. He spent his youth helping on the family farm and working in the woods of Wisconsin.

In 1923 Joe and Ella Ruzicka of Verdigre were married, and they lived on the Jacot farm. Later they moved to a farm near Verdigre. Joe served as chairman of the District 40 school board. After the death of his wife Ella, he continued to farm. He was also a Triple A Committeeman in Knox County.

In 1941 he and Myrtle Faughender were married and lived on the farm for a short time. They moved to Verdigre where Joe became manager of the Farmers’ Co-op Association in June of 1942, being in charge of the store and gas station. Joe was an active member of the Farmers’ Union, attending many conventions in Omaha and serving on numerous committees for the local Farmers’ Union. After 23 years of faithful service he retired in 1965.

[pg 278 PHOTO Mr. and Mrs. Joe J. [Myrtle] Jacot, Sr.]

Following retirement, he did the things he enjoyed most - hunting and fishing. Each year he got his deer permit and filled it almost every time. He enjoyed cooking deer steaks (using his special recipe) for his family and friends.

He was very interested and active in community affairs. He served on the town board and the school board for many years, was a member of the Improvement Club and Development Corporation. He was a retired fireman and a long-standing member of Ionic Lodge No. 87 of Niobrara. Joe took an active part in the lodge work; he was also a 32nd Degree Mason.

He enjoyed seeing the many improvements in this little village, such as the new gym and the grade school building. He was instrumental in establishing a low-rent housing project and Alpine Village in Verdigre.

Another special joy was being Verdigre’s Santa Claus for several years. Getting dressed in that beautiful red velvet suit was an inspiration to him; coming into town on the bright red fire truck and passing out treats to all the children who came to town to see “Santa” was very rewarding to Joe.

He passed away on February 9, 1982, at the Lundberg Memorial Hospital in Creighton, Nebraska. He is buried in the family plot at the Bohemian National Cemetery at Jelen.

Preceding him in death were his parents, eight brothers, and two sisters, his first wife Ella, and a daughter Judy, who was killed at 17 in a car accident.

His wife Myrtle lives in Verdigre in the family home. His children are : Mrs. Elaine (Jacot) Smith, Joe Jacot, Jr., both of Verdigre; Willard Jacot of Yankton, South Dakota; Mrs. Jolene (Jacot) Yager of Johnson, Nebraska; Mrs. Karen (Jacot) Vonasek of Lynch, Nebraska; Ted Joseph Jacot of Norfolk, and a stepson Charles Faughender of Pierce, Nebraska, whom Joe raised and loved as his own. There are 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren who loved Grandpa Joe.

Pages 277, 278