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 AND MARY [BRUNSLIK] KRUPICKA

Joseph Krupicka was born in Libice, Podebrady, on December 24, 1834, and died January 1, 1909 (not 1910 as is on the tombstone). While in Bohemia, he served with the army and fought in the Prussian War. He carried a lead fragment from a shell embedded between the skin and skull for the rest of his life. He told people who asked, “That is my souvenir from the Prussian War.

After his army career in 1860, he married Mary Brunslik who was born in 1838 and died in 1911. They had two children while in Europe, Mary and Joe. Life was very distressing in Bohemia on account of religion and the army. He yearned for freedom, as most Czechs did.

In the late 1860s Joseph Krupicka and his family, with other Czechs, decided to leave for America. It took awhile to get their papers in order for permission to leave, but once that was accomplished they were on their way. Their boat travel was very slow and tedious. When they arrived in New York, half the group was sick. In the summer of 1869 they arrived in Chicago, and while they were there Frank, their third child, was born.

[pg 308 PHOTO The Krupickas - left to right: Frank [1869-1952], Anna [1871-1911], Joe [1867-1920], Mary [1866-1933], Louis [1880-1961], Joseph [1834-1909], Mary [1838-1911]]

After recuperating in Chicago, they got things organized and late in the summer of 1869 they left with a group of Czechs for Sioux City, Iowa. The Krupickas were accompanied by the Sedivys, the Holeceks, Josef Gregors, Noll, and Vampula. They arrived in Sioux City by train. The rest of the journey had to be made by foot because the railroad ended at Sioux City. They left some of their belongings in Sioux City to be picked up later. In a few days they headed into the open prairie for Yankton, Dakota Territory, and found themselves among unfriendly Indians. The Sedivys had a yoke of oxen and a wagon which Joseph Krupicka took his turn at driving. It took them over a week to get to Yankton.

Some stayed where a Czech colony was being formed (near what later became Tabor, South Dakota). Joseph Krupicka, Sedivys, Holeceks, and a few others didn’t like it there because the country was too open and had very little timber. They wanted to go on to Niobrara and look around.

While they were waiting for the Missouri River to freeze so they could cross, Krupicka and a few others went to Sioux City after the property they had left behind. They were shocked and surprised to learn that their supplies were all stolen or destroyed. They had the U. S. Cavalry guarding it, but they evidently did a very poor job. They blamed them for the destruction. No doubt it was the soldiers who did it because most of them were rebels (after the Civil War) dressed in blue uniforms; they were often called “galvanized soldiers.” They complained to the U. S. government but to no avail. What could they do but go back to Yankton empty handed?

Late that fall when the Missouri River had frozen enough to cross, they headed for the town of Niobrara. When they got there, all they found were a few log cabins. Indian teepees and Indians, and a big three-story hotel called “The Hubbard House,” which was empty and deserted. While in Niobrara the women and children stayed in the village and the men went looking for a place to make their home. After exploring, Joseph Krupicka found a place to his liking near the mouth of the Verdigris Creek where there was plenty of timber, rich soil, and good water. Joseph Krupicka was one of the first settlers to have a homestead claim in the Verdigris Valley.

While the Krupickas were on their homestead they had to struggle to survive and make a living. In the early days to get a little money Joseph Krupicka, Sedivy, and a few others would often walk along the Niobrara River to Fort Randall lugging a little farm produce such as eggs, milk, and cream. They would sell their produce to the soldiers, avoiding the hostile Sioux Indians. A trip often took a week. The hardship and Indian stories he told were heartbreaking, but interesting.

He and his wife managed to raise their family of seven children: Mary, Joe, Frank, Anna, Charles, Katherine, and Louis.

Mary was the wife of Herko Koster. In 1871 Sgt. Herko Koster and his soldiers were sent here from Fort Randall to keep peace among the hostile Sioux Indians. This was shortly after the Brabenec tragedy near what is now Pischelville.

Joe Krupicka married Mary Liska, daughter of Vaclav Liska, Sr.

Frank married Anna Liska, daughter of Vaclav Liska, Jr.

Anna Krupicka married Mike Kendall. They operated the hotel called “The Hubbard House.” They both lost their lives during the Hubbard House explosion in 1911. He died in the fire and she died shortly after.

When Charles was 16 years old, he drowned in the Verdigris Creek near the homestead.

Katherine, who died at 18, is buried on the homestead.

Louis married Rose Liska, daughter of Frank Liska and a cousin of Anna (Liska) Krupicka. All are deceased.

When Frank Krupicka was married to Anna Liska in 1904, they took over the homestead, and a new house was built that year. In the year of 1905 while Joseph was helping his son Frank on the farm, he almost lost his life in a cave-in. He was buried alive, but was rescued by Frank and his wife Anna.

Frank and Anna Krupicka retired in 1940. Their son Delmar Krupicka is living on the homestead at the present time. This homestead has been in the family name for 118 years.

These courageous pioneers who made a home for their future generations are to be commended. They came here to carve out a living, more or less, with their bare hands. The hardships they endured were tremendous. They were very brave to enter the wilderness facing the unknown and extreme elements. Most were penniless, many didn’t even have a gun to kill game for food, let alone defend themselves. The odds were against them, but they survived. All these old homesteads were well earned.

Pages 308, 309