JON AND BARBARA [CERNY] RUZICKA
Jon Ruzicka was born in 1841 in Bohemia and married Barbara Cerny in
1862. Barbara was born December 4, 1842, in Slovenska Lhota, Dobris.
[pg 380 PHOTO Barbara Ruzicka Brtek]
Jon and Barbara Ruzicka homesteaded and farmed at Pischelville,
Nebraska, near the Niobrara River.
Jon met his untimely death while hunting. He was fatally injured
when his horse threw him. He died March 4, 1881.
Barbara was left to raise their six children alone; Anna was born
after her father’s death. They continued farming and in 1884 Barbara
married Joseph Brtek (March 9, 1816-March 16, 1892). They farmed a
short distance from the old homestead. They were blessed with two
daughters.
Barbara’s last years were spent in the home of her son, William and
daughter-in-law Josie, and with her daughter Anna and husband John
Mlady. Her grandchildren loved to hear her tell stories of pioneer
life and their fear of the Indians.
Barbara Ruzicka Brtek died at the age of 100 years on December 10,
1942.
Children born to Jon and Barbara Ruzicka were: Barbara, Frank, Emil,
Joe, William, and Anna.
Barbara was born in 1867. She married Jim Dobrichovsky and their
children were: Minnie (Mrs. Charles Mlady), Teresha (Mrs. Adolph
Elis), Tillie (Mrs. Rudolph Pavlik), and Pauline (Mrs. John Simanek).
Frank (1868-1953) married Jane Minarik. Their children were: Ed (who
was killed in World War I), Otto, Henry, Gus, Tracy (Krbel), Ernest,
and Walter.
Emil Ruzicka (1873-1946) married Mary Forman. Their children were
Libby (Sucha), Fred, Ben, Ellen (Block), Josie (Block), Evelyn (Boelter),
Leo, and Ruby (Juracek).
Joe Ruzicka (1874-1947) married Mary Forman. Their children were
Libby (Sucha), Fred, Ben, Ellen (Block), Josie (Block), Evelyn (Boelter),
Leo, and Ruby (Juracek).
Joe Ruzicka (1874-1947) married Annie Smetana. Their children were
Lucy (Hrbek), Adolph, Anna (Wilder), Ella (Jacot), Tillie (Novacek),
Sylvia (Cihlar), Joe, Jr., Mary (Knori) (Krause), Bessie (Hamlin),
and Tommy and Ernest who died in infancy.
William Ruzicka (1877-1975) married Josie Elis and their family
consisted of Elsie (Krejsa) and Emil.
Anna Ruzicka (1881-1953) married John Mlady, Jr. Their children were
William, Lillian (Miller, Ben, Della (Hrbek), Ernest, George, Otto,
Sylvia (Hrbek) and Tillie and Helen who died in infancy.
The two daughters born to Barbara Ruzicka Brtek and Joseph Brtek
were Amalia and Bozena. Amalia (1884-1914) married Charles Dryak.
Their children were Bessie (Martin), Elsie (Vlasnik), and Emil.
Bozena (1886-1964) married Hugo Dryak and their three sons were
Alfred, Alvin, and Otto.
-Written by Ben and Marie Mlady; George and Marie Mlady; and Frank
and Marcella Kovanda.
Page 380
