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

ANTON SCHEINOST STORY

Anton Scheinost was born in Prague, Bohemia, on January 14, 1854. He was one of seven boys in the Scheinost family who had no desire to serve in the army. They made up their minds to leave Bohemia for America where they were told freedom of choice existed, where religious and political freedom were guaranteed, and one could, by hard work, eventually own his own farm. These things were uppermost in their minds, so they decided to migrate to America.

[pg 384 PHOTO Anton and Anna Scheinost family: standing [from left] are Rose, Elsie, Ladimer, Sylvia, and Goldie; seated: Anton, Sr., Anton, Jr., and Anna holding Walter]

Newcomers from a foreign country usually found the language barrier a handicap. Consequently, they always attempted to settle in communities where there were others of their own nationality and language. The Scheinost brothers found such a haven near Butte, Nebraska. A number of other Czechs had settled there so they found work in the area to support themselves. The boys were so pleased over prospects for the future that they encouraged their parents to come to the United States, too. All of the brothers vowed to become naturalized citizens. This promise qualified them to try for homesteads. Anton obtained his citizenship papers in Butte, Boyd County, Nebraska, on June 7, 1899.

Eventually Anton gained possession of a 160-acre homestead in Boyd County, near Butte. He then married and raised a family of two children, Mildred and Sylvia.

The story is told that one summer day while Anton was working in the field a most unusual thing happened in their home. While his wife was carrying food to him in the field, a band of gypsies stopped at the house, found the parents gone, so they lifted the baby from the crib and took her with them. Sylvia was the baby’s name. The parents were at a loss to know what had happened when they returned to the house. When the neighbors heard of the loss, they reported seeing a caravan of gypsies in the vicinity. Immediately the word spread as to what happened and gypsies were suspected. However, they were never located and identified. The father placed a number of ads and announcements in the Omaha papers, hoping that someone could help in the recovery of the child but nothing ever turned up. The mother was heart broken over the loss of the child. Apparently it was more than she could bear because she became ill and never recovered. She died not long after.

A number of years later the gypsy-mother supposedly became ill and decided to return the stolen girl to her mother. Through a third party, it was said, Anton was informed of the girl’s whereabouts. A picture of Sylvia as a baby, which was stolen at the same time, was returned to Anton with the letter. This clue convinced him that the child in question was Sylvia, so he forwarded money to pay for her transportation back to Butte. After a period of time, she arrived home.

In the meantime, however, Anton had remarried. He married a girl he had met in Wilber during one of his visits there. She was Anna Korbel, the daughter of John William Korbel II and Anna Kadidlo of Wilber. It is said that Anna was a cousin of Anton’s first wife. Anna and Anton were married on November 14, 1886, and set up housekeeping on Anton’s homestead near Butte. Six children were born to this union.

Anton was a friendly, jovial, and portly man with a handsome handlebar mustache. He had a warm, outgoing personality and possessed a reputation of fairness and integrity. He loved music and developed a fine baritone voice which was much in demand. Anton was exceedingly proud of his American citizenship, proud of his adopted country, and he never failed to speak highly of it.

Before World War I he quit farming and moved into Verdigre, Nebraska, where he purchased and operated a saloon. He became a well-known stock breeder. He was also well-known for raising saddle ponies and race horses. In his community he was considered quite a lover of sports. In 1917 when prohibition became law, he was forced out of the saloon business. He then gave all of his attention to raising horses and stock. He died in September of 1929.

Anna (Korbel) Scheinost was born in Oxford Junction, Iowa, on January 1, 1864. She was a dark-eyed brunette whose influence for good was felt throughout her community. She enjoyed performing acts of kindness. She was a kindly and understanding mother to her step-children as well as to her own children. Anna was a vigorous, hard-working person. On occasion, she would travel by train with her family from Verdigre to Wilber. Her friendly nature and sense of humor made her a welcome guest wherever she went. The Wilber relatives missed her a great deal when she returned to her home in Verdigre. Anna died in Verdigre in April of 1930. The descendants of Anton and Anna Scheinost are:

1. Ladimer, born September 16, 1886, died March 23, 1913.

2. Elsie, born December 26, 1888, married Joseph Sisr, and died November 10, 1950. Their child was Joseph T., who was born living, and married Lorena Andersen.

3. Rose, born May 10, 1894, married Joseph Basta. Their children are Vivian and Darrell. Vivian was born living, and she married Ballard Beckmann. Darrell was born living, and married Elaine Porter.

4. Goldie was born April 25, 1897, and married Henry Herbek. They were divorced. They had a son, Ronald, who was born living, and married Irene Hullein.

5. Anton, Jr., was born July 21, 1901, and married Anne Wesselmann. He died October 14, 1956. Their children are Donna Mae, Roma Lee, and Shirley Ann. Donna Mae was born February 21, 1929, and died July 14, 1937. Roma Lee was born living, and married Robert J. Walton. Their children are: Robert Allen, born living, and married Janet Fagot. They have a son, Colby Allen. Lori Ann was born living. Susan Patrice was born living, and married Robert Morse. Their children are Robert Patrick and Randall Lynn. Kimberly Marie was born living, and married Michael Zerbe. Their sons are Ryan Michael and Antony David. Michael James was born living, and Janet Lynn was born living.

6. Walter W. was born December 19, 1904, and married Melba Kenobbie. Their children are Joan, Walter Voy, Ralph Ladimer, and Theone Sybil.

Anton J., remained in the Verdigre community where he farmed until 1938 when they purchased the White Corner Café and Bakery. This they operated until 1945 when they split the two operations and continued to run the Verdigre Bakery until 1947. Anne managed the Verdigre Livestock Market Café when the sale barn was first opened. Later she opened Anne’s Style Shop which she operated for about ten years, building on to her home as the business expanded.

Pages 385, 386