RICHARD AND JOSEPHINE [HOUZVICKA] UHLIR
Richard Uhlir, son of Vaclav and Marie (Holan) Uhlir, was born
January 26, 1888.
In 1912 Richard Uhlir traveled to Czechoslovakia with the Emil Kacer
and Anton Tichy families whose wives were Betty and Anna Holan,
sisters of his mother, Marie, nee Holan. Upon his return he lived in
Chicago for a short time. When he attained his majority he took over
the family farms from his father.
Richard Uhlir married Josephine Houzvicka on December 21, 1915. Born
August 13, 1891, Josephine was the daughter of Anton and Josephine
Balousek Houzvicka.
Seven children were born to them and were raised in the house that
Richard’s father, Vaclav, built on the farm he acquired through
patent 100 years ago.
Richard Uhlir sold the land in Section 3, Sparta Township to his
son, Edwin Uhlir, in 1959. Edwin deeded the land to his son, Ricky
Uhlir, in 1975. Except for ten acres, Ricky sold the land to Kenny
Koops in 1980, about 100 years after his great-great-grandfather,
John A. Uhlir, and his great-grandfather Vaclav arrived in Nebraska.
Kenny Koops sold the land to Lawrence Liska, Edwin’s second cousin.
Marie’s land was sold in 1979 about 100 years after the Holans
arrived in Nebraska.
Josephine’s nephew, Roy Powers, remembered how his father hitched
the team of horses to the wagon and forded the Verdigre Creek on
their way to the shiveree at their farm. Later, the newlyweds gave a
free barn dance. Probably Charlie Liska played the accordion, Henry
Prokop, the clarinet, and someone the fiddle (violin). The Barbara
Polka and Yulida Polka were among the favorites.
Early in the marriage, Josephine and Richard were quite
self-sufficient and followed many of the customs of Bohemia -
smoking their own ham, canning meat, vegetables and fruit, rendering
lard, making sauerkraut, molasses, and their own soap. When products
such as white Wonder Bread and breakfast cereals came on the market,
it was truly a marvel.
During the early depression years, 1931-35, when extra cash was a
necessity Josephine and her older sons and daughters worked on the
farm while Richard (Dick) worked long hours operating the “Soft
Drink Parlor” (those were prohibition days) in Niobrara. As the wife
of the moderator of the school board for about 15 years, she
particularly enjoyed the social life. While Richard often played
Santa Claus for the yearly Christmas programs, she specialized in
making the costumes and settling minor disputes and disappointments.
Box socials after the program were her favorite entertainment.
Josephine and Richard had seven children; Ethel, Edwin, Evelyn,
Betty, Ervin, Hazel, and Robert.
All of them, except Robert, the youngest, were born in the home of
her parents and delivered by Dr. Kucera who operated a hospital in
Verdigre.
Ethel Alice Uhlir married Otto (Bud) Jedlicka of Verdigre (See
history elsewhere.)
Edwin Uhlir farmed in the Verdigre area. (See separate history.)
Evelyn graduated from Niobrara High School in 1935 and was employed
in Omaha. She married Fred Koch and they had one son, Frederick, and
two grandchildren.
Betty Uhlir married Wayne Christensen in 1945 and lived in Lynch.
She attended Wayne State Teachers’ College for one year. Later she
acquired a B. A. degree and the equivalent hours for a M. E. degree.
She taught school in Lynch for many years and retired at the end of
the 1986 school term. She has one daughter, Sharon Mulhair, and two
grandchildren.
Ervin Uhlir, who remained a bachelor, was employed as a railroad
engineer in Denver, Colorado, and Omaha. He passed away in January
of 1952 at the age of 28.
Hazel Uhlir taught in the rural schools of Knox County four years
and the elementary grades in Niobrara for two years. After she
married Frank S. Devine of Norfolk, she continued her teaching and
college education and achieved a B. A. degree at San Diego State
College and a M. A. degree at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Presently she is active in community affairs in Hastings, Nebraska.
Robert Uhlir, who joined the military as a career, married Helen
Kobza of David City, Nebraska. His overseas tour of duty included
France and Okinawa. After military retirement he became a civilian
employee of the Federal government and retired in 1984. Bob of
Vacaville, California, had one daughter, Robin Lea, and one
grandson.
Josie (Josephine Elizabeth) lived on their farm for 42 years and
died May 17, 1857. She is buried in the L’Eau Qui Court Cemetery in
Niobrara, Nebraska.
Richard died June 23, 1978.
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