VACLAV F. AND MARIE [HOLAN] UHLIR
Vaclav F. Uhlir, the eldest son of John A. Uhlir and Marie Novak
Uhlir, was born June 26, 1863, in the village of Veltruby in
Czechoslovakia, then a part of Austria. Vaclav F., also known as Jim
or James, arrived in New York between 1874-1877 with his parents, a
brother, John B., and a sister, Marie. He became employed with his
father in the cigar industry to help support the family - a cigar
mold was part of the meager belongings he brought with him to
Nebraska. While in New York, a sister, Anna, was born in 1878 and a
brother, Fred, in 1880. Both children died in Nebraska before 1900.
Vaclav’s family arrived in Nebraska around 1880-1882 when Vaclav was
about eighteen years old. Like his father, he treasured the land. He
received the patent on the Southeast Quarter of the Northeast
Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section 6 in Sparta Township of
Knox County on January 17, 1887. Five days later, on January 22, he
purchased Matej (Mike) Holan, Sr.’s homestead of 160 acres for $750,
the South Half of the Northeast Quarter and the North Half of the
Southeast Quarter of Section 3., Sparta Township. On the same day,
the enterprising 24-year-old Vaclav married the 23-year-old daughter
of Mike Holan, Sr. He had been courting Marie, born in June of 1864,
during her employment at the Koster House Hotel. Marie Uhlir, nee
Holan, owned 80 acres of land in the Northeast Quarter of the
Northeast Quarter of Section 10 of Sparta Township.
Vaclav and Marie had at least eight children, but only three
survived. Of the five remaining children, two are known to have died
as infants and were buried in unmarked graves in the L’Eau Qui Court
Cemetery in the same plot along with Mike Holan, Sr., and his wife
Marie, nee Pokorny.
A son, Richard (Dick), was born on January 26, 1888, in the two-room
log cabin built by Mike Holan, Sr., in about 1882.
A daughter, Martha, was born July 14, 1896, in the very spacious
three-room, brick house with a large pantry. Vaclav, who as a young
boy had been trained as a stone mason, had built the foundation.
Adolph Hrbek, husband of his sister, Marie, completed the building.
Martha died December 9, 1885.
Othelia was born October 29, 1901, and died May 29, 1957. She
married James W. J. Evans of Malad City, Idaho.
Vaclav, a perfectionist, worked hard and the farm prospered. He was
president of the school board in rural school District No. 6. Since
his opportunities to learn formal English were negligible, he
conducted the meetings in Czech and his words were recorded in
English by the secretary. He subscribed to many
U. S. Czech newspapers and magazines. He read and spoke Czech
fluently.
Vaclav was a member of the ZCBJ Lodge and active in the politics of
the community and Republican party. He enjoyed playing his fiddle
and accordion for Czech dances.
Bad luck seemed to follow Vaclav and the final blow came when Marie,
ever optimistic and cheerful in spite of tragedy, died at the age of
43 on July 4, 1907. Before she died, she willed her 80 acres of land
to Richard to take effect when he was of age or whenever he married.
Richard paid Martha and Othelia for their share.
In 1908, after corn-husking time, Vaclav bought a home in northwest
Niobrara. Martha and Othelia walked a mile to school and for lunch
each day. Vaclav sold the original 160 acres of Section 3 to Richard
on February 27, 1909, for $1100.
Life for Richard was lonely in those horse and buggy days. He did
have a party telephone which operated on sort of a Morse Code - two
longs, two shorts.
On his death bed, Vaclav worried about his daughters. Richard was
not yet married and he wanted a woman’s influence for the girls.
Before he died on February 1, 1910, he called his best friend, John
Noll, who later married his wife’s sister-in-law, Anna Krupicka
Holan, and asked him to be their guardian.
Later John Noll moved to Omaha where Martha and Othelia, also known
as Tillie or Cass, attended Central High School and the University
of Nebraska. Both women achieved a B. A. degree and taught school.
Martha, who remained single, earned a Master’s Degree and a
California credential in librarianship. Othelia married but had no
children.
Vaclav’s memorial services were the first to be conducted in the
newly constructed ZCBJ Hall which was dedicated a few months later.
His tombstone bears the ZCBJ insignia.
Vaclav had seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and fifteen
great-great-grandchildren.
-Submitted by Hazel B. Devine
Page 436
