VACLAV AND MARIE [DRAHOZVAL] VESELY
Vaclav Vesely was born August 11, 1839, in Jestrabi Lhota Podebrady,
Caslav. Drafted into the Austrian Army as a young man, he served
eight years. Upon release from service, he married Marie, born June
6, 1844, daughter of Joseph Drahozval of Moravia.
In the fall of 1878, Vaclav and Marie came to America with their
three children: Marie, five years of age; Katrina (Mrs. Albert
Slechta), three years; and Anna (Mrs. Max Dryak), less than a year,
leaving behind a baby boy who died at birth, probably in 1876. They
decided to settle in Nebraska and their first winter in this new
world was spent with the George Vlasnik family. (Mrs. Vlasnik was a
Vesely.) In the spring of 1879, they started improvements on their
own homestead in the Pischelville community.
Three more children were born in Nebraska. They were Vac F. in
August of 1880, and twins Rozena and Antonia (Mrs. Joe Holan) in
March of 1885.
In 1884, they received their deeds to this property, signed by
President Grover Cleveland. Marie passed away in 1922 and Vaclav in
1924. Both are buried in the Pischelville Cemetery.
Vac F. Vesely, born August 30, 1880, married Josie Cern (born June
24, 1885) on May 9, 1908. A daughter of Frank and Anna Vostrejz
Cuhel, she came to America in 1887 when Josie was two years old.
They were the parents of eight children: Tillie, Arthur, Leon,
Esther, Helen, William, Rosella, and Josephine.
Vac and Josie were long-time members of the ZCBJ Lodge No. 8
Sladkovsky in Pischelville. They retired from the farm and moved to
Verdigre in 1947. Josie passed away January 5, 1970, and Vac on
December 2, 1972. They are buried in the Pischelville Cemetery.
Tillie married Ike DeKay (deceased), and later married Oscar Spear
(deceased). Her children are Wendell, Marvin (deceased), and DeLores.
Grandchildren number 10 (one is deceased) and there are 13
great-grandchildren.
Arthur (deceased) married Rosie Farnik and they had two children:
Ted and Laree. There are four grandchildren.
Leon (December 23, 1913-July 4, 1976) married Maxine Cave in 1947.
Their children are Vicki, Lonnie, and Debra, and there are five
grandchildren. Leo served in the army during World War II.
Esther married Chester Vlasnik and they had five children: Beverly,
James, Judith (deceased), Barbara, and John. There are 11
grandchildren.
Helen married Adolph Sukup and they have two sons, Melvin and Larry.
There are six grandchildren, two who are step-grandchildren.
William married Vivian Fisher and their children are Denise, James,
and Patricia. There are seven grandchildren.
Rosella married Wilford Schreier who served in the army during World
War II. They have three children: Warren, Kenneth, and David.
Josephine married Estle Cannon, a 30-year army veteran. Their two
sons are Kevin and Rick and they have two grandchildren.
Six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren served in the Armed
Forces.
At this time, the fifth generation of Veselys is living on the
homestead.
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