FRANK AND ANNA [FRANK] ZILA
Frank Zila came to this country from Czechoslovakia, settling in
Saunders County, Nebraska, on May 5, 1882. Born May 7, 1860, in
Brzezany to Kajtav and Josephine (Killian) Zila, he attended school
and worked as a farmhand until he was 22 years old. Hearing of the
opportunities in America, he came over with a neighboring family.
Oral family history states that Zila was the name he chose when he
came to this country; however, he did state his father’s name to be
Zila on his marriage record.
On August 15, 1883, he and Anna Frank, born 1862 in Bohemia to Frank
and Anna (Busek) Frank, were married by the Reverend W. Racarnik at
Cedar Hill in Saunders County. Four sons were born to them there:
Vaclav (James 1882-1966), Joseph (1883-1969), Frank (1886-1964), and
Charles (1888-1964).
In 1889 the family moved to Box Butte County to homestead. There
four more children were born: Anton (1890-1985), Allen (1892-1952),
Anna (1894-1972), and Vincent (1895-1981). On April 12, 1893, Frank
Zila renounced his allegiance to the Emperor of Austria and became a
naturalized citizen of the United States.
[pg 468 photo Frank and Anna [Frank] Zila and family, back row from
left: Allen, Anton, Charles, James, Joseph, Frank, Front: Anna,
Frank, Sr., Anna, and Vincent, taken in 1900]
While the family was living here, near tragedy struck. Frank had
taken the children out for a wagon ride, leaving Anna in the care of
a midwife for the birth of one of the younger children. A fog
settled over the prairie and Frank and the children became lost. He
stopped and tied up the reins of the horses, and the horses led them
safely home.
Mother Nature did not cooperate with the homesteaders. During the
seven years they lived in Box Butte County, only one good crop was
raised. Hail or drought claimed all the others.
When the family moved to Pierce County in 1896 the older boys walked
the entire distance herding cattle. The land they farmed was the
future site of the town of McLean. Another daughter, Josephine, was
born to them there, but she died at a young age and is thought to be
buried at the Osmond cemetery, Osmond, Nebraska.
In 1907 Frank purchased a farm south of Verdigre (presently the home
of the Stan Holan family). A few years later he built a new home
across the road where he lived until his death. This house was later
moved east of Verdigre and is now the home of Mrs. Anton Pilar.
Frank Zila died on March 29, 1947. Anna preceded him in death on
November 19, 1915. Both are buried at Hillcrest) formerly ZCBJ)
Cemetery, north of Verdigre. Their sons James, Charles, and Vince
are also buried at Hillcrest.
Joseph married Anna Sharf (1887-1968) on July 12, 1910, at Pierce,
Nebraska. To them eight children were born: Emil (1911- ), Elsie
(1912- ), Clara (1914- ), Anna (1916- ), George (1919- ), Elmer
(1921-1982), Joseph , Jr., (1923-1982), and Edwin (1925- ). Joseph,
Anna, and Elmer are buried at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery at Verdigre,
Nebraska. Joseph, Jr., is buried at St. James Cemetery, Forest City,
Iowa.
Frank and Ella Marshall Zila (1893-1963) were married in May 1910.
They had two children, Clarence and Agnes. In 1943 Lillian
Kettlemann became a part of their family. They farmed in the
Creighton area and are buried in Greenwood Cemetery at Creighton,
Nebraska.
Anton married Stazie L. Frank (born 1898) at Pierce, Nebraska, in
1916. Three sons wee born to them: Alvin, Leonard, and Vernon.
Stazie died in 1944. Anton, the last surviving brother, died in
1985. Both are buried at Greenwood Cemetery.
Allen married Mary Vavak (1905-1984) at Pierce in 1926. They had two
sons, Malvern (1927-1969) and Ervin (Smokey) (1930-1977). All are
buried at the Bohemian National Cemetery 9Jelen), rural Verdigre,
Nebraska.
Anna Zila married Charles Pospisil (1891-1963) at Verdigre on July
27, 1915. They farmed east of Pierce and were the parents of seven
children: Helen, Ervin (1918-1971), Elmer (1919-1985), Louis,
Willie, Irene, and Bernita. Charles, Anna, Ervin, and Elmer are
buried in Prospect View Cemetery, Pierce, Nebraska.
Descendants of Frank and Anna Zila presently living in the Verdigre
area are: grandchildren - George Zila, Clarence Zila, and Clara Zila
Tharnish of Winnetoon, and Elsie Zila Sukup of Verdigre.
Great-grandchildren include; Mrs. Loran (Arlene Tharnish) Lukens of
Bloomfield, Steven Tharnish, Alan Tharnish, and James Sukup of
Winnetoon and Mrs. Larry D. (Ruth Fausset) Frank of Verdigre.
-Submitted by Ruth Frank
Pages 468, 469
