JOSEF AND ANNA [DOBRICHOVSKY] FARNIK
Josef Farnik was born February 8, 1884, in Vratislavka, Moravia, to
Jacob and Frantiska Urbanek Farnik. His father was born in 1858 and
his mother in 1860.
When he was 19 years old, he came to America alone. His mother,
sisters Mary Siroky and Emily Komarek Loskot, and brother Jacob
followed later. He had employment in St. Louis salting beef hides
for $2 a day. He was also employed in Omaha and Schuyler before
coming to Verdigre. He received his Certificate of Naturalization on
April 28, 1914.
On July 17, 1907, he was united in marriage to Anna Dobrichovsky
Wirth and the couple farmed in the Pischelville community on the
same farm until 1930. Then they built and moved onto their new farm sixteen miles northwest of Verdigre. In
1947, they retired from farming and moved to Verdigre.
[pg 246 PHOTO Wedding picture of Josef and Anna Farnik July 17,
1907]
Anna Dobrichovsky was born in Kolin, Bohemia, on July 23, 1876, to
Vaclav and Marie Brtek Dobrichovsky. Her father was born April 14,
1841, and died September 18, 1913. Her mother was born June 15,
1838, and died December 2. 1910. She had three brothers: Jim, John,
and Joseph, and three sisters: Rosie Tuck, Katie Hrbek, and Mary
Krtil.
At the age of four, Anna came with her parents, brothers, and
sisters to America and settled near Pischelville on land they
purchased from Vaclav and Anna Lundak. They built a log home on what
is now the Frank Dobrichovsky farm. She received her education in
the Pischelville school.
Anna was married in 1899 to August A. Wirth and the couple made
their home near Pischelville. To this union four children were born:
Bertha (Mrs. Emon Marshall), Edward, Mary (Mrs. Tom Stoural), and
August.
Her husband passed away on January 9, 1906.
Josef and Anna Farnik were parents of six children: Stacie (Mrs.
Bennie Dryak), Joe, Frank, Arthur, Henry, and Rosie (Mrs. Arthur
Vesely). Arthur passed away in 1931 at the age of 16. Henry passed
away on May 10, 1979.
Anna passed away on December 6, 1954, at the age of 78. She had not
been ill - she was doing the family washing at her home and was
stricken about 10 o’clock Monday morning.
On August 1, 1963, Josef married Bohumila Barta. She passed away in
June of 1964.
Josef lived at the Czech Alps Terrace until his health failed. He
lived with his son Frank for one year and spent the last seven
months at the home of his son Joe where he died on March 30, 1970,
at the age of 86.
-Submitted by Mrs. Joe (Helen) Farnik
Page 246
