BARBARA SVOBODA NOVAK HAVEL
[pg 261 PHOTO Barbara Svoboda Novak Havel]
Barbara M. Svoboda was born December 25, 1845, at Prague, Bohemia.
She and her family lived in a small village in Bohemia. Since they
were poor, they had to pick up sticks for wood. Her family wore
wooden shoes for everyday and could only wear their good shoes to
church.
Her first husband was Vaclav James Novak. She was united in marriage
to him in 1868. They were blessed with six children in
Czechoslovakia, two died in infancy. Those who lived were: John,
born January 2, 1872, married Fannie DeLouhe, and passed away July
7, 1967; Joe, born January 12, 1875, married Louise, and passed away
in 1940; Jim was born August 15, 1881, married Mary Nikl, and passed
away January 17, 1941; Louis, born August 10, 1884, married Barbara
Blazek on April 30, 1907, and passed away in November, 1916; Emil
was born August 10, 1885, married Mary Rezecka, and passed away
October 25, 1965; and Antonia, who was born February 9, 1888,
married John Swanson on September 6, 1905, and passed away October
18, 1975.
Vaclav and Barbara came to America in 1884 and were here five years
when Vaclav was killed in a logging accident in 1889.
Barbara then married Joseph Havel of Schuyler, Nebraska, on October
29, 1889. They moved to Rogers, Nebraska, and had three daughters:
Mary, born August 10, 1890, who married Joseph Viterna on December
15, 1908, and passed away April 19, 1984; Josephine born January 27,
1892, married Elbern N. Coons on June 14, 1910, and passed away
March 31, 1965; and Bessie, born May 4, 1894, married Clyde Walraven
on February 20, 1913, and passed away May 15, 1977.
Joseph died in 1906 and later Barbara moved to Verdigre to live with
her daughter and son-in-law, Joseph and Mary Viterna.
Barbara passed away February 19, 1937, at Verdigre, Nebraska. She
was laid to rest in the Jelen Cemetery northwest of Verdigre.
-Submitted by Brian Mlady
Page 261
