ANTON AND EMMA [SMOLEK] JELEN
[ pg 284 PHOTO Mr. and Mrs. Anton Jelen]
Anton Jelen, son of Vaclav and Antonia (Pavlik) Jelen, was born
November 11, 1883, in Omaha. His parents, two sisters, and brother
came to America from Czechoslovakia in 1877, settling in Omaha.
Later, the family moved to Holt County. In 1889, the Jelen family
sold the homestead in Holt County and bought a farm in Knox County
eight miles northwest of Verdigre. Anton attended a rural school
district with his sisters, Marie and Anna, and brothers, Vac and
John.
Years later Anton attended Fremont College for two years and
graduated from a business school in Omaha. After finishing his
school, he owned and managed the Jelen Store, post office, and hall
for several years. The store was later operated by Nikl and Klimes.
While living at Jelen, he enjoyed his horses and buggy. The store,
no longer in existence, was located a short distance from the family
farm, just across the road from the Jelen schoolhouse.
After many years, he moved to Verdigre and conducted a real estate
and insurance business. Anton was united in marriage to Emma Smolek
of Verdigre on November 10, 1912.
Emma, daughter of Joseph and Mary Smolek, was born October 11, 1893.
She lived with her parents, brothers, and sisters on a farm four
miles south of Verdigre and attended rural school in that area. She
was the youngest of the children in the family. Her sisters were
Anna, Mary, and Kate. Brothers were John, Frank, Edward, Jake, and
Tom. After her father passed away, Emma lived in Verdigre with her
mother.
Anton and Emma had six children, three daughters and three sons:
Sylvia (Mrs. Lawrence Hengstler), who resided in Alhambra,
California, and died in 1987; Emeline (Mrs. Louis Skokan) of
Verdigre; Leonard of Bend, Oregon; Alvin of Waldport, Oregon; Anton,
Jr., of Lincoln, and Alice Goedeker of Creighton (deceased since
1973).
Anton always enjoyed playing horseshoes with relatives and friends.
His family still talks about their hupmobile. Emma enjoyed
crocheting, fancy work and sewing. She also liked to bake and cook,
using her Czech cookbook to make some of the family’s favorite
foods.
After retiring and closing his office in town, Anton continued to do
real estate and insurance work at their home. After his health
failed, he spent four years at the Brunswick rest home. He became
ill and was taken to the Plainview hospital where he passed away on
July 27, 1963, at the age of 80 years.
When Anton’s health was failing and he went to the rest home, Mrs.
Marge Kment and three daughters moved into the house with Emma and
took care of her for many years. Later Emma made her home at the
Riverview Rest Home at Niobrara for four years. She entered the
Lundberg memorial Hospital where she was a patient for three weeks
before passing away on March 13, 1967, at the age of 74.
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