ANTON AND KATERINA [NETERDA] KODET
Anton Kodet, Sr., was born July 8, 1847, in Kraj, Tabor, Bohemia. He
was married to Katerina Neterda on August 23, 1872. Katerina Neterda
was born April 19, 1853, at Belice, Tabor, Bohemia.
[pg 297 PHOTO The Anton Kodet family - from left: Charlie, Tonie,
Mary Emma, and Joe; Sitting is Father and Mother, Anton and Katerina,
son Anton, Jr., and sitting in front is Barbara]
Anton Kodet’s step-brother in Moberly, Missouri, wrote him all about
the freedom and cheap land in the United States. So the family
decided to leave for America on November 1, 1887. They sold their
home and belongings and went by train to Hamburg, Germany, where
they boarded a ship, sailing for 14 days across the ocean and
landing at New York City on November 20, 1887. During the voyage,
the ship traveled through a severe storm on the Atlantic which made
for rough seas. From new York, the family went by train to Moberly,
Missouri, to the home of Mr. Kodet’s stepbrother, Jan Nevlida. Kodet
went to look at land in western Nebraska but could find none to suit
him; so he returned to his family at Moberly. While they tried to
decide what to do, a letter came from their friend, Anton
Chocholousek, in Verdigre, Nebraska, telling them about a nearby
farm that was for sale.
Anna, the baby, had gotten sick on the ocean voyage, and she died in
Moberly.
The family went by train to Running Water, Dakota Territory, which
was the end of the railroad line and close to the Missouri River.
They crossed the river on the ferry boat and got to Niobrara. There
Kodet hired a man with team and wagon to haul the family to the
Anton Chocholouseks, a distance of 22 miles and across the Verdigre
Creek. It was pretty deep. They arrived at the Chocholousek home on
May 10, 1888.
Anton Kodet bought a farm of 160 acres from Mathias Markitan (an
elderly couple who wanted to retire) for $1500, including two old
horses, four cows, some chickens, pigs, and some machinery. There
were a few dry years when crops and prices were poor, so the times
were very hard at first.
After 1892 the crops were better and Anton Kodet was able to pay off
the mortgage on the 160 acres. Then he purchased another 160 acres
adjoining on the south side. He then owned 320 acres and built a new
barn, a new house, and other small buildings.
In May of 1919, the Kodets sold the farm to their youngest son,
Charlie, and retired to Verdigre. Anton died on April 29, 1934, and
Katerina on June 19, 1944. Both are buried in the St. Wenceslaus
Catholic Cemetery in Verdigre.
The children of Anton and Katerina Kodet were: Frank, Mary, Anton,
Jr., Antonia, Joe, Charlie, Emma, and Barbara.
Frank was born in 1874 and died November 26, 1952. He was born at
Krejovice, Bohemia, as were all the children except Emma and Barbara
who were born at Verdigre, Nebraska.
Mary Kodet was born May 1, 1876, and died July 19, 1942. She married
Frank Feiling of Madison, Nebraska, on April 12, 1896, at the St.
Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Verdigre, Nebraska.
Anton Kodet, Jr., was born October 15, 1878, and died at the
Gregory, South Dakota, hospital March 10, 1957. He married Mary Svec
at Gregory. Their daughters are Emma, Marie, Rose (died April 26,
1934), and Barbara Konopasek of Medford, Oregon.
Antonia Kodet Prokop was born February 2, 1881, and died July 8,
1972. She was married to Matt Prokop on October 29, 1900, at the St.
Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Verdigre.
Joe Kodet was born December 22, 1882, and died February 9, 1967, at
Belvidere, South Dakota. He married Mary Yrantina on April 12, 1909,
at Scotland, South Dakota. Their children are Helen Larsen, Marie
Doitt, and Edward Kodet.
Charlie Kodet was born January 29, 1883, and died February 11, 1956,
at the Burke, South Dakota, hospital following a pickup accident at
Burke. He married Christie Holan on March 4, 1919, at Verdigre’s St.
Wenceslaus Catholic Church. They had two daughters, Vlasta and
Evelyn. Vlasta is Mrs. Leo Kenzy of Iona, South Dakota, and Evelyn
is Mrs. Kenneth Hickey, Reliance, South Dakota. Charlie Kodet’s
second wife was Anna Wiedeman.
Emma Kodet Supik was born April 4, 1890, and she died November 16,
1969. She was married on April 25, 1916, to Edward Chocholousek who
died in February of 1929. Emma’s second husband was Mike Supik, born
February 24, 1893, at Bloomfield, Nebraska. He died October 30,
1963. Evelyn Chocholousek was born to Ed and Emma Tusha Chocholousek
on May 29, 1911, and was married to Sylvan Hrbek.
Barbara Kodet Novacek was born August 15, 1892, and married Albert
Novacek on June 8, 1920. Albert Novacek died December 3, 1984.
Pages
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