IGNAC AND KRISTINE [KRAUSE] MARSHALL, SR.
Ignac Hynek Marsal, Sr., of Catholic religion, was born in the
Novostracesi circuit of Prague, Bohemia, in 1819. His father, John
Marsal, was a shoe manufacturer there. His mother was Frances, nee
Preles. He married Kristine, nee Krause, also born in 1819, the
daughter of Wenceslaw Krause; her mother was Frances Vyckocil from
Novostracesi. He was a musician and shoe manufacturer. They resided
at Krivoklat and had a family of five sons and two daughters. They,
along with many others in the Old World, were moved by the call of
the new land and freedom in America. In 1866 Ignac, Sr., his wife
Kristina, and their seven children arrived at Baltimore, Maryland.
From there they moved on to Chicago where there was already a
settlement of Czechs. Because of the homestead Act of 1862,
gradually families moved westward and records show Ignac Marsal was
among the L’Eau Qui Court settlers recorded in August of 1870. For
reasons unknown, he changed the spelling of his name to Ignatz
Marshall.
An earlier group that came had to wait until the Missouri River was
frozen over before they could cross over to this side. Some who came
chose the Pischelville area because of the abundance of trees and
much water. They first made dugouts until they could build log
cabins.
On December 13, 1877, Ignatz Marshall, Sr., received a filing from
the U. S. Government for 159.6 acres of land in the Pischelville
area near the Niobrara River. After living there and farming it, he
received on March 1, 1882, the patent or ownership of the land. Some
of the original patents given to his sons were as follows: Ignatz
Marshall, Jr., 1882, Emil Marshall, 1891, Frank Marshall, 1884, and
Charles Marshall 1882.
In the earlier years, settlers went down the river to Fort Randall
for supplies. The soldiers gave them wheat flour the government had
supplied them with. This was a big treat as they only had the corn
they raised and ground themselves. Later when they raised wheat,
they took it to the mill to be made into flour. There were small
mills scattered over the area. Yankton was their supply point at
first, later it became Niobrara and Verdigre. Ignatz, Sr., made the
leather boots the soldiers wore at Fort Randall.
Ignatz, Sr., taught his sons thoroughly in the art of string musical
instruments, especially the violin. He was a fine musician and his
sons had inherited his musical talent. He brought a viola and
concertina from Bohemia. The viola was purchased for his son, Ignatz,
Jr., when he was six years old.
Ignac, Sr., Ignac, Jr., Charles, and Frank were the finest
musicians; they had made their living in Chicago playing in the
original Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Joe Dryak, son-in-law of Ignatz,
Sr., also played with them at Pischelville. Louis started playing
with them at the age of 12; it was an inherited talent.
The following is an excerpt taken from a magazine written by Edwin
A. Fry, titled “The Bohemians in Yankeedom,” published in 1907.
“The Bohemians have peasantry music - and music. This music of the
classic quality. The old leader was Ignatz Marshall, Sr., with his
sons, Frank, Charles, Ignatz, Jr., Louis, and Joe Dryak
(son-in-law). It was indeed soul-inspiring for Frank and Charles
were first violinists whose quality had been recognized in the
leading orchestras of their day. The aged white-haired father, whose
refined features and delicate manners of the gentleman, was an
inspiring leader as he directed this little family orchestra in
their rehearsals of the great masters. Their fame went beyond their
little settlement and Niobrara, Springfield, and Yankton assisted
them materially in their early struggles as farmers by engaging
their services. Frank Marshall, several years after, left for
Chicago and died as one of the leading musicians in the conservatory
of music there. Charles Marshall died a few years ago here, and his
son, superintendent of public instruction for Knox County, is a
violinist of no mean rank. The other members of the family have
either become engrossed in business or as practical farmers that but
little time is given up to music.”
Important events took place in 1875. The first double wedding in
Knox County was held on October 4, 1875, at Pischelville, when
Charles Marshall married Mary Ann Lundak and Ignatz Marshall, Jr.,
married Mary Dryak. Great festivities took place with people coming
from far and near to witness the ceremony which was performed in two
languages by Anton Pischel, Justice of the Peace. The white-haired
father added his blessings to the two couples and bid them Godspeed.
Then began the music and dancing with a bountiful feast. This same
year, Kristine (wife of Ignatz, Sr.) passed away.
Gradually all their children married. Their wives all had been born
in Bohemia.
Daughter Annie married Joe Dryak and nine children were born to
them: Charlie, Max, Gus, Julio, Otto, Hugo, Ed, Albin, and Milada.
Son Ignatz, Jr., married Mary Dryak and five children were born:
Juli, Julia, Frances, Rosie, and
Henry.
Son Frank married Frances Vopat. Nine children were born to them:
Frank, Charles, Anton, Rudolph, Otto, Helen, Alfred, Max, and
Blanche.
Son Charles married Mary Lundak and they had eight children: Emma,
Fred, Will, Felix, Maude, Uriah, Victor, and Alice.
Daughter Marie married Vincent Schreier and they had six children:
Victor, Otto, Albina, Hilda, Louise, and Elsie.
Son Louis married Frances Bartak and their nine children are:
Edward, Henry, Angela, Benjamin, Steffie, Lucy, Louis, George, and
Fred.
Son Emil married Pauline Moticka and six children were born; Annie,
Joe, Max, Emon, Charlotte, and Millie.
Ignatz Marshall, Sr., died in 1884, and his wife Kristine in 1875.
They were laid to rest on the family homestead and later transferred
to the Bohemian National Cemetery at Jelen.
Pages
323, 324
