JOSEPH AND KATHERINE MASTALIR
The family of Joseph Mastalir appears for the first time in October,
1873, when they were living in the cabin of Joseph Mlady. They had
probably arrived quite recently from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where
Anna is said to have been born in July of 1870 and Joseph Mastalir
took out his first citizenship papers.
Beyond Wisconsin the trail dims. No place of birth in Bohemia has
been identified for Joseph Mastalir, Sr., but his sons Joseph, Jr.,
and Vac declared about 1892 that they had been born in Skuhrov,
Melnik, Prague. They must have left Bohemia before the summer of
1870.
The Mastalirs soon had their own home, located on a homestead
consisting of the South Half of the Southeast Quarter of Section Six
and the North Half of the Northeast Quarter of Section Seven of
Verdigre Township. They were not well endowed in resources then,
having but one milk cow in the beginning. Joseph Mastalir secured
his homestead by patent on December 5, 1884. He had been naturalized
on April 17, 1882.
His wife, whom he must have married about 1860, was Katherine. Her
last name was written in a variety of ways in the marriage
applications of her children: Obrion, Brayer, even Brenner. Her
obituary states that she was born on February 9, 1840, and married
at 20. The obituary speaks of ten children, of whom the following
have been identified.
Probably the oldest was a son, Joseph F. Mastalir. His dates are
available only from his tombstone in the Bohemian National Cemetery
at Jelen: he was born August 20, 1861, and died June 1, 1902. On
April 30, 1897, he married Mary Novak, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
James (Vac) Novak. She was born in Bohemia December 7, 1868, and
died April 8, 1959. There were three children: Adolph (July 28,
1888-July 22-1938), Ada (born August 14, 1890) and Emilia or Emma
(October 24, 1892-April 10,1974). Although Joseph homesteaded, he
operated a saloon and hotel known as the Park Hotel at least from
1892 to the date of his death.
[pg 327 PHOTO Standing from left: Joe Ondracek, Anna Mastalir, Vac
Beran, Mrs. Vac Beran, John Ticky, Mary Beran [Mrs. Vac Jedlicka];
seated: Jacob Kolar, Vac Mastalir, Anna Maly Mastalir]
Vac was born June 25, 1865, and died April 14, 1912. On October 30,
1890, he married Anastazie Maly (August 20, 1872-February 4, 1958).
Vac and Anastazie had twelve children whose names and dates are as
follows: Mary, 1891-1958; Emma, 1892-1977; Julia, 1893; Edward,
1895-1973; Emon, 1897-1897; Vac, 1898-1929; Stephen, 1901; Anna,
1902; Joseph, 190- - 198- ; Barbara, 1907-1907; Elizabeth, 1909;
Jelen, 1911.
Anna, according to her obituary, was born at Manitowoc, Wisconsin,
July 4, 1870 (though the census of 1900 lists her as having been
born in July of 1872). She died July 28, 1954.
Mary, according to the records of St. Wenceslaus parish, was born
December 25, 1873. She died of diphtheria on March 3, 1882, and hers
was the first known burial in the parish cemetery.
Katherine and Elizabeth were twins, born March 21, 1876. Elizabeth
married a man by the name of Bauman, while Kate became the wife of
Peter Synovec on April 1, 1902. She died April 11, 1954.
Christina was born July 11, 1878, according to parish records. She
married Vac Ondracek (February 1, 1877-November 1, 1953) on
September 25, 1900. There was one child, Ernest. Christina died
March 28, 1923.
Bohumil Adolph was born August 4, 1880, and died March 14, 1882.
Joseph Mastalir, Sr., added to his landholdings by obtaining the
West Half of the Southwest Quarter, the Southeast Quarter of the
Southwest Quarter and the Southwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter
of Section 1 in Jefferson Township. In February of 1888, according
to the obituary of his wife, he died, leaving his wife and four
minor children. His will was filed for probate February 13, 1888.
The farm was left to his son, Vac, with the provision that he was to
pay each of his sisters, Anna, Katherine, Elizabeth, and Christina,
$100. “Further he must give my wife every year one third part of all
crops raised, also to supply her with the necessary fuel, also to
keep for her two sows and provide the necessary stabling and food
for the same, also he gives her the privilege to occupy one of the
smaller rooms and the garret with sufficient entrance from the
outside. Also to provide all necessary room and place for all crops
harvested and on demand of my wife he deliver to her, her share. I
also give to my son Vaclav one span of hoses and two cows, all other
stock is the property of my wife, who also shall have one third
interest in the domestic fowls (poultry) and the proceeds therefrom.”
He added the codicil that the daughters were to be paid their
inheritance upon attaining their majority and appointed John Beran
as guardian for them.
The widow Katherine Mastalir survived her husband by many years,
dying on March 21, 1931, at the age of 91. She was buried beside her
husband in St. Wenceslaus parish cemetery in a lot with a stone
which reads: Mastalir Family.
Pages
326, 327
