VACLAV ALEXANDER NEDOROST
Vaclav Alexander Nedorost was born in Davenport, Iowa, on September
27, 1863, to Frank and Mary Nedorost. When he was still a young lad
his parents moved to a farm in Howard County northwest of the small
Czech community of Protivin where they farmed with both oxen and
horses.
In 1880 his parents along with his older brother Frank, younger
sister Mary, and brother Joseph moved to a farm in Pocahontas
County. After two years of drought and grasshoppers, they pulled up
stakes in 1883 and homesteaded five miles west of Verdigre (where
Verdigre Sand and Gravel is located). His parents are buried on this
farm.
Alexander was united in marriage to Katerina Prokop in 1886 and they
homesteaded northwest of his parents’ farm (Thomas and later Henry
Prokop farm). To this union six children were born: Mary Kotrous
(1887-1943), Agnes Pavlik (1891-1973), and Vacie, Jr. (1899-1900),
twins Irma Davey (1901-1941) and Vlasta Johnson (1901-19 ), and
Edwin (1902-1931).
During the blizzard of 1888 Mr. Nedorost lost his way from the barn
to the house. Luckily, he came upon the farm well and, taking the
direction from the position of the pump handle, he crawled on his
hands and knees to the door of the house.
In 1892 they sold the farm and moved to Verdigre where he went into
the general merchandise store business as a partner with a Mr.
Dozbaba, then a Mr. Ruda, and last, John Beran. About 1900 he built
his own general merchandise store on the corner north of the ZCBJ
Hall. From 1912 until 1917 he was assisted in the store by his two
oldest daughters, Mary and Agnes.
About 1917 he bought a 400-acre farm 13 ˝ miles northwest of
Verdigre. He farmed part of it with his son-in-law, Edward J.
Kotrous, and then with his son Edwin and his wife until August of
1931 when both his wife and son died.
From 1931-1937 he farmed with his future son-in-law, Ivan Davey.
From 1937-1948 he made his home with his three daughters, both in
Iowa and Nebraska, but mostly with his daughter Vlasta Johnson. He
passed away in early September of 1948, just two weeks before his
85th birthday.
-Submitted by LaVaine Pavlik
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