PAREZ FAMILY HISTORY
In 1867, Ruzena Parez, who was born in Bohemia in 1814, immigrated
to the U. S. with her sons Jan and Joseph and a daughter Marie. The
family settled at Chicago for a time. Ruzena passed away in 1886.
The eldest son Jan was born in Bohemia on June 24, 1837. When the
family reached the United States, they settled on a farm near
Chelsea, Iowa. After residing there four years, he went to Chicago
and was employed by a lumber firm for three years. In 1874 he moved
to Pocohantas County, Iowa. Six years later the whole family decided
to come west and he settled on a homestead in Knox County west of
Verdigre where he spent his later years. He then retired and lived
with his brother Joseph until he died December 5, 1912. He was laid
to rest in the cemetery at Jelen.
Joseph Parez was born in Petrovice, State of Tabor, Bohemia, in
1848. After he came to the United States in 1867, he settled for a
time at Chicago and worked at his trade as harnessmaker. Later he
moved to Iowa. It was in Pocohantas County, Iowa, that he married
Anna Jelinek. Anna was born December 24, 1860, at Kinsko, in the old
country. She came to this country with her father in 1870. In 1880
the whole family came to Nebraska. Joseph and Anna settled on a
homestead west of Verdigre, near a community known as Pleasant
Valley. Here they worked together and accumulated a share of this
world’s goods. They retired in 1917 when they moved to Verdigre and
made their home there.
Joseph and Anna were the parents of ten children: Joseph Parez, Jr.,
March 30, 1881 - January 10, 1887; Amalie Parez) Studeny, June 19,
1883 - March 25, 1964; Jennie (Parez) Juracek, May 1, 1885 - January
20, 1957; Marie Parez, March 23, 1887 - April 10, 1917; Annie Parez,
March 23, 1889 - September 24, 1911; William Parez, June 8, 1892 -
June 10, 1908; Victor Parez, January 14, 1895 - August 31, 1916;
Helen (Parez) Berounsky, born in 1897 and died April 15, 1923. There
were two more children born to Joseph and Anna for which the writer
does not have any information.
Joseph and Anna worked very hard. They endured a lot of hardship
because they lost eight of their children at a very young age.
Joseph Parez passed away on September 13, 1926. His wife Anna passed
away January 2, 1924. Interment was made in the Jelen Cemetery.
The story of John and Joseph’s sister Marie Parez Bartak, is listed
under “Bartak.”
-Submitted by Mrs. Marvin (Lillian Juracek) Kotrous
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