VAC AND MARY [SOMR] PAUL
Vac Paul was born November 7, 1879, at Podmokle Zbirov, Bohemia, to
John and Julie Paul.
Mary Paul was born December 8, 1885, to Frank and Katherine Somr.
Vac and Mary Somr were married September 28, 1905, in Podmokle in
St. Mary’s Catholic Church. They left Bohemia in company with Mary’s
parents and family. They arrived in America April 7, 1907, on Ellis
Island where they spent four days for checkups and vaccinations,
after which they were taken to New York. From there they took a
train to Verdigre, Nebraska, to the Joe Tomasek home at Jelen,
Nebraska. Mary stayed at the Tomasek home and Vac worked as a hired
man on farms.
After they had enough money to start farming, they rented a farm
north of the Jelen schoolhouse where they farmed for two years. From
there they moved to the Kalal farm north of St. Wenceslaus Catholic
Cemetery and farmed there for thirteen years. Then they rented the
Joe Jaros farm where they stayed for seven years. They finally
purchased a farm northeast of Verdigre and lived there until they
retired and moved to Verdigre.
During his residency in Verdigre, Vac engaged in clock and watch
repair. He died February 25, 1957, at the age of 77. Mary died
January 31, 1968, at 83 years of age.
Vac and Mary had two daughters, Julia and Marie. Julia attended
Verdigre Public School. She married Bruce Spaulding from Cushing,
Iowa, where she lived on a farm until her husband’s death in 1977.
She then sold the farm and moved to Fawn Heights, R.R. 1, Elkhorn,
Nebraska.
Marie attended Verdigre Public School and then married Emil Viterna
on May 11, 1938. They live at Fawn Heights, R. R. 1. Elkhorn,
Nebraska. They are parents of three children: Loren, Harlan, and
Sherry. Loren married Teddie Himberger. They live on a farm near
Plattsburg, Missouri, and have a daughter Norma and son Gregory.
Harlan married Linda Vance. They have a daughter Kimberly and son
Bradley and live on a farm at Logan, Iowa. Sherry married Mike
Hazel. They live in Rhode Island where he is an attorney-at-law.
-Submitted by Julia Spaulding
Page 352
