ALBERT PAVLIK
(The following is printed verbatim from the Album of Biographical
History of Northeast Nebraska published by the National Publishing
Co. in 1892.)
“Albert Pavlik, of the firm of Pavlik & Beran, was born in Bohemia,
July, 1858. He is the son of Mathias and Mariah (Barton) Pavlik, who
emigrated to America in June, 1869, landing in Chicago the 23rd of
that month. In 1870 they came to Sioux City, Iowa, purchased teams
and came on to Knox County, Nebraska, and took a homestead where
they still reside. They were the parents of nine children - Joseph,
a miller of Verdigre; John, a miller of Verdigre; Frank, died May
18, 1879; Barbara, wife of Frank Pavelka, of Oregon; Vac, a farmer
of Knox County, Nebraska; Albert, of Nebraska; Charles; Mathia, and
Mariah, wife of Louis Kalal, of Verdigre.
“Mr. and Mrs. Pavlik, the older, are both living, and have been
“companions on the road’ for more than fifty years. The subject of
this notice was educated in his native country, completing his
schooling in America, receiving a liberal education in English. He
was employed by J. L. Packard in the lumber yard at Creighton, and
in 1888 became manager of a lumber yard established by Holbrook &
Free, at Creighton, which was operated in connection with grain and
livestock. At the same time he embarked in mercantile business at
Verdigre, and since 1890 has been actively engaged in his present
business.
“He was united in marriage June 9, 1891. One son has been born -
George, April 24, 1892.
“Politically, Mr. Pavlik was a Republican up to 1889, when he joined
the Liberal party, and now votes for the best man regardless of
party lines. He is a consistent member of the Roman Catholic Church.
“This man, though young in years, is thoroughly posted regarding
Nebraska and the West in general. At the time he came to the State,
numerous bands of Indians were roaming over the country. Their first
trading point was at a small store in the neighborhood, but
generally they went to Sioux City, Iowa, and later on at Norfolk,
Nebraska, where they usually went to mill. Mr. Pavlik was the only
man in the company who had teams, he possessing two yoke of oxen,
which were used in common by all. He also owned the first horse team
in that locality. Vast has been the change from that day to this. It
was their ill-fortune to live in the country (because they could not
get away), during the grasshopper years, when they had to exist on
the plain diet of corn-meal and milk. Upon one occasion, when the
mill had been washed out by high water, the family were obliged to
live on potatoes, salt, and milk. Future generations will never
experience what these, the first pioneers of northeastern Nebraska,
had to encounter to secure for themselves homes and develop a wild
prairie country.”
Soon after this article appeared, the store belonging to Albert
Pavlik and John Beran, along with other business establishments,
went up in flames in the course of a burglary. He parted company
with John Beran (who went into partnership with Vac Nedorost) here
and formed an association with a Mr. Markitan. They apparently built
the store which stood on Lot 8 until 1915. Before 1895, however,
Albert Pavlik was operating a lumber and coal company on the north
side. Some time before the turn of the century, Edwards and
Bradford, a Sioux City-based chain, had taken over this lumberyard,
employing Albert Pavlik as manager. Probably by 1903 or 1904 he had
once again taken over this lumberyard. In 1906 or 1907 this
lumberyard became the possession of Crowell Lumber and Coal.
In 1914 Albert Pavlik became the manager of the newly-established
Farmers Store, but a year or so later he gave up the manager ship.
He was thereafter apparently in retirement. In 1914 he and his
family moved to Norfolk, where he lived for the rest of his life,
except for a year or so (about 1928) in Winnetoon.
After George, the Pavliks had a daughter Emily, born November 14,
1893, and another son, Alvin. Emily married Bosh Chocholousek and
the couple had a son, Walter. They were divorced and Emily went to
live in California, where her mother joined her in 1944.
Albert Pavlik was born July 25, of 1857, 1859, or 1861, according to
sources. He died July 16, 1931. On June 9, 1891, he married
Josephine Mrzena, daughter of Vac and Barbara Kalal Mrzena.
Though Albert Pavlik is buried at Norfolk, there are two physical
reminders of his presence in Verdigre: Albert Pavlik’s Subdivision
on the south side, and the house he built on Third Avenue between
Third and Fourth Streets.
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