CHARLES AND EMMA [MLADY] PAVLIK, SR.
Charles (Karel), born on October 16, 1863, to Mathew and Marie
Pavlik, voyaged with his family from Bozetice, Bohemia, in 1868 to
Baltimore, Maryland. Charles, then five years of age, traveled with
his family by train to Chicago and joined two older brothers who had
settled in Chicago a few years earlier.
Charles attended school in Chicago and Verdigre. He was a good
student and excelled in mathematics and law. Though not a lawyer, he
was able to advise others in the community on legal matters. Often
new arrivals in the community sought his assistance in various
transactions.
[pg 357 Photo The Charles Pavlik, Sr., family - standing from
left: Wilma Charles, Jr., Harriet with their parents, Charles and
Emma.]
In 1878 Charles, Matej, John, Albert, Vaclav, and Mr. Vaclav Tomek
organized the Pavlik Band. The band, under John’s leadership, played
for dances, weddings, funerals, and other occasions in the
community. Many times the Pavlik Band performed during the Christmas
Midnight Mass at St. Wenceslaus Church. The band played in many
towns in Nebraska and South Dakota. In the summer they crossed the
Missouri River by boat; in the winter they drove their horses and
wagon or sled over the ice. In 1886, the Pavlik Band, now quite
famous, included fourteen members and was under the leadership of
John Lenger of Niobrara. During the same year, the band was awarded
first place after competing with eleven bands during the reunion of
the Grand Army of the Republic in Norfolk, Nebraska.
Charles taught in the town school and also in a country school
southwest of Verdigre. He was teaching in the country school during
the blizzard of January 12, 1888. Charles kept the students
throughout the night, even though some wanted to leave. They all
survived the storm.
On July 17, 1895, Charles married Emma Mlady. She was born October
24, 1877. Together Charles and Emma farmed the home place. On July
15, 1896, their first daughter, Harriet, was born in the log house
built by her grandfather. Two years later, a tornado damaged
buildings on the farm; however, the family and the log house came
through unharmed. A son, Charles, was born to Charles and Emma in
1898. Then the Pavliks rented their farm for a year and, prior to
1900, moved to Verdigre. During this time, Charles began building a
wood frame house. Local stone for the foundation was hauled in by
horse and wagon. Building the house with hand tools, several
carpenters were able to complete it within a year.
Another daughter, Wilma, was born in the new house on May 28, 1900.
After living there for approximately ten years, the Charles Pavlik
family moved to Verdigre where they had purchased a house and
several undeveloped lots located on the high ground of the western
edge of town. The Verdigre Creek was flooding the lower parts of
town so there grew a demand for lots located on higher elevation.
The Pavliks lived in this location from 1910 to 1917, then moved
back to the farm which had been rented for the previous seven years.
At this time, the Pavliks’ children helped with farming along with
several persons who were hired for farmwork. Harriet, Charles and
Wilma also began playing in the band as they grew up. Their musical
talent provided entertainment for many occasions in the community
and influenced many musicians in the area.
Once again in 1943, the Pavliks moved to Verdigre. After renting two
different homes, they moved to the same home they lived in from 1910
to 1917. Charles spent many hours cutting and splitting firewood by
hand. He died on April 23, 1946, and Emma died on May 21, 1958.
Pages
356, 357
