A transcription of pages 195-469,
Family Histories from the Verdigre Centennial Book
Thanks to the Verdigre Library and its volunteers for making this available.
 
The index below only includes the husband and wife for each family.
The maiden name for the wife is used if listed.
For other names, use the search on the Home Page.

Index's A-I, J-P, & Q-Z

EDWARD S. AND ELDIVA [JEDLICKA] PAVLIK

Edward S. Pavlik was born on December 19, 1902, to John and Albina (Mlady) Pavlik on a farm five miles west of Verdigre. His great-grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Matt Pavlik and grandparents were Joseph and Barbara (Mlady) Pavlik. He came to America from the village of Bozetice, county of Milivsko, kray Tabor, Bohemia. His grandmother, Barbara, came from Skrychov. They settled as pioneers near the future townsite of Verdigre. On his mother’s side, Edward’s grandparents were John and Agnes Mlady who settled in the Pischelville territory.

[pg 358 PHOTO Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. [Eldiva Jedlicka] Pavlik]

Edward attended the Pleasant Valley School District No. 47 through the eighth grade. He helped his dad with the farming and did some farming for himself. He earned enough money to buy a Chevrolet Coupe for $765.00. In 1926 and 1927 Edward farmed his parents’ farm near Oak View park and in his spare time helped in building the Oak View Park at $2.00 for a ten-hour day. While working at the park, he met Eldiva Jedlicka who sang there for a Fourth of July celebration.

In 1927 Edward went to the Auto School at Lincoln and after returning home he helped his parents on the farm and worked part time for Jecminek and Jiracek Hardware and I.H.C. and Chevrolet.

On May 1, 1928, Edward married Eldiva Jedlicka, daughter of Emil and Eleanore Pavlik Jedlicka, at St. Wenceslaus Church and they went on a ten-week wedding trip. On returning Edward worked full time for Jecminek and Jiracek for $65.00 a month. In January of 1929, Edward borrowed $350.00 and bought an old GMC truck to haul Standard Oil products. Later he bought another Chevrolet truck. Edward hauled the Standard Oil, etc., for 2 ½ years. Business was fair until 1932 when dry weather set in and the banks closed. His last check from the Standard Oil Co. was $25.00. After that Edward bought the filling station from the receiver of the Verdigre State Bank, which was the second bank to close in Verdigre. Edward started the filling station business on August 16, 1932, doing car repair and working seven days a week and about 16 hours a day. In 1934 he took on the Firestone Tire business which he continued for 45 years. In January of 1939 Edward bought a stick and grain truck from Ralph Yager and began the commercial trucking business. Edward’s brother Leonard began to work for him in 1939, driving the truck and helping at the station. In 1940-41, Edward built a hollow tile filling station. In 1948 he began 14 years of service on the town board, the last seven years of which he was the mayor of Verdigre, including 1962 during the town’s Diamond Jubilee.

Eldiva, who was born October 31, 1901, studied both voice and instrument. She has appeared in concert and on the radio. After returning to Verdigre she became organist at St. Wenceslaus, a position she has held for over sixty years, playing for marriages, funerals, and ordinary services.

She has given lessons to generations of children and presented her students in recital. During the thirties she was the guiding spirit of the Music Club.

When the parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee, she composed a song for the occasion. Always active and busy in her personal and public life, she fretted recently because a broken wrist would not permit her to do some things -- and then she found a way to do most of them anyway. She missed only one week of playing the organ for mass after she suffered the break in November of 1986.

In 1957 Edward sold his filling station and moved his tire business to the vacant Kucera Hospital building. In 1964 he sold his truck and insurance business and later retired, donating the building and three lots to the town for a museum.

Besides being on the town board and mayor for seven years, he was one of the leaders in the construction of the Czech Alps Terrace and the Alpine Village rest home. He has been chairman of the Riverside Cemetery Association since 1966, of the WFLA (ZCBJ) Lodge since 1965, and lately of the Verdigre Valley Senior Citizens. He was also the treasurer at Alpine Village rest home. Edward was named an admiral of the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska on May 2, 1973, and received the Good Neighbor Citation from the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben on May 16, 1979. Both Edward and his wife Eldiva were given a plaque in appreciation of their dedicated service to the Verdigre community by the Verdigre Improvement Club.

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