JOHN L. AND ALBINA [MLADY] PAVLIK
John L. Pavlik was born to Joseph and Barbara Pavlik on November 14,
1871, in a dugout home on a farm now owned by Joseph T. Pavlik. The
family then moved to a log house just east of Verdigre.
Later his father homesteaded a farm in Jefferson Township, west of
Verdigre. Mr. Pavlik lived with his parents for five years and then
moved back to the farm east of Verdigre. Here Mr. Pavlik grew to
manhood.
[pg 363 PHOTO Mr. and Mrs. John L. Pavlik, Sylvia and Edward S.]
In 1888 on January 12, the day was nice and warm in the morning and
about noon one could hear a loud roar of wind as the great blizzard
of 1888 hit. It was a blinding storm, Mr. Pavlik’s brother and
sister were in school, about 40 rods from their home, so he and his
father went to the school and brought them home. John took a basket
of food for the children who remained in the school, and he stayed
all night at the school to help keep the fire going in the stove.
The next morning it was clear but very cold; everyone was safe.
For several years Mr. Pavlik worked with a threshing crew. He also
helped with farming and later the building of the Verdigre Roller
Mill (flour mill) with his father Joseph Pavlik, Anton Dusatko, and
Louis Velna. Later the flour mill was owned by Grandpa Joseph and
his brother John Pavlik. John L. also worked in the flour mill and
later was a bartender for Louis Kalal in Verdigre. John witnessed
the start of the village of Verdigre and the coming of the railroad.
[pg 364 PHOTO Leonard Pavlik]
In 1898 he started to farm for himself on the Charles Pavlik farm
which was owned by Harry Berger and later by Adolph Janak. They
farmed here for three years and a daughter,
Sylvia (Mrs. Fred B. Soucek of Norfolk) was born. While living here
they built a new home five miles west of Verdigre and moved there in
1901. In 1902, a son, Edward S., was born and in 1914 another son,
Leonard E., was born. They built the rest of the farm buildings and,
with hard work, made a go of it. They also bought more land and
until the last few years there they farmed with horses. But they had
a happy home and remained there until they retired.
On October 24, 1897, John was united in marriage to Albina Mlady.
Albina was born December 16, 1877, at Pischelville, Knox County,
Nebraska. She was the oldest daughter of John and Agnes Mlady. Here
she attended country school in District No. 7 and also helped her
parents at home. She and her brothers had to herd cattle as there
were no fences and many times she said that, rain or shine, they
were out there herding the cattle. She also told how the Indians
would come by; they got along with them quite well, but you never
knew what they might do. After finishing school, she went to work
for Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Pischel at Pischelville, Nebraska. She worked
there when they had diphtheria and she herself had such a sore
throat that she had to swallow raw eggs and that saved her life.
From here she went to work in Niobrara, Nebraska, and then to
LeBlanc and Bloomfield, Nebraska, to work. From Bloomfield she went
to Indian Missionary School at the Santee Agency. After several
years of working out, she returned home to Pischelville and her new
life began with John L. Pavlik.
For ten years Mr. Pavlik was the justice of the peace for Jefferson
Township. He was the treasurer of School District No. 47 and was a
lineman and president of the Western Telephone Company for many
years. He was a member of the ZCBJ Lodge for over 50 years and held
different offices in that organization until 1959. For many years
John L. Pavlik was the chairman of the Woodman of the World
Insurance.
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Pavlik retired and moved to Verdigre in 1945.
They took trips with their son, Edward S., and daughter-in-law
Eldiva Pavlik, enjoying the Black hills, Yellowstone Park, and
Missoula, Montana, where Mr. Pavlik’s sister lived. They took in the
state fair and other places of interest.
On October 24, 1947, Mr. and Mrs. John L. Pavlik, celebrated their
Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Then Mrs. Pavlik’s health began to fail and she passed away on
September 19, 1951, having reached the age of 74 years, 9 months,
and 3 days. From then on Mr. Pavlik lived with his son Leonard. He
did the housework and cooking. Later when his health began to fail
and he couldn’t work outdoors, he developed a hobby of weaving rag
rugs. His health barely allowed him to finish his last rug three
days before the county fair. For this rug he received the first
premium at the fair. On September 15, 1960, he was taken to the
Neligh, Hospital where he died at the age of 89 years on October 8,
1960.
Survivors included their three children; one granddaughter, Imogene
Castle, and two great-grandsons, John and Steve Castle, Chadron;
three brothers, Edward Pavlik, Sr., Ladd O. Pavlik, and Joe M.
Pavlik, all of Verdigre; and three sisters, Mrs. Stephan (Carolina)
Somr, Mrs. Joseph (Barbara) Hanzlik, and Mrs. Emon H. (Ludmilla)
Stoural of Verdigre.
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Pavlik are buried in the Riverside Cemetery,
Verdigre.
-Submitted by their son, Edward S. Pavlik
Pages
363, 364
