FRANK J. AND ANNA [SAFARIK] SKOKAN
In July of 1869 Frantisek “Frank” Skokan, a 25-year-old free man,
took the hand in marriage of 22-year -old Anna, the “unmarried
daughter” of Frantisek Safarik. This union took place in Sany,
Bohemia, where they lived until 1878 when they took their three
children Anna (1870), Joseph (1876), and Alois “Louis” (1878), and
headed for America. By 1879 they were homesteading on land six miles
south of Niobrara. This original homestead is today farmed by Frank
O. Skokan, their grandson.
[pg 395 photo Frank and Anna Skokan]
Six more children were born here, and two or three others died in
infancy. They were Frank (1880); Bessie (1884), see Sukup section;
Emma (1887), see Tichy; Mary (1890), see Ticky; Clara (1891), and
Adolph (1894).
Anna died on August 29, 1910, at the age of 63, followed closely by
Frank J. on July 12, 1911, at the age of 67.
The following tells a little about their daughters, Anna and Clara.
[pg 395 photo Clara Skokan]
Anna was born in Sany, Bohemia, in 1870. Not much is available about
her. She married Frank Brady and had a son , Edward, born in
February, 1890, thus making him the first grandchild born to Frank
J. and Anna Skokan. Records show that the Bradys lived in Sanburn,
Iowa, besides Omaha and Fremont. Anna’s brother Joseph stayed with
them and attended school for a while. The 1900 census lists young
Edward as a member of their grandfather Frank‘s household.
Familymembers recall Anna living in Omaha in later years but the
state of Nebraska has no record of her death which is estimated to
have been in the 1940s.
Clara was born between Mary and Adolph, in August of 1891. She died
around the age of 12 and is buried on the original Skokan homestead.
Her death was before 1904 since the state of Nebraska has no record
of her death at the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Clara was probably a
victim of a disease such as influenza.
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