Memorials › Frank J W Feidler

Frank J W Feidler

14 Apr 1859 – 1 Feb 1918

Birth14 Apr 1859
Death1 Feb 1918
CemeteryFairview Cemetery
Scottsbluff , Scotts Bluff County , Nebraska , USA
Added byDerry Bennett Creutz on 13 Jun 2015
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112404843

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FEIDLER Frank Feidler was born on April 14, 1858 in Bukousko, Czechoslovakia. He came to the United States in 1875 all alone. He stayed with his uncle Frank Feidler in the State of Washington for awhile. Next he lived in Fremont, Nebraska where he married Anna Brezina, Aug. 4, 1879. Their daughter Anna was born there. His Father never came to the United States, but died in Budveis at the age of 68. His Mother came here about 1884/85 but died in North Bend, Nebraska a few months later at the age of 66. Frank's sister Catherine came to the US about 1879. She lived in Fremont and married Frank Dolezal, a lawyer. They had a son Frank and two daughters - Bessie and Elsie. While Frank and Anna lived in North Bend - their daughters Katie and Lucy were born. From North Bend Frank went to Hay Springs and found work in a harness shop. Later his wife and three daughters came to Hay Springs about 1890, brining just what they needed - household goods. There were no other settlers with them. When they arrived in Hay Springs they stayed in a hotel until some country neighbors came to town with horses and wagons to take them to their new home. It was 18 to 20 miles southwest of Hay Springs and about a mile south of the Niobrara river. The house was a soddy with a dirt floor and just one fairly good sized room. The nearest neighbors were Frank Najberts about a mile NW. The Krusies lived a mile due west. The Feidlers lived there about three years - their post office was Dunlap. It was on the Niobrara river run by Mr. Chladek who also flour mill & a cheese factory. There was a school near. Mr. Feidler used to walk to Hay Springs where he worked in the harness shop to check on the family. Sometimes he would get a ride with another settler but if not, he would walk both ways in one week end. Mrs. Feidler and the girls planted a crop by using a hatchet or spade to chop a hole in the sod, drop in seed and cover it. Later they moved out of Sheridan County into the edge of Box Butte, about 3 miles farther south. This is where Lucy first went to school when she was 9 years old. Katy & Lucy had to go two or three miles south. Classes were held in a sod Catholic church. Some of the students were: Fannie, Jennie, Annie, Josie and Mamie Yechout: Bertha, Fannie and Anton Jelinek. The teacher was Clarence Snedeker. There weren't many special occasions but on July 4th Mrs. Feidler and the girls walked to Dunlap to see a few fireworks. There was a late blizzard one spring and the meadowlarks hid in some pigeon boxes nailed on a dilapidated shed to survive. The shed also protected the family's team of oxen and a few cows Another event that is well remembered is a fire that burned off the grass where they were soon to move. There was no feed for the livestock. Luckily in those days there was free range. Another fire also came close to the house. Also - some fires were set to run out small settlers. Mrs. Feidler and the girls planted corn. They also helped plant melons between the rows of corn at one end of the field and squash at the other. Mrs. Feidler broke sod with a plow and planted potatoes in the furrow by dropping the eyes and turning dirt over them as he made the next furrow. Transportation was by wagon. In 1912 or 1913 they bought their 1st car. There was an epidemic of diphtheria in 1896, Mrs. Feidler and Katy both died. The children had to herd cattle all day and were coralled at night in the summer. In the winter they had free range. They turned the cattle out in the morning and brought them in by evening. Lucy Feidler herded cattle from the time she was 6 years old until she was 14. Many settlers earned money by selling milk, butter, eggs etc. They raised chickens and turkeys to sell. Some raised ducks and geese. Later he married Josephine Safarek. They were the parents of three daughters: Olga, Evelyn and Marian. Four sons: Robert, Victor (who died in infancy), Theodore Roosevelt born on election day (who is the judge Ted R. Feidler of Gering) and Leo - who had a harness shop in David City, Nebraska. (* Grandfather of Derry who runs this memorial and Susan who typed this bio and Tracy youngest sister). After about 10 years he moved to Sioux county to look for another homestead. Lucy Feidler worked in the stores in David City and then came to Hemingford alone in 1907 and worked for C. J. Wildy for about a year. She went back to David City, returned to Hemingford and worked for Ben Johnson in 1910. She married Lee Roland on March 15, 1910 and they moved to a farm 5 miles SE of town. Their children: Meryl Vivan Dubry, Berneice Eunice Kraft, Alvin Elmer Roland, Effie Olive Thompson, Oneta Ina Clark, Alie Ellen Costello, Maxine Gladys Forney and 27 grandchildren. Frank Feidler died in Sioux County in 1918 and is buried in Scottsbluff. Josephine (Josie) Feidler died in Sioux County in 1941 and is also buried in Scottsbluff. Lee Roland died in California and is buried there. The following copy of a letter written by Mr. Feidler in 1888 will give you and idea of the value of the land at the time - 47 cents an acre. Box Butte Nebr - Oct. 19, 1888 Mr. I. Phillips Hemingford, Nebr. Dear Sir: Jas. Potmesil told me that you said you would prove up on your tree claim if I would buy it, and if it was worth your while to prove up. I would give you $75 for it, the price claims have sold at here. Respectfully, F. W. J. Feidler Frank was born in Czech Republic. He came to the United States in either 1875 or 1877. In 1877 he was naturalized. Parents were: Josef Feidlerovi (Joseph Feidler) a Anně Záhourové (last name Zahourova) He 1st married Anna Brezina daughter of Joseph Brezina in Fremont, Nebraska. To them two daughters were born: Lucy, and Katie. Frank was a harness maker and patented the snap hook. They moved from Fremont to Box Butte County. After the move his wife and daughter took ill. Katie and Anna both died in 1896 of black typhoid in Box Butte County, Nebraska. His 2nd marriage was on 21 June 1899 he married Josephine Safarik. To them seven children were born. Lucy, Olga, Robert, Leo, Ted, Evelyn and Marion. In 1910, he was a farmer in Lowell, Sioux County, Nebraska. In 1920 his wife was still living in Lowell with six of their children. Later she moved into Scottsbluff. Frank died at the age of 61. He was harness maker and opened a camp in Alaska for trading with his cousins who were Fiedlers as well and lived in Terre Haute, Indiana.

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