Memorials › John Kavan

John Kavan

24 Dec 1851 – 20 Jul 1926

Birth24 Dec 1851
Death20 Jul 1926
CemeteryZnojemsky Cemetery
Weston , Saunders County , Nebraska , USA
Added byJeffrey J. Woita on 30 Nov 2021
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147214601

Bio

Another Pioneer Has Passed Away John Kavan, 74, pioneer of Saunders county, was born December 24, 1851 in Znojm, Moravia. He spent three years of his youth in the Austrian Army and came to America at age of 24 and lived with his parents at Cedar Hill. In 1878, he was united in marriage to Katherine Vojtech, after which they purchased a farm in Rock Creek precinct where they lived until 1900 when they retired from the farm and moved to Weston. In 1902 they moved to Wahoo where they made their home until the husband passed away July 20, 1926. To this union eight children were born, six of whom are living. Mr. Kavan was well known in Saunders county and loved by his many friends because of his high sense of honor which characterized him, his cheerful disposition, his honesty and integrity. He was a deep thinker and reader, very progressive, always willing to work for the welfare of humanity. Although he has been ailing for some time his death was unexpected as his passing on was very peaceful. Judge Slama was in charge of the services that were held at the home at 9:30 Saturday morning. Beside the widow and six daughters, the deceased leaves two brothers, Philip Kavan of Wahoo and Jacob of Linwood, and three sisters, Mrs. Victoria Navacek and Mrs. Mary Welna of Omaha and Mrs. Anna Stanislav of Linwood. Card of Thanks To the many thoughtful friends and neighbors who were so kind to us during the sickness, death and burial of our beloved husband and father, we extend our sincere thanks, also for the many beautiful floral offerings, the kind remembrance of the Royal Neighbors of Weston, and Judge Slama for his kind and comforting words. Mrs. Catherine Kavan, Mrs. Joseph Malousek, Mrs. Charles Dolezal, Mrs. W. E. Lillibridge, Mrs. G. C. Turnipseed, Marie E. Kavan, Jeanette L. Kavan." - Wahoo Wasp; July 29, 1926 JOHN KAVAN. John Kavan, a retired farmer residing in Wahoo, was born in Blatnice, Moravia, Austria, December 24, 1851, a son of Frank and Teresa (Velaba) Kavan. In 1875 the family emigrated to the United States by way of Leipzig and Bremen, crossing on the steamship Bronschwic, which made the voyage in fifteen days, reaching New York on the 16th of July. They made their way to Fremont, Nebraska, and thence drove to Saunders county, locating in the Platte river bottoms. The father became the owner of a good farm about three miles from Linwood and successfully engaged in cultivating his land. He spent the last years of his life in honorable retirement on his farm and passed away there in 1902, having survived his wife for two years. John Kavan attended the common schools in his native country until he reached the age of twelve years and then made his home among German people for three years for the purpose of learning the German language, and during that time worked on farms. He subsequently returned to Blatnice and managed his father's farm until he was twenty years of age, when he enlisted in the Austrian army, in which he remained for three years, serving in the cavalry. In 1876, after coming to the United States, he worked on a farm in Sarpy county, Nebraska, belonging to John Frazer, for nine months and at the end of that time purchased a wagon with eighty dollars which he had saved. He returned home and assisted his father for a year, after which he rented one hundred and twenty acres of land and began farming on his own account. The first year proved a very disastrous one, as grasshoppers ate the wheat and there was so much rain that the corn crop was a failure. The following year he rented one hundred and twenty acres from his brother-in-law, Joe Weinons, but in 1878 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad at seven dollars an acre, which he paid for on time. In that year he was married, and he and his wife began housekeeping in a sod house twelve by fourteen feet in dimensions, while his stable was made by digging a hole and roofing it with straw. He continued to reside upon his farm until 1906 and in the intervening years erected a comfortable and substantial house and made many other improvements upon his place. He brought his land to a high state of cultivation and derived a gratifying income from his farming operations. In 1906 he sold his land and removed to Weston, where he resided until the fall of 1912, when he disposed of his property there and purchased a fine modern residence in Wahoo from James Carney. He has since lived in Wahoo and is recognized as a valued citizen of the town. He also owns property in Omaha. Mr. Kavan was married on the 23d of April, 1878, to Katrina Wojteh, who was born in Lokov, Moravia, in 1852, of the marriage of John and Victoria (Navrkal) Wojteh. Mr. and Mrs. Kavan have become the parents of eight children: Matilda, the wife of Joe Malousek, who is farming in Chapman precinct, three miles south of Weston, and by whom she had three children, Agnes, in school, Otilda, who died June 3, 1914, and Ludmila, who is also in school; Victoria, the wife of Charles Dolezal and the mother of five children, Rosie, Annie, Johnny, Loucie and Louis; Teresa,; who died May 9, 1901; Mary, who taught school for five years and now conducts a millinery store in Elgin, Nebraska; Catherine, the wife of William Lillibridge, who resides in Chapman precinct two miles west of Weston; Emily, who, after teaching school for two years, took nurse's training at Lincoln and is now located in that city; Janet, who was a teacher for three years and is now assisting Dr. Miller at Wahoo; and Johnny, who died February 22, 1909. Mr. Kavan is a strong democrat and has taken an active part in public affairs. For twelve years he served as school treasurer of district No. 49, Rock Creek precinct, and while living in Weston was for two years on the board of education and for a similar length of time served as chairman of the town board. For twenty-five years he was chairman of the Znojimo cemetery committee in Chapman precinct. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church and its teachings have guided his life. He experienced the hardships and privations of pioneer life in this county but has lived to reap the reward of his labors and perseverance and is now enjoying all of the comforts of life. He takes justifiable pride in the fact that he aided in the early development of the county and is always willing to do all in his power to promote its further advancement.

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