Memorials › Anna "Annie" Zoubek Ošmera

Anna "Annie" Zoubek Ošmera

22 Dec 1854 – 20 May 1885

Birth22 Dec 1854
Death20 May 1885
CemeteryFairview Cemetery
Cambridge , Furnas County , Nebraska , USA
Added byOldergraver on 20 Aug 2006
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15441967

Bio

death by drowning Four families of Bohemian emigrants traveled in covered wagons to Dundy County, Nebraska, in quest of land. They were from Butler and Saunders Counties of this state. The evening of May 26, 1885, after coming up the beautiful Republican River Valley in ideal weather, they made night camp in Richmond Canyon, now a part of the Del Marsh farm midway between Bartley and Cambridge. Old timers say one of the heaviest rains ever started about 6 p.m. following a waterspout in the canyon above the encampment. Three of the men, Joe Kavalec, John Osmera, and Jack Long made their escape from the wagons. John Moteska was found the next morning lodged in a tree, appearing more dead than alive, but he survived. Daughter of Jakub Zoubek and Antonia Pospishil. Married Johann (John) Osmera on June 23, 1862 in Zahradka Village, Třebíč District, South Moravia, Austrian Empire (now Zahrádka village, okres Třebíč, Kraj Vysočina, Czech Republic). Contributor: Cynthia Duris Hirst - [email protected] Seventeen members of the four families drowned: Mrs. John Moteska, 48, sons Frank 15 and Mike 8, Pauline Kavalec 8, Mary 2. Mrs. Anna Osmera 32, Joseph 10, Christina 2 (her body was never found). Fannie Kavalec, Mary Macek, and Anna Osmera were buried at the Cambridge Cemetery. Names of 6 other children who were drowned were not mentioned.–From Beaver City and Cambridge papers. BENKELMAN PIONEER, June, 1885: "L. U. Parsons, real estate promoter of Max, Nebraska, informed us that surviving Bohemians arrived at his place last Thursday as he offered his services without pay to locate on good government land in Dundy county, but they felt their afflictions so severely they concluded to return to their old homes. Mr. Parsons had influenced them to come to settle in Dundy. "Dave Gilbert, the blacksmith of Max, donated his service in repairing the two wagons which could be commissioned for useage. Others donated clothing and food as these people lost everything. Mrs. Kavalec had $100 stowed in a coffee pot; an empty pot was found. Mrs. Moteska carried $615 under her corset; that paper money was lost. The bodies of the children, excepting little Christina, were eventually found and buried in Cambridge." MEMORIAL MONUMENT - On the north edge of the old highway five miles west of Cambridge in Richmond Canyon is a little-visited stone monument which commemorates the tragic story of this handful of pioneers. The monument, sponsored by D. F. Neisanger of Cambridge and the Nebraska State Historical Society, reads, "In memory of Fannie Kavalec, Mary Macek, Anna Osmera, and six children, pioneer Bohemians drowned in this canyon enroute to their homesteads in Dundy County, Nebraska, on May 26, 1885," The dedication of the monument on May 26, 1924, was attended by John and Mary Osmera. The BEAVER CITY TRIBUNE stated some 2,500 persons participated, with music by Cambridge band and addresses by District Judge C. E. Eldred of McCook; B. B. F. Butler of Cambridge; and A. M Keys. The only living survivor, the sister of John and Mary Osmera, was Mary Vlostine of St. Paul who was unable to attend. Forty two years the monument has stood at the original spot, almost forgotten, wrote Reporter Dick Hellner on June 14, 1966. Through the efforts of Federated Women's Club of Bartley and State Highway Department, the monument was moved to a new location on the north side of US Highway 6-34. The area has back-top parking space and landscaped areas with evergreen and other plantings. The land was donated by John and Etta O'Brien of Cambridge. The above is from SUTTON'S SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA AND REPU BLICAN RIVER VALLEY TRIBUTARIES - E. S. Sutton - Pages 334, 335 added by KatieDaughter of Jakub Zoubek and Antonia Pospishil. Married Johann (John) Osmera on June 23, 1862 in Zahradka Village, Třebíč District, South Moravia, Austrian Empire (now Zahrádka village, okres Třebíč, Kraj Vysočina, Czech Republic). Daughter of Jakub Zoubek and Antonia Pospishil. Married Johann (John) Osmera on June 23, 1862 in Zahradka Village, Třebíč District, South Moravia, Austrian Empire (now Zahrádka village, okres Třebíč, Kraj Vysočina, Czech Republic). Contributor: Cynthia Duris Hirst - [email protected] Contributor: Cynthia Duris Hirst - [email protected]

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