Memorials › Joseph Bartholomew "Joe" Bartek Sr

Joseph Bartholomew "Joe" Bartek Sr

24 Aug 1857 – 2 Nov 1944

Birth	24 Aug 1857
Death	2 Nov 1944
Cemetery	Saint John Nepomucene Cemetery Weston , Saunders County , Nebraska , USA
Added by	Jeffrey J. Woita on 01 Jan 2023
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75817461

Bio

born in Upper Bevca, Wallashko, Beskydi Mts., Bohemia, Czechoslovakia "Joseph B. Bartek, Weston, dies here Joseph B. Bartek, 87, pioneer resident of Weston, died in Lincoln Thursday. Born in Czechoslovakia, Aug. 24, 1857, he came to the United States in 1870 and homesteaded near Weston, where he lived nearly all his life. Bartek was sheriff of Saunders county in 1892 and was a precinct assessor for 30 years. He was a member of the St. John's Catholic church and the K. D. C. W. lodge in Weston. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Weston, with burial there. Surviving are seven sons and four daughters, Jarslov J., Henry G., and Frank E., all of Weston; Joseph B., jr., Wahoo; Charles G., Valparaiso; Rudolph F., Loma; William J., Lincoln; Mrs. Frank Bouc and Mrs. Lewis Meduna, both of Weston; Mrs. Louis Barbec, Mead; Mrs. Frank Coufal, Grand Island; 48 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren." - The Lincoln Journal; November 3, 1944 BARTEKS BUILD DUGOUT IN 1870 Joseph B. Bartek, the son of John and Veronike (Plucnar) Bartek, was born in 1857, in Upper Becva, Wallashko, Beskydi mountains, Moravia. The family had intended to come to America in 1867, but were unable to dispose of their two farms until 1870. They came by vessel in that year, and arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, after a nine weeks voyage. The family came directly to Saunders County knowing that there was more land to be available in this area. They crossed the Platte River by ferry at North Bend, and were the first emigrants from Moravia to come to this part of Nebraska. The Bartek family homesteaded in the west half of the northeast quarter Section 12, Township 5, east of the Sixth Principal Meridian. Their first house was a dugout, with a roof thatched from slough grass, and rafters of ash poles. Whitewash used was made from ashes mixed with red clay. After the harvest, in which cradle scythes were used, Mr. Bartek went to Omaha and worked on the foundations of the Missouri River Bridge of the Union Pacific Railrond. Mr. John Bartek started a grocery store in Weston in 1880, and conducted the business for a number of years, finally selling the store to L. Larson, and moving to the farm where he resided at the time of his death, December 29, 1891. Joseph Bartek remained at home until 1880 when he came into possession of 160 acres in Section 1. In 1888 he purchased the first eighty acres of what was later his home, the west half of the southwest quarter of section 24, township 14, range 5. for which he paid $1,000. In 1891 he was elected as sheriff of Saunders County. He also purchased the John Jamison ranch for $3,000. The improvements which Bartek put upon his land were the finest in the community. In 1890 he was one of the organizers of the first Bohemian newspapers in the middle west. The name Pritel Lidu, meant The People's Friend. Mr. and Mrs. Bartek (Mary Kovarik) were married in 1880 and to this union were born 12 children: Jaroslav, Joseph, Chas. Josie, Emma, Frank, Mary, Ralph, Henry, Phebe, Millie, and the two older sons Jaroslav and Joseph attended the Fremont Normal School in 1899. It is a matter of record that Mr. Bartek gave his children the best of everything he could, including education. His mother, Mrs. Veroncia Plucnar Bartek, passed away March 18, 1930, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Andrew Tomes in Weston. Mr. Joseph Bartek's beloved wife departed the city May 16, 1935. From the Wahoo Newspapers, Wahoo, Nebraska, Thursday, September 17, 1936 JOSEPH B. BARTEK. With the pioneer history of Saunders county, Joseph B. Bartek is thoroughly familiar, for his residence here dates from July, 1870. He is also as thoroughly acquainted with the record of later progress and development, for he has borne his full share in the work that has led to the substantial improvement and upbuilding of the county. For a long period he has been actively, extensively and successfully engaged in general farming and has been identified as well with commercial and journalistic interests. In fact, there is no phase of public life with which he has not been associated and always for the betterment of the community in which he lives. Mr. Bartek is a native of Moravia. He was born in 1857, in the north-eastern part of Upper Becva, Wallashko, Beskidy mountains, his parents being John and Veronika (Plutcnar) Bartek. The father was the owner of two farms consisting of thirty mirs each, one known as Lucinsky and the other as Jancikovice. He desired to dispose of his property in 1867 with the avowed purpose of coming to America but it was not until the summer of 1870 that he found a purchaser for his property, the sale of which brought him twenty-eight hundred zlatek. Already a number of his friends had left Bohemia to become residents of the United States, some settling in Iowa and others in Texas. He made his way to Bremen, expecting to sail from that port for Galveston, Texas, but found that the vessel which made bi-monthly sailings had departed the preceding day. Accordingly he embarked on a ship bound for Baltimore, Maryland, reaching his destination after a voyage of nine weeks. Meeting some emigrants who were coming to Saunders county, Nebraska, and learning that government land could be secured there, he determined to make his way to this state and crossed the country direct to Saunders county. In those days an old ferry was operated across the Platte river at North Bend and this conveyed Mr. Bartek and his family to the other side of the stream. They were the first emigrants from Wallashko, Moravia, to settle in this part of the state, Mr. Bartek homesteading one half of the northwest quarter of section 12, township 14, range 5, in Saunders county, in July, 1870. In 1878 he gained a neighbor, when Mr. Flint, who at that time was teacher of a school in the old sod house of Mr. Venc, on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 12, homesteaded the east half of the northeast quarter of section 12. The family met all of the experiences, hardships and privations of pioneer life. Their first home was largely a dugout. The father, however, had practical knowledge of the carpenter's trade and on section 4 cut timber, which he used in constructing the frame portions of his residence. Ash Doles were used as rafters and the roof was covered with rails, over which was placed a thatch of slough grass. Ashes mixed with red clay served as a whitewash. It was thus that the pioneer settlers had to make necessity the mother of invention, utilizing whatever means they could secure to meet their needs. By working for neighboring farmers Mr. Bartek earned money sufficient to enable him to buy windows and boards for the door of the house and necessary household supplies. He cut his grain with a cradle scythe and after the harvest was gathered walked to Omaha, where he secured work in building the foundation of the Union Pacific Railroad bridge over the Missouri river. The proceeds of his labor were invested in two cows, which not only furnished milk for the family but also served as his first team. In 1876 he built a log house and as opportunity offered added to his land, filing on the south half of the northwest quarter of section 12, but that property was later homesteaded by Mr. Tomes, who had been his near neighbor at his old home in Moravia. The two older sons, John and Joseph B. Bartek, entered the employ of a Mr. Watson and their year's work brought to their father a yoke of steers. The family struggled on, making steady progress, and in 1880 the father was enabled to establish a grocery and dry-goods store in Weston, where he continued business with good success for two years, after which he sold out. He returned to his farm and thereon resided until his death, which occurred December 29, 1891. To him and his wife were born eight children. The eldest, John, who was born in 1855 and was named for his father, is still living on the old homestead. He married Mary Spransky. Joseph is the second in order of birth. Mary has passed away. Frank married Barbara Simanek and resides in Chapman precinct. Lucas wedded Victoria Bartek and is engaged in farming in this county. Phebe is the wife of James Kabourek, of Dwight, Nebraska. Agnes is the wife of Frank Cech, a farmer of Wahoo, and Veronika is the wife of Andrew Tomes, a retired farmer of Weston. Joseph B. Bartek shared with the family in all of the hardships of pioneer life and bore his part in the work of developing the home farm and providing for the support of the family. He early started out to earn his own living but continued to make his home with his parents until 1880, when he came into possession of one hundred and sixty acres of land. With characteristic energy he began the development of the farm, which he carefully and systematically cultivated until 1891, when he was elected sheriff of Saunders county. In 1888 he purchased the first eighty acres of his present home, comprising the west half of the southwest quarter of section 24, township 14, range 5, the purchase price being one thousand dollars. The sum of three thousand dollars made him possessor of the John Jamison ranch and five years later he added an adjoining eighty acres, and he is today the owner of three hundred and twenty-six acres of rich and valuable land. In 1894 he erected a fine modern residence, two stories in height, thirty-six by thirty-two feet. Upon his place he has an arched wind cave and brick and stone wall cellar. There are also good barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. His farm is well watered, as it lies along the south branch of Wahoo creek, the banks of which bear a heavy growth of oak, elm, walnut, ash, willow, cotton-wood and box elder trees, some of which are more than four feet in diameter and more than one hundred years old. A large windmill pumps water from a fine well and his orchard is in excellent bearing. In fact his property is one of the best improved in the precinct and bears evidence of the care, supervision and capable management of the owner, who is successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He has made a specialty of raising broom corn and sorghum and is engaged in the manufacture of molasses for local use. This does not compass the extent of his activities, however, for he is a director of the Weston Grain & Stock Company, and in 1890 became one of the organizers of the first independent Bohemian paper in the United States, called Pritel Lidu, which means the people's friend. He has been a liberal and valued contributor to that paper, writing many articles of great interest to his fellow countrymen. In May, 1880, Mr. Bartek was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kovarik, a daughter of John Kovarik, who came from Kameny Mosty Caslav, Bohemia, in 1879, and established his home in Saunders county. To Mr. and Mrs. Bartek have been born the following children. Jaroslav, who was born April 2, 1881, completed his education in the Fremont Normal School in 1899, and later engaged in teaching. He wedded Miss Hevdika Confal and now lives in Newman township. Joseph, who was born August 13, 1882, was also educated in the Fremont Normal School. He wedded Miss Blanch Kavan and is engaged in business in Lomo, Nebraska. Charles, who was born January 7, 1884, is also married. Josie, who was born March 16, 1885, is the wife of Frank Bouc, of Lancaster county. Fannie married Francis Novak. Emma, whose birth occurred in September, 1886, is the wife of John Kobza. Frank, who was born January 20, 1888, married Anna Fidler. Mary, born in April, 1889, married Frank Cofal. Ralph, born March 21, 1890, is with his brother at Loma, Nebraska. Henry, born in February, 1892, Phebe, March 31, 1895, Millie, August 25, 1897, and Willie, whose birth occurred May 13, 1899, are all still under the parental roof. Mr. Bartek has given his children excellent educational advantages. In his political views Mr. Bartek was formerly a democrat, supporting the party until 1889, after which he joined the populist party. It was upon that ticket that he was elected to the office of county sheriff, in which position he made an excellent record, discharging his duties without fear or favor. For several years he served as assessor of Newman precinct and has been school director for a number of years. He was also secretary of the Weston Catholic cemetery and has been treasurer of the Weston Catholic church. He is familiar with every phase of the development of Saunders county, having for forty-five years been an interested witness of the changes which have occurred. He arrived here when a youth of thirteen and entered upon a career of activity and usefulness which has been far-reaching and beneficial to the community. He has contributed not alone to its agricultural progress but to its upbuilding in many ways and is accounted one of the valued citizens of this part of the state.

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Mary Kovarik Bartek 1857–1934

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