Hurt Family Legacy

Since my Great-Great Grandmother was Mary Markvicka-Hurt, I have included some information that was forwarded to me concerning.......

"The History of the Mrkvicka Family"

The movement of immigrants to America was taking place and many families of Czechoslovakia sailed to America and settled here in Nebraska. A Czech colony already was established near Warsaw and surrounding territory.

Matej and Mary and their daughter Tonia sailed for America. Destination reached, they arrived by train in November of 1879 arriving in Grand Island. They were to be met by some friends but no one was present and arrangements were made to stay with friends until they were able to transact the purchase of land.

The land was purchased from the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company. The deed to the land was acknowledged and this was the original homestead. The land was the southwest quarter (SW¼) of section 3 township 14 north, range 12 west of the sixth principal Merican in Howard County. The land is still in the Mrkvicka family and now owned by their son James and wife Emma, formerly Powloski.

Their home was first a dugout in the bank along the hillside and later a sod house was built. They were blessed with ten more children in addition to Tonia, who was born in Prague. These were Joe, Laddie, Anna, Rose (died in infancy), Mike, Rudolph, Mary, Stanley, Frank, Adolph (died).

In 1896 they purchased additional land which had a wooden house and other buildings and moved there in 1897. The house was built on to which gave them more room for the growing family, and to them five more children were born (Francis, James, Barbara, Adolph and Martin) giving them a family of 15 children.

Matej and Mary farmed all their life, raising cattle, hogs, chickens, ducks and geese. A huge garden was also grown to help feed the family. Crops raised were corn, wheat, rye, alfalfa, oats and barley.

There were many years of hardships with the winters the most severe. They also fought prairie fires, floods, blizzards and droughts. Regardless of the trying times, they stayed with their tasks of farming in their lives’ work, raised a fine family and provided for them in good manner, starting each son on their own farm.

Later they built themselves in 1918 a large square wooden frame house, which still stands today and is lived in and farmed now by their son, Joe (the oldest son) and his wife Delphie Mrkvicka and their son Thomas and family. A large barn was also built which housed many teams of horses. Many barn dances were held in this barn, providing amusement for neighbors and the public.

Matej retired from farm labor 20 years ago, but continued to living on the farm with his wife and family. By this time the oldest children have married and farmed their own farms, leaving Matej and Mary with the remaining ones home which were Stanley, Barbara and Martin. In this time Matej, whose health began failing, died May 2, 1930 and four years later Mary passed on September 6, 1934. Rev. Joseph Hinzman, local pastor of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, provided the services for both Matej and Mary at the time of their death. Both were laid to rest in the St. Anthony Cemetery which is located 2 ½ miles southwest of Farwell.

The year of August 26, 1976 this is being written there were only two sons living, James of Farwell and Adolph of Loup City. There are also three daughters living, Rose (Mrs. Ed Ambrose) of St. Paul, Nebraska, Frances (Mrs. John Abel) of St. Paul, Nebraska and Barbara (Mrs. Charles Hansen) of Farwell, Nebraska.

Matej Mrkvicka was born in Tischinia, Czechoslovakia on February 13, 1848. Mary Kvicki was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia on May 20, 1859. Here Mary grew up to womanhood and she met and wedded Matej Mrkvicka on November 18, 1876. To them their first child, a little girl names Tonia, was born May 8, 1878.

Hurt Family...

Hurt Legacy

"The History of the Mrkvicka Family"