Posted on: Clark Co. Wi Biographies Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Wi/ClarkBios/10622 Surname: Krejci, Skotiel, Kunish, Schaefer, Klinke, Hemp, Hales, Chaska, Vilete, Buddiner, Canfield, Searls, Rhead, Allis, Gardner, Plhuhar ------------------------- History of Frank M. Krejci Family: *Thomas Krejci (grandfather of Frank M.) was born and lived in Bohemia {Germany}, Europe and marries Mary Skotiel*. *John Krejci (father of Frank M. Krejci) married Barbara Kunish, where they were born. They were born in Lepnice, Bohemia and came to America in 1855. One daughter, Barbara, was born there and died shortly after coming to America*. The family landed in America after a 6 weeks voyage in a sailing vessel, then proceeded to Washington Co. Wisconsin. John Krejci had been a farmer in Germany and now he secured a piece of improved land in Trenton Township, Washington County, Wisconsin and began the work of impovement with an ox team. His place was located 32 miles from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, then an insignificant hamlet. He often walked to Milwaukee, bringing provisions home on his back. He lived on this farm until the last ten years of his live, after which he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He died at the age of 84 and his wife at the age of 66. In addition to their daughter, Barbara, the first, eight children were born to them in Washington County, Wisconsin. They were Wenzel, 1868-1943, 75; Mary; Joseph (first); Barbara (second); Frank Matt; Joseph (second); Anna and Louis. *Joseph (first) died as a young boy.* When he lived on his farm in Washington County, Wisconsin. He had cleared and improved his farm, erected good buildings on it and had reached a state of comparative prosperity.* Frank Matt Krejci, a proprietor of a paying farm in section 33, York Township, Clark County, Wisconsin, was born in Washington County, Wisconsin November 4, 1859. He was the son of John and Barbara (Kunish) Krejci. He attended school in Washington County and grew to manhood on his father's farm. He began working independently at the age of twenty years. After spending two years at farming, he took up the carpenter trade, at which he was occupied for three years. In 1885, he was united in marriage to Anna Helen Schaefer. She was born in Washington County, Wisconsin and the daughter of Joseph Schaefer, both parents being natives of Europe. Coming to Clark County, Wisconsin as a young married couple, Frank Krejci and his wife resided for the first winter with his sister and brother-in-law, John Klinke and the following spring moved to their present place in section 33, York Township, Clark County, Wisconsin which consists of 80 acres of wild land and there being no road they had to cut their way in. Frank Krejci built a log house of one room, 14X26 in dimension and a log barn and then proceeded with the arduous task of developing a farm. It was not until the next spring he got a cow and five years later a yoke of steers. His first crops were grubbed in. He often walked to Neillsville, Wisconsin, 7 miles, carring home supplies on his back. His wife accompanied him, carrying eggs and butter to market and receiving 6 cents a pound for butter. In the course of time, by his own hard labor he got his land cleared, also building a nice brick house of 8 rooms {original burnt and was rebuilt, still standing 1999} and a barn, 36X48 feet and a silo of 100 tons capacity. He raises a good grade of stock and is the proprietor of a good farm which renders profitable returns for the labor invested in it. He is a shareholder in the Granton State Bank and the packing plant in Wausau, Wisconsin and was formerly a member of the company that operated the old cheese factory. For one year, he served as a member of the York Township side board. Mr and Mrs Krejci have six children: Victor (unmarried) is a farmer in the Fremont Township, Clark County, Wisconsin, where he cleared 80 acres of wild land and made a farm of it and being a carpenter putting up the buildings but still lives at home; Emma, now Mrs Louis Hemp of Neillsville, Wisconsin has two boys (Leon and Warren); Mary, the wife of George Hales and the mother of two girls ( Verona and Marion); Thomas, Estella, and Edwin still reside at home. *Mrs Frank M. Krejci was the daughter of Joseph Schaefer and his wife, Mary Chaska. Really her name was Mary Vilete. Her mother was married twice, first to a Vilete, to which union Mary was born. Chaska was her stepfather. Mary left a lover, who was very dear to her, in Bohemia to come to the USA with her parents to care for her mother. Her lover, in Bohemia, felt it was his duty to remain with his parents and so they had to part.* {Frank Matt Krejci died June 16, 1859 on the farm, York Township, north of Graton, Clark County, Wisconsin. Wife Anna Helen Schaefer died July 12, 1922 on the farm also.} {Victor (Vic) was born June 18, 1887 and died November 13, 1965. He married Elsie Buddiner Canfield May 29, 1925. She was born March 9, 1896 and died July 1957. They had Ruth Jean, born September 13, 1925. She married Harold Angus Searls October 9, 1946.} {Emma was born August 17, 1887/1888 and died November 4, 1971 in Neillsville. She married Herman Louis, called Louis, Hemp April 22, 1914. He died April 6, 1935. They had three children, Leon (born April 4, 1915 and died June 27, 1920 of a childhood illness), Warren (born June 30, 1916 and died August 9, 1978. Wife and 4 children. wife and three children still living) and Marvin (Marv) (still living with wife and 4 sons). When Emma died, her son Warren and his family lived with her in Neillsville.} {Mary Barbara was born December 25, 1890 and died March 6, 1978. She married George Knight Hales March 29, 1911. He was born March 29, 1887 and died May 30, 1073. They had 2 girls, Marion and Verona.} {Thomas (Tom) Emil was born June 21, 1893 and died February 2, 1964. He married Alice Marie Rhead June 1, 1925. She was born October 3, 1907 and died September 10, 1971. They had 3 daughters, Betty Jane, Darlene Joyce, and Dorothy Joy.} {Estella (Stell, Stella) was born January 17, 1898 and died January 25, 1988. She never married. For many years she was a maid/personal servant for the Mr. Allis, owner of Allis Chalmer, maker for farm tractors near Milwaukee. Retired and returned to Neillsville where she died.} {Edwin (Ed) John was born July 7, 1900 and died April 8, 1961. He married Estella Gardner September 16, 1926. She was born August 26, 1904 and died December 19, 1929. He married Minerva Plhuhar.} {Emma commented to daughter-in-law, Irene Lepke Hemp on the "1918 History of Clark County book": They charge $50.00 to be in the book and then you got one copy. I took this comment to mean that people weren't included unless they payed for it.} Taken from the Clark County, History of Wisconsin----Franklin; by Curtin Wedge, 1918. All starred (*) material added by Estella F. Krejci (daughter of Frank Matt) in 1984. { } addition and corrections added by Sara Hemp, married to Emma's grandson Jeffery, May 2001. **NOTE: I've left out names, etc. of some living people who didn't want their info on the net. Sara Hemp.