ZAJICEK

The name Zajicek originates from the Bohemian region of what is now Czechoslovakia. The earliest known member of the Zajicek family, that has been traced, was Anton Zajicek. Translated into English Zajicek means "small rabbit". Anton Zajicek is believed to have been born in 1828 and was married to Josephine Veverka in Bohemia. They are known to have had ten children. Anton Zajicek came to the United States from Ujezd Zbirov, Bohemia with his son, Rudolph. Rudolph Zajicek was twelve years of age when they came to America. Anton Zajicek and his son went directly to Omaha, Nebraska upon arrival in the United States. After Anton had earned enough money to pay their fares, he sent for the remainder of his family. His family are believed to have arrived in 1869 or 1870. After his family arrived, they moved to a farm between the Nebraska towns of Crete and Wilber in 1870. The farm was located west of the present day Highway 82 and was located on level ground with good, rich soil. Anton Zajicek attended most of the local funerals in a horse and carriage and upon returning home he would remark, "I went to his funeral, but he won't go to mine!" He is also remembered as having a white beard which was long enough to reach to near his waist. Anton Zajicek died in 1914 at the age of 86 and he and his wife are buried in the Big Blue Cemetery three miles north of Wilber, Nebraska on Highway 103, turn west to intersection, turn south on left side of the road (Section 35 Big Blue Township). Anton and Josephine Zajicek's children were: Anton, Antonia, Rudolph, Josie, Mary, Joe, Florence, Emma, Anna and Barbara.

One of Anton and Josephine Zajicek's sons was also named Anton. He married a woman whose surname was Freeouf and they lived in the Pleasant Hill area. After his wife's death, he was married to Bessie Shestok for a short period of time before his own death. Antonia Zajicek, a daughter of Anton and Josephine Zajicek, was never married according to available information. Rudolph Zajicek came with his father to the United States when Rudolph was twelve years of age. He married Josephine Svoboda and they lived at Bladen, Nebraska from 1884 until 1901. They moved to Liberty, Nebraska in 1901 and lived there until 1904 when they moved to a farm south of the town of Dorchester, Nebraska. They had four daughters Mary, Matilda, Albina and Annie. Mary the eldest daughter was born in a dug out. The other three girls were born in a sod house. Josie Zajicek was married to a man whose surname was Zitek. She and her husband lived at Davenport, Nebraska. Mary Zajicek was another daughter of Anton and Josephine, but it is not known if she was ever married. Joe Zajicek was married to Emma Papik and they are reported to have lived close to his parents, Anton and Josephine. Joe and Emma Zajicek had three children; Joe, Lumir and a daughter, Helen. Helen was deceased at an early age. Florence Zajicek was married to Joe Freeouf and was also a daughter of Anton and Josephine Zajicek . Florence and Joe Freeouf had a son Lumir. Another daughter was Emma Zajicek. She was married to Rudolph Prince and they had one daughter, Emilie, who lived in Idaho; and a son Arnold. Anna H. Zajicek is also reported to have been a daughter of Anton and Josephine Zajicek. She was born December 29, 1877 and it is believed that she was never married. She died in 1905 and was buried in the Big Blue Cemetery near her parents. The last known daughter of Anton and Josephine Zajicek was Barbara Zajicek. She was born on December 4, 1878 in the Bohemian Republic. She came to the United States when she was only a year old. She married James Hubatka and they purchased 160 acres of farm land southeast of the present site of Bladen, Nebraska. While living near Bladen, Barbara Zajicek Hubatka obtained poppy seed from her relatives that were living near Crete, Nebraska. Her relatives had the poppy seed shipped to them from their native Bohemian region. Barbara Hubatka used the poppy seed to make poppy seed kolaches, a specialty of her native homeland. James and Barbara Hubatka had six children: Emma, Edward, Elsie, Vesta, Anna and Vencil.

Emma, the eldest child of James and Barbara Hubatka, was born on September 4, 1887 in a sod house six miles south and one mile east of Bladen, Nebraska. She had attended Highland Elementary School only until the third or fourth grade. Being the eldest of six children, she soon helped care for her younger brothers and sisters so her education was very limited. During her teens she worked as hired help for various other families. Emma Hubatka married Adolph P. Sidlo on November 24, 1908 and they began their married life on a farm nine miles north and one mile west of Red Cloud, Nebraska. They had four children: Ralph, Adolph Jr., Elsie and Elizabeth. They maintained their farm until Adolph Sidlo's death in 1938. Emma Sidlo moved to Red Cloud after the death of her husband and worked as a housekeeper during the early 1940's. During this time she married Sherman Shipman, but was only married for a few years. After their separation, she worked in Blue Hill, Nebraska and finally moved to Hastings, Nebraska where she was employed for many years. While living in Hastings, she was employed as a caretaker for the Union Rooms Hotel for many years until she retired in the late 1960's. She continued to live in Hastings until her death in 1976.

Edward Hubatka was born on April 28, 1891. He was married to Marie Pavelka in 1918 and he lived on a farm near Bladen, Nebraska. They had been married only a year when Edward Hubatka died. He died as a result of head injuries he received when he fell from a farm wagon and struck his head on frozen ground.

Elsie Hubatka was born on March 23, 1893. She married James Pavelka and they lived two miles south and one mile east of Bladen, Nebraska. They owned a farm along the north side of Nebraska State Highway 4. They had one son, Leland, who married Bonnie Householder of Bladen.

Vesta Hubatka was born on June 17, 1895. In June of 1921 she was married to Ralph Chaplin and they had two children: Robert and Darlene. Very little data is known about Vesta Hubatka Chaplin as she died at the age of 33. Their daughter, Darlene, was adopted by Vesta's sister and brother-in-law, Anna and Frank Haller.

Anna Hubatka was born on August 15, 1897. On May 29, 1919 she was united in marriage to Frank Haller. They had no children of their own; however, they adopted their niece, Darlene Chaplin, after the death of Anna's sister, Vesta. Darlene Chaplin Haller was born on August 19, 1926. She married Glen Skrdlant of Bladen, Nebraska on June 8, 1947. He was a local farmer and they farmed south of Bladen. Darlene Skrdlant was also employed as an elementary school teacher for many years at the Bladen Public School. Glen and Darlene Skrdlant had one child a son, Kelly.

Vencil Hubatka was born on September 28, 1899. He was married to Gladys Anderson in Hastings, Nebraska on November 13, 1920. Very little information has been obtained about the life of Vencil Hubatka. He and his wife are known to have had two children, James and Barbara. Vencil Hubatka died on November 30, 1961 in Billings, Montana.

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