the kozak family
Enoch & Mary Kozak & their children fannie, mary, and charlie
Thank you to Tim Kozak of Table Rock for background information about this old family, who have been here for about 115 years.
Tim reports that the family probably moved here around 1900, the first year they showed up on the census. That was Enoch Kozad. Enoch had previously lived in Chicago, where he worked at a brick factory. He aso worked for the railroad for a brief time. Tim says it was probably either the brick factory or railroad that brought Enoch to town at the beginning. Anyway, Enoch bought and farmed what is still Kozak land southeast of town.
Enoch's wife was named Mary. They had two daughters, Fannie and Mary, and a son Charlie. Charlie married Anna (last name unknown) and they had a son named Emil. Emil was Tim's grandpa.
Tim reports that the family probably moved here around 1900, the first year they showed up on the census. That was Enoch Kozad. Enoch had previously lived in Chicago, where he worked at a brick factory. He aso worked for the railroad for a brief time. Tim says it was probably either the brick factory or railroad that brought Enoch to town at the beginning. Anyway, Enoch bought and farmed what is still Kozak land southeast of town.
Enoch's wife was named Mary. They had two daughters, Fannie and Mary, and a son Charlie. Charlie married Anna (last name unknown) and they had a son named Emil. Emil was Tim's grandpa.
Enoch & Mary's daughter Mary was born in 1888. She never married.
"Miss Mary Kozak" was listed as a member of the congregation of St. John's Catholic Church when it closed in 1968. Now a museum, there are records that include this list. Mary died in 1974 and is buried at St. Anthony's Cemetery outside of Steinauer.
In a Facebook posting about the Kozak family home southeast of town, Mary was mentioned. In her later years at least, she lived in a brick home on State Street. A then young neighbor down the street, Larry Layden, remembers:
"Miss Mary Kozak" was listed as a member of the congregation of St. John's Catholic Church when it closed in 1968. Now a museum, there are records that include this list. Mary died in 1974 and is buried at St. Anthony's Cemetery outside of Steinauer.
In a Facebook posting about the Kozak family home southeast of town, Mary was mentioned. In her later years at least, she lived in a brick home on State Street. A then young neighbor down the street, Larry Layden, remembers:
She was a hard worker. I can remember watching her use a cross buck saw to saw wood in a little wooded area behind her house.
In an era of gas heating she provided us with the wonderful aroma of wood smoke.
There was a fairly good sized shed. behind her house, think it is where she kept her stove wood and cobs.
I remember she always wore a long black dress.
About the only time I saw her out and about was on Sunday when she walked to the Catholic Church.
I saw Emil visit her occasionally.
KOZAK PHOTOS
Circa 1912: charlie kozak -- back row, 2nd boy from the left:
school year 1912-13, students at school district 51. Back row Lester Taylor, Charlie Kozak, Millie Lang, Grace Albin, Helen Martin, Josie Karas, and Minnie Kubicek, Seated, Irene Martin, Audrey Martin, Jane Tenk, Alice Taylor, Velma Martin. Front Ed Tomek, Ben Blecha, and Richard Broyles.
Photo 385
7th adult from left is fannie or mary kozak
Photo 533: “Last day of school picnic, District #51. Standing from left
1. Mrs. Tom Kubicek
2. Jess Vondrasek
3. Mrs. Frank (Mattie) Fencl
4. ____________
5. Mrs. Jess (Mary) Vondrasek
6. Mrs. Rudolph (Minnie) Klapka
7. Fannie or Mary Kozak [Tim Kozak, Charlie’s great grandson, says that Charlie had a sister Fannie)
8._____
9. Mrs. Clyde (Lily) Hunzeker
10. Mrs Charles (Laura) Weddifield
11. _______
12. _______
13. Mrs. Edd (Mary) Hunzeker
14. Mrs. Peter (Antonie) Jasa
15. Nettie Karas
16. Mrs. Joe (Bessie) Karas
17. Elsie Fencl
18. Charles Weddefield
19. Edd Hunzeker
20. Charlie Kozak
21. James Kubicek
22. Frank Hruska, Sr.
“Kids:
Rudy Klapka, Jl; Elmer Klapka; Joey Karas; Clyde Hunzeker, Jr; Howard Widdefield; Hubert Hunzeker; Ray Hruska; Alma Fencl; Irma Vondrasek; _______; Lorraine Vondrasek; Bobby Vondrasek.
Photo 848, Emil Kozak
1941-2 school year Emil Kozak, Robert Blecha, Marjorie Epely, Ronald Blecha, and Ardyce Howell, with teacher Mabel Welch Miller. Photo 609. Thanks to Bob Blecha for this great picture!
the old kozak farmstead
A few years ago, the Kozak place was recognized as a centeniel farm, in the same family for over 100 years. The ruins of a stone home in which they lived in the earliest days is still there, nestled on the side of a gently-sloping hill. It was built by the Kubicek famil, who seem to have been the original farmers. The Kozak family came in about 1900 as best as the descendants can make out.
On a HOT summer day in June 2016, I was treated to a trip out to see the house. It is quite a ways from the main road. With all the rain we've had, the undergrowth was rampant and green all along the length of the little lane. I had broght a picture of the house when it belonged to the Kubicek's to compare and confirm it was the same house. It was. The window structure is the same, and the tag on the photo in the museum said a dugout was to the left, and it was.
The Kozak family now consists of the two daughters of Emil & Pat Kozak; Emil was the only child of Charlie & Anna Kozak whose farm this originally was. Susan Kozac Kinsey & Ann Kozac Moss and their familes love the farm and are proud of their heritage.
On a HOT summer day in June 2016, I was treated to a trip out to see the house. It is quite a ways from the main road. With all the rain we've had, the undergrowth was rampant and green all along the length of the little lane. I had broght a picture of the house when it belonged to the Kubicek's to compare and confirm it was the same house. It was. The window structure is the same, and the tag on the photo in the museum said a dugout was to the left, and it was.
The Kozak family now consists of the two daughters of Emil & Pat Kozak; Emil was the only child of Charlie & Anna Kozak whose farm this originally was. Susan Kozac Kinsey & Ann Kozac Moss and their familes love the farm and are proud of their heritage.
It's been called a "dug out," and the family thinks it may have been used as a root cellar. However, it's awfully fancy for that. I wonder whether it was an earlier home before the larger house was built:
