Bio: Podobnik, Mike - Family

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Podobnik, Juricic, Sila, Jurkovic, Ozanich, Arch, Gemmeke, Parkel, Yartz, Bostwich, Bandosz, Mendelson, Long, Hatton

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Our parents were both born in Ravna Gora, Jugoslavia in 1880. This is where they met.

Pa was born to Luke and Marija (Juricic) Podobnik and grew up among a family of fourteen children. Grandmother was Marija Lesac. Ma was born to Frank and Margareta (Sila) Jurkovic. She had three brothers and two sisters. She and pa came to America in 1899 and settled in Joliet, Illinois. Here they were married on October 5, 1904. While living in Joliet pa was in the saloon business.

They moved to Willard on December 24, 1913. They had only cornmeal and coffee in the house. Water had to be hauled from George Gemmeke. They heard about Willard from Ignac Cesnik, who sold them 40 acres to start with. Later pa bought more land. The farm was on Route 5, known then as 5 road, now County Trunk "O"- Route 2 Greenwood.

Mom told us she was very sick on her voyage to America. The ship took 14 days to cross the ocean.

There were eight children: August, Jen, Mike and Theresa born in Joliet, Illinois; Emil, Gertie, Mary and Millie were born in Greenwood. All of us children attend; ed West Eaton School across from the Seliskar farm. So many things happened I don't remember them. Mary and Millie graduated from Greenwood High School.

Our neighbors were: Joe Ozanich, Louie Arch, George Gemmeke, Frank Parkel, Joe Yartz and Henry Bostwich.

Father was town of Eaton Supervisor for 8 years, and treasurer of West Eaton School for nine years. He also did cement work. He retired from farming in 1951.

Mom died on December 15, 1947 and dad on February 5, 1967. August died on February 19, 1976 and Mildred (Mrs. Ernest Arch) in 1968. Surviving children are: Mike Podobnik lives in Greenwood, Emil Podobnik lives in Willard, Jen (Mrs. Joe Bandosz of Joliet, Illinois), Theresa (Mrs. A. Mendelson of Milwaukee), Gertie (Mrs. Gene Long of Melrose Park, Illinois) and Mary (Mrs. Don Hatton of St. Paul, Minnesota).