Title
FRANK SVIHL FAMILY
Creator
Benjamin Svihl
Coverage
TOWNSHIP 140N RANGE 95W
Text
FRANK SVIHL FAMILY
Frank Svyhl, later changed to Svihl, was born Jan. 6, 1882 in Russia. He was the son of Mr. Joe Svihl and Mrs. Mary Bezdicek Svihl, the youngest of two sons, and one daughter. Leaving his family at the age of 16 to come to the United States with his uncles and aunts, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Pribyl and Mr. and Mrs. John Bezdicek, in the year 1898. They traveled half-way across the country and settled in western North Dakota. The Pribyl's settled in the Versippi community, and the Bezdicek's in the New Hradec community. Frank Svihl took a job as a ranch hand in the Manning community. His pay was $120 a year, plus room and board. He said it was sufficient, because he bought all his clothes, his personal needs, and still put some money away. Some of the extras he bought was a 1905, 32 caliber automatic revolver, of which I still have as a souvenir. One of the stories he told of ranching days was about the pair of wolves in the area during calving season. He said they caused a lot of calf losses, until one day he found their den. He knew the pair weren’t in there, so he crawled in and got all the pups and destroyed them, the pair of wolves moved out of the territory destroying everything they could in their path.
After a few years of ranching, and saving some money he took out a homestead in the Versippi area, in the year 1907, Southwest ¼ of 18-140-95, built a small home, and was on his own.
He married Agnes Pirkl on Jan. 25, 1909, in St. Peter and Paul Church in New Hradec, N.D. She was the daughter of Anton Pirkl, and Marie Samek Pirkl. The Pirkl's came to this country in the late 1880's, Agnes being born in this country on March 16, 1892. They homesteaded Southwest 12-140-96, in the year 1900. Agnes had four brothers, Joseph who farmed in Versippi area and died in that community. Isidore who farmed also in Versippi area for a few years, and moved later to Adrian, Mich., where he farmed. He died in that community. His North Dakota farm is now owned by Tony Jilek of which I lease and farm. Brothers Frank and John died in a tragic accident on the homestead. They were to clean the farm well one day. It was a hand dug, and rock lined well. Not knowing there was gas down there, they entered one at a time and both lost their lives. The well is still there with the old cottonwood trees. I presently own the homestead.
Frank Pirkl, born 1885, died 1903. Jon Pirkl, born 1888, died 1903. His sister Mary married Steve Zas-toupil, farmed in the Dickinson community; they both died in that community. Their farm is now owned by the Shinagle brothers, on the east outskirts of Dickinson. Anton Pirkl was born 1858, died 1906. Marie Samek Pirkl was born Jan. 18, 1859, died Nov. 6, 1933. They are buried with their two sons in the New Hradec Cemetery.
After a year of marriage, and farming one quarter land, Frank and Agnes Svihl expanded. Agnes got a quarter of land from her dad's estate and buying the old Pirkl homestead, the year 1910.
In 1911, Frank Svihl and nine other neighbors organized the first rural telephone company out of Dickinson. Stringing their first wire on fence posts, and later on toll poles. All the people involved were Czechs, so the by-laws and minutes of all the meetings were written in Czech.
Another big day, Frank Svihl became a citizen March 12, 1912.
Frank liked to buy machinery, anything that came out new, sooner or later he bought it. He did just that in 1929. He bought one of the first combines in the area. It was a 15 foot Massey Harris pull type, with steel wheels. In 1932 they bought one of the first light plants in the community. It was a two cylinder Westinghouse gas engine, with a 32 volt generator, and battery pack. He had the whole farm wired, even the outhouse.
Due to drought and hard times in the 1930's, they lost their farm to creditors, but only for a short time, buying it back in 1940. They retired in 1948, and moved to Dickinson, where they lived out their lives. Agnes Pirkl Svihl died Jan. 10, 1955. Frank Svihl died Jan. 9, 1965, both are buried with two infant daughters, St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, Dickinson.
The family consisted of 12 children. Mrs. Louis J. Kadrmas (Emma), born Dec. 17, 1910, deceased May 12, 1942, family of seven; Mrs. Henry S. Dvorak (Dorothy), Dickinson; Doris, Minot; Dorman, Colorado; Irvin, Killdeer; Raymond, Killdeer; Eugene, Bismark and Donald, South Dakota.
Henry Svihl, born April 18, 1912, married Hattie Barta, family of three; Clarence, Dale deceased, and Mrs. K. Kelly (Grace), all of Adrian, Michigan.
Lillian Svihl, born May 13, 1914, deceased April 2, 1915.
Mrs. Andrew Binstock (Mildred), Dickinson, born Dec. 9, 1915, family of four: Mrs. Richard Rashaw (Marlene), Hazen; Mrs. Mark Kuntz (Beverly), Dickinson; Timothy, Dickinson and Larry, Dickinson.
Albert Svihl, Dickinson, born May 24, 1917, married Anna Binstock, family of four: Albert Jr., Dickinson; Darrel, West Fargo; Kayla, Jamestown and Tammy, Dickinson.
Mrs. C. F. Hatzenbuhler (Betty), Dickinson, born March 28, 1919, family of even: Mrs. Gary Hicks (Arlene), Louisiana; Bonnie Coletta, California; Mrs. Gil Sanshey (Nancy), Colorado; Lee, Colorado; Bert, Dickinson; Ted, Colorado and Curt, Colorado.
Charles Svihl, Dickinson, born Jan. 23, 1921, married Pauline Rebensdorf, family of three: Mrs. Paul Delinger (Linda), Debbie and Sandy, all of Dickinson.
Dorothy Svihl, born Dec. 13, 1922, deceased Dec. 18, 1922.
George Svihl, Dickinson, born Jan. 12, 1924, married Grace Ridl, family of three; Mrs. Paul Gjir-mundson (Sherry), Halliday; Scott, Richardton and Sandy, Dickinson.
Mrs. Dick Payne (Blanche), West Fargo, born Nov. 24, 1925.
Rolland Svihl, New Hradec, born March 26, 1927, married Yvonne Kruger, family of 10: Shelly, Dickinson; Mrs. Charles Noyce (Cindy), Dickinson; Rolland Jr., Marvin, Marcie, Rodger, Carmie, Shannon and Blaine, deceased, all of New Hradec.
Ben Svihl, Dickinson, born March 13, 1929, married Betty Pavlicek, family of eight: Mrs. Don Schulz (Gaylene), Denis, Randy, Greg, Rocky, Kelly, Kay Ann, and Tammy, all of Dickinson.
Gordon Svihl, Dickinson, born April 13, 1931, married Shirley Krug, family of four: Shirley, Tina, Curtis and Jeanie, all of Dickinson.
By Benjamin Svihl
Frank Svyhl, later changed to Svihl, was born Jan. 6, 1882 in Russia. He was the son of Mr. Joe Svihl and Mrs. Mary Bezdicek Svihl, the youngest of two sons, and one daughter. Leaving his family at the age of 16 to come to the United States with his uncles and aunts, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Pribyl and Mr. and Mrs. John Bezdicek, in the year 1898. They traveled half-way across the country and settled in western North Dakota. The Pribyl's settled in the Versippi community, and the Bezdicek's in the New Hradec community. Frank Svihl took a job as a ranch hand in the Manning community. His pay was $120 a year, plus room and board. He said it was sufficient, because he bought all his clothes, his personal needs, and still put some money away. Some of the extras he bought was a 1905, 32 caliber automatic revolver, of which I still have as a souvenir. One of the stories he told of ranching days was about the pair of wolves in the area during calving season. He said they caused a lot of calf losses, until one day he found their den. He knew the pair weren’t in there, so he crawled in and got all the pups and destroyed them, the pair of wolves moved out of the territory destroying everything they could in their path.
After a few years of ranching, and saving some money he took out a homestead in the Versippi area, in the year 1907, Southwest ¼ of 18-140-95, built a small home, and was on his own.
He married Agnes Pirkl on Jan. 25, 1909, in St. Peter and Paul Church in New Hradec, N.D. She was the daughter of Anton Pirkl, and Marie Samek Pirkl. The Pirkl's came to this country in the late 1880's, Agnes being born in this country on March 16, 1892. They homesteaded Southwest 12-140-96, in the year 1900. Agnes had four brothers, Joseph who farmed in Versippi area and died in that community. Isidore who farmed also in Versippi area for a few years, and moved later to Adrian, Mich., where he farmed. He died in that community. His North Dakota farm is now owned by Tony Jilek of which I lease and farm. Brothers Frank and John died in a tragic accident on the homestead. They were to clean the farm well one day. It was a hand dug, and rock lined well. Not knowing there was gas down there, they entered one at a time and both lost their lives. The well is still there with the old cottonwood trees. I presently own the homestead.
Frank Pirkl, born 1885, died 1903. Jon Pirkl, born 1888, died 1903. His sister Mary married Steve Zas-toupil, farmed in the Dickinson community; they both died in that community. Their farm is now owned by the Shinagle brothers, on the east outskirts of Dickinson. Anton Pirkl was born 1858, died 1906. Marie Samek Pirkl was born Jan. 18, 1859, died Nov. 6, 1933. They are buried with their two sons in the New Hradec Cemetery.
After a year of marriage, and farming one quarter land, Frank and Agnes Svihl expanded. Agnes got a quarter of land from her dad's estate and buying the old Pirkl homestead, the year 1910.
In 1911, Frank Svihl and nine other neighbors organized the first rural telephone company out of Dickinson. Stringing their first wire on fence posts, and later on toll poles. All the people involved were Czechs, so the by-laws and minutes of all the meetings were written in Czech.
Another big day, Frank Svihl became a citizen March 12, 1912.
Frank liked to buy machinery, anything that came out new, sooner or later he bought it. He did just that in 1929. He bought one of the first combines in the area. It was a 15 foot Massey Harris pull type, with steel wheels. In 1932 they bought one of the first light plants in the community. It was a two cylinder Westinghouse gas engine, with a 32 volt generator, and battery pack. He had the whole farm wired, even the outhouse.
Due to drought and hard times in the 1930's, they lost their farm to creditors, but only for a short time, buying it back in 1940. They retired in 1948, and moved to Dickinson, where they lived out their lives. Agnes Pirkl Svihl died Jan. 10, 1955. Frank Svihl died Jan. 9, 1965, both are buried with two infant daughters, St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, Dickinson.
The family consisted of 12 children. Mrs. Louis J. Kadrmas (Emma), born Dec. 17, 1910, deceased May 12, 1942, family of seven; Mrs. Henry S. Dvorak (Dorothy), Dickinson; Doris, Minot; Dorman, Colorado; Irvin, Killdeer; Raymond, Killdeer; Eugene, Bismark and Donald, South Dakota.
Henry Svihl, born April 18, 1912, married Hattie Barta, family of three; Clarence, Dale deceased, and Mrs. K. Kelly (Grace), all of Adrian, Michigan.
Lillian Svihl, born May 13, 1914, deceased April 2, 1915.
Mrs. Andrew Binstock (Mildred), Dickinson, born Dec. 9, 1915, family of four: Mrs. Richard Rashaw (Marlene), Hazen; Mrs. Mark Kuntz (Beverly), Dickinson; Timothy, Dickinson and Larry, Dickinson.
Albert Svihl, Dickinson, born May 24, 1917, married Anna Binstock, family of four: Albert Jr., Dickinson; Darrel, West Fargo; Kayla, Jamestown and Tammy, Dickinson.
Mrs. C. F. Hatzenbuhler (Betty), Dickinson, born March 28, 1919, family of even: Mrs. Gary Hicks (Arlene), Louisiana; Bonnie Coletta, California; Mrs. Gil Sanshey (Nancy), Colorado; Lee, Colorado; Bert, Dickinson; Ted, Colorado and Curt, Colorado.
Charles Svihl, Dickinson, born Jan. 23, 1921, married Pauline Rebensdorf, family of three: Mrs. Paul Delinger (Linda), Debbie and Sandy, all of Dickinson.
Dorothy Svihl, born Dec. 13, 1922, deceased Dec. 18, 1922.
George Svihl, Dickinson, born Jan. 12, 1924, married Grace Ridl, family of three; Mrs. Paul Gjir-mundson (Sherry), Halliday; Scott, Richardton and Sandy, Dickinson.
Mrs. Dick Payne (Blanche), West Fargo, born Nov. 24, 1925.
Rolland Svihl, New Hradec, born March 26, 1927, married Yvonne Kruger, family of 10: Shelly, Dickinson; Mrs. Charles Noyce (Cindy), Dickinson; Rolland Jr., Marvin, Marcie, Rodger, Carmie, Shannon and Blaine, deceased, all of New Hradec.
Ben Svihl, Dickinson, born March 13, 1929, married Betty Pavlicek, family of eight: Mrs. Don Schulz (Gaylene), Denis, Randy, Greg, Rocky, Kelly, Kay Ann, and Tammy, all of Dickinson.
Gordon Svihl, Dickinson, born April 13, 1931, married Shirley Krug, family of four: Shirley, Tina, Curtis and Jeanie, all of Dickinson.
By Benjamin Svihl