Title
THE FICEKS
Creator
Albert Ficek
Coverage
TOWNSHIP 140N RANGE 96W
Text
THE FICEKS
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ficek Sr. came to this country early in April, 1891. At that time they had four sons and four daughters. The oldest was Mary, 19, followed by Frank Jr., Agnes, Joseph, Anton, Anna, John and Frances. Another son, Peter, was born here a few months later.
When they arrived in Dickinson, they stayed, for a few days at Zastoupil's, who farmed about five miles southeast of Dickinson, while looking for a suitable place to locate. A few years later, Zastoupil's son, Frank, who was working as a cowboy and ranch foreman at that time, married Agnes Ficek. Their wedding took place in a little granary (12 by 16) which is still in existence on our farm. After looking over some land which could be had as a homestead, Mr. Ficek decided on a track of land on the boundary of Stark and Dunn Counties. Although it was not a full quarter, only 142 acres, there was a small shack to live in; built by a squatter, Paul Kussy.
The Ficeks moved to this place right next to Green River, and occupied the shack the Kussys had built. The next year the buildings were moved to the middle of the quarter, where additional sod buildings were built. Later a stone house, barn and other buildings were erected, which are still in use on this farm. All the rocks came from the Camels Hump Butte a couple of miles to the northeast.
Although a hard worker, Grandpa Ficek was not too aggressive, because this quarter is all the land he ever owned. Of course, in those days they could pasture their cattle and horses and make hay on adjoining land. At that time people respected one's neighbors and did not settle too close, so giving a chance for the sons as they reached 21 yrs., to claim their own homesteads nearby. Frank Ficek Jr., their oldest son, acquired his homestead just north of their parents’ farm. Joseph and John settled about two miles east and Anton two miles north. As Peter reached 21, there were no more homesteads available nearby, so he bought three quarters just northwest of the family farm.
The Ficeks came from a region in Russia called Czechohrad, about a hundred miles north of Crimea. Here they lived about 30 years, coming from central Bohemia in 1861. They farmed in this village of Cze-chohrad all that time. Grandpa's brother, Joseph, later served as mayor of this village. His other brothers were; Anton, who died at an early age in Russia and John T. who came to America with his family in 1906 and settled in the buttes about three miles west of New Hradec, N.D. This man was nicknamed “The General” No doubt he served in the Russian army. He and his wife retired to New Hradec, where they lived the rest of their lives.
The Ficek family also had a sister, Anna, who had the misfortune of bearing an illegitimate child. She and her son had to take many insults from the people of that village in Russia. The son, Frank, about 17 yrs. At that time, came along to America, with his uncle. However he was left in New York and had to be on his own. He barely kept alive by being a messenger boy or other odd jobs that he could get.
He was even shanghaied, which means: abducted, taken as a slave to work on a Chinese ship, at one time but managed to escape. As the years went by, his life improved. He worked hard to get ahead. By the 1920's it was rumored that he was a millionaire. His mother came to live with him, he never married but was godfather to scores of children in that neighborhood. After his death, several relatives were supposed to inherit some money, but through lack of communications it fell through. There is reportedly a Ficek Foundation somewhere in New York founded by him.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ficek Sr. stayed on this farm until 1924. That year grandpa built a house in New Hradec for their retirement, but he died the next year. Grandma died in 1931 at the age of 79 years.
In 1929, Anton Ficek, his son bought this farm and in 1935, Albert, Anton's son, took over and farmed this land until 1975, when it was turned over to Delmar Ficek, the fourth generation. This farm has been in the Ficek name since 1891.
By Albert Ficek
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ficek Sr. came to this country early in April, 1891. At that time they had four sons and four daughters. The oldest was Mary, 19, followed by Frank Jr., Agnes, Joseph, Anton, Anna, John and Frances. Another son, Peter, was born here a few months later.
When they arrived in Dickinson, they stayed, for a few days at Zastoupil's, who farmed about five miles southeast of Dickinson, while looking for a suitable place to locate. A few years later, Zastoupil's son, Frank, who was working as a cowboy and ranch foreman at that time, married Agnes Ficek. Their wedding took place in a little granary (12 by 16) which is still in existence on our farm. After looking over some land which could be had as a homestead, Mr. Ficek decided on a track of land on the boundary of Stark and Dunn Counties. Although it was not a full quarter, only 142 acres, there was a small shack to live in; built by a squatter, Paul Kussy.
The Ficeks moved to this place right next to Green River, and occupied the shack the Kussys had built. The next year the buildings were moved to the middle of the quarter, where additional sod buildings were built. Later a stone house, barn and other buildings were erected, which are still in use on this farm. All the rocks came from the Camels Hump Butte a couple of miles to the northeast.
Although a hard worker, Grandpa Ficek was not too aggressive, because this quarter is all the land he ever owned. Of course, in those days they could pasture their cattle and horses and make hay on adjoining land. At that time people respected one's neighbors and did not settle too close, so giving a chance for the sons as they reached 21 yrs., to claim their own homesteads nearby. Frank Ficek Jr., their oldest son, acquired his homestead just north of their parents’ farm. Joseph and John settled about two miles east and Anton two miles north. As Peter reached 21, there were no more homesteads available nearby, so he bought three quarters just northwest of the family farm.
The Ficeks came from a region in Russia called Czechohrad, about a hundred miles north of Crimea. Here they lived about 30 years, coming from central Bohemia in 1861. They farmed in this village of Cze-chohrad all that time. Grandpa's brother, Joseph, later served as mayor of this village. His other brothers were; Anton, who died at an early age in Russia and John T. who came to America with his family in 1906 and settled in the buttes about three miles west of New Hradec, N.D. This man was nicknamed “The General” No doubt he served in the Russian army. He and his wife retired to New Hradec, where they lived the rest of their lives.
The Ficek family also had a sister, Anna, who had the misfortune of bearing an illegitimate child. She and her son had to take many insults from the people of that village in Russia. The son, Frank, about 17 yrs. At that time, came along to America, with his uncle. However he was left in New York and had to be on his own. He barely kept alive by being a messenger boy or other odd jobs that he could get.
He was even shanghaied, which means: abducted, taken as a slave to work on a Chinese ship, at one time but managed to escape. As the years went by, his life improved. He worked hard to get ahead. By the 1920's it was rumored that he was a millionaire. His mother came to live with him, he never married but was godfather to scores of children in that neighborhood. After his death, several relatives were supposed to inherit some money, but through lack of communications it fell through. There is reportedly a Ficek Foundation somewhere in New York founded by him.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ficek Sr. stayed on this farm until 1924. That year grandpa built a house in New Hradec for their retirement, but he died the next year. Grandma died in 1931 at the age of 79 years.
In 1929, Anton Ficek, his son bought this farm and in 1935, Albert, Anton's son, took over and farmed this land until 1975, when it was turned over to Delmar Ficek, the fourth generation. This farm has been in the Ficek name since 1891.
By Albert Ficek