Bio: Celesnik, Gregor & Flemina

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Celesnik, Zancon, Suda, Langfeldt, Pastell, Kaucnik, Matkovich, Lesar, Daughhenbaugh, Musich

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Gregor Celesnik was born in Stare Vrhnike, Jugoslavia on March 10, 1871. He was two years old when his Mother died. His Father remarried and his stepmother was very mean to him and his sister Frances, who was two years older. When Gregor was seven and Frances was nine, his Father gave them each a loaf of bread and some sausage. From that time on they were on their own, pasturing cows and helping wherever they could. Although they were separated, they kept in touch. They had many hardships and experiences for persons so young.

They had four stepbrothers and two stepsisters. They also came to America, settling in Waukegan, Illinois and Ely, Minnesota.

Gregor worked on a coffee plantation in Brazil, being foreman and timekeeper. He kept time and names of the workers by memory, until night when he'd report in.

His marriage to Fleminia Zancon took place in Oc¬tober of 1899. They traveled on horseback, to the church. That was their transportation in those days. They were parents of nine children. Frank, born September 1, 1900 in Brazil. John born in Jugoslavia.

Gregor came to the United States in 1902. He first set¬tled in Ely, Minnesota, where he worked in the mines. In 1905 he went to Waukegan, Illinois. He sent for his wife and two sons. The voyage took 40 days, during which time John became very ill.

Mrs. Celesnik spoke Italian and Slovenian, but no English. She was very fortunate to have the assistance of a second cousin and other relatives who also helped with the children.

They lived in Waukegan for seven years, where Mary (Mrs. Vandy Suda) Gurnee, Illinois, Jennie (Mrs. Ed Langfeldt) Neillsville, Wisconsin, and Ann (Mrs. Vernon Pastell) Waukegan, Illinois were born.

Gregor was employed at a sugar factory as a fireman. The heat of the furnace began to take its toll and Gregor's health began to fail. In the meantime, they bought some land in Florida, making monthly payments. He and son, Frank, traveled to Florida to survey the land. The real estate agent took them out in a boat for a great distance till it started to get dark. When Gregor asked how much further, he was told, soon now, and there was no land in sight. So reasoning that perhaps there was foul play, he requested they return to shore.

Gregor bought land from agent Mr. Cesnik, who was nicknamed, "Walla, Walla". He also sold to Kaucniks (now living in Owen) and a few other Waukeganites. Some went back to the city after a few years.

The Celesniks came to Willard January 29, 1912. They lived with Joe Kaucnik until spring. Then he moved into a small place about where Mary Lesar's store is now located, until a small house on the farm was built. In 1918 an addition was built onto the house by Chud Daughenbaugh, who lived across the road from the Maf- tin Matkovich farm, which is now farmed by Butch Trunkel.

Children born in Willard were: Peter, married to Esther Mech, (retired from cheesemaking in 1979) living in Cadott, Wisconsin; Amelia (Mrs. Joe Musich) Waukegan, Illinois; Tony, (deceased) married Eva Dolence, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Frances, (Mrs. Kenneth Horn) Willard (Home Farm).

They sold the farm consisting of 160 acres to Frances and Kenneth in 1946. They moved to Greenwood in 1948. The farm is now working into the third generation, being farmed in partnership with Kenneth and Son.

Gregor passed away July, 1957 - age 86. Flemina passed away November 19, 1952.