Bio: Volaric, Joseph and Justina

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Volaric, Volarich, Pakiz, Routar, Gaberscek, Sivec, Halozan, Cesnik, Sain, Volovsek, Rasmussen, Murphy, Zallar, Barrett

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Our parents were born in the town of Libusne, in the village of Smast, Tolmin, Austria. Our father was Josef Volaric who was born December 31, 1886 to Anton and Margareta Volaric. There were eight children in their family, six boys and two girls: Angela (Angeline), Mitza (Mary), Josef (Joseph), Natza (Ignac), Dra (Andrew) and Dulfa (Adolph). Our mother's name was Justina Gaberscek born to Anton and Anna (Sivec) Gaberscek on July 24, 1894. There were four children in their family, two boys and two girls: Anton, Frank, Justina and Josephine (Routar) mother of Mary Halozan (Milwaukee). All of these children are now deceased.

As a young man of 18 our father enlisted in the Austrian army in March of 1908. Little is known about this time.

In June of 1913 he came to America and settled in Milwaukee. In September of the same year our mother came to America to join her fiancé. On October 25, 1913, they were married by Reverend Mirko Pakiz at St. Mary of Christians Church in West Allis, Wisconsin. Two daughters were born of this marriage, Mary and Olga.

Both our parents worked in Milwaukee, Dad at the Badger Nail Company and mother at the Phister and Vogel Tannery.

Dad became an American citizen June 13, 1924, in Milwaukee while mother received her citizenship papers on November 19, 1929 in Clark County. After becoming an American citizen our name was changed from Volaric to Volarich because Dad felt this was the "American" spelling and pronunciation.

While reading a newspaper one day, Dad saw an advertisement about a farm for sale near Willard. He wrote to Mr. Ignac Cesnik (the realtor) for more information about the farm and the surrounding area. He found out it was a Slovenian community and after viewing the farm decided he liked it. So on September 17, 1920 Mr. Cesnik came to Milwaukee and an agreement was signed to purchase the farm from Mr. and Mrs. Anton Sain. The farm was purchased October 6, 1920 but it was not until June of 1924 that our family moved to Willard.

The farm consisted of 120 acres, mostly woods, so our parents worked long and hard hours clearing the land. Dad would go to auctions and each time return with a cow or perhaps a few cows in order to build up the farm.

Before Dad could totally enjoy the fruits of his labor he suffered a fatal heart attack at home and died March 18, 1949 at the age of 62.

Our Mother continued farming until the work became too much for her at which point she sold the cattle. She continued to live on the farm by herself tending a large garden each year and walking 31/2 miles to mass each Sunday at Holy Family Church in Willard. She died June 7, 1968, two months before her 74th birthday.

The farm was sold after our mother's death and is now divided into many sections with Verland Barrett, Stanley Volovsek, Walter Rasmussen, Floyd Murphy and Jim Zallar all owning parcels of the original 120 acres.

There are many happy memories of our parents and the activities on the farm. Dad was a great singer and he taught us many Slovenian songs which led to a real song- fest while milking cows or snipping beans. He also taught us songs in German. Memories also include celebrating birthdays of all the 5th Road neighbors, Vinska trgatevs, Slovenian plays and the many dances. We had many a great time!

Mary Volarich married Frank Volovsek Jr. They are living south of Willard. Olga Volarich married Stanley Volovsek and lives across the highway from the Volarich homestead.