Bio: Zupancic, Anton & Karolina

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Zupancic, Lajkovic, Laykovich, Cesnik, Jordan, Trunkel, Verkuilen, Clair, Govek, Palbicke

----Source: Family Scrapbook

This is the history of the Anton Zupancic family as recalled by son Tony and written by daughter Caroline.

In the year 1901 mother, Karolina Lajkovic (Laykovich), who was born in Cerklje, Jugoslavia came to America with her mother Antonia to join Matt Lajkovic (Laykovich) who had migrated to this country several years earlier. Matt settled in Oglesby, Illinois where he found employment in the coal and zinc mines.

On the ship bringing them to the United States, Karolina met Anton Zupancic. He had been born in Zupeca Vas, Jugoslavia. They were married in early 1903, settling in La Salle, Illinois where my father worked in the coal mines. My mother took in boarders. Four children were born in La Salle: Tony, John, Caroline and Angeline. My father's two brothers John and Matt also settled in La Salle.

As the years rolled by our parents saw ads in the Slovenian newspapers advertising cut over land which was suitable for farming around Willard. Ignac Cesnik was the agent. My father and grandfather bought eighty acres of land adjacent to each other. The price of this land was approximately $7.00 and $11.00 an acre.

We packed up in 1909 and headed for the wooded wilderness. Tony recalls the trip. Leaving a city atmosphere and coming to an area without roads. Not even a house to come to. Mr. Cesnik met us at the station with a horse drawn farm sled. He took us to the Jordan farm where we lived until the Lajkovic house was built. Grandfather's house was built after the style of houses in Jugoslavia. With the barn underneath to keep the upper floors warm. Many houses in Jugoslavia are still being built in that fashion.

The following year we built a log cabin. We must give great credit to Anton Trunkel Sr. for his assistance in the building of our home. He helped to hew the logs, carried them on his shoulder. He helped to build the cabinets. He was a man of many talents.

Times were tough. How we survived is a miracle. Truly we were pioneers. Our family was about the tenth family to settle in Willard.

Going to school meant getting up early in the morning to do the milking before leaving for school. Plodding through muddy roads, walking in snow so deep we could hardly see the fence posts, plus having to build a fire in the pot belly stove at school to have the classroom warm before the teacher came in.

Ada Clair, the Verkuilen sisters Mayme and Florence, and a Miss Mosher were some of the teachers.

Florence married John Cesnik. Mayme was my teacher in grades 5 to 8. In fact, I ended up being a class of "one" in the 8th grade and still have my report card. Ada Clair had a friend teacher in Lena, Illinois. She had all the pupils in the grades 5 to 8 write letters. They were exchanged and we all had pen pals. I am still corresponding with my pen pal, 62 years later. I believe that's a record.

Tony went to Greenwood High School. He graduated from that school. Very few farm boys went to high school. It was like getting a college education.

In the Spring of 1922 our parents sold all the personal property and rented the land. We moved to Clinton, Indiana. Soon after our transfer to Indiana the coal miners went on strike and jobs were scarce. Uncle John had settled in Waukegan. He advised us to move there. The prospects of getting jobs was good as there were plenty of factories, a wire mill, an envelope factory, a foundry, brass works, and other small factories. Tony and John went to the mill. Tony retired from the mill. John started his own 'Tool and Die Works'. He is retired now. Angeline and I married.

In 1926 our parents returned to Willard and resumed farming. They took in a boy of seven, named Lloyd. They farmed until 1943 when they sold out returning to Waukegan.

My Uncle Matt owned a small farm just east of Govek's. Uncle John also owned a farm in Willard. After selling the farm he bought a home in Greenwood. Grandma Lajkovic died in Willard and is buried in the church cemetery. Our father died in 1948. Mother passed away in 1956.

Our experiences and life on the farm brings us hours of conversation; reliving the tough times, laughing on remembering our growing up. How we picked beans! How we hated the tiresome job of "snipping" the beans. Other work included clearing the land of stones, silo filling time, threshing, pumping water by hand - if there was no wind for the wind mill.

The boys learned to fix machinery at an early age and became "cracker jack" mechanics. The mothers on the farms had the hardest jobs. They helped in the fields, took care of the house plus washing and ironing without any conveniences.

All the kids raised on the farm were top workers. Going through hard times taught us to be self-sustaining, good citizens and to appreciate everything we have today; inside toilets instead of a "2 holer" with a catalog on side. Running hot water in place of a washtub - where four kids were washed in the same warm water.

Our farm was purchased by a Murphy family. Now it is owned by Donald McFarland.

Sincerely submitted by: Caroline Zupancic Palbicke

 

 


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