Joe Namesnick / Joseph Namesnick
...Joe (Smokey Joe as he's known as around here) hasn't seen his son in 70 years. Smokey Joe, for years the proprietor of a tavern at the intersection of Highways 13 and 73,* was originally known as Botta Dijanesic in his native Yugoslavia. Born in 1877, Botta left his wife and three-month-old son Andrija in 1902 to come to America and make his fortune. His original plans called for him to send for his wife and infant son after he got settled... [but] never did. [He worked in Chicago] where fellow workers nicknamed him Joe, since they had a hard time pronouncing his real name. During this period, Botta, or Joe, lost all contact with his wife, and just about gave up hope of ever seeing her or Andrija again. Assuming his wife was dead, he married a widow while in Chicago... he was consequently dubbed Bolta (a beat-up version of Botta) Namesnick (nickname in reverse). In 1907 Botta Dijanesic, alias Bolta Namesnick, moved to the town of Saratoga, where he and his wife farmed for the next 20 years. When Highway 13 was routed north through the community in 1927, Bolta purchased property adjacent to what is now the Highways 13-73 intersection, and opened a bar -- Smokey Joe's White Pine Tavern. The "Smokey" was hung on him by Andy Anderson, a local bartender... Five years later, Smokey Joe opened another tavern nearby,** called The Alamo. ...in June, [1972] Andrija and his son Ivan decided to make the trip over here to see their long-lost relative....
--excerpt from an article by Mike Kelly, Tribune Staff Writer for The Daily Tribune; Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; July 6, 1972
*This intersection, once well-known as Smokey Joe's Corner(s), is located 2½ miles south of Nepco Lake at 44.30706, -89.81020; Smokey Joe's tavern was on the northwest corner of this intersection.
**At a now defunct Highways 13-73 intersection; north of what is now called Branding Iron Ct.
1910 Census:
Home in 1910: Saratoga, Wood, Wisconsin
Years Married: 4
Occupation: Farmer
Bolta Namesnie 32 Head
Anna Namesnik 32 Wife
Andrew Pazurek 16 Step Son
John Pazurek 15 Step Son
Peter Pazurek 13 Step Son
Peter Pazurek 11 Step Son
Pauline Pazurek 8 Step Daughter
...Joe (Smokey Joe as he's known as around here) hasn't seen his son in 70 years. Smokey Joe, for years the proprietor of a tavern at the intersection of Highways 13 and 73,* was originally known as Botta Dijanesic in his native Yugoslavia. Born in 1877, Botta left his wife and three-month-old son Andrija in 1902 to come to America and make his fortune. His original plans called for him to send for his wife and infant son after he got settled... [but] never did. [He worked in Chicago] where fellow workers nicknamed him Joe, since they had a hard time pronouncing his real name. During this period, Botta, or Joe, lost all contact with his wife, and just about gave up hope of ever seeing her or Andrija again. Assuming his wife was dead, he married a widow while in Chicago... he was consequently dubbed Bolta (a beat-up version of Botta) Namesnick (nickname in reverse). In 1907 Botta Dijanesic, alias Bolta Namesnick, moved to the town of Saratoga, where he and his wife farmed for the next 20 years. When Highway 13 was routed north through the community in 1927, Bolta purchased property adjacent to what is now the Highways 13-73 intersection, and opened a bar -- Smokey Joe's White Pine Tavern. The "Smokey" was hung on him by Andy Anderson, a local bartender... Five years later, Smokey Joe opened another tavern nearby,** called The Alamo. ...in June, [1972] Andrija and his son Ivan decided to make the trip over here to see their long-lost relative....
--excerpt from an article by Mike Kelly, Tribune Staff Writer for The Daily Tribune; Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; July 6, 1972
*This intersection, once well-known as Smokey Joe's Corner(s), is located 2½ miles south of Nepco Lake at 44.30706, -89.81020; Smokey Joe's tavern was on the northwest corner of this intersection.
**At a now defunct Highways 13-73 intersection; north of what is now called Branding Iron Ct.
1910 Census:
Home in 1910: Saratoga, Wood, Wisconsin
Years Married: 4
Occupation: Farmer
Bolta Namesnie 32 Head
Anna Namesnik 32 Wife
Andrew Pazurek 16 Step Son
John Pazurek 15 Step Son
Peter Pazurek 13 Step Son
Peter Pazurek 11 Step Son
Pauline Pazurek 8 Step Daughter
Joe Namesnick / Joseph Namesnick
...Joe (Smokey Joe as he's known as around here) hasn't seen his son in 70 years. Smokey Joe, for years the proprietor of a tavern at the intersection of Highways 13 and 73,* was originally known as Botta Dijanesic in his native Yugoslavia. Born in 1877, Botta left his wife and three-month-old son Andrija in 1902 to come to America and make his fortune. His original plans called for him to send for his wife and infant son after he got settled... [but] never did. [He worked in Chicago] where fellow workers nicknamed him Joe, since they had a hard time pronouncing his real name. During this period, Botta, or Joe, lost all contact with his wife, and just about gave up hope of ever seeing her or Andrija again. Assuming his wife was dead, he married a widow while in Chicago... he was consequently dubbed Bolta (a beat-up version of Botta) Namesnick (nickname in reverse). In 1907 Botta Dijanesic, alias Bolta Namesnick, moved to the town of Saratoga, where he and his wife farmed for the next 20 years. When Highway 13 was routed north through the community in 1927, Bolta purchased property adjacent to what is now the Highways 13-73 intersection, and opened a bar -- Smokey Joe's White Pine Tavern. The "Smokey" was hung on him by Andy Anderson, a local bartender... Five years later, Smokey Joe opened another tavern nearby,** called The Alamo. ...in June, [1972] Andrija and his son Ivan decided to make the trip over here to see their long-lost relative....
--excerpt from an article by Mike Kelly, Tribune Staff Writer for The Daily Tribune; Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; July 6, 1972
*This intersection, once well-known as Smokey Joe's Corner(s), is located 2½ miles south of Nepco Lake at 44.30706, -89.81020; Smokey Joe's tavern was on the northwest corner of this intersection.
**At a now defunct Highways 13-73 intersection; north of what is now called Branding Iron Ct.
1910 Census:
Home in 1910: Saratoga, Wood, Wisconsin
Years Married: 4
Occupation: Farmer
Bolta Namesnie 32 Head
Anna Namesnik 32 Wife
Andrew Pazurek 16 Step Son
John Pazurek 15 Step Son
Peter Pazurek 13 Step Son
Peter Pazurek 11 Step Son
Pauline Pazurek 8 Step Daughter
...Joe (Smokey Joe as he's known as around here) hasn't seen his son in 70 years. Smokey Joe, for years the proprietor of a tavern at the intersection of Highways 13 and 73,* was originally known as Botta Dijanesic in his native Yugoslavia. Born in 1877, Botta left his wife and three-month-old son Andrija in 1902 to come to America and make his fortune. His original plans called for him to send for his wife and infant son after he got settled... [but] never did. [He worked in Chicago] where fellow workers nicknamed him Joe, since they had a hard time pronouncing his real name. During this period, Botta, or Joe, lost all contact with his wife, and just about gave up hope of ever seeing her or Andrija again. Assuming his wife was dead, he married a widow while in Chicago... he was consequently dubbed Bolta (a beat-up version of Botta) Namesnick (nickname in reverse). In 1907 Botta Dijanesic, alias Bolta Namesnick, moved to the town of Saratoga, where he and his wife farmed for the next 20 years. When Highway 13 was routed north through the community in 1927, Bolta purchased property adjacent to what is now the Highways 13-73 intersection, and opened a bar -- Smokey Joe's White Pine Tavern. The "Smokey" was hung on him by Andy Anderson, a local bartender... Five years later, Smokey Joe opened another tavern nearby,** called The Alamo. ...in June, [1972] Andrija and his son Ivan decided to make the trip over here to see their long-lost relative....
--excerpt from an article by Mike Kelly, Tribune Staff Writer for The Daily Tribune; Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; July 6, 1972
*This intersection, once well-known as Smokey Joe's Corner(s), is located 2½ miles south of Nepco Lake at 44.30706, -89.81020; Smokey Joe's tavern was on the northwest corner of this intersection.
**At a now defunct Highways 13-73 intersection; north of what is now called Branding Iron Ct.
1910 Census:
Home in 1910: Saratoga, Wood, Wisconsin
Years Married: 4
Occupation: Farmer
Bolta Namesnie 32 Head
Anna Namesnik 32 Wife
Andrew Pazurek 16 Step Son
John Pazurek 15 Step Son
Peter Pazurek 13 Step Son
Peter Pazurek 11 Step Son
Pauline Pazurek 8 Step Daughter
Gravesite Details
Southwest area of cemetery.
Family Members
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