The Belleville Telescope, July 3, 1913

We have commenced a careful record of the families of the early settlers and we find that nearly every head of a family that came here 43 years ago are buried in the old Tabor and other cemeteries of the county.

John and Anna Houdek came to America in 1862 during the war, and settled in Linn Co. Iowa. They moved to Republic county in 1870 and took for a homestead, the farm now owned by their son, Rich Houdek near Munden. They built a stone house which stands on the old site and is yet much better than many houses such as were used by the homesteaders in western Kansas. Mr. Houdek died in 1889. Mrs. Houdek followed 13 years ago and their remains rest in the Old Tabor cemetery south of Munden. There were born to this couple 18 children of whom eight were girls. The young men looked upon them and said these maidens are fair even to the mothers who bore us.

Frank Houdek chose the eldest and from this union there were born 13 children. Mrs. Houdek survived her husband and lives with her children.

The second was chosen by Anton Blocklinger and passed to the great beyond 11 years ago and there came to them in their wedlock eleven children.

The third, Rose married Frank Shimek and six children came to bless their union. They still live at Munden.

Anna married Wesley Jehlik and they have eight children, all girls. After a long period spent on their home farm Mr. Jehlik is living on a small farm near this city. Of the eight girls, six have been successful teachers in this city, and two are engaged in the millinery business in Burr Oak, Kan.

Kate married Frank Moravek and lives in Jewell county, Kan.

Josephine married Chas. Rosiska, they have four girls and live near Munden, Kansas.

Elizabeth married Chas. Wokal of Cuba and died two years ago lamented by all who knew her. She left a husband and three children.

Then F. C. Swiercinsky took Libbie as his wife and they have four sons.

There were ten sons and eight daughters, two of whom are dead. The living sons are Wesley, Jerome, Charles, Rich, George, William, all living near Munden, Frank lives in Chicago, John at Salina, Joseph and Tony are dead.
With very little money and a wife and 15 children, for besides 12 born in Bohemia, three more came to them in Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Houdek took up their struggle for a time in a new country. Crops were not good the first three years and the fourth year, 1874, came the invasion of grasshoppers that swept the entire vegetation, of the county from the earth. There is an old story that says: "The fox has a hole in the ground and the birds have nests in the trees, but no place have I." Here was a man and woman with children ten thousand miles from their birth place, with few and scattered countrymen, no home to fall back on and 100 miles from a railroad. They traveled to their new home from Linn county, Ia., nearly 500 miles in wagons and it is safe to say that a husband and wife with 15 children were a curiosity to those who saw then pass through the country and did not think of the marks they were to make in the building of an empire in an unknown and treeless plain.

There are many more people living in this county whose story would make history for their children.
H. N. Boyd