Bio: Arch, Louis & Elizabeth (Immigrated from Slovenia)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Arch, Arh, Jordan, Podobnik

----Source: Family Scrapbook

In the “Old Country” the family name was Arh.

Father, Louis Arh was born June 21, 1879 at Kraska Vas. Louis came to America about 1900, coming to Bradley, Illinois, where he lived about five years. He then moved to Chicago, where he worked as a lead burner in a battery factory.

Mother, Elizabeth was born November 12, 1888 at Grzece, near Karska Vas. She came to America and settled in South Chicago in 1904.

On September 6, 1905 he Louis and Elizabeth were married in St. Stephens Church in Chicago, Illinois. To this union were born eight children: Frank (1909 – 11975), Louis Jr. (1916 – 1920), and Steve (December 1918) were born in Chicago. The other children are as follows: William (August 1920), Ernest (August 1922), Betty (November, 1923), Julia (January 1926, and Angela (May 1929)

They heard about Willard through friends, and purchased the home 80 acres, one-half mile south and two and one-half miles east of Willard, in 1915, for $2200. Another 120 acres was added about 1940. The family moved to Willard about 1917-1918.

Mother passed away March 9, 1932 in Neillsville. Steve and William served in World War II in France. Steve was killed in action in France in 1944 and is buried there. William returned home and was killed in a car accident in 1046. Father passed away in January 1949. Frank was married to Rose Jordan. He passed away in 1975.