Bio: Klapatauskas, Michael & Katherine

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Klapatauskas, Hoehne, Klovas, Ocieczek, Rakovec, Gregorich, Podobnik, Fisher, Dulinsky, Wind, Kitzhaber, Vollone, Debevec, Moberg

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Our parents were both born in Lithuania, dad on March 4, 1885 and mother on March 4, 1891. They settled in Chicago Heights where they were married in 1912. Their first child Katie was born there. From here they moved to Greenwood and lived in a home rented from Mr. Hoehne, where Mary was born.

Later they purchased the farm south of Thorp, Wiscon¬sin which was located about eight miles north-west of Willard and across the Eau Claire river. Their neighbors were the Klovas and Ocieczek families. The rest of their nine children were born here on this farm. They remain¬ed here until they died; dad in February 1960 and mom in June 1960. A daughter Annie died at age 9 1/2 from diphtheria. The children all received their education at the East Side Butler School.

In the early years they had to cross the Eau Claire river with the horse and buggy to come to Willard to church. The children used to walk the eight miles every week in the summer time to attend Catechism classes.

On Sundays for entertainment they would go to the river and swim. A memory remembered by Katie was of an afternoon when she, Betty Klovas, Helen and Mary Ocieczek wen! to the river. It had rained and the river was high. Three or four boys (Rakovecs) were there and took her across and told her she had to find her way back. While looking for her way she came across their clothes and threw them all in the river. They had quite a time retrieving them and all went home in wet clothes.

The farm is now owned and operated by Julius, the eldest son, married to Frieda Cornwall. Living in Green¬wood are Katie (Gregorich) and Martha (Podobnik). Mary (Fisher), Chicago; Stella (Dulinsky), Florida; Josephine (Wind), Chicago; Mike (married to Lorrain Kitzhaber), Spencer, Wisconsin; Frances (Vollone), Pewaukee, Wisconsin; Agnes (Debevec), Willard and Charles (married to Marge Moberg), Withee.

Information given by: Agnes Debevec and Katie Gregorich