Bio: Koschak, Louis & Ivana

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Koschak, Koscak, Puss, Cesnik, Janezich, Krapf, Belensky, Lesar, Knutel, Lamovec, Francel

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Louis Koschak (Alojzi Koscak) was born October 8, 1974 in the village of Gabrovsec, parish of Krka near Sticna, Slovenia, Austria, that is now Jugoslavia where he grew to manhood. When he was 24 years old he bid farewell to family, friends, and sailed to America in 1898. He located in Ely, Minnesota where he was engaged in mining iron ore.

Ivana (or Johanna) Puss was born September 11, 1879 in the parish of Cerklje near Krka. They were married in St. Anthony's Church by Father Buh.

Wages there were small so they took in boarders to supplement their income. It was a lot of hard work as there were no conveniences. They were starting a family as well. Four children were born to them there: Louis Jr., Jennie, Ignatius and Christine.

There were many casualties in the mines, so after saving up a small amount of money they purchased land in Willard in 1909. Louis came first to build a small log cabin. He returned to Ely to get the family and a few of their belongings. The train came into Willard around 8 am. It was in the month of May.

Mr. Cesnik drove us to his farm for breakfast. On our first sleigh ride there was plenty of snow on the ground. Louis Jr. was four years old and remembers it well. There were no roads; but the timber and brush was cut where the trail was. This is now County 'G'. There were very few people that had a horse so most everyone had to carry their belongings to their log cabin.

The farm was sixty acres of wild land and forest 1 1/4 miles north and 1/4 mile east of Willard. With many hardships and toil they added more acreage as they could afford it. Six more children were added to the family: Mary, Angela, Frank, Stanley, Ludwig and Ann.

The farm grew to over 200 acres. It still remains in the Koschak family, now owned by Frank and Mary Koschak and operated by their son Steven.

There were five sons and five daughters born to this union: Louis Jr. who with his wife Mary Janezich live in Waukegan, Illinois. Jennie married Charles Krapf. They make their home in the town of Mead. Ignatius (now deceased) and his Wife Frances lived in Greenwood. Christine married Charles Belensky and lives in Waukegan, Illinois. Mary married John Lesar.

Angela went to Waukegan, Illinois where she married Anthony Knutel. Frank remained in Willard and upon the death of his father purchased the family farm. He married the former Mary Lamovec. Stanley is retired and living in the Los Angeles area in California. Ludwig married the former Josephine Francel. They now live in Orange Park, Florida. Ann married Henry Lamovec. They live in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.