Bio: Arko, Frank (Immigrated from Slovenia)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Arko, Puhek, Smith, Bogdonovich

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Frank Arko was born in Dolenje Vas, near Ribnica, Slovenia. He came to Ely, Minnesota about 1905 and worked in the mines until about 1911, when he returned to Slovenia, where he intended to be married, but upon his arrival there, he learned his bride-to-be had married his brother.

In 1913 he returned to Ely, and about 1914 came to Gorman (Clark Co., Wis.), where he lived with his sister and her family, the John Puhek’s. After some time he bought a parcel of land, built a home and farmed for some years. He sold this Property to Eli Bogdonovich.

He then bought another tract of land and built a house several miles east of his first home, living there until about 1940, when he sold out and moved to Ely, Minnesota. Later he moved to Chisholm, and then to Kewatin, Minnesota, where he passed away.

Nace Arko, a brother, also stayed with the Puhek’s. He had gone to school in Slovenia, but wanted to learn the English language, and passed from 1st to 8th grade in one school term. Heth Smith was his teacher.