Bio: Bogdonovich, Eli & Stephania

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bogdonovich, Papesh, Korevec, Arko, Lesar

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Eli Bogdonovich was born July 10, 1894 in Jugoslavia. His last foreign residence before emigrating to the United States was Toplice, in the province of Croatia. He came with an older brother in April 1906 at the age of twelve years.

His first American residence was Baltimore, Maryland. Later he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His next move was to Calumet, Michigan, where he worked in the copper mines. From there he moved to Duluth, Minnesota where he was employed by the U.S. Steel Corporation.

About 1916 or so he was married to Stephania Papesh in Duluth, Minnesota. Stephania was born in Calumet December 17, 1901 and raised there until the Papesh family moved to Duluth from Calumet.

After their marriage they moved to Mayville, Wisconsin, where their first child Eva was born. From there in 1918 they moved to a farm in Willard, purchasing an 80 acre farm from Anthony Korevec. Later another 80 acre parcel of land was purchased from Frank Arko (1925) to make up 160 acres on the Home Farm.

Four children were born in Willard: Peter, Ed, Robert, and Mayme. Mayme died in infancy. In 1926 the family moved to Gary, Indiana. They lived there for five years, then moved back to Willard in 1931 and made Willard their permanent home. Mother died in June 1933. Father died December 12, 1976.

Eva married Louis Lesar, they live in Ely, Minnesota. Peter, married, and operated the home-farm in Willard. He passed away in September 1981. Bob is married and lives on a farm in Willard. Ed married and lives in Greenwood, Wisconsin.