Bio: Cerne, Michael & Louisa

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Cerne, Dornik, Krultz, Goste, Zupancic, Kirn, Schwarze, Snedic

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Michael Cerne was born in Govejega Potoka, Austria in 1867. Louisa Dornik was born near Zagoriju in 1873 along the Sava River Jugoslavia. They were married in 1898 in Jugoslavia and then moved to Germany for five years. Their first son Mike was born in Germany and was one year old when they returned to Jugoslavia. A second son died in infancy. In 1904 Joe was born in Jugoslavia and 1907 Frank was born. Mr. Cerne's younger brother was already settled in Breezy Hill, Kansas and sent money for Mike and family to come to Mulberg, Kansas in 1910. In March 1911, Matilda was born in Breezy Hill, Kansas. Mr. Cerne worked in the coal mines - all the work was underground and the men worked on their knees. In 1913, Stephanie was born and in 1915 Christina was born.

The family heard about the land for sale in the Slove¬nian paper. The Krultz, Goste and Cerne families arrived together in 1920. When they came from Kansas, they changed trains in Minneapolis and Mrs. Cerne forgot hef purse on the train. It contained their life savings. A porter noticed it in the seat and came running with it into the depot. They arrived in Greenwood on the train. A man from Gorman was in town with horses and gave them a ride to Zupancic's and later another wagon with the Krultz and Goste families arrived to take them to Kirn's. The Cerne family bought the farm from John Kirn. Kirn's bought a neighboring farm which was owned by a Schwarze.

The families remained lifelong friends and did all the harvesting and butchering together. Mrs. Krultz, Mrs. Goste and Mrs. Cerne knew each other in Europe and came to the United States about the same time.

After Michael and Louisa died, Michael Jr. continued on the farm until 1970. In 1971, he sold the farm to John Snedic. Mike was a resident of Neillsville Nursing home until his death in December of 1980. Joseph is now deceased. Frank lives in Tennessee. Matilda lives in Greenwood, Steffa lives in Colorado and Christina lives in Willard.