Bio: Govek, Frank & Apolonia

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Govek, Dechman, Schwartz, Melavec, Roznik, Lesar. Mallmann, Volovsek, Yeray

----Source: Family Scrapbook

It was in September 1912 that Jake Dechman, Joe Schwartz and Frank Govek, all of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, traveled by train to Bright, south of Owen, looking for land they heard was for sale. While there they met Ignac Cesnik, a land agent from the town of Hendren. He persuaded them to come to the Willard area where many Slovenians were already settling.

So it was there Mr. Govek purchased forty acres in Section 11, town of Hendren from John Roznik who was a blacksmith by trade. He had decided to move to another locality. The Rozniks had a few acres cleared, a log house, two other log sheds and a small flat-roofed barn. The Goveks were to take possession the following March.

Frank Govek was born August 28, 1867 in Slovenia in the village of Trnovec, Parish of Recica in Savinski Dolini na, Stajerskam, then Austria, but now Jugoslavia. He came to America in October, 1899, to Indianapolis, In¬diana where he worked in a foundry for three months. He then moved to Aldrich, a small mining town in the state of Montana.

Apolonija Melavec was born May 20, 1879 in the village of Brdo, parish of Recica, in Savinski, Dolini na Stajerskem. She and Frank Govek never met or knew of each other in their native land. She came to America in April 1901 to Aldrich, Montana where her married sister was living and running a boarding house. It was there she met Frank who was one of the boarders. They were married at Livingston, Montana July 20, 1901.

By September of that same year the mines at Aldrich began closing, so they moved to Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They resided there for twelve years where Mr. Govek worked in a tannery. During this time six children were born: Apolonia in 1902, Joseph in 1905, Anton in 1907, Mary in 1909 and Louis in 1912. One son passed away in 1905 at the age of 18 months.

On March 28, 1913, a cold but sunny Friday morning, the Goveks arrived in Willard. Mr. Roznik was waiting for them at the depot with a big heavy wagon pulled by a scrawny horse. The wagon had huge wheels with wooden spokes. Onto this vehicle the family clambered. They were all dressed in their city finery: Mrs. Govek in a stylish coat and perched atop her luxuriant hair a lovely velvet hat decorated with a saucy green feather.

After a slow tedious ride of over two miles on a rough wagon trail road they finally reached their little homestead. The children were delighted, everything was new and strange. Mrs. Govek was filled with despair. After days of depression and sinking heart, she knew the advice the other settlers had given them was the only way. "To stop crying, get out the axes and brush hooks and start clearing the land. With both of them working hard they would make it."

A new lifestyle, a harsh toilsome existence had begun. As for that lovely velvet hat with the perky feather, she never wore it again. Through much hardship, gradually they progressed. Another forty was purchased that ad¬joined their land. Two more children were born: Annie in 1914 and Frank L. in 1917.

This entire area was once covered with magnificent white pine forests; giant, stately trees. Then the lumber companies came in and logged out every one. Even though this occurred half a century before the massive resinous stumps were still solidly embedded. The only way they could be rooted up was by blasting. World War I was now raging in Europe. Du Pont dynamite was available at $22 for a 50 pound box, a price beyond their reach. However after the war ended the U. S. government was left with a surplus of TNT. This they processed into dynamite, releasing it to the farmers to be used exclusively for land clearing purposes. The price was $6 for 100 pounds. For the Goveks this was a godsend.

With a large long handled auger a hole was bored under the stump which was then packed with dynamite. After the fuse was lit one had to hurry away to a safe distance. The blast would go off with a thunderous explosion, hurling dirt, stones and pieces of stump hundreds of feet in all directions.

Later the remainders of the roots were pulled out with a team of horses. Altogether the Goveks used 2,000 pounds of dynamite before all the stumps on their land were cleared away.

As the years went by the children left the farm, one by one, to find employment in some city where they eventually got married. Mr. and Mrs. Govek discontinued farming in 1947. Their son Frank L. and his wife Margaret Jean, bought the homestead and purchasing 80 acres they began farming in 1950. The elder Goveks retired to their new home in the village of Willard.

A granddaughter Mary Ruth and her husband, Ron Volovsek are now operating the farm which they purchased in 1975.

Mr. Govek passed away in 1955, and Mrs. Govek in 1962. Their eldest daughter (Apples) Yeray died in 1972.

Louis (and Rose) Govek, and Joe (and Mary) Govek reside in California. Tony (and Julie) Govek and Annie (and Alex) Mallmann live in Milwaukee. Mary Govek Lesar resides in West Bend and the Frank L. Goveks in the Willard area.

Submitted by Mrs. Mary Govek Lesar