Bio: Hribar, Frank & Anna

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Hribar, Zitnik, Volk, Janezich, Bergant, Prebil, Matjazic, Cord, Ule, Mokotis, Routar, Krultz, Francel, Damgardt, Landini, Marincic, Hedemark, Bruksch, Volovsek, Zuzschka

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Frank Hribar was born in Zagreb Jugoslavia, in 1880. He came to America in 1903 and settled in Pueblo, Col¬orado a mining town, where he worked in a gold mine. While there he met Anna Zitnik, and they were married in 1904.

Anna Zitnik was born in Zalna, Jugoslavia in 1885. She came to America in 1903, and also settled in Pueblo, Col¬orado, with her brother Anton Zitnik, and sister Mary Zit¬nik Volk. Here she married Frank Hribar. Three children were born to them in Pueblo, Anna, Frank and Joe.

In 1910 Frank decided to go to Willard, where land was advertised by a Slovenian real estate agent, a Mr. Cesnik. He bought 40 acres at first. He had to clear the ground and put up a house. In the meantime the family stayed with the Frank Volk and Anton Janezich family, who also came from Pueblo, Colorado.

The first winter Frank had to go back to Pueblo to make more money. So he bought more ground and put up more buildings to start farming. His wife Anna stayed here with the young children.

Frank was also a carpenter and with John Bergant and Frank Prebil, they built most of the large hip-roof barns in Gorman and Willard area, and also many of the homes. Frank helped to organize and build the Gorman Cheese Factory, where he also served as a board member.

In Willard country, John, Olga, Mary, Anton, Ludwig, Walter and Bernice were born. Frank's wife Anna died in 1927 which left him with a number of small children.

In 1927 Frank went back to Jugoslavia. The older boys did the farming while he was gone. In Jugoslavia he met and married Mary Matjazic. He came back to America, and his new wife followed in 1928. They were married in Zalne, Jugoslavia, in the area of Dolenjskem. In America, two sons were born to them, Louis and William.
Frank died in 1932. His wife Mary stayed on the farm and continued farming with the boys, until each got mar¬ried and left the farm. She then continued to live in the farm house until her death in 1977.

Walter and Anton bought the farm, Walter's daughter Joanie and her husband, Tom Zuzschka are living in the farm house now.

Frank Jr. married Marilyn (Cord) Hribar. Frank Jr. died in October 1968. Joe and Olga (Ule) Hribar live on a farm in Tioga. John and Martha (Mokotis) Hribar live in Harwood Heights, Illinois. Ludwig and Alma (Krultz) Hribar live in Tioga and operate the Tioga Inn Tavern.

Walter and Clara (Routar) Hribar live on a farm just west of Greenwood. Tony and Pauline (Francel) Hribar live in Lake Villa, Illinois. William and Mary (Damgardt) live on a farm next to the original homestead in Gorman. Louie Hribar was married to Virginia Landini, they live in Chicago.

Rudolph and Anna (Hribar) Marincic are retired and living at Rock Dam Resort, Willard. Frank and Olga (Hribar) Hedemark are retired, now living at Rock Dam Resort. Elmer and Bernice (Hribar) Bruksch live in Long Grove, Illinois. Stanley and Mary (Hribar) Volovsek are semi-retired and live in Tioga area, Willard.

Submitted by: Joe and Olga Hribar, Anna and Rudy Marincic