Bio: Kovatch, Yernie & Mary

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kovatch, Philipich, Arnic, O’Leary, Kochevar, Novak

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Yernie Kovatch and Mary Philipich were married in Austria. Yernie came to the United States and worked in the coal mines in Illinois. He later sent for his wife and two children. Eight children were born to them. They moved to the farm on cut-over land in the Bright area about 1900. Their children are: Mary Arnic, Ann O'Leary of Milwaukee, John, Mike, Charles of Owen, Fred of Faribault, Minnesota, Frank of Medford, Wisconsin and Walter of Abbotsford, Wisconsin.

Mike Kovatch married Elsie Novak in 1932. They started on a 80 acre cut-over land farm in Bright. Later they bought 80 acres more. They had two children: William Kovatch and Dr. Robert Kovatch, Veterinarian Pathologist.

Mike has been town Chairman for 26 years, assessor for 11 years and on the Clark County Board for 24 years.

My parents Matt Novak and Anne Kochevar were mar¬ried in Trieste, now under Italian rule. Soon after their marriage they came to New York and then to Bradley, Il¬linois where there were many Slovenians.

Matt worked for the Sears Foundry for 11 years and then bought a cut-over land farm in Bright, Wisconsin. They had four children: Elsie Kovatch, Albert, Louis of Owen and Mary Novak of Evanston, Illinois.

By: Elsie (Novak) Kovatch