Bio: Oblack, Paul & Mary

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Oblack, Dolenc, Cesnik, Hribar

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Mother: Mary Dolenc Oblack, born 1890, near Skofja Loka. Father: Paul Oblack, born 1885, near Skofja Loka.

Father arrived in this country a few years before their marriage, in 1913, but mother came to this country the same year. They were married and settled in Rock Spr¬ings, Wyoming a town with a large Slovenian settlement.

Father was a coal miner for about seven years, but became concerned about his health. So they bought the farm in Willard. They must have heard that it was a Slovenian town. They dealt with a Mr. Cesnik, who met us at the station and also sold us the farm.

Since this was 1920 we were one of the last families to settle in Willard, they were obviously running out of good farm land. However, as children, we didn't feel deprived since most of the people in the area were quite poor. The former Oblack farm is now owned by Will Hribar who, we understand, does not farm the land anymore.

There are five of us left; Albinia, who lives in Seattle, Washington; Rose and Frances, who live in the Chicago area; Tony in Indianapolis, Indiana; and Joe in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

We visited the birthplace of our parents in 1976. We stayed at a hotel in Ljubljana where, I might add, the service was excellent. Better than Italy, Germany or Austria, bur Aunt and Uncle and cousins all live near Skofja Loka, where our parents grew up. They live in the house where mother grew up and the house of father's childhood is occupied by his youngest brother.

It is a most beautiful area with fertile rolling hills. And the people are wholesome and good looking. The homes are sturdy and well maintained. Mother talked about how when she was young they told her that the streets in 'he U.S. were paved with gold and other fallacies. She really got the surprise of her life!