Bio: Ulesich, Joe & Frances

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Ulesich, Rom, Tisew, Lunka

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Joe Ulesich Sr. was born in 1875 in Cernomelj, Jugoslavia. He came to the United States in 1897 to Calumet, Michigan and worked two years in the copper mines, then went back to Jugoslavia. He stayed a year, during this time he remodeled his widowed mother's home with money he saved in the United States. He went back to Calumet, Michigan and continued to work in the mines.

In 1900 he married Frances Rom of Cernomelj in Calumet. A son Joe was born in 1901, another son John in 1904. Their mother Frances died in 1906 giving birth to a daughter Frances, who died a year and a half later.

The father remarried the following year to Jera Tisew, originally from Novo Mesto, Jugoslavia. Three daughters Mary, Anna, Frances and one son Leo were born to this union in Calumet.

In 1910 they moved to Pennsylvania staying six months. Mr. Ulesich worked in coal mines, then moving to Chicago where he worked for International Harvester (McCormick) as it was known then. From there he moved back to Calumet where he still owned his former residence, staying long enough to sell the house. He heard so much about Willard, as by this time many of his friends bought farms there. In 1914 he made still another move - to Willard. He bought a farm of 40 acres from John Owens, later adding acreage to his farm totaling 220 acres. Four more sons were born in Willard: Rudy, Willie, Tony and Raymond.

Mr. Ulesich passed his farm to Tony in 1949 and moved to Greenwood. They lived there until age and poor health overtook them. Then they moved back to the farm and lived with their son Tony until their deaths. Mrs. Ulesich died in 1957 and Mr. Ulesich died in 1958.

Tony still owns the farm but lives about three miles from the farm in a nice home he built with the help of his two sons. One of the sons Lavern (Butch) lives on the "Home Place" which he operates in partnership with his father.

Submitted by: Anna Lunka Ulesich