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Note: N203 In 1867, Jan\John Nedla family leaves Bohemia for the fear of a common disease, tuberculosis, in Europe
Jan Nedela and Anna (Hentz) Nedla of Doubravice, Bohemia, a region of Mseno, Melnik, Bohemia, were the parents of six children. Three of the children, Vacla, Stephen, and Annie, died from tuberculosis. Anna, mother of the children and wife of Jan Nedela, also passed away from tuberculosis. Jan was left with three surviving children: Frank, born 1842, Elizabeth, born 1844; and Marie, born in 1853, all born in Bohemia.
Jan was remarried to Mrs. Barbara Chyba, who had a son, Joseph Chyba, by a previous marriage in Bohemia. In 1860, a daughter, Barbara, was born to Jan and Barbara (Chyba) Nedela. The family's fear of tuberculosis persuaded them to leave Bohemia and come to America.
In 1867, the Jan Nedela family arrived in New York, moving on to Chicago, where they settled for two years. While in Chicago, Jan Nedela organized a Czech brass band. This very early noted musical group included Frank Nedela (Jan's son), Thomas Aron, Joseph Chyba, and John Svoboda.
The Nedelas were not content with the big city of Chicago-much of their love of the soil and the great outdoors was missed by all of them. The Free Homestead Act out in the west lured Jan Nedeal and his son-in-law, Thomas Aron. (Jan's daughter, Elizabeth Nedela, had married Thomas Aron in Chicago in 1868).
Soon, the family decided to leave Chicago. Their journey was to reach Nebraska territory, and then on to their friend, John Svoboda's, homestead two miles south of Crete where the family spent their first winter living in a dugout shelter. Also soon to arrive was Jan's son, Frank Nedela and his bride, Marie (Papik) Nedela. Frank had married Miss Marie Papik in Chicago on March 31, 1869, and together they decided to follow John Nedela and family to Nebraska, south of Crete. Thereafter, all had settled west of Svoboda's land on each of their homesteads in the Big Blue Precinct.
In 1869 at the Svoboda's, John Nedela's first grandchild, Charles Aron, was born, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Nedela) Aron.
In the fall of 1869, Frank Nedela traveled by foot to Lincoln and spend the entire winter there at the cobbler's trade, in order to earn the $200 necessary to file a pre-emption payment on a homestead. He would become a cobbler, making many boots for many pioneers.
Many get-togethers were held at John Svoboda's homestead. A log house was built and served as an opera house. Sokol drama plays were held, and always a dance would follow, with dancing under starlit nights into the early morning hours. Everyone came whose feet could carry them, and everyone was satisfied with the drama performances. Young Barbara Nedela always loved to take part in the Sokol plays. A lot of enjoyment took place in 1869 and on into the 1870's, when Nedela's music was enjoyed.
In 1870, Frank Nedela and the early musicians traveled by wagon to Lincoln to play for Governor David Butler's last inauguration.
At this time of the 1870's and 1880's, Frank Nedela was serving as an interpreter for both Czech and German immigrants. He had learned to speak English in Chicago and German while serving in the Austrian army.
Frank Nedela's sister, Marie Nedela, marred Vaclav Kubicek in 1873. His other sister, Barbara Nedela, Married Frank J. Papik in 1878. Marie Nedela taught school in School District Number 3 in 1872 and 1873.
After the death of Jan\John Nedela in 1893, his son, Frank Nedela, kept the Czech music much alive, playing for many events requiring music.
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