Marshall County Biographies
THOMAS H. SKALLA.
Thomas H. Skalla, a pioneer of Blue Rapids township, Marshall county,
and for many years one of its highly respected citizens and successful farmers, was born in Bohemia on December 2j, 1841, and he lived in that country
until 1867. In his native land he received his education in the public schools
and became identified with the farm life. His parents were also natives of
that country, and Mr. Skalla remained at home until he was twenty-two years
of age, when in 1863 he was united in marriage to Teresie Hromatke, who
was born on December 3, 1843. After their marriage they established their
home amid the scenes of their early life, and there they lived for four years.
They were progressive young people, and their desire was to reach a higher
plane, than that to which they had been accustomed. With this desire in
view they decided to seek a home in America. On their arrival in the
United States they at once came to Iowa, where they lived in Lynn county
for three years. They then moved to Riley county, Kansas, where they
homesteaded eighty acres of land in 1870. They built a log cabin and proceeded to develop their new farm. They met with much success and made
many valuable improvements on the place and there they resided for ten
years, after which, in the year 1880, they came to Marshall county, and established their home in Blue Rapids township. Here they purchased a farm,
which at that time was undeveloped and unimproved, but which in time they
made into one of the fine farms of the county. They increased their land
holdings and in time became the owners of over four hundred acres of splendid land, all of which was placed under high cultivation and well improved.
The tract was later sold to the children, all of whom were helped to good
farms of their own.
To Thomas H. and Teresie Skalla were born the following children:
Joseph, Thomas, John, Julia, George, Jennie, William, Emma, Amiel, Fred
and Clara. Joseph is a successful farmer; Thomas is a prominent farmer
of Blue Rapids township; John is a merchant of Blue Rapids and is meeting
with much success; Julia Lamb resides in Blue Rapids township, where her
husband is a successful farmer and stockman; George is also a well-known
and progressive farmer of Blue Rapids township; Jennie Dobrorlmy resides
in Cottage Hill township, where her husband is meeting with success on the
farm; William is in Colorado; Emma Woriechek is a resident of Cottage
Hill township where she and her husband are among the prominent people
of their community; Amiel is engaged in general farming and stock raising
in Blue Rapids township; Fred is at home; and Clara Nowak resides in Blue
Rapids township, where Mr. Nowak is engaged in farming with success.
Mr. and Mrs. Skalla are active members of the Catholic church and
have reared their family in the faith of that denomination, and they are
among the highly respected people of Marshall county, where thev have lived
for so many years, and where they have had so much to do with the general
development of the district. Their lives have been active ones, and their
early days on the plains were full of adventure and hardships. They made
the journey from Iowa with horses and wagon and were twenty-eight days
on the way. Blue river at the time they crossed it, was so low that their
seven-year-old boy was able to cross without any assistance.
On their arrival at their new farm in Marshall county, Mr. Skalla built
a residence in which the family lived for some years. He built a log cabin
in Riley county. The only tool that he had was an ax, and his only assistance was his team of horses. He and his wife were determined to have a
home of their own and their efforts were crowned with success. Today they
are among the substantial residents of the county and are now enjoying their
lives on the farm where they have lived for the past thirty-seven years.
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This website created July 4, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
� 2011 Kansas History and Heritage Project
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