My brother Don did some family tree research a few years ago. I wanted to post some of that information on this site. This will be growing as I have time to work on it!
Mathilda was born in Litomysl, MN on August 16, 1889 along with her twin sister, Mary. This was the year after Frank Kubicek and Mary Skalicky got married (see Family History).
As a little girl, Mathilda attended a country school where Czech was the prevalent language used. Later she attended St. Mary's Conservatory in Owatonna and boarded there for at least one winter.
The young Mathilda Kubicek was an attractive young lady. Before marrying Frank Wolesky, at least two suitors courted her and were rejected by her. Both of these rejected suitors remained life-long bachelors.
Frank Wolesky met with better success. Frank was a buttermaker at the Summit Creamery. He wooed and won Mathilda. They were married at Holy Trinity Church in Litomysl on June 15, 1909. At this time, Mathilda was 19 going on 20. Frank was 21 years old. Shortly afterwards they moved to Owatonna.
Mathilda was a career housewife, mother and grandmother. She raised flowers in a garden behind the house. She baked her own bread, canned fruits and vegetables, made pickles and jelly, and baked fabulous filled biscuits with poppyseed, prune or apple fillings. She was also skilled at needlework. Each daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter received a hand crocheted tablecloth from her.
Mathilda never learned to drive a car and did not handle finances. The house was her domain, and she ran the social affairs of the house.
Afer Frank died in 1976, Mathilda continued to live in their Owatonna house for several years. Her younger sister, Rose Zak, was also a widow. The two sisters lived together in the house and later shared a room at Cedarview Nursing Home in Owatonna. This arrangement continued until Mathilda died in December of 1984. That August, the family had gathered to celebrate her 95th birthday - she lived a rich, full life.
Frank Joseph Wolesky was born in Zhor, Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) on January 26, 1888. He had an older brother, Joseph, who was born in 1878. Another sibling may have died during childhood. Frank Wolesky's parents were Joseph and Frances (Coufal) Volesky. The spelling of the name was changed after Frank Wolesky came to the United States.
The Voleskys were poor peasants. In order to provide a better life for their sons (and spare them from conscription into the Austro-Hungarian army), they sent them to America when both were still young. Joseph Wolesky came over in about 1892. Frank Wolesky set out for the new world in 1902, when he was 14 years old. The parents remained in Bohemia. The boys would never see them again.
Frank Wolesky boarded ship at Bremen, Germany and entered the United States at Baltimore. He took a train to Owatonna, MN where his brother Joseph already lived. When he arrived in Owatonna he could speak no English. Fortunately, many of the locals were of Czech origin.
Young Frank Wolesky attended the University of Minnesota, where he took a butter making course and worked at several creameries near Owatonna and Litomysl. During this time Frank Wolesky began courting Mathilda Kubicek. They were married on June 15, 1909 at Holy Trinity Church in Litomysl and began their family in 1910.
Sometime between 1910 and 1916, Frank Wolesky and his brother Joe ran a dealership for Grant automobiles. Joe Wolesky was the salesman, while Frank Wolesky was the mechanic. Later, the two brothers had a falling out over the issue of religion. Joe was a fervent atheist who preached that there was no afterlife. A strict Catholic, Frank would no longer associate with Joe. For many years they had nothing to do with each other, although Joe was present at Frank and Mathilda's 50th wedding anniversary in 1959.
Frank Wolesky was notoriously frugal, and the new house he and Mathilda built in 1939 was paid for in record time. The Woleskys almost never went to movies or spent money on other entertainment. Their social life consisted of visiting with relatives or playing cards (pinochle was one of their favorites).
Both Frank and Tillie were strong willed and could be quite obstinate. Son Charles Wolesky recalled one harrowing trip to Blooming Prairie (15 miles south of Owatonna)during a snowstorm around 1936. On a threatening day, Grandma announced that she wished to travel to Blooming Prairie to visit her brother Frank. Grandpa urged against it. Grandma insisted, taunting him about his timorousness. Finally, they decided to go (Chuck drove). By the time they got out of town travel conditions were very bad. When Grandma suggested they turn back, Grandpa said "You insisted we visit your brother - so we're going to visit your brother!" They kept going. Brother Frank thought they were out of their minds.
Frank Wolesky died on March 13, 1976 at the age of 88. After suffering a stroke, he spent a short time in a nursing home in Waseca, MN.