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Johanna “Jennie” Vanek Seda

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Birth	:	24 May 1871 Kardasova Recice, Okres Jindřichův Hradec, Jihočeský (South Bohemia), Czech Republic
Death	:	4 Apr 1956 Sunol, Cheyenne County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Czech Slovensky Cemetery, Sunol, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.0642014, -102.7431030
Description	:	Born at House #104, Kardašova Recice, South Bohemia. Daughter of Jan Vanek & Antonia Neuhortova. Below is an excerpt from a book written by Jennie's granddaughter, Gladys (Hornicek) Roberts: FLOWERS & WEEDS OF THE YEARS "Johanna was born in Kardosova Ricice, Czechoslovakia. Johanna was interested in schooling but wasn't allowed to attend very often. But one day in particular she remembered the rest of her life. A young boy hit her on the top of the head with a rock which resulted in blood running down the front of her face. The teacher was very kind and attended... Read More	Born at House #104, Kardašova Recice, South Bohemia. Daughter of Jan Vanek & Antonia Neuhortova. Below is an excerpt from a book written by Jennie's granddaughter, Gladys (Hornicek) Roberts: FLOWERS & WEEDS OF THE YEARS "Johanna was born in Kardosova Ricice, Czechoslovakia. Johanna was interested in schooling but wasn't allowed to attend very often. But one day in particular she remembered the rest of her life. A young boy hit her on the top of the head with a rock which resulted in blood running down the front of her face. The teacher was very kind and attended the wound but she had a deep indentation in her skull. She used this as proof to substantiate her story for the rest of her life. When Johanna was about twelve years old, her mother passed away. Even before this, her many years of hard work had begun. When she was eight years old, she cared for children. She had to tend geese by either pulling grass for them to eat or herding them where they could fend for themselves. Johanna was a small person and one of her more difficult tasks was herding cows. A rope was placed around the cows neck to restrain them on narrow strips of grass. One cow was distressing enough, but often her father would place a rope in each of her hands with a cow on the end of each. Because she was unable to restrain the cows, they ate where they pleased, dragging her along wherever they found the grass more satisfying. Often the ropes would become entangled and being dragged along it was impossible to separate the ropes. Many the tears she shed herding these strong willed animals. During one of these bouts, a cow stepped on her large toe and as a result she had a deformed toe nail. This toe, as the indentation in her skull, she used as proof when she told of her early days in Czechoslovakia. Often her father would hire her out to herd a cow for a neighbor for the sum of twenty-five cents a week. This money was given to her father. Often he would spend it at the nearest tavern for beer. About a year after Johanna's mother's death, her father remarried. He married a widow by the name of Plsnick. She had a son by her first marriage. At the time John Vanek married her, this son was about nine years old. He died at the age of thirty-two. His mother was extremely saddened by his death and could not overcome her grief. She did not live long after his death. Johanna said her step-mother was very good to her. John Vanek and his second wife were married about twenty-three years. John Vanek died at the age of eighty-two. Johanna was not fond of her given name and preferred to be called Jennie. In later years many people knew her only by Jennie. Jennie learned many of her cooking skills as a young girl. She cooked wild game for the "big shots" in Czechoslovakia. When she came to America, it was soon well known she was an excellent cook. Jennie's aunt, Magdalena Vanek, came to America to live with her uncle, Anton Vanek of Wilber, Nebraska. She married Vaclav Ternka in America. When Jennie was nineteen, she made the decision to go to America. Her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Vaclav Ternka, welcomed her into their home. Jennie Vanek came to America 13 September 1890 or 1891, sailing on the ship Levania. She was a courageous and adventurous young lady because she came alone and began her trip among strangers. She became friends with two young girls on the ship. One was going to Chicago to live with her brother. She never heard from either one after the trip. The ships were used for transporting cattle and people. Often the change over was quick and there wasn't much time spent in cleaning the ship and putting in beds for passengers. The Levania was no exception. The rats were plentiful. At night the passengers would pull the covers over their heads and in the dark of night, they could feel the rats running over their bodies. Many of the people were very sick, vomiting anywhere and everywhere. The smell was almost unbearable. One incident made a strong impression on Jennie and she mentioned it several times in later years. A Jewish woman was on the ship with her three year old son. She was coming to America to join her husband. Her small child became sick and died. She became hysterical and tried to break open the door to the hospital room, but was led away. The child was buried at sea. When the Levania arrived in New York harbor, all the passengers had to remain on the ship for two days and then they sailed to Baltimore where they disembarked. The ocean trip took twenty days. From Baltimore, Jennie took a train to Wilber, Nebraska. She arrived in Wilber on a Sunday. Her aunt and uncle lived on a farm about eight miles from Wilber. Everything was closed and in a strange country Jennie had no idea what to do. She stayed in the depot until a cobbler from Wilber came in and noticed her sitting there all alone. He questioned her and then took her to his home where she stayed until the next day when her uncle and aunt came and took her to their farm home. She stayed with Ternka's for approximately six weeks. She went to work for Bohacek and worked there until her marriage, about two years later. Wesley Seda was working on a farm about eight to ten miles from Wilber for a family by the name of Casparek. Caspareks lived only four miles from Trendkas. Wesley Seda met Johanna Vanek at this time and after a courtship of about a year they were married in Sidney, Nebraska on 22 July 1893."

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Johanna “Jennie” Vanek Seda's memorial?
Johanna “Jennie” Vanek Seda's memorial is located at: Czech Slovensky Cemetery, Sunol, Cheyenne County, USA.
When did Johanna “Jennie” Vanek Seda death?
Johanna “Jennie” Vanek Seda death on 4 Apr 1956 in Sunol, Cheyenne County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Johanna “Jennie” Vanek Seda's memorial?
Latitude: 41.0642014
Longitude: -102.7431030

Family Members:

Spouse

Wesley Seda

(1865 - 1953)

Children

Ella Seda

(unknow - unknow)

Henry Seda

(1894 - 1913)

Rose Alice Seda Hornicek

(1895 - 1975)

James Peter “Jim” Seda

(1897 - 1972)

Sophia Seda Hengl

(1899 - 1999)

Ann Clara Seda Kucera

(1901 - 1984)

(1901 - 1984)

(1902 - 1980)

(1903 - 1903)

(1910 - 1996)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Czech Slovensky Cemetery
Sunol, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0642014, -102.7431030

2. Swankee Cemetery
Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0628014, -102.7241974

3. Barber Cemetery
Logan County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9944000, -102.8735000

4. Pioneer Cemetery
Lodgepole, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1534000, -102.6337000

5. Trinity Lutheran South Divide Cemetery
Sidney, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0316500, -102.9076500

6. Lynch Cemetery
Logan County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9103012, -102.7716980

7. Barrow Pit Cemetery
Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1485275, -102.9208933

8. Pleasantview Cemetery
Lodgepole, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2080994, -102.6299973

9. Grand Prairie Cemetery
Sidney, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1060982, -102.9719009

10. Saint Josephs Catholic Church Cemetery
Chappell, Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0915000, -102.5047000

11. Greenwood Cemetery
Sidney, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1497002, -102.9569016

12. Boot Hill Cemetery
Sidney, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1491000, -102.9727000

13. Sedgwick Cemetery
Sedgwick, Sedgwick County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9603004, -102.5152969

14. Chappell Cemetery
Chappell, Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1055984, -102.4649963

15. Saint Johns Lutheran Cemetery
Sunol, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2952000, -102.6865000

16. Weyerts Cemetery
Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3226700, -102.7242355

17. Mennonite Cemetery
Chappell, Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1244011, -102.3993988

18. Gurley Cemetery
Gurley, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3014000, -102.9733000

19. Peetz Cemetery
Peetz, Logan County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9707985, -103.1157990

20. Fort Sedgwick Post Cemetery
Sedgwick County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9430477, -102.3804646

21. Ovid Cemetery
Ovid, Sedgwick County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9756012, -102.3632965

22. Gillham Rim Ranch Cemetery
Peetz, Logan County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9392150, -103.1148290

23. Union Valley Cemetery
Gurley, Cheyenne County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3513985, -102.9156036

24. Kowanda Cemetery
Garden County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2827624, -102.4176895