jelinekj
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
JOHN JELINEK is one of the pioneers
of Douglas county who has remained from the time he first settled here
until now. He has given his attention largely to general farming
and stock raising and has gained a marked success in his labors.
His estate lies about four miles south from Lincoln and is first-class
grain land, producing good crops each year. Mr. Jelinek has labored
here with good display of wisdom and skill in developing the resources
of the country, so that he has been blessed with abundant prosperity, having
considerable property and all entirely free from encumbrance of every sort.
John Jelinek was born in Bohemia, near Tabor,
on May 15, 1858, being the son of John and Katrina (Svoboda) Jelinek, natives
of Bohemia. They both died in Wisconsin. Our subject had no
opportunity to gain an education in his country, as he left there with
his parents and came to the United States when five years of age.
They settled in the wilds of Wisconsin where no school privileges were
found and John was obliged to gain his education from studying at home,
and with the careful perusal of what books he could get hold of, he has
become a well informed man and is a close student of all surroundings and
conditions. In 1876 our subject left Wisconsin and came to Seattle
via the Union Pacific Railway and steamer. Finding little employment
on the sound, he went on foot to Pierce City, Idaho, a distance of over
five hundred miles, where he worked in the placer mines. Later, he
was located on the Clearwater, after which we find him employed at Texas
Ferry on the Snake. From there, he went to the Yakima river and did
timber work for the Northern Pacific. After this, he worked at various
places along the Northern Pacific, and did bridgework until 1882, the year
in which he selected a homestead and timber culture, in Douglas county.
After taking this claim, he worked a year more on the Northern Pacific,
then came to his land and started in improving it. For fifteen years
he has been school director of district No. 1 and has always taken an interest
in the advancement and upbuilding of the county. Mr. Jelinek has
four brothers and one sister, Albert, Michael, Antonio, Bohumil and Mrs.
Mary Holbrook.
At Lincoln, on June 18, 1893, Mr. Jelinek
married Miss Jennie White, whose father, David White, was a native of Kansas.
Mrs. Jelinek was born in New Harmony, on July 23, 1874, and died near Elliot,
on the sound, January 14, 1899. Her remains are interred in the Shrock
cemetery. She has three brothers and two sisters, John, James, Eugene,
Mrs. John Zimmerman and Mrs. Fred Nater. To Mr. and Mrs. Jelinek,
three children have been born: Mary A., on February 25, 1894; Ralph, on
October 2, 1895; and Roscoe, on April 5, 1897.
Mr. Jelinek is a member of the A. O. U. W.,
the Maccabees and the A. F. & A. M. He was raised in the Catholic
faith and has always been a supporter of church institutions.
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