Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Tomastick, John 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 8:17 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Tomastick, John - Examples are numerous of men who have come to the United 
States without means or friends and have risen to places of importance in 
agricultural life, and no better instance in point may be found than John 
Tomastick, farmer and stockraiser, and owner of 233 acres of some of the best 
land in Grundy County, Ill. Coming to this country a poor Austrian emigrant 
lad, with no capital save a strong heart, willing hands and a firm 
determination to win success, he has made the most of his opportunities, and 
stands today in an enviable position among his fellow citizens, a man 
eminently worthy of being classed with those whose prominence and position 
have come through well-directed individual effort. Mr. Tomastick was born in 
1862, in Austria-Hungary, and is a son of George and Anna (Digone) Tomastick; 
the father having been a farmer and carpenter in the old country, where he and 
his wife still make their home. They had eleven children: Mrs. Mary Harcarik, 
living in Austria; John; Anna, who is deceased; Mrs. Helen Anderson; George, 
of Chicago. Ill.; Andrew and Joe, both of Hillsboro, Ill.; Michael, of 
Minneapolis, Minn.; Michelus, deceased; Mrs. Susan Palko, living at Streator, 
Ill., and Alice, residing in Austria.

John Tomastick was given ordinary educational advantages in the schools of his 
native land, and worked with his father until 1881, when he decided to try his 
fortunes in the United States. Accordingly, he made his way to this country 
and located in Pennsylvania, where he found work with a railroad company. He 
was thus engaged for four years, and, being thrifty and industrious during 
this time, managed to save enough money to return to his native land and marry 
Susan Tkach. They almost immediately returned to America, again locating in 
Pennsylvania, where Mr. Tomastick dug coal in the mines until 1887. At that 
time he came to Braceville, Ill., and dug coal until December, 1905, when he 
purchased the farm which he now owns, at that time a stretch of timber, 
underbrush and prairie devoid of improvements of any kind. He at once settled 
down to work, and through hard and industrious labor has converted this into 
one of the most desirable and valuable tracts in Braceville Township. He has a 
comfortable residence and commodious barns, both of substantial character and 
handsome architecture, and his other improvements are of the most modern 
structure. General farming has received the greater part of his attention, but 
he also met with a great deal of success in raising Belgian horses, and a high 
grade of cattle and hogs. Everywhere he is known as a man of the strictest 
integrity, and his friendships are numerous.

Mr. and Mrs. Tomastick have had eight children: Myron, a stenographic teacher 
and now a graduate of the Valparaiso (Ind.) University law department and 
educational department; Mrs. Mary Irene Kakare, a resident of Joliet, Ill.; 
John Andrew, farming at home; Martha Ida, a music teacher; Anna, deceased; 
Anna Clara, a public school music teacher; Veronica May and Carl Edward. Mr. 
Tomastick is a consistent member of the Roman Catholic Church. His fraternal 
connections are with the Modern Woodmen of America Camp at Braceville, and 
Ancient Order of Gleaners at Gardner, Ill.

pages 910-911

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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