Marshall-Riley County KS Archives Biographies.....Skalla, Thomas H. 1841 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 31, 2007, 3:44 pm Author: Emma E. Forter (1917) 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 25, 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 they 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. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/skalla530gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb