Joseph J. Nedved Biography

	This biography appears on page 1030 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOSEPH J. NEDVED, of Yankton county, was born in Bohemia on the 3d 
of January, 1849, and is the eldest son of Frank and Veronica (Stadnik) 
Nedved. At the usual age he entered the public schools- of his native 
country and therein continued his studies until he reached the age of 
fourteen. He afterward worked upon his father's farm until he was 
sixteen years of age, when he began an apprenticeship at the butcher's 
trade, following that calling for two years. When he was a young man of 
eighteen years his father decided to sell the property in Bohemia and 
took up his abode in the land of freedom. Accordingly the subject came 
with the family and lived first in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was 
employed for three years. During a part of that time he worked as a 
railroad hand and the remainder of the period was devoted by him to the 
mastery of the cooper's trade. When twenty-one years of age he came to 
Yankton county, South Dakota, and assisted his father in the development 
and improvement of the home farm for about three years. 

	It was on the 25th of March, 1872, when twenty-three years of age, 
that Joseph J. Nedved was united in marriage to Miss Mary Peterka, who 
was born in Bohemia and came to Dakota with her parents. Five children 
graced this marriage: Annie, who is now the wife of Frank Bartos, a 
resident farmer and miller of Tabor, Bon Homme county: Charles, who is 
now twenty-eight years of age and assists in the operation and 
management of the home farm; Mattie, who has departed this life; and 
Joseph and Frank, who are yet under the parental roof. 

	About 1871 Mr. Nedved pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of 
land, which he afterward traded for a homestead and subsequently he 
bought one hundred and twenty acres, adjoining his second property. He 
now owns four hundred and forty acres, but intends to give a quarter 
section of this to his son Charles. Since coming to Dakota he has been 
identified with agricultural interests, which is the chief source of 
wealth to the state, the broad prairies of this locality furnishing 
splendid opportunity to the farmer and stock raiser. Much of Mr. 
Nedved's land is under cultivation and the fields produce good crops. He 
is, however, also extensively engaged in the raising of stock and finds 
this department of his business a profitable source of income. 
Independent in political views, he votes for the candidates whom he 
thinks will prove most capable and efficient officials. He has served as 
school director for three years and as school clerk for about one year. 
Socially he is connected with the Z. C. B. J., a Bohemian society. He 
has ever discharged his duties with marked ability and fairness, for he 
is a most loyal, public-spirited citizen.