Tomas V. Ptak Biography


	This biography appears on pages 571-572 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				TOMAS V. PTAK. 

	Tomas V. Ptak is engaged in the lumber business in Tyndall, South 
Dakota, and has won more than ordinary success in his undertaking. His 
father, Joseph Ptak, was born in Bohemia, where he was married to Miss 
Anna Mainer in 1851. Four years later they emigrated to the new world 
and established a home in Johnson county, Iowa, where the father 
secured a farm near Solon. The family resided there until the spring of 
1870, when they removed to Bon Homme county, South Dakota, and he filed 
on a claim about seven miles northeast of old Bon Homme, where he 
passed away four years later when but forty five years of age. He had 
driven to Vermillion, then the end of the railroad, and as a result of 
exposure contracted pneumonia, which was the cause of his death. The 
mother kept her family together and continued to reside upon the farm, 
proving up on the claim and cultivating the fields. She spent the 
remainder of her life upon the homestead and, although she would have 
been made welcome at the home of any of her children, she was never 
content off the farm where she had lived so long and which she had done 
so much to develop. She passed away in 1914, at the advanced age of 
eighty-six years. Six of her children survive, as follows: Joseph H., 
who lives on his farm near Tabor; Mathias, also a farmer near Tabor; 
Frank, who is engaged in the lumber business in Avon but resides in 
Tyndall; Vaclav J., who lives at Fayetteville, Arkansas; Tomas V., of 
this review; and Jiri A., who is known as George and who lives on a 
farm near Tabor. 

	Tomas V. Ptak remained upon the home farm, giving his time and 
labor to his widowed mother until he reached the age of twenty-seven 
years. He then, in 1890, came to Tyndall and with his brother Frank 
bought a lumberyard, which they conducted in partnership for twelve 
years. They also started branch yards at Avon and Tabor. In 1902 the 
subject of this review purchased his brother's interests in Tyndall and 
Tabor and has since been the sole owner of the business. He has 
prospered abundantly and has established another branch yard at Blaha 
station. These yards have proved successful ventures and his business 
interests yield him a good income. He has found a safe and profitable 
investment for his surplus funds in farm lands and now owns eight 
hundred acres in Bon Homme county, a quarter section in Pennington 
county, this state, and a like amount in Emmons county, North Dakota. 
One of the most potent factors in his success is his habit of 
systematic work and the accurate keeping of a record of business done 
so that he is always able to ascertain the facts of any disputed 
transaction. 

	Mr. Ptak was married at Tyndall, in June, 1897, to Miss Karoline 
J. Burgr, a native of Bon Homme county and a daughter of Frank and 
Maria (Kubik) Burgr, both of whom passed away in Bon Homme county. Two 
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ptak, Ladimir K. and Tomas K. 

	Mr. Ptak is a member of the Bohemian Benevolent Society, C. S. P. 
S., the Yeomen of America alla the Knights of Pythias. In the blizzard 
of January 12, 1888, he was a mile from old Bon Homme but made his way 
safely to the home of his brother. He began with no capital and by his 
thrift, industry and sterling integrity has worked his way upward until 
his success is a measure greater than that attained by the average 
business man. Moreover, in his determination to win personal prosperity 
he has not forgotten the duties which every citizen owes to his 
community and has at all times manifested praiseworthy public spirit.