This history begins with my paternal grandmother Marie Rumreich, who was born September 8th, 1850 in Nemice, Moravia, a province in Czechoslovakia. She married an army officer, Tomas Patocka the son of Jan and Mariana (Lonase) Patocka, who was born in Nemice in 1842. He died at the age of 40 years in 1882. They had six children; John, Antonie (Rumreich), Vincent, Frank, Joseph and Mary (Lovcik). On August 15, 1884 Marie came with her family to America, where she was met by her youngest brother John Rumreich. Marie passed away on June 1935, a true pioneer of the state of North Dakota.

Grandma [Marie] Patocka came from Moravia, a widow with 6 children; John, Frank, Vincent, Joseph, Antoinette and Mary. Their first location was on land north of Pisek. Grandma came from a large Rumreich family who assisted her to come to America. Her father [Dominik] and mother [Frantiska] lived with their son John J. Rumreich on a farm one mile east of Pisek. John had two boys, Frank and Adolph. Frank had a government job and Adolph was a doctor. Adolph was once a doctor for the American ambassador to Russia. Both died at middle age. One sister, Martha, died young and is buried in Pisek cemetery. Clara married and lives in Ohio - she was a teacher. The grandma [Frantiska] died at her son John's home May 2, and that night a beautiful snowfall trimmed the earth.

When Adolph and Frank were in High School (in Grafton), they often bicycled home Friday to help with chores such as cleaning barns, hauling hay and other farm duties, then bicycled back to Grafton.

Dr. Adolph's wife was unknown in Pisek.

A brother of Grandma's [Frank Paul Rumreich] buried in Pisek (tall monument with angel on it), had many children. Stories concerning him said he was very stern and found it easy to mete out punishment. One son, Ernest, was reportedly deaf because of punishment by his father.

Ernest lived in a house on the south side of the street, opposite the big house where his brother lived. This big house on the north side was built because their [Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Rumreich's] son [Erhart] was studying to be a doctor and his office was to be there. The doctor married Stasia Vislisel and moved to Mahnomen, Minnesota, where he died.

Ernest had an artist paint a life-size picture of his wife on the wall of their parlor. She died, and he married her sister.

Frank W. Rumreich had a furniture store next to Patocka's meat market.

Uncle Vincent [Patocka] never married, but lived with Grandma [Marie], which was what she wished until she realized what satisfaction her other children had from their families. He died of "Bright's Disease" at home; he was very ill and the illness was very painful. He died February 14 (look on tombstone for year). His pride and joy were four black horses, and one team and a sleigh brought him to the church for his funeral.

Grandma [Marie] tried living alone, but found that she couldn't, so she moved to Joseph and Frances', where she remained until her death.

Grandma [Marie] was a great boss - being a widow made her so. Education, that was out. She could very well get along; for instance - put feed in a long trough, catch a piglet by a leg, stab it in the heart, clean it well and roast it whole. She had a large tin bread pan, which stood on the step to go upstairs, with a chunk of dough left in it which served as yeast. During harvest she did much repairing of binder canvas. Once she had a binder canvas on the kitchen table, patching it, and left the needle stuck straight up. She had to go somewhere and when she came back she ran her hand over the canvas, forgetting the upright needle, and it ran into her hand. This necessitated a hurried trip to the doctor because the needle was apparently moving along a vein, perhaps to the heart.

Grandpa [Tomas] Patocka won a medal while in the army. Grandma gave it to Mary Patocka Lovcik as youngest, and Laudie has it - to be given to Caroline or her daughter Mary Ellen.

I understand Grandma gave each son a quarter of land, except Frank - he got help to start the butcher shop, worked hard and save to buy what is called "the home quarter."