From the Ord Quiz, June 25, 1936, page 1, transcribed by Linda Berney

Joseph Ptacnik, Sr., Homesteaded Farm West of Ord in 1878 -
Farming Operations Prospered, Moved to Town in 1918; Death Occurred June 17 -

Joseph, son of Mike and Anna Ptacnik was born Febr. 12, 1853 at the village of Vhalave, near the city of Budejovice, Czechoslovakia. His father died when he was a small boy. Being the eldest son, he soon took up the duty of caring for his widowed mother and six children. At the age of 17 he came to the United States with his mother and the other children and settled near Spillvile, Ia., where he hired out by the month and cared for the family.

In June 1872, he married Kathryn Lukesh and started farming for himself in Iowa. In the spring of 1878 he came to Howard county, Nebr., with a team and wagon, fording the Missouri river as there was no bridge at that time. In the same year he came to Valley county and filed on a homestead in Geranium township and later his family followed him to Howard county , where one infant child died.

Late in 1878 the Ptacnik family settled on their homestead in Valley county where they lived until 1918, in which year Mr. Ptacnik retired and moved to Ord, having prospered in his farming operations. He was one of the first 13 members to organize the present St. Wenceslaus Catholic parish in Geranium and in 1882 hauled the first load of lumber for the church from St. Paul. He remained a faithful Catholic until his death.

Mr. Ptacnik was financially successful, was a good neighbor and a very kind father, always considerate of the welfare of his family.

He died June 17, 1936 at the age of 83 years, 4 months and 5 days. His wife died December 17, 1928. He was the father of thirteen children, three of whom preceded him in death, Marie, Cathryn and Mrs. Barbara Woracek. The ten children who survive are Joseph F., Frank, John, Albert and William Ptacnik, Mrs. ???nes Petska, Mrs. Jos. Lukesh, Mrs. John Vodelina and Mrs. E. E. Vodehnal, all of whom live in Valley county, and Mrs. Frank Valasek of Kimball. Also left is one sister, Mrs. Anna Prochaska, of Protivin, Ia., 43 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Ptacnik was one of the Valley county pioneers of whom present generations may feel proudest. He was known and respected not only in his own community, but in Ord, Sargent, Comstock and Burwell, and everywhere his death is being mourned.

Funeral rites were held Saturday at the Catholic church in Ord and interment was in Geranium Catholic cemetery.