Born: Czechoslovakia

Joseph & Helena ( Podhajsky ) Nechanicky
Joseph emigrated from Bohemia to the United States in January 1885 to serve a 3-year indenture for his Uncle Frank Nechanicky, who sent him the $300 enabling him to emigrate, His uncle farmed at Clutier, Iowa, 1/4 mile west of Helena's farm birthplace.
Joseph became a close friend to a farm neighbor, John Wilson ( the son of James Wilson, the first U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.) Joseph worked for his Uncle Frank one year and then bought his indentureship from him. Joseph and John Wilson spent the next 4 years ( 1886-1889 ) working as surveyors for 3 summers and 2 winters with the survey crew that was surveying the central Washington Territory preparatory to statehood. Joseph also worked on farms, cattle ranches, and in the mines as a blacksmith out in the western states. From John, Joseph learned what the United States was all about and loved everything about it, becoming a very devoted patriot the rest of his life.
Joseph and Helena started farming after marriage, first at Geneseo Township farm near Buckingham, Iowa, (which later his Uncle John Nechanicky purchased and resided on ) and where their daughter, Mary, was born. In 1893 they moved to a farm in Renville Co., Minnesota, 1 mile west and 2 miles north of Hector, MN. This 160 acres was land that Helenas father had loaned money on. The Bohemian farmer who had borrowed the money could not make it, therefore deeded the land to Helena's father, Jan Podhajsky. The 160 acres was to be their land as a gift if they wanted it. At that time half of the land was under lakes most of the year. Hard times of the mid-1890's panic and terrible winters renewed Joseph's memories of the mild winters and a new country to open up in the state of Washington.
In the spring of 1898 Helena and the 5 children returned to live with her parents at Clutier, Iowa, until Joseph could get a homestead established in the state of Washington. Helena and the children joined Jospeh in the spring of 1900 at the homestead--160 acres, W.1/2 of the E.1/2 of section 12, township 22 north, range 33 east of Willamette Meridian--in Lincoln Co. 8 1/2 miles northeast of Odessa, WA. This was the area that Joseph had helped survey in 1887. Soon they built a fine farm home, barns, and other buildings, and expanded their farm holdings and also their family to 15 children.
Joseph was an eloquent speaker and became a highly respected and influential person among all the farmers of Central Washington. Everybody knew him as "Joe Nicky". In 1902 he led the farmers into organizing the first Farmers Union Grain Co. to handle their wheat, and it is today the largest and most prosperous. ( article written in 1981 ) He remained the Chairman of the Board of Directors and its President until 1933, 3 years after he had retired from the farm. Joseph was a clever mechanic and a skilled blacksmith, and invented and put to use farm machines that are currently used. On September 5th ,1911, Joseph was appointed by the Washington State Governor, M.E. Hay, to represent the states farmers at the Sixth International Dry-Farming Congress at Colorado Springs, Col., held October 16-19, 1911.
Helena was an excellent home manager and well known for her cooking and baking, especially with old Czech recipes. She seemed to have boundless energy, which one must have to raise 15 children and live to the age of 98 years. Her first 9 children were born without the aid of a doctor--usually the midwife was a good neighbor lady aided by Joseph.
joseph and Helena retired in January of 1930 to a small farm on Greenbluff Prarie, 18 miles northeast of Spokane, Wash. After Joseph died, Helena carried on farming. She sold the Greenbluff farm in 1942 to Paul and Vera Siemers and moved into Spokane, Washington.
Contributor: Bart Hamlett (48046330) • [email protected]

Washington, Select Death Certificates
Name: Joseph Nechanicky
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 66
Estimated birth year: abt 1867
Death Date: 30 Aug 1933
Death Place: Spokane, Spokane, Washington
Father: Joseph Nechanicky
Mother: Francis Rolio
Spouse: Helen Nechanicky
FHL Film Number: 2023098
Reference ID: 943

Burial: Sep 01, 1933