From the files of the November 17, 2005 edition of the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter.

Editor’s Note – Wilson resident Eugene Macek has researched the Palacky Trading Post with the following results.

Several years ago, in a series of history articles on the settlers of this territory, we were fortunate to be granted an interview with James Wesely as to the history of Palacky and the Wesely family. It is appropriate to reprint the same at this time. The article first appeared in the Wilson World Feb. 4, 1931:

In the settling up of Palacky Township, we again find that Francis Swehla of Wilson was instrumental in getting this colony to come out.

The first Palacky store was run by Winslow Sekavec, on his homestead, about one-half mile south of the Palacky Cemetery in Section 18, Township 16, Range 10 in Palacky Township, which is now owned by Donald Kozisek.

Winslow Sekavec gave the ground for the Palacky Cemetery. He named the Palacky Township after a popular hero in Czech history.

In passing, it might be well to state that Winslow Sekavec was a real benefactor to Palacky Township, as he was always ready to do his share in any undertaking of the early days.

There were two Palacky schools — North Palacky in Section 5, and South Palacky in Section 29, Township 16, Range 10.

The original Palacky Post Office was in Winslow Sekavec’s home, and the so-called Palacky Store in Section 18, Township 16, Range 10.

In 1889, John Wesely bought his small stock of provisions and moved them a mile or so north to his farmstead (SW 1/4 of Section 6, Township 16, Range 10) and from then on he ran the store up to 1901, when James Wesely bought out the store.

The store did an average yearly business, running higher than $27,000 in its gross.

The Palacky Store sold food, beer, and had a post office and was the scene of many barn dances.

In 1905, the mail carrier from Holyrood was John Cipra, grandfather to Donald Kozisek.

John Wesely Sr. came to this country in the early 1880’s. He was born Feb. 10, 1810, and died Sept. 26, 1891, at age 81. He was buried in the Holy Name Cemetery. He was born in Cernovice, Kraj Tabor, Czechoslovakia.

On arriving in the United States, he was a marble cutter in New York City before moving to the Wilson area.

On Sept. 4, 1885, he homesteaded form the United States, the southwest quarter of Section 6, Township 16, Range 10 in Palacky Township.

In 1885, he built a 12x14 foot stone house. It consisted of one big room, in which the family of 12 lived.

He was a musician, as were several of his sons. The group performed as the Wesely orchestra.

His children:

• Frank Wesely Sr., born June 8 1847, died Feb. 4, 1927, at age 90. Buried in the Holy Name Cemetery. He had a photo-art studio at Holyrood. In 1932, he was elected president of the Southwest Kansas Photographers’ Club. He married Marie Lhotka. She was born March 20, 1850 and died Oct. 5, 1914 at age 64. She is buried in Holy Name Cemetery. Their children: Frank Wesely Jr., April 27, 1887 to Dec. 29, 1965, buried in Holy Name Cemetery; married Marie Rohla, Oct. 6, 1886 to March 27, 1969, died in North Platt, Neb. Their children were Francis Joseph, Winslow Arthur, Antony John, twins George and Georgia, and Leo and Lorena.

• John Wesely, Born April 25, 1850, died April 23, 1903 at age 53. Buried in Palacky Cemetery.

• James Wesely, born Jan. 7, 1876 in Milwaukee, Wis., died July 14, 1941 at age 65. Buried in Palacky Cemetery. Married Adeline Frances Pickner, born April 11, 1879 in Owatonna, Minn., died June 19, 1932 at age 53. Buried in Palacky Cemetery. Their children: 1. Infant, died at 3 days. 2. Alice married John McFarland, one son, John. 3. Adeline, married Judson Barclay, one son, John Judson.

• Joseph J. Wesely, born Nov. 27, 1880, died May 29, 1973 at age 93. Joe played the tuba in the Holyrood Band and also played the bass violin. He ran the meat market at Holyrood. In 1902, Wesely and brother, Frank, had a business together in Holyrood. Later, in 1909, additions were built to both sides of the store, which consisted of hardware, tailoring, bakery,music, photo studio and meat market. He married Mary Pearl, who was born Sept. 27, 1884, and died May 4, 1970 at age 86. She is buried in Holy Name Cemetery. Their children were: Lawrence “Larry” Joseph, 1909-1996, buried in Holy Name Cemetery; Larry’s twin sister, Lorene Wesley, 1909-1913, buried in Holy Name Cemetery; Mary Francis (married Kenneth A. Hutton, 1921-2003), still lives in Holyrood. The Huttons have five children.