Peter Wacek (Watsky) Family

Peter Wacek came to the United States from old Bohemia in 1870 and found work in a lumber yard in Chicago, Illinois. There he met and married a country woman, Miss Antonia Cizinsky, in 1873. In 1876, he and his family moved on a farm near where Marceline was to be settled. For forty years he was a farmer, and in 1916 he moved to the city of Marceline for retirement. In 1938, his wife died after 65 years of marriage. There were eight children born to this union and only two are still living. They are Mrs. Rosa Wiley and Mrs. C. C. Wyett, both of Marceline. There are also a great number of grandchildren still residing in Marceline. Mr. Wacek is a part of the history of Marceline, as it was on his property that the Marceline City Reservoir was built. He lived to celebrate his 100th birthday and when asked why he thought he had been able to attain that grand age, he replied saying only that, “maybe hard work out of doors did it; maybe not smoking or drinking helped.”

Mike Petska

Mike Petska came to the United States, from old Bohemia in about 1875 and found work in a Marble Factory in Chicago, Illinois. In Chicago, he met Miss Kathryn Zindell, who had also come to Chicago, to be with an older sister. Though they both came from the same town they were not acquainted. They were married and came to Missouri, where they purchased a farm in a location which is now northwest Marceline, near the airport. Later they purchased a farm 4 miles south of Marceline, where they lived until 1918 when they sold their farm and moved to 110 West Howe Street, Marceline. Mr. Petska died in 1919 and Mrs. Petska in 1943. To this union seven children were born. Two children, Guss of Denver, Colorado and Albert of Marceline are living. The Petskas did their trading in Bucklin and Lingo before Marceline was established.