Francis (Johan Franz-Frank) Marak Jr
FRANCIS MARAK, JR., senior member of the firm of Marak Brothers, dealers in
general merchandise, groceries, boots and shoes, flour, feed, etc., Everest, was born in
Moravia, Austria, September 6, 1841, and lived in his native country until 1857, when
his parents immigrated to America, locating in Washington Township, Brown County,
where the family has since resided. Mr. Marak is a member of the Roman Catholic
Church. He was Deputy Postmaster of Marak Postoffice eight years, and a member
of the Board of School, District No. 19, Brown County, three years. He participated in
the War of the Rebellion as a member of Company H, Thirteenth Regiment Kansas
Infantry, enlisting in September, 1862, at Robinson, Kan., and being discharged at
Springfield, Mo., in March, 1863, for disability contracted while in the United States
service. He was married in 1866, in Atchison County, to Miss Johanna Donahue,
country born Irish-American. Marak & Sons started the first general mercantile
establishment in Washington Township, Brown County, January, 1874, at Marak
postoffice. They continued in business in this place until July, 1882, when their father
sold out. Then Marak Brothers removed to Everest in the same county, where they
have carried on business since. They are among the strong popular growing firms of
the town, enjoy excellent credit and are men of acknowledge strength in the
community.
Married: 3 OCT 1871 in Marak District, Mission Tp., Brown, KS. - at All Saints Mission
Father Kasimer of Atchison officiated at the marriage.Magdalena spent her childhood years in the area of rural Dettwiller, Bas-Rhin, Alsace,
France where whe was born. After her immigration to the United States in 1868,
Magdalena stayed in Illinois with her brother Anton's family for a short period. Soon, she
moved on to Kansas where her brothers George and Joseph lived with their families.
There she met her husband Jacob (Jake) Marak when they were introduced by
Magdalena's older brother Geroge. After their marriage, Magdalena and Jacob lived on a
farm near Everest, Kansas. Magdalena usually preferred to be known as Lena. Her great
nephew, John Antes remembers how she would sit in a rocking chair in her later years
and always would have some kind of electric heat by her feet.Magdalena's funeral service was conducted at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Everest,
Kansas
One reference suggested that Thomas may have been born in 1873. Thomas never married. In
1935, when his father died, Thomas received $984.98 in the settlement of his fathers estate. When
Jacob Marak retired, Thomas took over management of operation of the drug store in Everest, Kansas.
Thomas's home, located in Everest had three pitched/gabled roofs. His death was a result of a stroke
he suffered at his home in Everest, from which he died ten days later at a hospital in Horton, Kansas.
The Atchison Daily Globe pictured his home at the time of his death. It described the home as 'an old
two story gabled house' The Globe article went on to report that Thomas died leaving a will estimated
at between 250 and 400 thousand dollars. The estate also included a building then occupied by the local
post office.
George never married. On 2 November 1897, George received 170 votes for Washington
Township trustee. On 13 August 1898, he is listed as a delegate entitled to a seat at the
Brown County Free Silver Convention held in Hiawatha, Kansas. On 14 March 1917, he
was listed as the grantor in a land transaction involving the NE Quarter of Section 18,
Township 4, Range 18 in Washington Township, northwest of Everest, Kansas. George
attended the funeral of Anton Diebolt his uncle in 1919. He received $984.99 in the
settlement of his fathers estate in 1935. He was the executor of his fathers estate.
George spent several years in Kansas City, Missouri where he operated a drugstore at
400 Minnesota Avenue. According to Joseph Diebolt, George listed his sister Margaret in
his will of 1943.
John never married. In about 1900, John took over operation of the drug store in Everest from
his father. In 1919, he began the operation of a drug store at 701 Central Avenue in Kansas City,
Missouri. John mentioned his sister Margaret in his will of 1946.
Margaret's biological parents had the surname 'Young'. She was adopted when she was only
two years old by Jacob and Magdalena. She lived with the Maraks until she was eight years old at
which time she lived with neighbors. Margaret 'as Margaret High', received $5 in the estate of her
father Jacob Marak in 1935. In 1951, Margaret filed a petition in the Brown County Court as the only
surviving heir of Thomas Marak. Margaret was listed in the estate settlement of her Thomas, her
brother as Mrs. Harrison, a resident at 506 S. 5th in Atchison, Kansas.
Margaret's biological parents had the surname 'Young'. She was adopted when she was only
two years old by Jacob and Magdalena. She lived with the Maraks until she was eight years old at
which time she lived with neighbors. Margaret 'as Margaret High', received $5 in the estate of her
father Jacob Marak in 1935. In 1951, Margaret filed a petition in the Brown County Court as the only
surviving heir of Thomas Marak. Margaret was listed in the estate settlement of her Thomas, her
brother as Mrs. Harrison, a resident at 506 S. 5th in Atchison, Kansas.
Joseph came to the United States in about 1857 with his parents and brother Jacob. They
arrived in the United States after a six week voyage across the north Atlantic. They
initially went to the area of Quincy, Illinois. After some time in that area, Joseph and his
brother purchased a team of oxen. With that team and a wagon, Joseph and his brother
made their way to the vincinity of Brown County, Kansas. In Brown County, Joseph
began his life there as a farmer. The 1860 Census found him in the area of Claytonville,
Brown, Kansas.In March of 1892, Joseph and his wife Mary are listed as Grantor to Fred Hagel & wife
for the South half of the NE Quarter of Section 18, Township 4, Range 18 in Brown
County Kansas. Joseph had inherited this property upon the death of his father Franz
Marak in 1891. In 1895, Joseph spent several months in an asylum in Topeka, Kansas as
a "result of the malicious acts of his neighbors". He eventually left the asylum and lived
wtih his close relatives in the vicinity of Everest, Kansas. In early 1896, he was able to
return to his Harvey County farm. Unfortunately, he died soon after that on 5 August
1896. The probate for his estate was held in Newton, Harvey, Kansas on 24 February
1897.Joseph's estate included various farm animals, implements and 160 acres located in the
SE Quaarter, Section 21, Township 24, Range 2 West of Harvey County. His estate
papers may be located at the Harvey County Courthouse in Newton, Kansas. In his
estate, his wife Mary and chldren Joseph L., Charles F., Anna E., Mary M. and Josephine
C. are mentioned as heirs.
Mary Ann came to the United States with her father and older sister, Magdalena
(Diebolt) Marak in 1868, when she was sixteen. After her immigration to the United
States, Mary stayed in Illinios with her brother Anton's family for a short period. Soon,
she moved on to Kansas where her brothers George and Joseph lived with their
families. There she met her husband Joseph Marak near the community of Denton,
Kansas where her older brother George was then living. According to Brother Nicholas
Biehle, there may have been an additional child of Joseph and Mary, named Mary born
prior to 1890.Before 1892, Joseph and Mary Ann had settled just east of Olpe, Lyon, Kansas. Their
farm was about a mile and a half east of town. It would later be known as the Julius
Huth farm. It is believed to have been somewhere just to the east of the present day St.
Joseph's Cemetery.Eventually, Joseph and Mary Ann, with their growing family migrated again. Initially they
settled near Ost, Reno, Kansas. But finally, they settled on a farm near Halstead,
Harvey, Kansas in Lakin Township. Mary was fluent in both German and French. She
is remembered as being 'very bright, one who often entered contests. She was very
religious and read alot. She could entertain everyone with her stories and had a good
sense of humor'. Late in life she purchased a piano and made sure that her daughter
Josephine Clara took lessons. Mary Ann's death certificate is located at the Harvey
Co., Kansas Court House in Newton, Kansas. She was buried with her husband at the
Halstead Cemetery.