1. Frank C. and Anna were my great-grandparents.
Frank C. and Anna Ptacek
My family in the late-1930's.
Frank C. and Anna were my great-grandparents.

2. Their Children...
Back: Alfred, Wilfred (Mike), Ernie, Edward, Maurice. Front: Anna Mae, Beatrice, Frank C., Helen, Anna, and Francis.

3. My Grandfather
Ernest R. Ptacek

4. Their Family
My great-grandparents lived on a farm southwest of Dorrance, Kansas, in Center Township. They bought the farm after Anna sent money to the homeland to bring more family to America.
When they failed to return her the money, they had to sell their farm north of Wilson, Kansas, and buy the farm that is still in our family.

5. Obviously, he wasn't married.
1930 Census
My grandfather was 5 at the 1930 census. His parents were 28 and 25. He had four brothers and sisters.
Obviously, he wasn't married.

6. Occupation
Although Ernie was only five at the time of the census, he was soon to be helping on the farm with his father.
They grew wheat, had cattle, pigs, chickens and horses.
They grew their own feed and hay.

7. My grandpa told me that during the summer when they were plowing the field, the tractor would go non-stop, not even stopping for them to get on and off.
They had to run on and off to switch drivers! The only time they stopped was to change the oil.

8. Where he was born
My grandpa was born in Kansas and died in Kansas. The only time he was really gone was during World War II. He served in Europe and was awarded a medal.
He was one of the first that helped the newly- released Jews regain their health after they left the concentration camps.
He had to order the men not to feed them too quickly or it would kill the Jews. It was a tough order to give; they were starving.

9. Languages
I remember my grandfather hollering something in what I thought was gibberish. His entire family was fluent in Czechoslovakian. He would cuss in that language to protect his grand kids from hearing it.

10. The Farm
Even though there isn't a house there anymore, my dad still farms the land that my great-grandparents began in the 20's.
The place is always called “Grandpa's”. For most of my life I assumed it meant Grandpa Ernie's, but in reality, it was Great-Grandpa Frank's. I never met him.