World War I
James Cizek was born Sept. 22, 1888, the son of Vaclav and Anna Cizek, one of seven children born to the couple. He was born in Exeter, NE, and the family moved to Pierce County just a year later. They farmed northwest of Osmond until 1893 when they moved into town.
The Vaclav Cizek family history in the Osmond Centennial book says they farmed only four miles northwest of Osmond, but according to James’s sister, Emma’s, history, the family moved by covered wagon to Osmond in 1893.
James received his early education in the Osmond Public School and graduated from Osmond High School in 1907. Although there is no mention of James being musically inclined, Edward Cizek’s family history shows that he had studied violin, and Joseph’s history talks about being part of the Cizek family orchestra, so it is possible that James was also involved.
Jim, as he was known, was 29 years old when he was drafted into the army. He shipped out May 27, 1918, on the ship Tunisian, a private in Field Hospital 19, the 4th Sanitary Train. The role of the Sanitary Train was to provide medical care for the entire division through its ambulance and field hospital sections and Camp Infirmaries.
Jim returned from overseas on the Minnesotan on Aug. 3, 1919, and was released from the Army five days later,
on Aug. 8, 1919. His brother, Edward, was also a World War I veteran, and also served in the medical division, although which division was unclear. When Jim returned from the war, he lived with his parents and other siblings for a time, then married Mina Nolte in 1921. They had one son, Virgil. According to his family history in the Osmond Centennial book, he participated in various business ventures in Osmond. He was part owner of a Ford garage and later, a Studebaker garage. Then he was associated with his brothers Joseph and Edward in the operation of Security State Bank, which ceased business in the early 1930s. He later partnered with his brother, Ed, in the Chevrolet garage.
Jim spent most of his life in Osmond except for a short time in Bennington, where he was employed at Hayden Hardware Store. Jim’s wife, Mina, died in 1940, and he is shown in the 1940 census living with his mother-in-law and his son in Bennington. His son was 16 years old at the time.
Unfortunately, Virgil died just three years later at the age of 19. His obituary said he had lived in Bennington for nine years, so just speculating, it is possible Jim and Mina moved there to help out with her mother.
At some point, James moved back to Osmond and was associated with his brother Milton, who operated Osmond Hatchery. His family history says that, at that time, he made his home with his sister, Emma Cizek. In the 1950 census, it does show that he and Emma were both living with their parents, but Anna and Vaclav died in 1950 and 1951, which would have left the brother and sister living in the home together.
According to his obituary, Jim was a charter member of the Osmond American Legion and a member of the Masonic Lodge in which he was honored on Feb. 22, 1960, by receiving his 50-year pin. Jim was also a former member of the Osmond City Council Jim died on March 27, 1965, at the age of 76. Apparently, he had been hospitalized for a short period some weeks before but had not fully recovered. He had gone with his brother and sister, Milton and Anna, to see a doctor and, after the consultation, died suddenly near his car.
Services were held at the Osmond Methodist Church, and members of the American Legion and Masonic Lodge were present. He is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery at Elkhorn, along with his wife and son and his wife’s parents.
