Vitus Reck

Vitus was born on June 15, 1850 Chroscice in Silesia-Prussia - now part of Poland. June 15 on the church calendar happens to be Saint Vitus Day - just like Saint Patricks Day. That's how he got the somewhat unusual name. He grew up in Silesia and according to family history had to serve a stint in the Prusian armyas did almost all young men in the area. The story goes on that he and a companion deserted the army and made their way to the German coast and got on a ship bound for America. He then made his way to Trempealeau and walked over the hills to settle on a farm in American Valley- rural Arcadia. He spent his first year living in a dougout cave on a hillside. After getting settled, he helped his parents and other siblings come join him. His father Matthew Reck and brother August took over the farm in American Valley and Vitus purchased a farm in Buffalo County/Town of Glencoe. He and his first wife Susan Rumpel Reck had several children on this farm.He later sold the place and bought another farm between Independence and Elk Creek in the Town of Burnside. While still in Glencoe Susan passed away in childbirth and he re-married Mary Sobotta Reck in 1889. Vitus and Mary lived on this place a number of years and then sold the Burnside farm to his son Paul Reck. The couple then moved to the city of Independence where he was semi-retired and worked at a harness shop in town until he died in 1913.