Alexander Arthur Mashek

Alexander A. Mashek, Half Century in County, Passes Away Friday; Remains Laid to Rest Here Sunday Afternoon

Suffering from chronic heart complications for more than a year, Alexander Arthur Mashek, more than half-century resident of this community, passed away at his home in this city at 4:00 o'clock Friday morning, February 23rd. His affliction which had kept him confined to his bed for many weeks, left its mark on the pioneer who one time had been a robust, healthy man. Mr. Mashek was 71 years, 11 months, and 16 days of age at the time of his demise.

Surviving are his wife, Grace; four daughters, Mrs. Vernice Blagg, Lusk, Wyo.; Mrs. Grace McClintock and Mrs. Irene Hirschmann of Lander, Wyo.; and Mrs. Dorothy Hill, Riverton, Wyo.; two sons, Joe and Arthur, both of this city; two sisters, Mrs. Barbara Rider, of Douglas, and Mrs. Mary Pfister, of Lusk; and one brother, Henry of Crawford, Nebr. Fifteen grandchildren and one great grandchild also survive.

Funeral services were conducted from the Congregational Church at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 25th, Rev. Millard H. Marshall, pastor, officiating. Music during the services was offered by the mixed quartet composed of Mrs. Joe Danaher, Mrs. Abdon DeCastro, Brian Dougherty, and J. M. Hungate. Miss Alice Fowler accompanied at the piano. The selections were "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere."

Interment was made in the Lusk cemetery, the remains of Mr. Mashek conveyed to their last resting place by L. R. Van Tassell, Art Thompson, Andy Christian, Earl Mardis, Charlie Hunter, and Russell Bradley.

Mr. Maskek was a native of Bohemia, Austria, born on March 8, 1868. When a lad but seven years old, he migrated to the United States with his parents and they settled near Albion, Nebr. There they lived for thirteen years. In 1889 Mr. Mashek came to this state and filed on a homestead southeast of Lusk, the place now known as the Hunter Hereford ranch.

On January 1st, 1896 he was united in marriage to Miss Grace Clara Rider, the ceremony having been performed in this city.

For many years, Mr. Mashek worked to build up his ranch and increase his stock-raising activities, and later became one of the most prominent men in the industry in eastern Wyoming. During his earlier years here he followed the round-ups, and later connected up with sheep-shearing crews.

He started his second ranch about two miles west of the original place, and after occupying it for a few years, he sold out and entered the general mercantile business at Van Tassell. Later, disposing of the business, he started his third place, located 23 miles north of Lusk, where he made his home until about three years ago when his health forced him to quit active ranch life. He had since that time resided in this city.

The Lusk Herald
February 1940
Death of Alex A. Mashek Removes Another Pioneer

Alexander A. Mashek, one of the few remaining pioneers of the community passed away 4 am Friday, February 23rd at his home following a prolonged illness of heart conditions.

Mr. Mashek, who had reached the age of 71 years, 11 months, and 16 days lived in this community about 52 years. His general occupation was that of ranching which he worked at till three years ago when he and his wife moved to Lusk.

Mr. Mashek gained many friends wherever he went as he always had a jovial and sunny disposition. He never was one to complain about the problems of life and was always in the favor or promoting better things.

Funeral services were conducted from the Congregational church 2:00 o'clock Sunday afternoon with Rev. Millard H. Marshall officiating. A quartet composed of J. M. Hungate, Mrs. Joe Danaher, Brian Dougherty, and Mrs. Ab DeCastro sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "The Old Rugged Cross" accompanied at the piano by Miss Alice Fowler.

Interment was made in the Lusk cemetery. Active pallbearers were L. R. Van Tassell, Art Thompson, Earl Mardis, Andy Christian, Charlie Hunter, and Russell Bradley. Six grandsons of the deceased were honorary pallbearers Joe and Arthur Mashek, Jimmy and Bobby Sable and Colonel and Frank Blagg.

Relatives from out of town attending the funeral were three daughters and their husbands, Mr. and Mrs. Howard McKlintock and Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Hill of Riverton, one brother, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mashek and a niece Mrs. Eva Farrington of Marsland, Nebr., one sister, Mrs. Barbara Rider and niece, Mrs. Edmund Rider of Douglas, two nephews, Jimmy and Bobby Sable of Lander and Mr. and Mrs. Tony Sable of Osage.

Obituary

Alexander Arthur Mashek was born in Bohemia, Austria, March 8, 1868. He came to the United States with his parents when he was 7 years old and settled near Albion, Nebr. where he lived 13 years. In 1889 he came to Wyoming and filed on a homestead south east of Lusk now known as the Hunter Hereford Ranch.

He was married to Grace Clara Rider, January 1st, 1896 at Lusk, Wyoming, they being the first couple to be married in the Congregational church of this city located where the Baptist church now stands.

While building up his ranch he followed the range round-ups; later shearing crews and then built his second ranch about two miles west of the Hunter ranch. He then sold this ranch to McMaster and was in the store business at VanTassell. Later, he worked as Engineer for the Illinois Pipe Line Company at Salt Creek. During this time he was very active in the oil business having had many interest. In the oil boom days he was president of the 20 Mile Company and the Lusk Moorecroft Company. Giving up his oil business he built a third ranch about 23 miles north of Lusk. He left this ranch about three years ago and moved to Lusk where he passed on.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, one sister, Anna, three brothers, Anton, James, and August, one daughter, Anna, and one granddaughter.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Grace Mashek, four daughters, Vernice, Grace, Irene, and Dorothy and two sons, Joe and Arthur, two sisters, Barbara and Mary and one brother, Henry, fifteen grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Poem by Alex Mashek, written about 1930
(transcribed from his original handwritten form):

The Pioneer Rancher
"In those good old days of years gone bye (sic),
when Alex Mashek came out west to try,
his luck in becoming a prosperous rancher then,
Like all the rest of those pioneer men.
So as we learn it was on the fourteenth of February,
In that year of eighteen hundred and eighty nine,
That Alex first started out to become a cowboy,
when the range sure did look fine.
And besides then the people were more friendly towards one another in those good old days,
as they didn't have such great inventions to kill one another off in so many ways.
For in those days they traveled with horses that weren't so speedy in hauling them along,
yet they were a good deal safer then (sic) automobiles that now days are getting the people in the wrong.
So as we learn that Alex Mashek was a good cook, In those good old ranching days out west,
For he mostly did cook for those round up camps Such meals that those cowboys did like the best.
But now that Alex has retired and settled down, In Lusk Wyoming his good old favorite Town,
He sure likes to be remembered of those days gone bye (sic),
When live stock (sic) raising on those ranches wasn't then so high."

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