An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 341.

MARTIN JAKSHA has achieved in Wasco county a success in which an man might take
great pride. Many things happened to defeat him and would have overcome a less
resolute and determined man. The obstacles in his pathway only developed in him
a corresponding determination to overcome them and make himself master of the
situation. A public spirited, generous man, industrious and upright, he has won
his way through from a position in which he possessed no property until he is
now one of the well-to-do citizens of Wasco county.      

Mr. Jaksha was born in Austria, on October 17, 1848, the son of John and Anna
(Golovich) Jaksha, natives of the same country, where also they remained until
their death. In 1878, we find our subject in Chicago. After a few days in that
metropolis he came on to Joliet, Illinois, and worked out for six months. His
next move was to Iowa, and, after working on a farm for some time there, he
landed in Portland, in 1879. He worked for one month in the city and then six
months in Washington county, and in the spring of 1880 came to Wasco county with
scarcely enough money to file on a homestead. His place is situated near the
free bridge road ten miles out from The Dalles. He at once started to work to
improve the homestead and make of it a choice farm. Although his progress was
very slow still he has succeeded admirably and now has an estate of over five
hundred acres, four hundred acres of which are choice tillable soil. This year
sees two hundred and seventy acres of this estate bearing excellent crops of
wheat, and the improvements on the farm show Mr. Jaksha's taste and sagacity. In
addition to all this, he purchased a fine farm which cost him two thousand five
hundred dollars and presented it to his step-daughter.      

On January 31, 1884, at The Dalles, Mr. Jaksha married Mrs. Albina Pashek, who
was born in Bohemia. She has five brothers and two sisters, Carl, Frank,
Wentzel, John, Anton, Mrs. Anna Divokey, and Mrs. Mary Schuster. Mr. Jaksha has
two brothers, John and Peter, and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Pasich and Apolona. To
Mr. and Mrs. Jaksha two children have been born, Andrew, a student at Mount
Angel, and Joseph, at home. By her first marriage in Bohemia, Mrs. Jaksha has
one daughter, Anna, the wife of George Jacobson. She is the daughter to whom Mr.
Jaksha presented the farm. In addition to this, he purchased the right of a
homestead adjoining that farm and she and Mr. Jacobson reside there at this
time.      

Mr. Jaksha has been prominent in political matters and has held various offices.
He and his wife are both members of the Roman Catholic church. In addition to
the property mentioned, he owns two lots in The Dalles. Mr. Jaksha was not
favored with a good opportunity to secure art education, but owing to his
inquiring mind and a determination to master all obstacles, he can read and
write and speak the English language fluently, and in addition thereto, can read
and write four other languages. This indicates the manner of man Mr. Jaksha is,
and he is to be greatly commended upon his achievements.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.