Emil J. Kotas

Notes:

Editor of the Milligan Times newspaper in 1909. (Milligan, p 347).

Family/Spouse: Josephine A. Hodek. Josephine (daughter of Frank Hodek and Anna Biba) was born on 4 Jul 1886 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 14 Aug 1978 in Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska; was buried on 16 Aug 1978 in Wyuka Cemetery, Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
It is ASSUMED that she married the Emil Kotas of Fillmore County, Nebraska who was the son of Joseph KOTAS and Mary KUBICEK.

1. Richard Kotas was born on 7 Apr 1906 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 11 Nov 1999 in Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska.
2. Emil J. Kotas, Jr. was born on 10 Apr 1911; died on 27 Aug 1977; was buried in Wyuka Cemetery, Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska.
3. Mildred A. Kotas was born on 25 Sep 1914 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 5 Dec 2002 in Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska; was buried in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska.

Notes:

Joseph Kotas claimed 80 acres as a homestead just east of his father and brother, W 1/2 NE 1/4 on March 6, 1871. He later cancelled this to purchase land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in Glengary Township. After they completed the purchase of this land, they sold it to his parents. The first Catholic Church was built here. He bought and sold much land in the Milligan area, as well as operating several business. He served as Town Marshall as well (Milligan, p 359).

Joseph married Marie Kubicek on 2 Jan 1873 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Marie was born before 1855 in Nezamyslice, Pisek, Bohemia; died on 2 Mar 1927 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Joseph KUBICEK and Anna JELINEK. (Milligan, p 359).

Notes:

Married:
Joseph KOTAS, age 24, married Mary KUBICEK, age 22, on January 2, 1873 at the office of the County Judge in Geneva. John BLAIR and Joseph RUZICKA were the witnesses. Sons Joie, Emil and Rudolph died as infants. (Milligan, p 273).

Notes:

He was born to Martin or Mattias KOTAS. He emigrated from Bohemia in 1868, settling first in Chicago for two years. The family left Illinois in October, 1870, arriving at the homestead of his sister and brother-in-law, Katherine and John PLACEK, who lived in Section 12 of Big Blue Township in Saline County. John and sons Frank and Joseph walked to Fillmore County to claim homesteads, which they filed in Beatrice on October 17, 1870, at the same time filing their naturalization papers. They lived with bachelor homesteader Frank ZNAJEMSKY until their dugout was built on October 25, 1870. John received his patent on May 16, 1878. The first dugout school of District #44 was on the KOTAS homestead. John was also instrumental in getting a Catholic Church built on his land, serving in the puplit occasionally as their was not resident priest. He also helped establish Ceski Brati, a Catholic Cemetery. Later in life, John purchased addtional land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, making it possible to give each of his 7 surviving children a farm. He and Barbara retired to Milligan. While repairing the roof of his home, he fell and was impaled on their picket fence. The funeral was conducted at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and he was buried in Ceski Brati cemetery near his son. More than 100 buggies followed the hearse to the cemetery. He is buried under the name KOTTAS, even though his railroad documents and homestead documents were executed using KOTAS. His son, W.J. was administrator of his estate, so this may account for the change in spelling. (Milligan, p 356). He was the son of Martin KOTAS and Mary PIPLA. (Milligan, p 357).

Jan married Barbara Svoboda before 1848 in Plzen, Bohemia. Barbara was born on 1 Apr 1829 in Ivanov, Zbyrov, Bohemia; died on 6 Mar 1899 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was the aunt of Josephine SAUFL. (Milligan, p 316). After the death of her husband, she lived with her son Joseph in Milligan. (Milligan, p 356). She was the daugther of Josefa SVOBODA. (Milligan, p 357).

Martin + Mary Pipla. Mary was born on 29 Jan 1802 in Bohemia; died on 22 Feb 1882. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They also had two daughters that stayed in Bohemia, Marie who married Jan Kotas, and Josefa who married Vaclav Prusik. They were also the parents of sons Matej and Vaclav who came to America. (Milligan, 1988-2008, p. 107).