LeRoy J. Becwar

Notes:

Becwar -- LeRoy J., 66, Davenport, died Friday (1/15/99). Grew up on a farm between Exeter and Milligan. Attended grade school at District 6. 4-H leader. Received many 4-H and academic honors. Veteran, Korean War in U.S. Army Signal Corp. Attended, Radio Engineering and Electronic School, Omaha. Owner, operator, LeRoy's TV since 1955, Davenport. Past president, Lion's Club. Past commander, adjutant and chaplain, American Legion Post 335, Davenport. Member, VFW Post 10579, Lily Masonic Lodge 154 AF & AM, Davenport, Saline Center WFLA Lodge 389, Davenport Town Board for several years, Davenport Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years, Society of American Magicians, International Brotherhood of Magicians. Entertained at many functions, schools and organizations with feats of magic and comedy.

Survivors: wife, Irene; son, daughter-in-law, Gayle and Cindy, Lincoln; daughters, sons-in-law, Joyce and Jeff Chleboun, Schuyler, Janene and Mark Harris, Lincoln, Janis and West Pierce, Omaha; brother, sister-in-law, Leonard and DeLores, Milligan; grandchildren, Jennifer and Amy Chleboun, Emmy Lou and Eric Harris, Christa Pierce; nephews; nieces; cousins. Preceded in death by parents, Mike and Mollie Becwar; nephew, spouse, Ken and Sandy Becwar.

Services: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, United Methodist Church, Davenport. Burial: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Bohemian National Cemetery, Milligan. Visitation: today, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday, 9-10:30 a.m., UrbauerPrice Funeral Home, Davenport; two hours before services, church.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, Lincoln Journal Star Archives, 19 Jan 1999).

LeRoy married Irene Kotas on 9 Dec 1954 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Irene (daughter of Joe Albert Kotas and Julia J. Brejcha) was born on 6 Nov 1935 in Nebraska; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living
4. Living

Notes:

Mike was an accordian player and for a time had a band, playing for house parties and dance halls. Back then, whenever someone emptied a granary or hay mow it was not unusual to get a dance set up. During the late 1930's, Mike worked for the Corn-Hog program. He served for several years on the P.M.A. and AAA Programs as County Committeeman. He was also onthe Board of Directors fo the Federal Land Bank in the area. After he retired, he continued to help his son Leonard at the farm, and later at his tavern. (Milligan, p 195).

Matej married Mollie Marie Kuska on 22 Aug 1922. Mollie (daughter of John Kuska, Sr. and Mary Stetina) was born on 10 Mar 1907 in Ohiowa, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 29 Jun 1973; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mollie was active in the Women's Clubs, 4-H, and church. She was always willing to lend a helping hand. Cooking was a big thing to her. No one stopped by without having a cup of coffee and a kolache. (Milligan, p 195).

Notes:

Shown as Matthew on the 1880 census.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Nebraska, Saline County, Olive Precinct
ED 76-16 SD 11 Sheet 5B
Enumerated April 30, 1930
106-106
Becwar, Mike Hd M W 57 M 24 Neb Czech Czech Farmer
Becwar, Josephine Wf F W 57 M 24 Ill Czech Czech
Becwar, August Son M W 18 S Neb Neb Ill Farm Laborer
Becwar, Vlasty Dtr F W 14 S Neb Neb Ill

Matej married Josephine Bech on 23 Feb 1897. Josephine (daughter of Johann "Jan" Bech and Anna Kotas) was born on 26 Sep 1870 in Kozojedy, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 24 Jul 1951 in Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The first Milligan History book shows her as born in Kozojedy, Plzen. However, the 1930 census instead shows her place of birth as Illinois. The supplemental Milligan book shows that Josephine was born on 26 Sept 1870 in Kozojedy #74, and notes that this was contradictary to the date of 4 Jun 1873. This book also indicates that she is one of four children born in Bohemia to Johann/Jan BECH and Anna KOTASOVA of Kozojedy. Josephine came with her parents and siblings to Braidwood, Illinois on September 15, 1873. Her parents had three children born in Illinois. The family moved to Nebraska in 1881 and settled first with the Kotas family and then bought a farm in Atlanta Township in Saline County. Jan's feet were frozen during the blizzard of 1888, and died shortly thereafter. Anna went to live with her son Joseph on the farm. Both are buried in the Cesky Brati Cemetery (Milligan, 1988-2008, pp. 107 and 108).

Notes:

Married:
They lived on the farm that had been purchased by Mike's father, Frantisek, in 1871, the SW 1/4 of Section 23 in Liberty Township, Fillmore County. Mike passed this farm on to his son, Michael, Jr. in 1922 and moved to a farm a mile west of Tobias. They later moved to Geneva and finally to Milligan in 1948, where they lived until their deaths. (Milligan, p 195).

John married Mary Stetina on 26 Feb 1900. Mary was born before 1887; died on 1 Jan 1959 in Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Frantisek Becvar, born in 1829 in Nezamslice, Strakomie Pisceky, Bohemia was naturalized in Fillmore County, May 18, 1875. He died August 15, 1900, and is buried in the Ceski Bratri Cemetery. His first wife, Marie Hubac Becvar, died in Czechoslovakia. His second wife, Mary Zdenek, was born March 25, 1836, and died November 1, 1924, and is buried in the Ceski Bratri Cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Becwar migrated to the US by sailing ship in 1868. They came from the east by train to Lincoln, Nebraska. There they hired a wagon and drive to take them to the Kral homestead north of Milligan. After paying the driver, they had 75 cents left.

The Becwar's homesteaded the 80 acres just west of the Krals, which would be W 1/2 SE 1/4 of Section 26, Liberty Precinct. Frank received the patent on February 20, 1877. They made a dug-out using an animal hide to cover the doorway. Frank was a cabinent maker, and walked 25 miles to Pleasant Hill to work, staying there all week, and walking home again on the weekends. The work involved building the William Smith Flour Mill. On his first trip home, he carried enough lumber to make themselves a proper door.

Life in the dugout was quite primative. It was hard to heat, and invited snakes. They ground corn with stones, and used a plentiful weed to make tea. Mr. Becwar would also shot prarie chickens on his way home for meat. Indians came through occasionally begging for food. Rustlers were also a problem. One night their cow was stolen, but it got away and came back home to be with its calf.

Mr. Becwar worked for the Burlington and Missouri Railroad in 1870 and 1871. He bought the SW 1/4 of Section 23 from them. This was handed down to Mike Becwar, Sr. and then Mike Becwar, Jr. At present the Kuska's own this land.

The Becwar daughters married and moved away. Agnes and Josephine moved to Kansas, Barbara to Nelson, Nebraska, Mary to Sunol, Nebraska. However, sons Mike and Anton stayed in Fillmore County. (Milligan, p 194).

NOTE: As the death date of Marie Hubac, as well as the date of the marriage of Frank and Mary Zdenak is unknown, the mother of his children can not be positevely identified until such a time as these questions are answered. Additionally, the biography of oldest son Anton notes that his mother was Mary Versek. For the time being, Mary Zdenak is being listed as the mother of Frank's six children, but this is subject to change.


(Research):Census Information:

FamilySearch 1880 Census
RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
Frank BECWAR Self M M W 50 BOHEMIA Occ:Farmer Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Mary BECWAR Wife F M W 43 BOHEMIA Occ:Keeping House Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Anton BECWAR Son M S W 19 BOHEMIA Occ:Farming Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Agnes BECWAR Dau F S W 15 BOHEMIA Occ:At School Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Josephine BECWAR Dau F S W 11 NE Occ:At School Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Mathew BECWAR Son M S W 7 NE Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Barbara BECWAR Dau F S W 5 NE Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Mary BECWAR Dau F S W 1 NE Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA

Census Place:Liberty, Fillmore, Nebraska
Source:FHL Film 1254748 National Archives Film T9-0748
Page 49

Frantisek married Marie Zdenek. Marie was born on 25 Mar 1836 in Bohemia; died on 1 Nov 1924 in Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Johann married Anna Kotas on 14 May 1861 in Bohemia. Anna (daughter of Martin Kotas and Mary Pipla) was born on 10 Jun 1835 in Kozojedy, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 17 Feb 1916 in Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]