Josephine A. Hodek

Family/Spouse: Emil J. Kotas. Emil (son of Joseph Kotas and Marie Kubicek) was born on 17 Jan 1881 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 19 Oct 1981 in Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska; was buried on 21 Oct 1981 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:

The son of John HODEK and Anna KOUDELA, he came to America with his parents, first living in Illinois and coming to Fillmore County in 1874, settling in section 10 of Glengary Township where they farmed. (Milligan, p 301).

Frank married Anna Biba on 27 Dec 1875 in Glengary Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Anna (daughter of Tomas Biba and Barbora Urbanek) was born on 10 Oct 1859 in Zebnice, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 10 Jun 1915 in Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They were married by Justice of the Peace D.S. Robinson at the HODEK home. The HODEK and BIBA families were neighbors. After their marriage, they lived with Frank's parents, later moving with them to Liberty Township. Frank and Anna purchased their own farm in 1883, at the NW 1/4 and N 1/2 SW 1/4 of Section 16 of Exeter Township. They built a two story home for their family. Later a machine shed, chicken coop, and barn were added. The barn was cleaned and swept every day (Milligan, p 301).

Notes:

The son of Jan HODEK and Marie KLIMA. (Milligan, p 301).

John married Anna Koudela before 1855 in Bohemia. Anna was born on 28 Aug 1826 in Koryta, Plzen-Sever, Plzensk? kraj, Bohemia; died on 5 Jun 1916 in Liberty Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Jan KOUDELA and Katerina MELICHAR. (Milligan, p 301).

Notes:

Married:
They came to America with their teenage son, Frank, in 1869, living first in Illinois. John received his naturalization papers in Will County, Illinois in 1872, and moved to Nebraska in 1874. They purchased a homestead in Glengary Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska. It was located in the W 1/2 NE 1/4 of Section 10. On the 80 acre homestead, a sod house, stable, granary were built, and a well was dug. The family raised wheat, oats, corn, barley and vegetables on their farm. Later, John purchased the SW 1/4 of Section 35 in Liberty Township from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company. It was located about a mile north of their homestead. They built a brick home on the lowland, south of Turkey Creek. (Milligan, p 301-302).

Notes:

The Biba family came to the United States in 1873 from Zebnici, District of Plzen, Bohemia. In Bohemia, the Bibas were considered moderately wealthy. They traveled by horse and buggy rather than by oxen and cart. Their wealth was even counted by the number of fence posts. When they decided to come to America, they sold everything and came with $1,000 which at that time was a fortune. Tomas's father, Jan, accompanied them. They stopped in Braidwood, Illinois, south of Chicago, where Tomas worked in a coal mine. After a short time, they moved by train West where land to farm was available. They settled on land on Turkey Creek northwest of what later was to be Milligan. In March of 1874, the purchased the NW 1/4, Section 3, Glengary Township from the Burlington and Missouri Railroad for $902.44. The deed was recorded showing Barbora as the purchaser. Jack Noragon, a great-great grandson now owns the farm. The Bibas were very active in affairs of the area an helped start the first church in the area now located at the Ceski Bratri Cemetery. The life in Nebraska at the time was hard and primative. Most of the food was raised, and if you couldn't raise it, you bartered for it. Many articles, such as a Meissen pitcher that came from Europe and was used in the sod house and quilts made by the grandmothers, are prized possesions of the Biba descendants. The Bibas lived on the farm until Tomas died, at which time Barbora moved to a home in Milligan, later living with son Albert and his wife Josefa in Exeter until her death. (Milligan, pp 206 - 207).

(Research):Census Information:

FamilySearch 1880 Census

Census Place:
Glengary, Fillmore, Nebraska Source:FHL Film 1
254748 National Archives Film T9-0748
Page 50
RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
Thomas BIBA Self M M W 50 BOHEMEN Occ: Farmer Fa: BOHEMEN Mo: BOHEMEN
Barbara BIBA Wife F M W 54 BOHEMEN Occ: Housekeeper Fa: BOHEMEN Mo: BOHEMEN
Albert BIBA Son M S W 12 BOHEMEN Occ:At School Fa: BOHEMEN Mo: BOHEMEN
Frank BIBA Son M S W 7 IL Occ:At School Fa: BOHEMEN Mo: BOHEMEN
Barbara BIBA Dau F S W 2 NE Fa: BOHEMEN Mo: BOHEMEN

Tomas married Barbora Urbanek. Barbora was born in Dec 1835 in Bohemia; died on 22 Feb 1916 in Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The 1900 census showed Barbora Biba, a widow, as age 64, born in Dec. 1835 and living in Glengary Twp next to her son Frank.