Jan Kotas

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]

1. Marie Kotas was born on 13 Jul 1848 in Kozojedy, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 23 Dec 1928 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried on 25 Dec 1928 in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska.
2. Frank Kottas was born on 25 May 1851 in Kozojedy, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 14 Oct 1942 in Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska.
3. Joseph Kotas was born on 1 Jun 1853 in Kozojedy, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 12 Feb 1924 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska.
4. Jan "John" Kotas was born on 27 Aug 1859 in Kozojedy, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 21 Jul 1909 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska.
5. Waslove J. "Vaclav" "W.J." Kottas was born on 29 Jul 1862 in Kozojedy, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 6 May 1955 in Lewistown, Fergus County, Montana.
6. Alois Kotas was born on 26 Jun 1865 in Kozojedy, Plzen, Bohemia; died about 1884 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska.
7. Anton Kotas, Sr. was born on 26 Nov 1867 in Kozojedy, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 24 Oct 1959 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska.
8. Fred R. Kottas was born on 28 Jan 1870 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois; died on 17 Nov 1955 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska.

Martin married 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).