FAMILY STORIES

   In August, 1982, I again visited the Kubista cousins in Austria. We took pictures. I wrote down some heritage material and also photo copies of several certificates that were made in Vienna. Plans to enter Czechoslovakia didn't materialize.

   Now to the Kubista Heritage, many of whom are descendants of the von Rocksteins who had a castle near Iglau in the old German Empire or First Reich. The oral records go back to the 13th century. The feudal masters of the castle also owned the surrounding area, about the size of a county. In this area were peasants, traders, craftsmen, millers, and citizens. These people had to do work in the service of the von Rocksteins. About 30 men and large families lived in the castle. By the beginning of the 15th century the burgraves became barons within the feudal system. After that they became robber barons. This tyranny lasted nearly two centuries, until the enraged inhabitants revolted and stormed the castle. The castle was destroyed except for one tower still remaining when Vinzenz Kubista visited the castle ruins in his youth, some 90 years ago. He was Karl's father and a great-uncle to me. Uncle Vinzenz would have been interested, since at a heritage discussion Karl commented, "Vater Deutsch."

   Those who escaped from the struggle for the castle, changed their name to Kubista for concealment. They became honest citizens and some became millers in the general area. Many Kubista families have emigrated to the U.S. In 1980, there were 82 Kubista addresses in the U.S., of which 36 were in Minnesota. Submitted by Joseph F. Kubista

   George Kubr was born in Malonice, Czechoslovakia in July of 1866. He attended school between the villages of Malonice and Kanice in Czechoslovakia.

George and Katherine Kubr Family

   In the spring of 1888, he immigrated to the United States. Upon arrival in the United States, he came by train to Fremont, Nebraska. He worked as a farm hand in the Saunders and Douglas County area. During the winter months, he worked for room and board. The balance of the year he received an additional fifty cents a day.

   During this time, he went to a platform dance in the woods about a mile west of Prague. There, he and Katherine Tichy of Omaha immediately recognized each other. They had gone to the same school in Czechoslovakia. Neither knew that the other had immigrated to the United States. Katherine had come to the dance with a group by train from Omaha where she lived at the time.

   They were married in Omaha on July 16, 1892. To them were born nine children, namely: Mary (Mrs. Frank Belik); Mollie (Mrs. Charles Sedlacek); Anna (Mrs. Charles Placek); John Kubr; Joseph Kubr; Agnes (Mrs. Amiel Beranek); George Kubr; Louis Kubr; and Frank Kubr.

   George and Katherine Kubr became naturalized citizens on August 6, 1906.

   They were tenant farmers until the turn of the century. On August 17, 1900, they purchased eighty acres of land from Jacob and Anna Glen. It is located four miles west and one mile north of Prague. It is in the first half of the north quarter of section thirty-two Chester Township in Saunders County. This land is still in the same family and is owned by their son, Louis J. Kubr, of Prague.

   On Feb. 14 1911, an additional fifty-three acres was purchased from Thomas Simanek. It borders to the south of the original purchase. One-half of this purchase is still owned by Louis J. Kubr.

   On Feb. 28, 1917, a quarter-section of land was purchased from Thomas Simanek. It is located five miles west of Prague and is the southwest quarter of Section thirty-one, Chester Township in Saunders County. At the present time, one-half of this purchase is owned by their son, John E. Kubr, of Schuyler, Nebraska. The other half is owned by two grandsons, George R. Kubr, Omaha, and Joseph F. Kubr of Prague.

   On August 17, 1927, a quarter-section was purchased from Joseph and Ludmilla Polacek which is the southwest quarter of section 30 in Chester Township. Forty acres of this purchase is owned by their grandson, Lloyd W. Kubr, Ithaca.

   Katherine died in December of 1928 at the age of fifty-eight years and George Kubr died in May of 1952 at the age of eighty-five years. They are laid to rest in St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Prague, Nebraska. By George Kubr

   George A. Kubr was born on a farm four miles west and one mile north of Prague, Nebraska on April 19, 1901. He grew to manhood and attended school in Dist. 73.

George Kubr Family

   Louise V. Stara was born on a farm east of Bruno, Nebraska. She grew to womanhood and attended school in the Bruno area. She was a school teacher in numerous school districts for about ten years.

   George and Louise were married on January 7th, 1930, in St. Anthony's Church in Bruno. They lived on a farm five miles west of Prague in Saunders County and were farmers their entire lives.

   To them were born four children: George R. Kubr of Omaha; Mary Ann Brabec of Longmont, Colorado; Lloyd W. Kubr of Ithaca, Nebraska; and Joseph F. Kubr of Prague. Joseph lives on the farm on which George and Louise lived through their entire married life. This land was originally purchased by Grandparents George and Katherine Kubr in 1917.

   George A. Kubr died in February of 1965 at the age of 63 years and 11 months. Louise V. Kubr died in August of 1979, at the age of 78 years and 4 months. They are laid to rest side by side in St John's Catholic Cemetery in Prague. By George R. Kubr

   Mary Matousek was born in Czechoslovakia and came to the United States with her parents when she was about seven years old. She married August V. Kucera of Weston on July 13, 1903 in Wahoo.

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Kucera and Family

   Edwin was the youngest of five children born to August and Mary. His two brothers, Albin and Gus, and two sisters, Mrs. Ben (Margaret) Maly and Mrs. Adolf (Evelyn Maly, all lived in or near Weston. Evelyn died in 1955, Albin in 1970, and Gus in 1982.

   Marie Ratkovec, the daughter of Frank and Agnes (Votova) Ratkovec, was the next to the youngest of five children. Her brothers are Leonard of Mead, and Louis of Weston. Her sisters are Mrs. Frank (Georgia) Kliment of Weston and Mrs. Merle (Adeline) Divis of Holdrege.

   Edwin and Marie were married November 20, 1945 at Saint Vitus Catholic Church in Touhy. They have three children. A fourth child, Duane, died at birth. Sharon and her husband, Daniel Spicka, live in Wahoo. They have two daughters, Mary Jo and Lori. Sharon worked at John F. Kennedy College until it closed and now baby-sits in her home. Daniel works at John Deere. Sandy and her husband, John Vlcan, also live in Wahoo. Sandy worked at John F. Kennedy College, also, and now works at the First National Bank. John was previously with Safeway and now works at Neumann High School. Gary works part-time at Hakel's Truck Stop near Weston. He also has a small Czech Band in which he plays the drums. Gary also farms with his dad. He is the fourth generation living on their farm near Weston. This farm was homesteaded by his great-grandfather Fred Kucera. It was purchased from the railroad in 1889.

   Edwin has been active in the school boards of Districts 113 and 74 for over 25 years.

   Edwin and Marie are members of Saint Vitus Catholic Church in Touhy where Marie has always been active in the Altar Society. Submitted by Marie Kucera

   I am Eileen Hanson Kudrna. My late husband, James L. Kudrna, and I were both born in Wahoo, Nebraska, attended Wahoo Parochial and public schools, and lived here all our lives, except for our college years in Omaha. We married August 8, 1929, and had three children; JoAnne Ferguson, Beatrice, Nebraska; James L. Kudrna Jr., St. Louis, Missouri; and Margaret Hicks, Dayton, Ohio. There are six grandchildren: Lynn Remmers, Johnna, Andrea, Brian and Moira Ferguson of Beatrice; Patricia Kudrna, St. Louis; and one great-grandchild, Justin Daniel Remmers.

Hanson Family. Standing, L. to R.: Aaron, John, Oscar, Hans, Ernest and Nels; Seated: Father Hans Hanson and Uncle John Hanson.

   My husband spent all of his professional life at the First National Bank, Wahoo and was president of that institution at the time of his death in 1959. I also worked there before we married, and after Jim's death, retiring in Dec., 1971. Jim was very active in the Knights of Columbus for many years, holding many local and state offices, including State Deputy, the highest state office.

   Jim's parents, Louis J. and Mary Pospisil Kudrna, came to this area from Moravia about 1887. My parents were born here, but my mother's parents, Michael and Johannah Ryan, came here from Ireland about 1867. Of their ten children, six grew

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to adulthood. John, Hans, and Nels were born in Sweden. Ernest (my father) Oscar, and Aaron were born here. The family lived in a sod house for some time on a farm between Wahoo and Ithaca. Mrs. Hanson died in November, 1897. Mr. Hanson retired from farming, and John stayed on the farm. Hans was a partner in the Stratton-Hanson Hardware Co. Ernest and Oscar went into county office, and then into banking, and were active in civic affairs, serving on the city council, city offices, school board, etc. Ernest retired as Executive Vice President of the First National Bank, Wahoo, in 1952 after 51 years at the bank. He died December 6, 1960, age 89, the last of the Hanson brothers.

   Hans had one son, the illustrious Dr. Howard Hanson, composer and symphony orchestra conductor, who headed the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York, for many years before his death in 1982.

   John had four children, Albin Hanson and Mable Pearson, deceased, Edna Loomis and Myrtie Lusch, now living in Wahoo.

   Nels had five children, only one now living, Victor, in California. Ernest had two children, Eileen Kudrna, Wahoo, and L. Ryan Hanson, Pacerville, California. Oscar had one son, Lyman R. Hanson, deceased, whose widow, Gladys Hanson, lived in Wahoo.

   Aaron had three children: Lloyd Hanson, Beatrice; Thelma Rosacker, Eugene, Oregon; and Marie Phillips, Oakland, California.

   There are many great-grandchildren living in Nebraska, and elsewhere in the United States, all proud, as we are, of their roots in Saunders County, Nebraska. By Eileen Hanson Kudrna

   Lauren's folks, Louis and Minnie Stamp Kuehl, were married February 3, 1909. For over 40 years they lived 3 miles northwest of Yutan where Lauren was born. They moved into the house one block north of St. John's Lutheran Church, purchasing it in 1950, after retiring from the farm in 1952. In 1976, they celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. Louis died on Dec. 5, 1978. Minnie is in the Saunders County Care Center, Wahoo.

Lauren and Gertrude Kuehl

   Lauren has a sister, Lotus, who married Carroll Petersen of Bennington, Nebraska. They live in Fremont. They have two children. Debra, married to Warren Podany of Pilger, Nebraska, has two children, Kim and Chad. Gregory married Elizabeth Rydstrom of Millard.

   Gertrude Kuehl's parents, George and Gertrude Eggert Puls, were married January 26, 1916. Her uncle, Hans Groth, had a lot to do in bringing George Puls, his sister, Christina Puls Schimansky, and Werner Schroeder over from Germany. The Puls family consisted of four children. Arnold married Leona McGrew from Seward, Nebraska. They live in Fremont. His son, Charles, married Joan Toelle from Fremont and they have a daughter, Patricia.

   Ernest Puls married Avis Brandt from North Dakota. They live in Bellflower, California. Gertrude married Lauren Kuehl. Willard is in Sioux City, Iowa. His children are Karen, Joan, and Paulette.

   Mrs. Puls died in March, 1962, and Mr. Puls in November, 1968.

   Lauren went to School District #10 for eight years, and graduated from Yutan High in 1939 where he enjoyed playing baseball and basketball.

   Gertrude had to help a lot in her dad's grocery store which was named Yutan Market and General Store. Her father, George, owned and operated the store for 14 years. Gertrude attended Yutan High and graduated in 1940. She was the pitcher on the pug ball team, played volleyball, earned several ribbons in the half-mile run in track, and played trumpet in band.

   After graduation Lauren attended Frye Aircraft in Omaha in 1940. From there he went to work at the Martin Bomber Plant in Fort Crook, Nebraska in 1941. We got married on Oct. 2, 1942. On Nov. 3, 1942, Lauren went to the Army and was stationed at Odessa, Midland, and Harlingen, Texas; Gulfport, Mississippi; and Dothan, Alabama. I followed him to all these stations. He was a mechanic on airplanes for three years, and was discharged in 1945.

   We moved to our home two miles northwest of Yutan and were engaged in farming. Both of us belong to Eastern Star at Valley, Nebraska. Gertrude was Worthy Matron in 1962 and Lauren belongs to Victory Lodge at Valley. Both belong to St. John's Lutheran Church. Lauren has served two terms on the Council and presently is on the planning committee. Gertrude joined North Kensington Ladies Aid and L.C.W. She has been Financial Secretary for 14 years and Memorial Fund Secretary for 9 years.

   We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary in 1982. Submitted by Lauren Kuehl

   Louis August Kuehl, the son of Claus and Elsalie (Brugmann) Kuehl, was born March 4, 1884 at New Holstein, Wisconsin. In 1892, at the age of eight, he came to Nebraska residing in Yutan with his mother, then a widow, a brother, Herman, and a sister, Clara. His brother, William, remained living in Wisconsin.

Seated: Louis Kuehl; Back Row: Lauren Kuehl, Mrs. Carroll (Lotus) Petersen, Minnie Kuehl.

   Louis was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Yutan on April 10, 1898 by Pastor Schultz, and remained a faithful member. He attended school in the old frame schoolhouse in Yutan. This building stood on the site of the old brick elementary school. He remembers, as teachers, Susie Wurthrick, Mary Griffin, and Joseph Mengel.

   As a young boy of sixteen, he went to Holstein, Iowa to work for relatives for nine dollars a month. After two years, he returned to Yutan, working as a hired hand. In 1906, he started farming for himself south of Yutan. He lived with his sister, Mrs. John (Clara) Kennec, and family.

   In the meantime, he met Minnie Louise Stamp of Yutan. She, the daughter of John and Minnie Stamp, was born August 20, 1889 at Pender, Nebraska. Minnie was baptized April, 1892 at Zion Lutheran Church in Yutan by Pastor Neeff. On March 27, 1904, she was confirmed and has remained a faithful member.

   She began her public school education at Dist. 38 south of town, and finished in Yutan when her folks and sister, Mrs. Harry (Frieda) Sievers, moved to town in 1903.

   On February 3, 1909, Louis was united in marriage to Minnie Stamp. They traveled by an early freight train to Wahoo and were married by the County Judge, E.E. Placek. They returned later on a passenger train to her parents' home, the John Stamps. They were blessed with a daughter, Mrs. Carroll (Lotus) Petersen, and a son, Lauren.

   Louis and Minnie farmed the first year north of Yutan. In 1910 they bought their own farm north of Yutan, the farm now being occupied by their grandson, Gregg Petersen, and his wife, Elizabeth. In 1936, Louis bought another farm where his son, Lauren, and wife, Gertrude (Puls) reside. Then, in 1952, they retired from the farm and moved to Yutan.

   In 1956, their daughter, Mrs. Carroll (Lotus) Petersen, her husband and children, Debra and Gregg, moved to the Louis Kuehl farm. They lived there until December 2, 1979. When Lotus and Carroll moved to Fremont to reside, their son, Gregg, and wife, Elizabeth (Rydstrom), moved to the farm from Millard. Their daughter, Debra, married Warren Podany, a farmer from Pilger, Nebraska. They have a daughter, Kimberley, and a son, Chad.

   On June 11, 1976, Louis and Minnie went to live at the Saunders County Care Center in Wahoo. While there they celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary on Feb. 3, 1978 with their family and friends.

   On December 5, 1978, Louis passed away at the age of 94. His wife, Minnie, still resides at the Care Center, having celebrated her 93rd birthday on August 20, 1982 with just her family. Submitted by Mrs. Carroll (Lotus Kuehl) Petersen

   My name is Gladys Starmann Kuhr. My parents were Herman and Martha Hirsch Starmann of Yutan. I attended school at Yutan and taught in rural Saunders County schools for three years. On Dec. 28, 1921, I was married to Henry Kuhr Jr., the oldest son of Henry and Anna Mumm Kuhr of Mead.

   Henry and I lived on farms near Mead and Yutan. In March, 1931, we moved to the farm four miles south of Wahoo where Highways 77 and 63 meet. Some still call this Kuhr's corner, as we lived there for 46 years.

   We had five daughters. Martha is married to Arnold Rohwer of Colon. They have two sons, Kenneth of Blair and Keith of Fremont, and two grandsons. Norma, married to Paul Heiser, lives in Ceresco. They also have two sons, Boyd and Brent.

   Joyce married Godfrey Lanik of Ceresco. Their children are: Frank, Davey; David, Waverly; Anne Robbins, Wahoo; Gregg, Mitchell, and Ralph, Lincoln; and Mary Styskal, Wahoo. They have nine grandchildren.

   Kaye is married to Gary Roels and they live in Fraiser, Michigan. Their children are Amy, Julie, and Timothy. Jeanette is married to David Herrara. They live in Lincoln with their children, Danny and Jill.

   In 1976, we celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary. In May of 1977, we left our farm home and

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