born in Upper Bevca, Wallashko, Beskydi Mts., Bohemia, Czechoslovakia

"Joseph B. Bartek, Weston, dies here
Joseph B. Bartek, 87, pioneer resident of Weston, died in Lincoln Thursday. Born in Czechoslovakia, Aug. 24, 1857, he came to the United States in 1870 and homesteaded near Weston, where he lived nearly all his life.
Bartek was sheriff of Saunders county in 1892 and was a precinct assessor for 30 years. He was a member of the St. John's Catholic church and the K. D. C. W. lodge in Weston.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Weston, with burial there.

Surviving are seven sons and four daughters, Jarslov J., Henry G., and Frank E., all of Weston; Joseph B., jr., Wahoo; Charles G., Valparaiso; Rudolph F., Loma; William J., Lincoln; Mrs. Frank Bouc and Mrs. Lewis Meduna, both of Weston; Mrs. Louis Barbec, Mead; Mrs. Frank Coufal, Grand Island; 48 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren."
- The Lincoln Journal; November 3, 1944

BARTEKS BUILD DUGOUT IN 1870
Joseph B. Bartek, the son of John and Veronike (Plucnar) Bartek, was born in 1857, in Upper Becva, Wallashko, Beskydi mountains, Moravia. The family had intended to come to America in 1867, but were unable to dispose of their two farms until 1870. They came by vessel in that year, and arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, after a nine weeks voyage. The family came directly to Saunders County knowing that there was more land to be available in this area. They crossed the Platte River by ferry at North Bend, and were the first emigrants from Moravia to come to this part of Nebraska. The Bartek family homesteaded in the west half of the northeast quarter Section 12, Township 5, east of the Sixth
Principal Meridian. Their first house was a dugout, with a roof thatched from slough grass, and rafters of ash poles. Whitewash used was made from ashes mixed with red clay. After the harvest, in which cradle scythes were used, Mr. Bartek went to Omaha and worked on the foundations of the Missouri River Bridge of the Union Pacific Railrond. Mr. John Bartek started a grocery store in Weston in 1880, and conducted the business for a number of years, finally selling the store to L. Larson, and moving to the farm where he resided at the time of his death, December 29, 1891. Joseph Bartek remained at home until 1880 when he came into possession of 160 acres in Section 1. In 1888 he purchased the first eighty acres of what was later his home, the west half of the southwest quarter of section 24, township 14, range 5. for which he paid $1,000. In 1891 he was elected as sheriff of Saunders County. He also purchased the John Jamison ranch for $3,000. The improvements which Bartek put upon his land were the finest in the community. In 1890 he was one of the organizers of the first Bohemian newspapers in the middle west. The name Pritel Lidu, meant The People's Friend. Mr. and Mrs. Bartek (Mary Kovarik)
were married in 1880 and to this union were born 12 children: Jaroslav, Joseph, Chas. Josie, Emma, Frank, Mary, Ralph, Henry, Phebe, Millie, and the two older sons Jaroslav and Joseph attended the Fremont Normal School in 1899. It is a matter of record that Mr. Bartek gave his children the best of everything he could, including education. His mother, Mrs. Veroncia Plucnar Bartek, passed away March 18, 1930, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Andrew Tomes in Weston. Mr. Joseph Bartek's beloved wife departed the city May 16, 1935.
From the Wahoo Newspapers, Wahoo, Nebraska, Thursday, September 17, 1936