Jan (John) Otta was born on February 24, 1837, in southern Bohemia at the village of Linaře, Strakonice District. He was the fifth child, fourth son, of Frantisek Otta and Marie Slanec. He was married to Marie Houska on February 7, 1865, in the Roman Catholic Parish at Čížkov. His marriage record calls him a "townsman." (Note: birth date on grave marker is incorrect.)
Jan was a bricklayer by trade, and he moved his wife to Bezdĕkov, Manor of Radnic, District of Robycan, in the county of Pilsen, where he was employed. His youngest daughter was born in Bezdĕkov in House #16.
In 1880, Jan sailed for America on the ship, the Main, landing at the port of New York on December 6, 1880. He was 42. His brother, Anton Otta, was already in America with his family.
Jan's wife Marie and the three children came on the ship S/S Köln. They arrived in Baltimore in November, 1881. They probably stayed on the ship until it reached New York, since daughter Anna told her children that the family stayed in New York for a period of time.
The family then moved to Iowa, where Jan obtained work in the rock quarries. Presumably, they were living with or near his brother Anton's family in Tama County. But that work was too hard for a small, thin man, according to one granddaughter, so the family moved to South Dakota to live near Marie's sister, Anna Houška Horaček, and Jan obtained property in Bon Homme County, South Dakota.
Jan participated in a Czech Sokol Organization while he lived in South Dakota. He was a member of the drama society, and his daughter Anna told her children that her father could tell wonderful stories of magic and flying carpets.
In 1896, Jan moved with his family, including his married daughter Marie and her family, to Wharton County, Texas. There they purchased land from Shanghai Pierce near the crossroads that once held Pecha School and is now called Friendly Corner. Several other Bon Homme County Czech families moved to Wharton County at the same time.
Jan and Marie lived for the rest of their lives in Wharton County near their children. They led a quiet existence in a rural area, never learning English.
Jan died in 1920 and Marie in 1921. They left three surviving children and thirteen grandchildren.
Jan was a bricklayer by trade, and he moved his wife to Bezdĕkov, Manor of Radnic, District of Robycan, in the county of Pilsen, where he was employed. His youngest daughter was born in Bezdĕkov in House #16.
In 1880, Jan sailed for America on the ship, the Main, landing at the port of New York on December 6, 1880. He was 42. His brother, Anton Otta, was already in America with his family.
Jan's wife Marie and the three children came on the ship S/S Köln. They arrived in Baltimore in November, 1881. They probably stayed on the ship until it reached New York, since daughter Anna told her children that the family stayed in New York for a period of time.
The family then moved to Iowa, where Jan obtained work in the rock quarries. Presumably, they were living with or near his brother Anton's family in Tama County. But that work was too hard for a small, thin man, according to one granddaughter, so the family moved to South Dakota to live near Marie's sister, Anna Houška Horaček, and Jan obtained property in Bon Homme County, South Dakota.
Jan participated in a Czech Sokol Organization while he lived in South Dakota. He was a member of the drama society, and his daughter Anna told her children that her father could tell wonderful stories of magic and flying carpets.
In 1896, Jan moved with his family, including his married daughter Marie and her family, to Wharton County, Texas. There they purchased land from Shanghai Pierce near the crossroads that once held Pecha School and is now called Friendly Corner. Several other Bon Homme County Czech families moved to Wharton County at the same time.
Jan and Marie lived for the rest of their lives in Wharton County near their children. They led a quiet existence in a rural area, never learning English.
Jan died in 1920 and Marie in 1921. They left three surviving children and thirteen grandchildren.
Jan (John) Otta was born on February 24, 1837, in southern Bohemia at the village of Linaře, Strakonice District. He was the fifth child, fourth son, of Frantisek Otta and Marie Slanec. He was married to Marie Houska on February 7, 1865, in the Roman Catholic Parish at Čížkov. His marriage record calls him a "townsman." (Note: birth date on grave marker is incorrect.)
Jan was a bricklayer by trade, and he moved his wife to Bezdĕkov, Manor of Radnic, District of Robycan, in the county of Pilsen, where he was employed. His youngest daughter was born in Bezdĕkov in House #16.
In 1880, Jan sailed for America on the ship, the Main, landing at the port of New York on December 6, 1880. He was 42. His brother, Anton Otta, was already in America with his family.
Jan's wife Marie and the three children came on the ship S/S Köln. They arrived in Baltimore in November, 1881. They probably stayed on the ship until it reached New York, since daughter Anna told her children that the family stayed in New York for a period of time.
The family then moved to Iowa, where Jan obtained work in the rock quarries. Presumably, they were living with or near his brother Anton's family in Tama County. But that work was too hard for a small, thin man, according to one granddaughter, so the family moved to South Dakota to live near Marie's sister, Anna Houška Horaček, and Jan obtained property in Bon Homme County, South Dakota.
Jan participated in a Czech Sokol Organization while he lived in South Dakota. He was a member of the drama society, and his daughter Anna told her children that her father could tell wonderful stories of magic and flying carpets.
In 1896, Jan moved with his family, including his married daughter Marie and her family, to Wharton County, Texas. There they purchased land from Shanghai Pierce near the crossroads that once held Pecha School and is now called Friendly Corner. Several other Bon Homme County Czech families moved to Wharton County at the same time.
Jan and Marie lived for the rest of their lives in Wharton County near their children. They led a quiet existence in a rural area, never learning English.
Jan died in 1920 and Marie in 1921. They left three surviving children and thirteen grandchildren.
Jan was a bricklayer by trade, and he moved his wife to Bezdĕkov, Manor of Radnic, District of Robycan, in the county of Pilsen, where he was employed. His youngest daughter was born in Bezdĕkov in House #16.
In 1880, Jan sailed for America on the ship, the Main, landing at the port of New York on December 6, 1880. He was 42. His brother, Anton Otta, was already in America with his family.
Jan's wife Marie and the three children came on the ship S/S Köln. They arrived in Baltimore in November, 1881. They probably stayed on the ship until it reached New York, since daughter Anna told her children that the family stayed in New York for a period of time.
The family then moved to Iowa, where Jan obtained work in the rock quarries. Presumably, they were living with or near his brother Anton's family in Tama County. But that work was too hard for a small, thin man, according to one granddaughter, so the family moved to South Dakota to live near Marie's sister, Anna Houška Horaček, and Jan obtained property in Bon Homme County, South Dakota.
Jan participated in a Czech Sokol Organization while he lived in South Dakota. He was a member of the drama society, and his daughter Anna told her children that her father could tell wonderful stories of magic and flying carpets.
In 1896, Jan moved with his family, including his married daughter Marie and her family, to Wharton County, Texas. There they purchased land from Shanghai Pierce near the crossroads that once held Pecha School and is now called Friendly Corner. Several other Bon Homme County Czech families moved to Wharton County at the same time.
Jan and Marie lived for the rest of their lives in Wharton County near their children. They led a quiet existence in a rural area, never learning English.
Jan died in 1920 and Marie in 1921. They left three surviving children and thirteen grandchildren.
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